UNC Charlotte Welcomes Postdoctoral Fellows for the New 2026 Academic Year
Written By: The Division of Research
September 9, 2026 – The Division of Research (DR) hosted its first annual luncheon to celebrate the start of the academic year and welcome UNC Charlotte’s postdoctoral fellows and their mentors. Held at noon in the Popp Martin Student Union, the luncheon brought together more than 30 faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars to recognize the important role postdocs play in advancing the University’s research and innovation mission.
Pearl Brown-Muhammad, a DR Human Resource Specialist, delivered a warm welcome and introduced Dr. Deborah Thomas, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, who shared remarks and reflected on the history of UNC Charlotte’s postdoctoral program, which transitioned to the Division of Research from the Graduate School in 2025.
“When we acquired it,” Brown-Muhammad said, “we really had the opportunity to make it our own.” One result of that effort is the development of standardized processes to help departments navigate postdoctoral recruitment and employment.
The luncheon also recognized the mentors who support postdoctoral scholars throughout their research journeys. “It was a great way for all of the postdoctoral fellows to network without being in their own silos,” said Braxton Koblick, DR Events & Special Projects, who coordinated the event. “We were especially pleased to have exceeded the number of projected attendees.”
“We want to recognize our postdoctoral fellows, make them feel welcome, and build community,” said Dr. Thomas. “We also want to recognize our dedicated faculty mentors who provide exceptional training and support to our postdoctoral fellows.”
The Division of Research looks forward to continuing this annual tradition and strengthening its support for UNC Charlotte’s postdoctoral community. For more information about postdoctoral appointments, resources and employment processes, visit the Postdoctoral Scholars webpage or review the Postdoctoral Fellows Processes for Recruitment and Employment standard operating procedure.