The Kazakh Association of PhDs in North America (KAPNA) was established in February 2023 by a group of Kazakh scholars pursuing their PhDs in the U.S. and Canada. As we navigated our own doctoral journeys, we often leaned on fellow Kazakh students who were going through similar challenges. These informal networks became a source of guidance, encouragement, and solidarity.

Over time, we came to realize that a much larger, yet scattered, community of aspiring and established Kazakh scholars exists across North America. Each of us knew someone, who knew someone else — but there was no common platform to bring us all together. While there are regional and national ethnic communities that connect natives of Kazakhstan, we recognized that the needs and challenges of PhDs are distinct — whether it’s publishing research, presenting at conferences, navigating academic job markets, or understanding immigration pathways after graduation.

That is why KAPNA was created: to unite, support, and empower our growing academic and professional community through connection, mentorship, and shared purpose. Today, our Association brings together 185 members across the U.S. and Canada, representing over two dozen fields — from public policy and mechanical engineering to biomedical sciences, economics, education, and beyond.