September 21-25, 2026, is National Postdoc Appreciation Week. Since 2009, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has sponsored this annual celebration to recognize the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to research and scientific discovery. Check out the NPA website to view the virtual and in-person events being held this week.
This week, BPS will be highlighting postdoc members on the blog. Today, read about Semiha Kevser Bali, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Background & Inspiration
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Can you tell us a little about your background and what brought you to your current postdoc position? What inspired you to pursue research in your field?
I am a computational chemist, although my undergraduate training was in Molecular biology and
Genetics at Bogazici University in Turkey. During college, I realized I was especially interested
in computational research, which led me to complete an internship in Dr. Viktorya Aviyente’s
computational chemistry research lab, where I later earned my master’s degree. Afterward, I
moved to Michigan to pursue my Ph.D. at Michigan State University, and I used computational
chemistry approaches to study forever chemicals (PFAS) and support the design of new drugs for
tuberculosis. Computational chemistry is a highly interdisciplinary field that brings together
chemistry, biology, and physics to investigate and understand the molecular behavior that can be
difficult to observe experimentally, and it was this combination that drew me to the field in the
first place.
Daily Work & Routine
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What does a typical day look like for you as a postdoc?
My day usually starts by checking my email, reviewing my schedule, and preparing for any
meetings. The rest of the day may involve setting up and monitoring simulations, analyzing data,
writing or debugging scripts, reading scientific papers, and discussing results with collaborators
and project team. I also spend time troubleshooting and deciding what the next set of calculations
should be. Every day is a little different depending on the stage of each project.
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Do you have a favorite part of your daily routine—or a task you look forward to most?
One of my favorite parts of my work is figuring out how to turn a scientific question into something
we can investigate computationally. Computational research is not simply a matter of running a
simulation and waiting for an answer. Before starting any calculations, we have to decide which
methods and simulations are best suited to the question. I enjoy this problem solving process, and
it is especially rewarding when the simulation results help better understand a molecular system
or lead to new questions and ideas.
Personal Touch
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How do you balance life in the lab with life outside of it?
Both my spouse and I are busy during the week, so we make an effort to spend time together and
plan activities with friends on the weekends. We enjoy hiking, playing board games and video
games, trying new restaurants, and cooking at home. We also share our home with three senior
cats, who keep us busy and are always very eager to taste-test the new recipes that we cook.
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What hobbies or activities help you recharge after work?
I enjoy growing vegetables and herbs in my balcony. I first started it during my Ph.D. and have
been continuing since then. Taking care of the plants is a relaxing change of pace, and it
particularly feels rewarding when I can use these vegetables/herbs in my cooking. I am also a big
fan of science fiction and enjoy an episode (or two) of TV series after work.
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Any fun lab quirks?
I have an under desk treadmill that helps me focus while I work. It is a habit that developed while
working from home during my Ph.D. and I found that walking is surprisingly helpful for
maintaining my concentration, especially when reading or writing papers.
Advice & Future
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What advice would you give to someone just starting a postdoc?
I believe it is important to find a research group and mentor whose working style, expectations,
and research interests align with your goals. A postdoc is an opportunity not only to strengthen
your technical expertise but also to learn how to collaborate effectively, communicate your
research, and become a more independent scientist, and these skills are not always part of a
traditional scientific training. This was one of the reasons I chose LLNL for my postdoctoral
training: the laboratory provides postdocs with dedicated time for professional development,
which they can use to take courses to learn new technical skills, or attend workshops focused on
areas such as communication, leadership, and project management.
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Where do you see yourself heading next in your career?
I would love to continue building a career as a computational chemist, developing new approaches
to understand complex molecular systems and address challenges in areas such as drug discovery,
human health, and the environment. My goal is to work closely with both other computational and
experimental researchers and lead/contribute to projects with a meaningful scientific and societal
impact.