2025 CSA Postdoc Symposium Spotlights Innovation from Early Career Researchers

Postdoctoral researchers play a crucial role in Berkeley Lab’s team science ecosystem, driving innovation and advancing discovery. Earlier this month, the fifth annual Computing Sciences Area (CSA) Postdoc Symposium showcased 19 early-career researchers as they delivered 10-minute presentations on their research, engaging an audience of peers, mentors, and colleagues.

This annual event not only highlights the groundbreaking work of CSA postdocs but also underscores Berkeley Lab’s commitment to preparing the next generation of scientific leaders. In the weeks leading up to the symposium, participants receive communication training and coaching from CSA staff, helping them refine their presentation skills. After the event, postdocs receive a video recording of their presentation to review and share with potential employers.

Several participants shared that both the event and the preparatory coaching had a positive impact on their professional development, strengthening their skills and confidence for future opportunities.

Anupam Mitra, a postdoc in the Applied Computing for Scientific Discovery Group. (Credit: David Brown)

“The CSA Postdoc Symposium brings together postdocs from diverse research areas, encourages them to present their work to a broad audience, and fosters interdisciplinary dialogue. This event helps prepare postdocs for scientific careers that require effective communication, collaboration, and a broad understanding of the scientific landscape,” said Anupam Mitra, a postdoc in the Applied Computing for Scientific Discovery Group.

“I was inspired to participate in this event after hearing about it from other postdocs, and I would wholeheartedly recommend that my fellow postdocs embrace this opportunity as well. Berkeley Lab’s CSA Postdoc Symposium is an event like no other. It offers benefits that may be hard to imagine before experiencing one, and it provides a supportive environment throughout the process. Our colleagues are very supportive during both the preparation and participation stages. I would recommend participating whenever possible,” added Mitra.

Mark Fornace, a postdoc in the Mathematics Group.
(Credit: David Brown)

“The symposium features a large number of short talks by postdocs, all in the same room, so we can get to know many more of our peers,” said Mark Fornace, a postdoc in the Mathematics Group. “Last year’s symposium was a great opportunity to meet fellow postdocs and appreciate the variety of work they were doing. I chose to participate again this year because it was another chance to share my research and connect with newcomers. Even though 10 minutes isn’t much time, it’s a great way to showcase your work—and it benefits all of us to learn about each other’s research.”

“The Postdoc Symposium has helped me distill my main explanation into a shorter, more accessible format for the research community and the public at large,” he added.

engcheng Xie, a postdoc in the Math for Experimental Data Analysis group.
(Credit: David Brown)

“Unlike other professional development opportunities, the CSA Postdoc Symposium stands out because you get feedback from participants and experts from a variety of disciplines, but since we’re all working in the fields of computing and computational sciences, it’s still related to my work,” said Pengcheng Xie, a postdoc in the Math for Experimental Data Analysis group.

“I wanted to participate this year to share my recent research progress with colleagues and learn more about their work and interests. I also wanted to improve my public speaking and communication skills, which I feel I’ve achieved,” Xie added.

Mukul Dave, a NESAP for Simulation postdoc at NERSC. (Credit: David Brown)

“I participated in the postdoc symposium last year as well,” said Mukul Dave, a NESAP for Simulation postdoc at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center. “I decided to join again this year because I had new results to share, and this program is a great opportunity to refine my talk and receive valuable feedback—especially from experts who have been doing this for years. We also get insightful feedback on our communication skills from professional communicators, which is something we don’t typically receive in our scientific training.”

In addition to the feedback, Dave noted that the video recordings participants receive after their presentations are especially useful for sharing their work. In fact, he used the recording from last year’s talk in his search for new job opportunities.

Yizhi Shen, a postdoc in the Scalable Solvers Group. (Credit: David Brown)

“I participated in the 2024 CSA Postdoc Symposium and found it highly rewarding. The engaging talks broadened my perspective on conducting interdisciplinary research driven by applied mathematics and allowed me to connect with fellow postdoctoral researchers to discuss shared interests,” said Yizhi Shen, a postdoc in the Scalable Solvers Group. “I chose to participate again this year because it was a valuable opportunity to reflect on my progress over the past year. I would definitely encourage everyone to be part of and enjoy the symposium—you get to see your own talk on YouTube!”

Zixi Hu, a postdoc in the Math for Experimental Data Analysis group. (Credit: David Brown)

“The CSA postdoc symposium stands out for its supportive and collaborative environment. The event underscores not only academic excellence but also effective communication and networking. The lay-down and dry-run sessions were casual and helpful, making the experience less intimidating and more relaxing,” said Zixi Hu, a postdoc in the Math for Experimental Data Analysis group.

“The skills I obtained from this experience are beneficial in many scenarios. I am grateful that I got to participate in and contribute to this event. I will definitely recommend participation to other postdocs. The experience is enjoyable, and the skills gained are valuable for anyone seeking to advance their careers,” added Hu.

Luka Grbcic, a postdoc in the Applied Computing for Scientific Discovery Group. (Credit: David Brown)

“I would encourage every postdoc to participate in this opportunity. The CSA Postdoc Symposium feels organic and not corporate, with people devoting their time to help you improve your presentation skills. It also provides a great way to see what your peers are working on in a very accessible way. Additionally, the presentations are accessible to a wide range of people inside and outside the lab, which is useful for potential research collaborations,” said Luka Grbcic, a postdoc in the Applied Computing for Scientific Discovery Group.

“The whole process teaches you how to present your complex research ideas to a broader audience, a crucial skill since science communication is more important than ever. It’s also great that the talks are recorded, allowing postdocs to use them as part of their resume,” he added.

Ozan Karsavuran, a postdoc in the Applied Numerical Algorithms Group.
(Credit: David Brown)

“What inspired me to participate in the 2025 Postdoc Symposium was the opportunity to improve my presentation skills and share my research with my peers,” said Ozan Karsavuran, a postdoc in the Applied Numerical Algorithms Group. “Learning to prepare good slides and deliver an effective talk is crucial for sharing research, so this experience is extremely beneficial. The preparation process is unique because reviewers do their best to help improve your talk, and it’s very useful to listen to others and have professionally recorded videos. The CSA Postdoc Symposium is a unique professional development opportunity due to this level of support and the chance to see your work presented in a high-quality format. To anyone who might be hesitant to participate, I would say: don’t hesitate—take advantage of this opportunity.”