Since 2009, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has been working with institutions to foster the advancement of postdoc women in academic careers through the NPA ADVANCE project funded by the National Science Foundation ADVANCE-PAID program. In the ADVANCE project, we learned that key providers of professional development for postdoc women were mentors, institutions, and professional societies. Through the Elsevier Advancing Postdoc Women project, we focused our work to examine promising practices found in professional societies and associations.

In 2013, the NPA received a grant from the Elsevier Foundation to conduct a survey of multidisciplinary societies and associations, to assess their programs and resources for postdoc women, and to develop an online clearinghouse. Our goals included learning what professional development opportunities are offered by societies and associations, in various disciplines.