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Ten simple rules to initiate and run a postdoctoral association

* E-mail: [email protected] (CB); [email protected] (ES)

Affiliations IFOM, the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy, IPA (IFOM Postdoc Association), IFOM, the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy

• Chiara Bruckmann, 
• Endre Sebestyén

Published: August 17, 2017

• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005664
• Reader Comments

Citation: Bruckmann C, Sebestyén E (2017) Ten simple rules to initiate and run a postdoctoral association. PLoS Comput Biol 13(8): e1005664. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005664

Editor: Fran Lewitter, Whitehead Institute, UNITED STATES

Copyright: © 2017 Bruckmann, Sebestyén. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

Postdoctoral researchers (postdocs) are individuals who have obtained a PhD degree and are working in a temporary, mentored research position [ 1 , 2 ]. A proper postdoctoral experience should provide the necessary training for these individuals to achieve scientific and professional independence. During this phase of researchers’ careers, they should develop new skillsets by working in research groups. At the same time, they are usually involved in multiple tasks, such as mentoring trainees, applying for grants, writing publications, and keeping up with the latest advances in their field [ 3 , 4 ]. As young researchers enter the late-PhD and post-PhD period, they apply for positions with mentors whose work interests them. Mentors help postdocs prepare to lead research groups and improve existing skills or develop new ones [ 5 ].

In science, the number of researchers holding a doctoral degree and looking for postdoc positions has doubled in less than 2 decades [ 4 ]. However, the number of new academic jobs has not kept pace with this increase. Despite their restricted career prospects, stemming from the highly competitive environment they face [ 4 , 6 – 9 ], most postdocs wish to remain in research, and nonacademic career paths are often seen as failure [ 8 , 10 – 14 ]. At the same time, specific training that emphasizes lab management or transferable skills, opportunities to transition into alternative career paths, and coaching on complementary skills are scarce [ 15 , 16 ]. As early-stage researchers are often encouraged to broaden their experience through a stay abroad [ 2 ], a postdoctoral position is frequently accompanied by a geographical transition, along with all the challenges of living in a different country and leaving circles of friends and networks of colleagues [ 17 , 18 ].

Postdoctoral associations can improve the quality of the postdoctoral experience and provide support for professional development and everyday working life. Unlike graduate students, postdocs do not have classmates to whom they can turn for support and networking; therefore, a structure that facilitates their integration into their institution can instantly improve their quality of life. As postdocs pay neither tuition nor student fees, institutions dedicate substantially fewer resources to them, even though they constitute a large fraction of the labor force and, together with PhD students, are the major engine driving research. Therefore, a postdoc association can contribute significantly to the professional development of postdoctoral researchers by organizing networking and career events, thus widening their prospects [ 19 ]. An established postdoctoral association can facilitate open communication with the host institution and administrative bodies while also helping to develop a nurturing research environment. Additionally, active participation in an association will help postdocs prepare for leadership roles outside the lab and strengthen their curricula vitae (CVs) [ 20 ]. At present, only a small number of postdocs spend time developing additional skills beyond research skills during their postdoctoral period.

A postdoctoral association is beneficial not only for the postdocs but also for the hosting institution, as clear communication and representation of postdoc problems or needs leads to a better work environment. Top-level research is just a part of the puzzle that attracts talent to an institution. A positive work environment is self-reinforcing: open communication and internal networking support one another, and together, they create an environment that is creative, fun, hardworking, and highly productive [ 21 ].

In the United States, postdoctoral associations are present in many research institutes and universities, and the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) organizes an annual conference, besides providing resources for postdocs and (where present) for postdoctoral offices [ 1 ]. However, there is little central coordination of different local associations. In the rest of the world, postdoc associations are sporadic and even more isolated than in the US. By sharing our experience in starting and running a postdoc association, and the challenges and joys we encountered, we wish to encourage postdocs to start other postdoc associations.

To start and run a postdoctoral association, we suggest the following 10 basic steps.

Rule 1: Recruit a handful of motivated postdocs interested in starting a postdoc association

Call a meeting and advertise it by putting up flyers throughout research buildings, seminar rooms, libraries, and cafeterias and by talking directly to your own colleagues. Expect only a handful of attendees—but those who will show up will most likely express interest in setting up a postdoctoral association. Define the general aims of the association. The initial mission of a postdoc association can be very generic at first—for example, to enhance scientific interactions among postdocs and improve the quality of their personal life. Later, it can be tailored for the specific needs of your institution.

Rule 2: Work together with other entities within the institution, such as human resources and senior administration

Links with administrators in graduate and postdoctoral offices, human resources, communications, grant management, and international offices are fundamental. It is important to facilitate discussions between postdocs and other entities within the institution in order to make the community more inclusive and integrated and to encourage collaboration and sharing of ideas. The postdoc association can work together with administrators, for example, to gather data on postdoc needs, keep an up-to-date email list of all postdocs, establish an alumni database of graduates who are working scientists, and set up a common calendar of events. This facilitates internal institutional networking and promotes personal and scientific relationships between present and past researchers of the institution [ 22 ]. Ideally, every institution should create a postdoctoral service office or similar unit (run by permanent employees) to keep postdoctoral researchers engaged in planning their careers and foster programs for their benefit [ 23 ]. The dearth of such postdoctoral offices and representatives is a significant reason why the challenges and problems of postdoc life remain practically invisible. If creating a postdoctoral office is not feasible (for example, if an institution does not have enough postdocs), the institution could consider giving the responsibility of supervising postdoctoral researchers to an existing administrative office—for example, to the graduate office. Participation in university committees and regular meetings with the relevant dean or the institution’s chancellor or director of the institution are important opportunities for discussing postdoc issues and representing postdoc interests.

Rule 3: Call for official elections of the association board and write statutes

Approximately 5–10 representatives, meeting monthly, should constitute the board of the association. The representatives should be elected by postdoctoral researchers themselves, and their mandate should be annual, as postdocs are often hired for 1 or 2 years. Nominees should include postdocs from multiple departments in order to guarantee diversity and the expression of various interests. After its election, the board should elect a president and a vice-president. Besides these 2 roles, in our experience, it might be difficult to define a specific structure for young associations. In the beginning, roles and responsibilities should be flexible, as postdocs come and go and also need to deal with their own deadlines and core responsibilities as researchers. When the association is more mature and well established within the institution, and when successful generational turnover of the postdoctoral representatives is therefore supported, you can define clearer structures, procedures, and roles for officers or board members [ 24 ]. As the workload for active postdoctoral representatives can be heavy, even when convening to address administrative matters, it is advisable to try avoiding meetings that last for more than 1 hour so that people are able to return to their other pressing duties. If the institution has a high percentage of international postdoctoral fellows, the board should be required to encompass representatives from different nationalities, thus gathering diverse views and opinions. Bear in mind that even an experienced postdoctoral association will face problems with issues such as the recruitment of new representatives and overcoming generational change, and this is particularly true for a newborn association. A successful strategy for volunteer recruitment should include extensive advertisement (both physical and electronic, for example, via a postdoc email list), active networking at social events and initiatives, and practical support on advertisement from administrative and human resource offices. The statutes of the postdoctoral association should be clear, concise, and distributed together with the aims of the association, by the human resource office to every new postdoc joining the institution, as part of a welcome package.

Rule 4: Listen to the needs of your colleagues by running regular surveys and organize events to respond to different needs

As a first initiative of the newly founded postdoctoral association, organize a short meeting, inviting all postdocs, and distribute an anonymous questionnaire to help you understand their needs in your institution. The survey could include detailed questions on gender, dependents living with postdocs, satisfaction with salaries or working conditions, and long-term career goals (inter alia). All of this information will help in planning more useful events and understanding postdoc life generally. One’s colleagues may not just want to get classic scientific training but may be eager to learn complementary skills, create connections to local companies, or just put together sport tournaments among colleagues. As a general rule, tailor the location, timing, and content of events to postdoc needs so that they are motivated to attend. For example, these events should be organized on or near campus, around lunchtime, at the end of working hours, or at another convenient time; this way, people can show up for an hour and then return to work or go home.

Rule 5: Provide support for international postdocs

Many researchers move abroad for their postdoctoral research; therefore, they can feel out of place and isolated in an unfamiliar culture and can find it difficult to integrate socially as they spend most of their time working (a vicious cycle). If your institution lacks an international or diversity office, provide support for international postdocs yourselves and ensure that their particular needs are addressed. This means connecting with administrative and human resource personnel who can help in integrating newcomers. A postdoctoral association can support international postdocs by offering international lunches or coffee hours or by promoting the culture of the hosting country, for example, by organizing visits to exhibitions or restaurants. Together with the administration, the association should also provide language courses. Institutions that ensure social integration of postdoctoral fellows are more easily able to attract talent from abroad, which means this should also be a priority from an institutional perspective. A description of the association should be present on the institution’s website, together with information on past events.

Rule 6: Organize and promote career development events

Organize career events and professional development courses for postdocs and help to educate postdocs on the transferable skills they have that will be useful for promoting their careers both inside and outside academia. Various companies run tailored workshops for transferable skill development or project management. Unfortunately, not all institutions can afford to outsource this kind of training; therefore, while looking for an external sponsor (see Rule 10 ), the postdoc association, together with the postdoctoral office, can take advantage of internal know-how. For example, you could recruit principal investigators for mock interview workshops in which they explain the application path for academic positions and give tips and suggestions for successful proposals, CVs, and interviews [ 25 ]. In addition, you could invite successful alumni pursuing careers outside of classic academic research to share their personal career paths and lessons. Many postdocs do not know where to find nonacademic career options or how to prepare for them. People who have experienced such situations can advise on choosing next career steps, considering not only the responsibilities of positions and postdocs’ desired salary ranges but also their desired lifestyles. These meetings enable postdocs to talk about their career plans, do professional development activities, and ideally, network with scientists who have completed a PhD but moved outside of academia into the domains of industry, scientific publishing, technical sales, start-ups, teaching and academic support, and so on.

Rule 7: Get visibility in your institution, using social networks, newsletters, and flyers

Every postdoctoral researcher joining the institution should automatically become part of the association and the postdoc mailing list and thus should be regularly informed about ongoing events and programs. In addition to the mailing list, the association should promote events using a periodic newsletter and flyers. If possible, there should be dedicated spaces in high-traffic areas for posters, flyers, and information on the association. A dedicated website, linked to social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, should include a short description of the aims of the association, the profiles of the elected representatives, and past and upcoming events. This can be used by the association to disseminate information to current and past postdocs and additionally gives geographically unrestricted visibility, facilitating networking with other associations. Furthermore, postdocs considering moving to the host institution can get in touch through social media or the website and get a sense of the local community.

Rule 8: Build a community by organizing social events

Balance scientific events with social events. Encourage networking and exchange of ideas by organizing monthly meet-up events for postdocs in an informal setting, such as dinners out, visits to exhibitions/museums, seasonal barbecues, or sport groups (see also Rule 5 ). These activities can create a supportive peer group and integrate postdocs, helping members socialize, make friends, and discuss work or career steps.

Rule 9: Network with other postdoctoral associations at the national and international levels

In the US, postdoctoral associations are well established in many institutions and give a voice to the postdoctoral community. These associations are supported by the NPA if they apply for membership. In the rest of the world, postdoctoral associations are not coordinated at any level and usually work in isolation; however, even regional coordination between associations can increase the visibility of the postdoctoral community and facilitate access to training, networks, and events. Some examples include the Postdoctoral Association of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), which is active in 5 cities and 4 countries [ 26 ], or the Marie Curie Fellowship Association [ 27 ]. However, the former is still limited to 1 institute, while the latter is restricted to Marie Curie Fellowship winners. Connections with other associations may serve as the basis for shared projects such as joint career events, international symposia, and joint funding applications.

Rule 10: Get sponsored by companies

In order to support large events, you could try to attract a broad range of sponsors and donors such as vendors or industry professionals in different fields of science. For example, you can offer different sponsorship packages, agree to distribute products or company-specific information to event participants, place company logos and links on event websites, or set up promotional booths in event exhibition areas (although you should first check institutional policies, which might limit promotional opportunities or the types of events that can be funded). Vendor fairs and scientific talks given by company representatives are some examples of sponsored events that postdoc associations can use for fundraising. By reaching out directly to participants, sponsoring companies will benefit through advertisement and increased visibility, while postdocs will benefit from the opportunity to hear highly qualified speakers. Group leaders or alumni members who are moving or have moved to industry can provide an extended network of contacts that the association can approach. Companies might also be willing to provide courses by involving their internal human resources and training teams in exchange for the visibility and networking they will garner.

Conclusions

Postdoctoral researchers are often isolated, their careers at the mercy of their principal investigators or advisors. Unlike students, their affiliation is often not to a department but rather to a specific lab. Establishing a postdoctoral association can be a way to foster networks needed for effective support; however, setting up and running a postdoctoral association requires time commitment from active members and so should ideally be promoted by the institution as part of the postdoc experience.

The need for networking and support among postdocs is strong, but getting people involved in initiating a postdoctoral association might nevertheless be seen as a major obstacle. However, based on our experience, we can say that it is feasible and rewarding. Our hope is that after reading this article, many postdoctoral researchers will feel empowered to start a postdoctoral association at their home institutions. Given the temporary nature of the postdoc, it might take multiple generations to get an association running at full speed, but this should not discourage its founders from taking the initiative and making this important contribution. A positive postdoctoral experience should include establishment of a solid network of colleagues. Accordingly, institutions should motivate postdoctoral fellows to stay in touch with one another and to continuously expand their networks in the present and future.

Finally, we encourage existing postdoctoral associations to network at the national and international levels, taking as an example the NPA in the US. There are a few independent postdoc associations in the European Union that would greatly benefit from coordination with the aim of setting up scientific meetings, networking, applying for common funding for advanced training, and gathering information on postdoctoral lives, career prospects, and needs. As there is no census of existing postdoctoral associations in Europe, and only a small number of reports discuss working conditions, salaries, gender inequality, training, or institutional support, networking would yield excellent opportunities to start collecting this information.

The IFOM (Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro [FIRC] Institute of Molecular Oncology) Postdoc Association is a newborn association based at IFOM, Milan (Italy), and it would be exciting to see it grow through networking with other Italian and European postdoctoral associations.

Acknowledgments

The authors of this article met through the IFOM Postdoctoral Association (IPA, [email protected] ). We would like to acknowledge our colleagues who served as board members in 2016: Sina Atashpaz, Christopher Bruhn, Carmen Livi, Chiara Malinverno, Umberto Restuccia, and Maria Vinciguerra. We are in debt to Elena Bauer, Mio Sumie, and Marina Properzi for administrative support. The establishment of IPA was encouraged and supported by Marco Foiani, the IFOM scientific director, and the founding postdoctoral fellows in 2013 were Yathish Achar, Salvatore Cortellino, Audrey Laurent, Hiroaki Kajiho, Gema Malet, Muege Ogrunc, Kerstin Schmitz, Barnabas Szakal, Gabriele Varano, and Hans-Peter Wollscheid. We are grateful to Francesco Blasi for his critical reading of the manuscript and to Kristina Havas-Cavalletti for stimulating discussion.

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• 9. Should I become a professor? Success rate 3%! In: smartsciencecareer.com [Internet]. [cited 26 Jun 2017] http://www.smartsciencecareer.com/become-a-professor/
• 12. The postdoc experience: hopes and fears. In: timeshighereducation.com [Internet]. [cited 26 Jun 2017] https://www.timeshighereducation.com/the-postdoc-experience-hopes-and-fears
• 13. Academia doesn’t have a PhD problem, it has an attitude problem. In: contemplativemammoth.com [Internet]. [cited 26 Jun 2017] https://contemplativemammoth.com/2013/06/19/academia-doesnt-have-a-phd-problem-it-has-an-attitude-problem/
• 21. The 50 best companies to work for in America. In: businessinsider.com [Internet]. [cited 26 Jun 2017] http://www.businessinsider.com/payscale-best-companies-to-work-for-in-america-2016-4
• 24. CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS—MIT Postdoctoral Association. In: mit.edu [Internet]. [cited 26 Jun 2017] https://pda.mit.edu/about/bylaws/
• 26. Postdoctoral Programme—Postdoctoral Association—EMBL. In: embl.de [Internet]. [cited 26 Jun 2017] https://www.embl.de/training/postdocs/12-postdoc_assoc/index.html
• 27. Marie Curie Alumni Association. In: mariecuriealumni.eu [Internet]. [cited 26 Jun 2017] https://www.mariecuriealumni.eu/

Psi-k: 1 PhD and 1 Postdoctoral Position in Condensed Matter Theory

Job listings.

New post from ortmann

1 PhD and 1 Postdoctoral Position in Condensed Matter Theory

Technical University of Munich is seeking two Research Associates (f/m/d) one for a PhD position and one for a Postdoctoral position, both in the fields of electronic structure theory and electron dynamics modeling for new materials.

The postdoc position will focus on advancing the Linear-Scaling Wannier Optics methodology within the Bethe-Salpeter Equation framework. The PhD position will focus on simulating charge transport in polymer fibers.

More information on how to apply can be found here. Deadline: 2.5.2024.

https://psi-k.net/jobs/1-phd-and-1-postdoctoral-position-in-condensed-mat

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Ab initio (from electronic structure) calculation of complex processes in materials.

100 Best universities for Mechanical Engineering in Russia

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Russia ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 714K citations received by 136K academic papers made by 158 universities in Russia was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Moscow State University

For Mechanical Engineering

2. Tomsk State University

3. St. Petersburg State University

4. Bauman Moscow State Technical University

5. Ufa State Aviation Technical University

6. Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University

7. Tomsk Polytechnic University

8. Ural Federal University

9. South Ural State University

10. National Research University Higher School of Economics

11. Moscow Aviation Institute

12. Novosibirsk State University

13. ITMO University

14. N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute

15. National Research Nuclear University MEPI

16. Kazan Federal University

17. National University of Science and Technology "MISIS"

18. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

19. Samara National Research University

20. Moscow State Technological University "Stankin"

21. Novosibirsk State Technical University

22. RUDN University

23. Southern Federal University

24. Saratov State University

25. Ufa State Petroleum Technological University

26. Samara State Technical University

27. Siberian Federal University

28. Kazan National Research Technical University named after A.N. Tupolev - KAI

29. Perm State Technical University

30. Omsk State Technical University

31. Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University

32. Moscow Polytech

33. Saint-Petersburg Mining University

34. Magnitogorsk State Technical University

35. Saratov State Technical University

36. Moscow State University of Railway Engineering

37. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod

38. Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University

39. Tula State University

40. Belgorod State Technological University

41. Far Eastern Federal University

42. Novgorod State University

43. belgorod state university.

44. Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation

45. Moscow Medical Academy

46. Kazan State Technological University

47. Russian State University of Oil and Gas

48. siberian state aerospace university.

49. Tambov State Technical University

50. Voronezh State University

51. Siberian State Industrial University

52. Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology

53. Kalashnikov Izhevsk State Technical University

54. St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering

55. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia

56. Murmansk State Technical University

57. South-Western State University

58. Ogarev Mordovia State University

59. Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics

60. south-russian state university of economics and service.

61. Perm State University

62. Kuzbass State Technical University

63. Russian National Research Medical University

64. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

65. Ulyanovsk State Technical University

66. Ulyanovsk State University

67. Penza State University

68. Kuban State University of Technology

69. Polzunov Altai State Technical University

70. Chelyabinsk State University

71. Yaroslavl State University

72. University of Tyumen

73. National Research University of Electronic Technology

74. Leningrad State University

75. Moscow State Pedagogical University

76. Udmurt State University

77. Irkutsk State University

78. North-Eastern Federal University

79. Bashkir State University

80. Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

81. Kuban State University

82. Kuban State Agricultural University

83. St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation

84. Kemerovo State University

85. Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

86. Orenburg State University

87. Baltic State Technical University "Voenmeh"

88. Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building

89. Chuvash State University

90. ivanovo state power university.

91. Irkutsk National Research Technical University

92. Orel State University

93. State University of Management

94. Tomsk State Pedagogical University

95. Volgograd State University

96. Petrozavodsk State University

97. Tver State University

98. Northern Arctic Federal University

99. Omsk State Transport University

100. Kaliningrad State Technical University

The best cities to study Mechanical Engineering in Russia based on the number of universities and their ranks are Moscow , Tomsk , Saint Petersburg , and Ufa .

Engineering subfields in Russia

CREEES Professional Resources Forum

Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies at The University of Texas at Austin

Academic Job: Postdoctoral research positions, HSE (Moscow)

Deadline to apply: february 15, 2018, the job involves:.

• Working under the supervision of Oleg Budnitskii, the Center’s Director, and Michael David-Fox, the Academic advisor at the International Center for the History and Sociology of World War II and Its Consequences
• Participants are encouraged to pursue their own research that is thematically related to the Center’s research project on the history of World War II and wartime Stalinism, as well as on other topics dealing with Soviet history and culture more broadly
• Writing research papers for international peer-reviewed journals
• Providing consultations on writing scholarly papers in English to Russian colleagues and students
• Participation in organization of the events and other contribution to the Center’s development
• Public presentations of candidate’s own research to the researchers in the field and the broader academic community
• Some teaching is encouraged, though not required.

Requirements:

• PhD from an international research university in the field of Soviet or Modern European History or other related fields,
• Publication record in English or potential for producing high-quality research publications,
• Ability to work in a team,
• Fluent English

General conditions for Post-Doctoral Research positions can be found  here . Appointments will be normally made for one year. They assume internationally competitive compensation and other benefits including medical insurance.

A CV and research statement should be submitted via  online application form and two letters of recommendation should be submitted be the referees directly to [email protected] by February 15, 2018. Please note that direct applications to the hiring laboratory may not be reviewed.

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The Appaloosa Horse Club

The Appalossa Horse Club (ApHC) is an international breed registry located in town called Moscow, in Idaho, USA. The club is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Appaloosa breed. Among all the Appaloosa horse registries, the ApHC is by far the largest one.

Today, Appaloosa organizations affiliated with ApHC exist in many countries.

Registration

According to ApHC rules, the Appaloosa is “ a breed defined by ApHC bloodline requirements and preferred characteristics, including coat pattern ”.

To register a horse as Appaloosa with the ApHC, the horse must have two registered Appaloosa parents, or one registered Appaloosa parent + one parent that is registered in one of the other approved breed registries. These approved breed registries are limited to Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses and Arabian Horses.

Exception: If a gelding or spayed mare with unknown pedigree is Appaloosa colored, the owner of the horse can apply to have it registered with the ApHC under the Hardship Registration clause.

Additional rules

• A horse that meets the bloodline requirements without displaying the recognized color pattern can still register with the ApHC. It will be registered as a non-characteristic Appaloosa. Non-characteristic Appaloosas can only be shown at ApHC events if a DNA test has proven that it has the required parentage, and the owner pays an extra fee to enter the horse into the ApHC Performance Permit Program (PPP).
• The ApHC size requirement for a mature Appaloosa is at least 14 hands unshod. Sufficiently young horses can be registered even if they are smaller than this (even though it is impossible to know if they will fulfill the requirement as they mature).
• A horse with excessive white markings not associated with the Appaloosa pattern (e.g. the markings associated with a pinto horse) can only be registered if DNA testing proves that both parents are ApHC registered.

ApHC horse shows

Every year, the ApHC holds three nationally recognized horse shows:

• The National Appaloosa Show
• The World Championship Appaloosa Show
• The Youth World Championship Appaloosa Show

Appaloosa racing

Horses that perform well in Appaloosa races can earn various awards from the ApHC, such as regional ApHC awards and year-end awards. There is also the Racing Register of Merit.

The ApHC records world records and track records for Appaloosa racehorses.

The Appaloosa Competitive All-breed Activities Program (ACAAP)

The Appaloosa Competitive All-breed Activities Program (ACAAP) was created to make it possible for the ApHC to recognize achievements in all-breed competitions where Appaloosas partake.

The National Color Breeding Racing Council

Since 1994, the National Color Breeding Racing Council has promoted Appaloosa racing and Paint racing as a joint venture.

The Appaloosa Breeders’ Trust

The use of Furosemide and Acetazolamide

Since 2007, the ApHC allows Appaloosas to show even if they are being treated with the drugs furosemide and acetazolamide.

Furosemide (trade name: Lasix) is used to prevent bleeding in horses that are inclined to bleed from the nose when carrying out strenuous work, e.g. during a race.

Acetazolamide is used to prevent seizures in horses who suffer from a genetic condition known as Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP). According to ApHC rules, only a horse tested positive for HYPP is allowed to show while being treated with acetazolamide.

Permitting these two drugs are controversial, since they can be used as drug maskers and make it more difficult to detect the presence of other drugs in the horse. Both the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), which governs international and Olympic equestrian competitions, ban the use of furosemide.

The American Appaloosa Association

In 1983, The American Appaloosa Association was formed as a reaction against a rule change that made it possible for certain plain-colored horses to be included in the ApHC registry. The American Appaloosa Association is based in Missouri.

Todd A. Brun

Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California

Postdoctoral research​ position in the theory of​ modern quantum algorithms, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Moscow, Russia

Applications are invited for ​a postdoctoral research​ position in the theory of​ modern quantum algorithms.

The position will be held at ​Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Moscow, Russia. ​The start date is flexible but we would like to fill these position(s) as soon as possible.

The successful applicant will work in the research laboratory structure led by Prof. Jacob Biamonte in the general area of quantum computation, with a focus on quantum enhanced algorithms and error mitigation on experimental devices.

The overarching project goals include:

• Develop, optimize, and benchmark variational quantum algorithms (e.g. QAOA and VQE).
• Implement quantum information processing tasks using trapped ions and optical networks available in Moscow.
• Integrate quantum computing methods with ​tensor network theory and/or machine learning.

The applicant should expect​ ​interaction with experimental collaborators from Skoltech, MSU and leading theory research groups overseas. In particular, applicants​ will join an ongoing collaboration between Skoltech, RQC and Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (LPI RAS).

Applicants are expected to have some familiarity with Python and be able to assist in conducting the research of 2-3 extremely talented PhD students. ​Applicants must have a relevant PhD and convincing experience to undertake this level of research.

Applications should be sent to ​ [email protected] ​ and should include:

• a motivation letter
• a CV including a list of publications
• a list of there references
• a research statement

The position(s) will remain open until filled.

About Skoltech . Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology is a unique English-speaking international graduate only research university, located in Skolkovo, just outside of Moscow. Established in collaboration with M.I.T., Skoltech integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century innovation. Skoltech’s Laboratory for Quantum Information Processing is led by Prof. Jacob Biamonte.