Olivia K. Cook, a Dean’s Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Psychology and the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University, has earned the 2026 National Postdoc of the Year award from the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). She received the honor on March 13 at the NPA’s annual conference in San Francisco.
Award Recognizes Exceptional Leadership
The accolade highlights Cook’s outstanding contributions to the postdoctoral community through service and leadership that extend far beyond her research responsibilities. These efforts align closely with the NPA’s mission and core values.
Key Initiatives and Advocacy
Debra Ann Fadool, Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, nominated Cook and described her as “tireless” in enhancing the academic training environment. As president of the FSU Postdoctoral Association, Cook launched the “Postdoc of the Month” feature in the Postdoctoral Monthly letter and established “Office Hours” to offer informal guidance to new postdocs.
These programs assist newcomers in adapting to life in Tallahassee, easing their transition into roles, and addressing queries on healthcare and benefits. Cook also led a survey on postdoctoral scholar health and well-being, using the findings to deliver policy recommendations to the university. She strongly advocated for paid parental leave for postdocs.
“This award speaks to the collective efforts of concurrent and former leaders of FSU’s Postdoctoral Association,” Cook stated. “I am hopeful that this platform can bring attention to causes in need of additional advocacy, such as postdocs’ access to healthcare, childcare, and paid parental leave.”
Research Excellence in Child Learning
Brad Schmidt, chair of the Department of Psychology, praised Cook’s work, stating she embodies the award’s spirit. “Through her work with the FSU Postdoctoral Association, she has made contributions way above the norm that will have long-term impacts on current and future postdoctoral scholars at FSU and beyond,” Schmidt said. “She is a great leader to her peers and mentor to graduate and undergraduate students, and also a careful and skilled researcher doing meaningful research to help teachers and parents support children’s learning.”
In Professor Colleen M. Ganley’s Math Thinking and Learning Lab, Cook investigates how foundational skills drive children’s long-term academic success. Her focus includes domain-general cognitive abilities like strategic memory, metacognition, and executive function, alongside domain-specific competencies, motivational factors, STEM learning, and math anxiety.
“Olivia has been an excellent postdoctoral scholar – she is intelligent, hardworking, detail-oriented, a good writer, and a wonderful mentor to undergraduate and graduate students in the lab,” Ganley said.
While managing her service commitments, Cook excels in research on interventions for children’s math anxiety. She contributes significantly to the NSF-funded “Math Lions” study and has published several empirical articles.
