Our Co-Founders

A defined or standardized path to success is often not readily available for all scientists, especially those from first-generation and under-represented groups. Individuals with access to resources, good mentoring, and a strong support system are typically favored. This presents a significant accessibility issue, which is particularly felt by early career researchers (ECRs) on a daily basis.

In 2019, two plant biology postdoctoral researchers, Sunil Kenchanmane Raju and Arif Ashraf, recognized these challenges and took it upon themselves to establish the international organization Plant Postdocs. With a mission to “be the change you wish to see in the world“, they brought together like-minded postdocs and advisors to create a platform whereby plant biology postdocs may access the necessary resources to share their research, develop their careers, gain access to academic, industry, and government jobs, and receive mentoring assistance. Through their efforts, they have demonstrated the power of proactive problem-solving.