Postdoctoral researcher unionization is the formation of labor unions by postdoctoral researchers (postdocs). In many English-speaking countries, postdoctoral researchers are colloquially referred to as "postdocs". The participants are mainly graduate students, postdocs, and young faculty. It has since provided fellowships and childcare support for students and postdocs. There were over thirty postdocs, apprentices and graduate students. Whitesides has mentored more than 300 graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scholars. Around 180 academics, postdocs, visitors and assistant staff work at the department. As of 2014, it has six Fellows in addition to postdocs and visiting scientists. He has been the primary mentor to eight (80) Postdocs and to 34 Doctoral students. He has supervised several PhD students and postdocs. He has mentored hundreds of graduate students and postdocs throughout the course of his career. He has served as major professor for 45 graduate students and 13 postdocs. Postdocs at Rutgers University unionized in July 2009. Two of her fellow postdocs, Bruce Spiegelman and Elaine Fuchs, were to remain lifelong friends. Spivak did postdocs at University of Oregon and MIT.