PPA Symposium at June 16, 2026!

About the Symposium

Welcome to the 1st Annual Penn Postdoc Association Research Symposium - a celebration of the extraordinary scholarship taking place across the greater Penn research community. Hosted on June 16, 2026, the symposium brings together postdoctoral researchers and fellows from the University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), The Wistar Institute, and the Monell Chemical Senses Center for a day of intellectual exchange, professional development, and community connection.

Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to share their work through platform talks and two poster sessions, attend development-focused workshops, engage in a mentor and networking luncheon with Penn faculty, and cap the day with a closing reception. Whether you are presenting for the first time or building on years of collaborative engagement, the symposium is designed to elevate your research, expand your network, and strengthen our vibrant postdoctoral community.

We welcome postdocs and fellows from all disciplines - from the life sciences and physical sciences to engineering, social sciences, humanities, and beyond.

After a four-year hiatus, the PPA Research Symposium returns in 2026, revamped to include postdocs across every school on campus and all affiliated institutions. This is your opportunity to share your research, receive feedback from fellow postdocs and PIs, and foster new interdisciplinary collaboration.

Schedule / Program

Prizes will be awarded to the best oral abstract presenters and selected poster presenters

Workshops (1:00 – 2:00 pm)

Four parallel workshops will run simultaneously. Facilitators and topics to be annouced.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Aviv Landau, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Research Assistant Professor, School of Social Policy and Practice
Co-Director, SAFElab
University of Pennsylvania

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Dr. Aviv Landau is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice and Co-Director of SAFElab. A social work researcher and public interest technologist, his work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, health equity, ethics, and underserved communities.

Dr. Landau's research focuses on developing interdisciplinary computational and social work approaches to address health disparities. His areas of expertise include ethical artificial intelligence, natural language processing, youth engagement on social media, clinical decision support systems, and qualitative methodologies. In his work on child abuse and neglect, he developed ethical frameworks for implementing machine learning-based detection models, with a focus on reducing racial bias.

Prior to his academic career, Dr. Landau worked as a social worker in Israel with youth from diverse and marginalized communities. He received his B.S.W., M.S.W., and Ph.D. from the University of Haifa, Israel.

Abstract Submission

We invite all postdoctoral researchers and fellows at Penn, CHOP, The Wistar Institute, and the Monell Chemical Senses Center to submit an abstract for the 2026 PPA Research Symposium. Abstracts are welcome from all disciplines and research areas.

Submission Details

Deadline: April 24, 202

Who Should Submit

All currently appointed postdoctoral researchers and fellows at the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP, The Wistar Institute, and the Monell Chemical Senses Center are eligible to submit an abstract.

Presentation Formats:

Abstracts will be reviewed by the organizing committee. Selected speakers will be invited to give oral platform talks — there are two speaker sessions on the day: one following the keynote (10:00–10:45 AM) and one in the afternoon (2:00–2:45 PM). All abstract submitters will also be invited to present a poster during one of the symposium's two poster sessions (11:00 AM–12:00 PM and 3:00–4:00 PM). Awards will be given for both best talks and best posters.

Notifications for selected platform talks will be sent mid-May 2026.

How to Submit:

Submit your abstract via the button above by April 24, 2026.

Abstract Guidelines

• Required sections: Background, rationale, brief methods description, results, and conclusion.

• Character limit: 1,800 characters maximum (excluding title, authors, references, and funding information)

• Title limit: 120 characters

• Notification of platform talk selection: Mid-May 2026

Networking & Luncheon

The symposium features a speed mentoring luncheon from 12:00 to 1:00 PM on June 16th, held on the KRB 14th Floor. This structured format gives you dedicated time to connect with Penn faculty mentors in short, focused conversations — ideal for getting targeted feedback on your research direction, career planning, and professional development.

Lunch will be provided for all registered attendees.

Reception

Cap off the day at the PPA Research Symposium Closing Reception, running from 4:30 to 6:30 PM on June 16, 2026 at Miller Plaza. The reception is an informal outdoor gathering to celebrate the day's presentations, connect with colleagues, and continue the conversations sparked throughout the symposium.

Light refreshments and drinks will be served

Venue Details

Kelly Research Building (KRB)
Kelly Research Building (formerly BRB), University of Pennsylvania
421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Registration / RSVP

Attendance at the PPA Research Symposium is free for all Penn postdoctoral researchers. Please register in advance so we can plan for space, catering, and workshop capacity. A registration link will be provided shortly.

Organizing Committee / Contact

The 2026 PPA Research Symposium is organized by the Penn Postdoc Association (PPA), an organization supporting the scientific achievement and career development of postdoctoral fellows and researchers in the Penn community.

Contact US

Have a question about the symposium, abstract submission, or logistics? We'd love to hear from you.

Email:pennpostdocsymposium@gmail.com

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