UTEP Postdoc Association
Upcoming Events
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Expanding your Mentorship Skills: How postdocs can support students in times of distress: Thursday, May 22, 11 am MDT: There are several stressors impacting undergraduate and graduate students. As postdocs, you may be the first contact students confide in when they are experiencing distress. While you are not mental health experts, being aware of students’ well-being is key to building your mentoring skills. Join us on for a special opportunity designed specifically for postdocs. Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Diagnostic Privilege in New York State (LMHC-D), Nicholas Fronczak, Counselor and Assistant Director for Embedded Counseling Program at the University of Buffalo and expert on college student mental health and well-being, will facilitate a workshop where you will walk away with strategies on how you can support students during times of distress. This will be held virtually through Zoom. Space is limited, so register here.
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Postdoc Research Communication & Practice Session: Thursday, May 29, 1 pm MDT: UTEP postdocs will gather to learn about communicating their research to a broad audience with a special presentation by our very own Dr. Lauren Shook, postdoc at the Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success. Following the presentation postdocs will have the opportunity to practice communicating their research to peers. This event is hybrid! We will meet on Zoom or in the Administration Building conference room 310. RSVP here. |
PDA Leadership Committee
Meet the members of the leadership committee. Together, they advocate for UTEP postdoctoral development, mentorship, and scientific collaboration.
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Dr. Yohannes Getahun is a postdoctoral researcher in the Nanomagnetic Materials Laboratory, specializing in nanomaterials and 2D materials for sustainable energy and spintronic applications. His work on renewable energy and room-temperature van der Waals magnets has earned recognition, including the Best Presenter Award at New Mexico State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental/Material Science and Engineering, where he developed nano-engineered biomaterials for environmental and biomedical applications. A first-generation student from Africa, Dr. Getahun’s passion for science has driven him to excel in academia, with his research gaining media attention. |
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Dr. Edwin Perez is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success here at UTEP. Dr. Perez is the son of immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico and comes from a first-generation and low-income background. These identities have been central in shaping his experiences through higher education, serving as both challenges and motivators to work toward transforming our institutions into environments where students who have been historically excluded from higher education can thrive. Dr. Perez received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Merced and an M.Ed in Student Affairs from the University of California, Los Angeles. Most recently, he received a Ph.D. from the Higher Education and Organizational Change program at the University of California, Los Angeles. |
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Dr. Zahid Rafiq is a pharmacologist specializing in interdisciplinary research areas, including cancer pharmacology, immuno-oncology, radiation oncology, and molecular oncology. He has been associated with world-class institutions including MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he worked as a postdoctoral fellow. He currently serves as a postdoctoral fellow for the School of Pharmacy here at UTEP. He is engaged in advanced pancreatic cancer research under a career transition program funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT-TREC). His current research focuses on investigating mechanisms and risk factors specific to the Hispanic population that lead to tumorigenesis at the molecular and cellular levels, aiming to develop personalized anticancer strategies. In addition to his research endeavors, Dr. Rafiq is an active member of leading scientific organizations, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). |
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Dr. Lauren Mena Shook is a postdoctoral fellow at the Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success. Her research agenda examines how discourse, policy, and practice shape inclusion and exclusion within educational systems. |
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Dr. Priscila S. G. Farani will soon transition to an Assistant Professor at UTEP’s School of Pharmacy. With a strong interdisciplinary background in biochemistry, molecular biology, and immunology, her research primarily focuses on tropical infectious diseases, host-pathogen interactions, and biomarker discovery for Chagas disease. |
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Dr. Fabian R. Villagomez is a postdoctoral fellow studying KRAS and oxidative stress in pancreatic cancer. With expertise in therapy resistance, autophagy, and tumor microenvironments, he has led research at top institutions, including the University of Colorado Anschutz. A recipient of the HERA Ovarian Cancer Foundation Seed Grant, his work is published in high-impact journals and presented at major conferences. Find out more about his research through his ResearchGate Profile. |
Postdoc Spotlight
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Dr. Yohannes Getahun is a postdoctoral researcher in the Nanomagnetic Materials Laboratory within the Department of Physics. His research focuses on novel nanomaterials and two-dimensional (2D) materials for sustainable energy and spintronic applications. His work contributes significantly to advancements in renewable energy and the development of room-temperature van der Waals magnets for data storage and spintronic technologies. Expanding his research endeavors, Dr. Getahun conducted further investigations at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). His contributions have been recognized with the Best Presenter Award at the Postdoctoral Symposium held at New Mexico State University. Dr. Getahun earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering with a research focus on materials science. During his doctoral studies, he worked in the Nano and Biomaterials Laboratory, where he developed novel nano-engineered biomaterials for environmental remediation, biomedical applications, and 2D molecular magnets for data storage. His work demonstrated the effective removal of contaminants using magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with phytochemicals, offering two recyclability approaches—magnetic separation and microfluidic chip technology. His research has also received media recognition. Dr. Getahun holds a master’s degree in chemistry from Mekelle University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Arba Minch University. As a first-generation student from a low-income background, Dr. Getahun’s passion for science has driven him to overcome academic challenges and pursue excellence in his field. Dr. Getahun currently serves as a member of the Postdoctoral Association Leadership Committee. Beyond his research, Dr. Getahun is a dedicated and reliable colleague, committed to contributing his expertise for the advancement of science and the betterment of humanity. |
Resources for Postdocs
UTEP is proud to be an institutional member of The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), which provides an array of resources of interest to postdocs, their mentors/supervisors, and graduate students considering a postdoctoral fellowship. In order to access these valuable resources, graduate students, faculty, staff, and postdocs can apply for Affiliate membership by clicking below and using their UTEP email address.
Guidelines for Postdoctoral Appointments
Updated in 2025, the following document is aimed to assist faculty and staff who are planning on hiring and onboarding postdocs. This is also useful for those first-time (or seasoned) investigators applying for funding/grant opportunities that would allow them to hire a postdoc.
Mentoring
The Graduate School recognizes the value of mentoring and recommends that postdocs actively seek mentoring relationships with faculty members and administrators at UTEP and in their field at other institutions or through professional associations. Different mentors may provide different types of assistance. Mentors should introduce postdocs to established people in the field, teach norms and best practices of the discipline, and work with mentees to create an Individual Development Plan.
The links at the bottom of the page provide information and resources on a number of topics related to mentoring. Importantly, opportunities are provided by the Director of Postdoctoral Affairs and Graduate Fellowships as well as other UTEP departments such as the Institute for Scholarship, Pedagogy, Innovation, and Research Excellence (InSPIRE). A good mentoring relationship is crucial to the success of postdoctoral scholars as they develop original research ideas and move toward greater independence and maturity. Indeed, mentoring the next generation of scholars is a shared professional responsibility of all members of the academy.
Inclusive Excellence
The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and individuals seeking employment or access to its programs, facilities or services, and will not discriminate against these persons on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. In addition to this commitment, the University will take affirmative steps to insure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated, during all aspects of employment, in a non-discriminatory manner. The National Postdoctoral Association website provides a statement of inclusion.
Additional Resources
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- UTEP Institute for Scholarship, Pedagogy, Innovation, and Research Excellence (InSPIRE)
- UTEP Research & Innovation
- National Postdoctoral Association
- National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Education
- SPHERE Community of Practice (resources for postdocs in non-biomedical disciplines)
Recordings of Past Webinars
- February 2025 University Structures (UTEP & UTA)
- April 2025 Best Practices in Applying for Grants (UTEP & NMSU)
- May 2025 Crafting Your Professional Website (UTEP & UTA)
Contacts
Stephen Crites, Ph.D.
scrites@utep.edu
Dean of the Graduate School &
Associate Provost for Graduate Studies
mlong3@utep.edu
Director of Postdoctoral Affairs & Graduate Fellowships
Graduate School
PDA Photo Gallery
