GW Celebrates Postdocs and Their Contributions to Research

October 29, 2026

Authored by:

Thomas Kohout

Katie Anne Fopiano had just three minutes to share how some of the smallest structures in the heart, tiny blood vessels that help deliver the oxygen the organ needs to function and how their failure to grow and branch out could lead to catastrophic diastolic heart failure. Her research points to a possible solution; treatment with PDE-9 inhibitor, a drug to slow or stop the breakdown of a key chemical messenger that helps regulate heart function. By administering the inhibitor, researchers saw improved blood vessel density and heart function in a model of the disease.

"Through targeted PDE-9 inhibitor treatment," she explained, "I saw that the blood vessel density improved and the heart functioned and pumped blood better, almost to a level comparable to a healthy heart."

Fopiano shared those findings in a research competition that highlighted the George Washington University's annualPostdoc Appreciation Day, where she took first place in the university's Lightning Talks competition. The challenge: explain complex research to a general audience in just three minutes.

Her presentation, "It's a Small World After All: How Tiny Vessels Cause Big Problems in Heart Failure," was one of several that gave attendees a glimpse of the research underway across GW. The talks covered topics ranging from cancer biology to the genetics of butterfly wings and potential treatments for dengue fever.

Organized by the GW Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, the event, held earlier this month at the University Student Center, recognized postdoctoral researchers' accomplishments over the past year, including publications, fellowships and research trips. It also marked a milestone for the profession as 2026 is the 150th anniversary of the postdoctoral position being established in the United States.

"Postdocs play crucial roles within GW's research ecosystem," said Provost Edward J. Balleisen. "They bring fresh ideas and approaches into labs and intellectual communities. They often take on important mentoring roles within scholarly teams. And regardless of their trajectory and where they go next, they connect GW faculty and students to broader networks."

"This day is an opportunity to celebrate our postdoctoral community-their research, their accomplishments and the many ways they contribute to scholarship and discovery across GW," added Department Chair and Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs Suresh Subramaniam. "This year's celebration has special significance as we recognize 150 years of the establishment of the postdoc position in the United States."

This year's theme reflected both the history and the future of the work: "The Story of Postdocs Is Still Being Written-and GW Postdocs Are Part of that Story."

Building a career in research

What is a postdoctoral researcher? As the name implies, the position serves as a transitional step between their Ph.D. studies and becoming funded researchers, offering advanced, mentored training to help researchers build independence, publish papers, and gain skills for future careers. Postdocs make key contributions toward high-impact research while mentoring undergraduate and graduate student researchers.

"Our postdocs bring fresh ideas and often mentor junior scientists while pursuing their own cutting-edge research," said Alison Hall, senior associate dean of research at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) and professor of neurology. "It is a joy to recognize their important contributions to our research enterprise."

The day's program began with coffee and a discussion with university leadership, followed by remarks from Evangeline J. Downie, interim vice president for research and a professor of physics in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

Provost Edward J. Balleisen delivered remarks at the 2026 Postdoc Appreciation Day at GW. (William Atkins/GW Today)

Downie drew on her own postdoctoral experience, which took her from the United Kingdom to Germany and ultimately the United States as she pursued her research ambitions. Her advice centered on developing skills, building professional relationships and remaining flexible about where a research career might lead.

She encouraged postdocs to attend seminars and colloquia, expand their networks and approach grant and job applications as research projects. Writing and publishing, she noted, are essential parts of the investigative process, and researchers should set concrete goals and reserve time for writing each week.

She also urged them to take calculated risks, pursue opportunities that might initially seem out of reach and focus on the impact they want to make rather than a particular job title.

"There's been 150 years of postdocs, and every single one of them has had a unique journey," she said. "Don't feel compelled to follow what everyone else has done. Instead, just stretch yourself, try new things…be driven by the ideas that you want to investigate, the values that you want to perpetuate and the impact that you would have."

The path from postdoc to faculty member can be uncertain, and researchers are asked to learn on the fly how to communicate not only what they have accomplished but also deciding where they hope to take their work next while supporting ongoing investigations at the university. The annual celebration offered GW the chance to show some appreciation to the staff, while offering advice and tips on taking that next step in academic research and landing a full-time position.

Heather Scherschel, career development manager at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, addressed that transition in a session on faculty hiring and CV preparation.

A competitive CV, she explained, "should highlight independence through publications and projects, a clear research direction, fundability through grants and awards, and fit by showing unique contributions to the department."

Researchers do not necessarily need to have secured a grant before landing a faculty position.

"There is a myth that you have to have a grant," Scherschel said, "especially a postdoc grant that would get you to your first year as a faculty member to be able to get a job, and that's not true."

Instead, hiring committees want evidence that candidates can pursue funding and develop independent research programs.

"The ability to show that you've submitted grants in the past, that's what they're looking for."

Three minutes, four research stories

The Lightning Talks put those communication skills to the test. Participants had three minutes to explain their research projects, with judges assessing both the science and how effectively the presenters made it accessible to a general audience.

Fopiano took the top prize for her work on diastolic heart failure, which occurs when the heart becomes too stiff to fill properly with blood. Her research examines how changes in the heart's small-vessel network may contribute to the condition and whether targeting a particular biological pathway could help restore vessel density and improve heart function. The findings point to a possible therapeutic approach, though further research is needed to establish its effectiveness in patients.

Second place went to Nofar Erlichman, a postdoctoral associate at SMHS and a recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from the American Cancer Society.

In her presentation, "Adipocyte PD-L1 Links Sympathetic Signaling to Mammary Tumor Growth," Erlichman described research into the relationship between nerves, fat cells and triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive subtype with limited targeted treatment options.

Her team found that fat cells surrounding breast tumors carry the protein PD-L1, which may help explain how nerve signals influence cancer progression.

So far her results showed "nerve signals drive tumor spreading specifically through fat cell PD-L1."

The research could eventually inform combination treatments designed to block those signals or target the role of fat cells in the process.

"Hopefully," she said, "we can increase the response to these patients by having a combination therapy that either blocks these nerve signals or blocks fat cell breakdown."

Luca Livraghi, from the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, took third place for "Waiting in the Wings." His research explores how genes control the development of moth and butterfly wing patterns and how those patterns evolve over time.

Moths and butterflies include roughly 160,000 species, many of which can be identified by their distinctive coloration. Livraghi uses DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing and fluorescent tagging to investigate the genetic mechanisms behind that variety. The work may also help researchers understand how genetic changes produce biological diversity across other forms of life, including humans.

The audience selected its own winner on the day, awarding the People's Choice prize to Maria Jose Diaz Gutierrez of SMHS for "Dengue Makes Blood Vessels Leak Like a Hose: Can a Flu Drug Patch the Holes?"

Her presentation focused on dengue, a mosquito-borne disease that infects an estimated 400 million people each year. The virus can damage the protective lining of the vessels, allowing plasma to escape into surrounding tissues and, in severe cases, contributing to shock.

Treatment currently relies largely on intravenous fluids and close monitoring. Diaz Gutierrez's research investigates whether an existing antiviral drug could help prevent the leakage itself.