Call for Nominations: 2019-2020 PDA Executive Officers

AGM, Events, Executive, Professional Development

We are excited to announce the call for nominations for candidates to be part of the UBC Postdoctoral Association’s 2019-2020 Executive Team!

Indicate your intent to run by Friday March 8th!

  • Represent the postdoc community
  • Gain leadership and management experience
  • Organize professional development, research and networking events
  • Interact with big-name academics, advocates, and UBC leadership

The PDA is run by Elected Volunteer Officers (the President and 6 Vice-Presidents). All 7 positions will be elected for the 2019-2020 year at our Annual General Meeting, held on Monday, March 11th in the Biomedical Research Centre, room 351 at 5 pm. A list of open positions and a description of their roles can be found below.

All UBC postdocs and research associates are encouraged to attend the AGM on March 11th for the elections. The event will be followed by a celebration with food and drinks!

Self-Nomination: Download the UBC PDA nomination form here. Please fill out this form and return it to ubc.postdoc@gmail.com along with a recent photo and a short Letter of Interest (100-200 words) detailing why you would like to serve and any relevant experience.

Further details

Eligibility: Candidates must be UBC Postdoctoral Fellows or Research Associates (see the constitution for specific restrictions).

Term: Officers are elected for 1 year, beginning 1 April 2019 and concluding 31 March 2020.

Service on the Executive Committee: Officers are expected to attend, either in person or remotely, the majority of the Executive Committee meetings held monthly, as well as major PDA events.

Commitment: On average, the President attends 2 meetings a month (5-10 hours a month), while the VPs attend 1-2 meetings a month (2-7 hours a month)

All Officer positions are open for election. Interested PDA members may also join the PDA executive as non-elected Committee Members at this (or any other) time. See below for more info on the available positions:

  • President
  • VP Operations
  • VP External
  • VP Communications
  • VP Social
  • VP Finance
  • VP Research Associates
  • Committee Members (non-elected)

The UBC PDA President shall:

Act as the public face of the PDA to:

  1. Speak on behalf of the PDA at orientation and wherever appropriate
  2. Understand the needs of PDA members and ensure equal representation across departments

Be responsible for meetings of the PDA Executive members to:

  1. Chair and set the agenda for meetings
  2. Ensure proper operation of the meetings
  3. Take minutes at meetings, or designate a member to do so
  4. Manage copies of the minutes, agendas, and any other materials

Be responsible for the execution of decisions by the PDA Executives

Lead the Annual General Meeting and PDA Elections

Work together with the VP-Communications to:

  1. Direct content for communication to members of the UBC postdoc community
  2. Manage and update the website
  3. Respond to emails
  4. Direct the advertisement of PDA events.

Work together with the VP-External to:

  1. Collaborate and communicate with the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars
  2. Raise awareness of postdoctoral issues and find avenues of support

Work together with the VP-Social to create a calendar of social events and ensure a broad outreach.

Work together with the VP-Operations to:

  1. Liaise effectively with the UBC Postdoctoral Fellows Office and Dean’s Office
  2. Represent the PDA during meetings with UBC faculty, staff and administrators
  3. Coordinate the Executive Members of the PDA

Work together with the VP-Finance to:

  1. Ensure responsible stewardship over the annual budget when planning events
  2. Be aware of revenue outflow and inflow

**President and/or VP-External may have the opportunity to attend the annual CAPA/CAPS Meeting or the CSPC meeting.

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The UBC PDA VP-Operations shall:

  1. Organize professional development activities for postdocs.
  2. Set up regular PDA meetings via doodle polls and arrange suitable venues on/off campus
  3. Organize non-social UBC-PDA events
  4. Attend and participate in meetings of the PDA executive members
  5. Assist in all PDA executive members plan.
  6. Perform duties of the President, in the event of absence or illness of the President

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The UBC PDA VP-External shall:

  1. Raise the voice of UBC postdoctoral fellows at regional and national platforms through participation and dialogues with the Canadian Association for Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS-ACSP)
  2. Build and promote alliance with various BC industrial sectors to create opportunities for researchers outside academia
  3. Work with CAPS-ACSP to create and sustain dialogue with legislators to acknowledge the role of postdoctoral fellows and research associates to Canadian economy
  4. Address or raise awareness for issues relevant to postdoctoral fellows and research associates
  5. Work with the UBC PDA executive team to ensure smooth running of the organization and liaise with its partners

**President and/or VP-External may have the opportunity to attend the annual CAPA/CAPS Meeting or the CSPC meeting.

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The UBC PDA VP-Communications shall:

  1. Be responsible for the development of the communication strategy
  2. Manage communication activities that promote, enhance, and protect the PDA’s brand reputation
  3. Responsible for disseminating news items relevant to UBC postdocs, in the form of a monthly newsletter
  4. Work with the President in planning content for the PDA newsletters
  5. Work with the President to recognize internal and external communications opportunities
  6. Work with the President in managing communications on the PDA’s Facebook page and Twitter
  7. Exercise judgment to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare presentations and other supporting material as needed during events
  8. Work with the team to maintain and continuously improve the PDA website
  9. Promote events
  10. Support the communications needs of the PDA and the Postdoctoral Fellows Office

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The UBC PDA VP-Social shall:

  1. Attend and participate in the three PDFO orientations each year
  2. Advertise the PDA to the new postdocs
  3. Deliver the “Getting to Know Vancouver” talk at the PDFO orientations
  4. Organize a social for postdocs following the PDFO orientation
  5. Assist in the planning, advertising and execution of regular social and networking events for postdocs, including the annual:
    1. Whistler trip (organize to/from Whistler and reserve accommodation at the UBC lodge)
    2. “3 Minute Postdoc Slam” competition (assist all PDA executive members plan)
    3. “UBC Postdoc Research Day” (assist all PDA executive members plan)
    4. Holiday party (venue reservation and run games e.g. “white elephant”)
  6. Organize monthly social events for the PDA community
  7. Attend and participate in meetings of the PDA executive members, which include booking public venues on/off UBC campus

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The UBC PDA VP-Finance shall:

  1. Draft an annual budget for submission to UBC
  2. Oversee correct use and spending of the UBC PDA budget and liaise with Life Science Institute (LSI) admin staff
  3. Maintain up-to-date records pertaining to PDA finances
  4. Be responsible for liasing with the PDA’s banking institution and preparing cheques for reimbursements
  5. Help organize events (3-Minute Postdoc Slam, Postdoctoral Research Day, seminars in general)
  6. Arrange for an annual audit of the PDA finances at the end of the fiscal year

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Executive Committee Members:

These are volunteer, non-elected positions. The Executive committee members assist in the planning, organization and execution of various PDA events, and may also aid in aspects of the PDFO orientation as needed. They serve as valued helpers and members of the team.

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