Hello and welcome!
The University of Nevada, Reno Postdoctoral Association (UNRPA) is a volunteer organization formed in 2021 both by and for the University's postdocs.
Our mission is to improve the postdoctoral experience both at the University and in academia. We do this by supporting fellow postdocs in your transitions to and from the University; enhancing your research and training opportunities while here; and advocating for the inclusive and equitable transformation of academia. We empower postdocs to become bold and effective leaders in academia, industry and community.
Membership
All postdoctoral scholars at the University of Nevada, Reno are automatically included in UNRPA and welcome to attend meetings, events and discussions relevant to postdocs.
Executive leadership
Stanislav Kolencik, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Stanislav is a postdoctoral scholar working in various biology fields, mostly with an emphasis on Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution. His current research focuses on improving our knowledge of ectoparasite biodiversity and understanding of coevolutionary patterns between hosts and their parasites. Stanislav is a current Executive Director for the University of Nevada, Reno Postdoctoral Association. He is passionate about improving the environment and opportunities for postdocs at the University, as well as bringing them together. He loves being active, finding new challenges, and discovering new places or hobbies.
Dhurba Neupane, Ph.D.
Communication and Technology Director
Dhurba is a postdoctoral Scholar working on diverse aspects of molecular biology and biochemistry, with the emphasis on developing drought-tolerant, climate-resilient biofuel crops under changing climate. His current research focuses on expanding the use of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica) as a highly water-use efficient, highly productive and climate-resilient biomass feedstock for arid and semi-arid environments. He was the inaugural Operations Director and a current Communication and Technology Director of the University of Nevada, Reno Postdoctoral Association. He is very enthusiastic to bring innovative ideas and opportunities for the postdocs and the university community. He loves watching movies, traveling to new and historical places, playing soccer and making new friends
Behnaz Balmaki, Ph.D.
Community Director
Behnaz is a post-doctoral researcher interested in research questions related to palynology, pollination ecology, paleoecology, and climate change. Her current research focuses on plant-pollinator interactions, pollinators' responses to past and future climate change, and how pollination webs are changing in response to anthropogenic disturbances. She is a creative and talented environmental scientist with a broad range of professional research interests and is open to exploring new research fields and following the results of her experiments into unknown scientific territory. Also, as a current Community Director of the Nevada Postdoctoral Association, she is a self-motivated, hard-working individual with a strong desire to learn and grow professionally using her skills in project management, problem-solving, and organizing tasks.
Open position
Finance Director
The finance director is responsible for the financial status of the Association. The incumbent will manage and monitor the expenditure of funding and provide regular reporting on the financial health of the Association to the directors and relevant University parties and maintain compliance with university regulations. A key focus of this position is to develop initiatives that enhance the association’s financial health and longevity, including developing alternative and non-traditional mechanisms to obtain funding that lie outside of the university.
Open position
Operations Director
The operations director facilitates the day-to-day running of the association. This includes managing meeting agendas and minutes, membership, and the efficient archiving of information. The incumbent provides administrative support to the association’s endeavors and relevant stakeholders, including that relevant information is communicated to postdoc members. Responsible for the duties of executive chair when he/she is absent.
Organizational structure
Executive director
The executive director oversees the effective running of the association with close support from the directorship. A key focus of this position is enhancing postdoc recognition and the association’s long-term sustainability within the university environment through advancing relationships with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, administration, relevant faculty, student groups and associations. Further, the executive director collaboratively networks with postdoctoral associations and other relevant higher education stakeholders. Within the association, the Executive Director provides strong leadership and guidance in developing actionable initiatives that contribute to the association's longer-term strategic directions. Together, these should enhance the training, community, and wellbeing of postdocs at the University and advance the University’s mission.
Communications and technology director
The communications and technology director develops and maintains the Postdoctoral Association’s communications channels, including its online presence and online outreach activities. Other duties include managing initiatives that enhance the recognition and reputation of the Postdoctoral Association.
Community director
The community director develops initiatives and resources to enhance the postdoctoral experience at the University, by creating opportunities for professional development and networking for postdoctoral scholars, in addition to organizing events that raise the profile of postdocs and highlight their work at the campus scale. Responsibilities of this position include community-building both within the postdoctoral community, and within the larger University community including students, staff, and faculty. The community director also serves as the association’s point-of-contact for general queries and concerns of postdocs.
Finance director
The finance director is responsible for the financial status of the Association. The incumbent will manage and monitor the expenditure of funding and provide regular reporting on the financial health of the Association to the directors and relevant University parties and maintain compliance with university regulations. A key focus of this position is to develop initiatives that enhance the association’s financial health and longevity, including developing alternative and non-traditional mechanisms to obtain funding that lie outside of the university.
Operations director
The operations director facilitates the day-to-day running of the association. This includes managing meeting agendas and minutes, membership, and the efficient archiving of information. The incumbent provides administrative support to the association’s endeavors and relevant stakeholders, including that relevant information is communicated to postdoc members. Responsible for the duties of executive chair when he/she is absent.