Postdoc Spotlight
SBU Postdoc Spotlight is a celebration of the research performed by Stony Brook's postdoctoral scholars.
Modeled after the Three Minute Thesis format, Spotlight talks make complex research accessible to both specialists and non-specialists. The Postdoc Spotlight is a unique opportunity to learn about the latest discoveries and exciting projects happening at Stony Brook.
The 2026 Postdoc Spotlight will take place on Friday, March 13, 2026, don’t miss your chance to participate, speaker applications are due January 29.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS
SBU 3MT and Postdoc Spotlight 2025 Award Ceremony. From left to right: President of Stony Brook Alumni Association Neil Butterklee, Interim Director for the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Molly Lotz, Antonio Novaes, Lissa Fortes Soares, Jonathan Plessis-Belair, Maryam Azmi (2nd Place), Chenyu Zhang (3rd Place), Sai Abasolo (1st and People's Choice), Graduate Dean Celia Marshik
| Award | First Name | Last Name | Graduate Program | Talk Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Antonio | Novaes | Medicine | Turning Off Kidney Damage, Turning On Hope |
| 2nd | Lissa | Fortes Soares | Public Health | How to be Stronger in Older Age |
| 3rd | Jonathan | Plessis-Belair | Neurobiology & Behavior | Brain Aging on Trial |
2025 POSTDOC SPOTLIGHT COMPETITORS
| Name | Program | Talk Title and Video Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Varghese Babu | Materials Science and Chemical Engineering | A Cold Hard Truth |
| Monoj Das | Medicine | Rewriting Genetic Recipes: Highlighting a Cure for Kidney Disease |
| Ishrat Dollan | SoMAS | Rain of Terror |
| Lissa Fortes Soares | Public Health | How to be Stronger in Older Age |
| Win Lin | Physics and Astronomy | Searching for the Dark Photon |
| Kanti Nandan Mihooliya | Medicine | Breaking the Resistance! |
| Antonio Novaes | Medicine | Turning Off Kidney Damage, Turning On Hope |
| Jonathan Plessis-Belair | Neurobiology & Behavior | Brain Aging on Trial |
| Ying-Jen Yang | Laufer Center | Decoding Life’s Miniature Machines by “Shrinking” the Physics of Everyday Engines |
Speaker Information
Eligibility
To compete in the Postdoc Spotlight, postdocs must:
- Be SBU postdocs;
- Work in any disciplinary field, with those in the Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences particularly encouraged to participate;
- Have advanced in their research to a stage where findings, preliminary conclusions, and broader impact can be discussed. Findings from previous research is welcome, however postdocs may only participate in the Spotlight once;
- Affirm during speaker sign-up that their supervisor supports presentation of their research; and
- Commit to participating in all 3 coaching sessions.
Coaching Sessions
Postdoc Spotlight competitors undergo research communication coaching that is grounded in techniques from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. Coaching takes place in small groups where peer feedback and support is expected and encouraged while students workshop their draft presentations.
Don’t miss your chance to participate, speaker applications are due January 29.