Bargaining Committee
Estela Noguera Ortega
Research Associate, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
I want to keep fighting for better work conditions for all of us. We are highly qualified self-motivated people who bring so much value to science and society. We deserve equitable pay, longer contracts, longer visas for internationals, protections in case of termination, and more. In short: we deserve job security!
Juhi Farooqui
Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Our strength is in our (comm)unity. I am proud to be part of this incredible community of postdocs and research associates and am excited to learn more about what matters to you and fight for it. I look forward to working hard to secure a strong contract that affords us meaningful benefits, protections, and dignity.
Monsif Shawky
NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, Cell and Developmental Biology
My name is Monsif Shawky, and I am honored to serve on the bargaining committee for postdocs and research associates at the University of Pennsylvania. I see this role as an opportunity to amplify the voices of the voiceless colleagues—both domestic and international—whose needs are too often overlooked. By uniting our demands and advocating for fair living and working conditions, we can ensure that those who drive scientific discoveries are treated with dignity and respect. Strengthening the foundation for researchers is not only essential for advancing science but also for securing a future in which the benefits of our work extend to our communities, our country, and humanity at large.
Tess Bernhard
Postdoctoral Researcher, Graduate School of Education
Postdocs and research associates are the backbone that allow Penn’s research mission to thrive, and we deserve a contract that reflects our value to the university. I will fight for a contract that not only reflects our value in terms of a higher paycheck, but also recognizes and protects our diverse set of needs. In particular, I want to win a contact with expansive support and protections to the many of us who are starting and raising families. I am excited to work on the bargaining committee to make this a reality for generations of postdocs and RAs to come.
Ryan Fair
Postdoctoral Researcher, Radiology
Postdocs and research associates are vital members of Penn’s community, and essential contributors to academic research broadly. Unfortunately, our current economic and political climate makes it increasingly difficult to continue doing the work we’re passionate about. My focus will be ensuring that our jobs are financially sustainable and well protected, enabling us to thrive in our lives as we continue our work. To achieve this, I will fight for stronger salaries, considerate childcare policies, better retirement benefits, and robust protections for international workers.
Dilara Berkay
Postdoctoral Researcher, Psychology
I look forward to working with my colleagues to better understand their needs in order to build a strong and fair contract that addresses our concerns. By standing together, we can improve our working conditions, strengthen job security, ensure proper support, and protect our international colleagues. I am excited to start working on a contract that will provide us with the respect, support, and protections we all deserve.
Geordan Stukey
Postdoctoral Researcher, Physiology
I’m excited to begin bargaining and working towards a strong contract representing the needs of all members of our community. I want to win improvements in the protections for international workers, better support structures for families, and increased access to retirement benefits. Most of all, I’m excited to talk to other postdocs and research associates about the issues they’re passionate about so we can work together to build better lives for ourselves and future generations here at Penn.
Allison Cohen
NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, Pathobiology
I’m Allison, a third-year postdoc in Pathobiology at Penn Vet. I am excited to continue building community with all my amazing colleagues and learning about their priorities. I am looking forward to fighting for meaningful improvements in our access to benefits, such as transportation subsidies and retirement savings, regardless of where our funding comes from.
William Forrest Drayer
Postdoctoral Researcher, Materials Science and Engineering
For the first time at Penn, research associates and postdocs will collectively bargain for a strong union contract with the administration. I am proud to represent postdocs and RAs and fight for the benefits and protections we deserve as highly skilled researchers at a world class institution. I look forward to securing protections for intellectual property, academic freedom, and free speech for all postdocs and RAs!