The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization designed to improve the experiences of postdocs working in the U.S.  The NPA works with federal agencies and national organizations to implement policies meant to benefit the postdoctoral population.  These policies include suggestions on visa reform for international postdocs, defining guidelines for professional development and data collection for institutional training grants, and designing feasibility studies in an advisory capacity for organizations such as the National Science Foundation. The NPA also provides guidance and financial support for local postdoctoral associations.

The NPA supports the individual postdoc with a great deal of information, including career information, mentorship recommendations, personal coaching, and professional and leadership development.

The UC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs has sent representatives to the National NPA conference in 2008 and 2009. These conferences have been valuable experiences for our local PDFA.