UBC Career Days 2017

Events, Professional Development

UBC Career Days
When? October 18 and 19, 11am-5pm
Where? AMS student Nest, 6133 University Boulevard 

Considering what to do after your postdoc is over? Thinking of opportunities outside academia? UBC Career Days job fair is the place for you!

With over 120 exhibitors, this is your chance to get in touch with your future employer!  UBC’s largest career fair presents a chance to talk with HR recruiters, and company representatives at their booth. It’s also a great opportunity for networking in a relaxed environment.

This year, for the first time, the UBC PDA has worked with the organizers to ensure that recruiters relevant to postdocs will be in attendance.

We will also be at the fair to help you out! Make sure you drop by the UBC-PDA stand (on the Atrium level) where we’ll point you in the right direction for the most relevant employers.

PDA Social Event: Great Climate Race

Events, Socials

Join the PDA team at the Great Climate Race in the morning of October 29 – a 10km race/walk (whatever you prefer) along the seawall of beautiful Stanley Park. It’s not just any race – it’s one with environmental awareness. Look forward to a unique experience filled with costumes, theatrics, technology displays, fun and surprises!

Cost: Registration is free this year. 🙂
Bring: If you like, you can run/walk in a costume. 🙂

Excited? Resister with our team, or email Jessica for further information, including meeting time, etc.

PDA Social Event: PDA Holiday Party

Events, Socials

Join us for our annual PDA Holiday Party on Tuesday, 12 December at 7:00pm at Nuba in Kitsilano! Let’s celebrate the festive season together while enjoying a delicious Lebanese buffet. Nuba offers fresh, organic food, and has many vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Cost: The UBC PDA is subsidizing this event and cost will be ~$20 per person (including 5% tax and 18% gratuity) for the Sharing Menu. You have to pay extra for drinks.

Bring: If you would like to take part in a game of Thieving Secret Santa, please bring one wrapped gender-neutral gift (Value – $10-15).

RSVP by Thursday, November 30. We have booked a semi-private room (The Courtyard) with a limited number of seats. Places will be based on a first come first serve basis. Please contact Jessica, if you have any questions.

Research Day 2017 Abstract Submission

Events, Seminars

Abstract submission is now closed.

Please only follow this if you have registered to present a poster but have not yet sent us your abstract.

Find all the information about the event here.

We invite abstract submission from all postdoctoral fellows and research associates currently working at UBC departments and affiliated institutes. You can submit an abstract to be considered for a talk, a poster, or both. We will accept all eligible poster presenters.

Talks will be 15 minutes in length, including 5 minutes at the end for questions. Talks and posters will be judged, with prizes awarded to the best 3 of each type – $150/$100/$50 for talks and $75/$50/$25 for posters!

First, register online for the event.

The conference will be attended by postdocs, students, faculty, and others from all departments and institutes at UBC. Therefore, it is important to target abstracts, talks, and posters for a general, non-expert audience. The judges will also have a broad range of expertise, and suitability for the audience will be a factor in their scoring.

Abstracts should be no more than 250 words; no tables or graphics are permitted. Abstracts will be selected for oral presentations based on quality, interest and suitability for a general audience, and to prioritise a diverse programme.

Download the abstract template.

Please download and complete the abstract template, and email the completed document to us. To be eligible for participation, abstracts for posters must be received by 26th November.

UBC Postdoc Research Day 2017

Events, Professional Development, Seminars

DATE: Monday 4th December
VENUE: Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, Vancouver Campus, UBC
TIME: Research Day 09:00-17:30; Evening Reception 17:30 – 20:00

Event Program

Check out our event report here.

Registration is now closed – Free event!
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CLOSED

The UBC Postdoctoral Association Research Day is back, and bigger than ever! For the first time, this will be a full-day event in a new venue with expanded capacity.

The event will bring together postdoctoral researchers from across UBC faculties and affiliated institutions to share their findings. There will be research talks, as well as poster sessions. Prizes will be awarded for the best 3 of each presentation type – $150/$100/$50 for talks and $75/$50/$25 for posters!

As well as postdocs sharing their research, there will be a keynote presentation from a prominent UBC faculty member, Dr. Lori Brotto, and a panel discussion on postdoc careers with professionals who have recently made the transition from being postdocs themselves.

The event will be fully catered with coffee breaks, a light lunch, and an evening networking reception.

All postdocs, research associates, students, and faculty are welcome to come and hear about the exciting research going on across UBC. Please register online to confirm your attendance.

Contact The UBC PDA if you have any questions.

We are extremely grateful to our sponsors who make this event possible.
Association Sponsor:

Event Sponsors:



Guide for writing letters supporting the Fundamental Science Review

Policy

Here are some tips for if you want to show support for the Fundamental Science Review by writing to your representative.

Letter-Writing Party 2017-2.jpg

Suggestions on writing a letter to your MP, from Evidence for Democracy:

  1. Introduce yourself (consider describing why you chose science and your particular field)
  2. Thank your MP for any federal funding that you or your lab have received – let them know that research funding is appreciated!
  3. Introduce the Naylor Report – info can be found here
  4. Discuss how your research or fundamental research in general benefits ALL Canadians
  5. Make sure to avoid jargon and keep your letter easy to understand!

Sample letters:

From Evidence for Democracy

Letter 1

Letter 2

Find your MP’s name and mailing address here:
(enter your postal code into the search box)

http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members

Note: you don’t need a stamp to send mail to MPs.

Now get writing and show your support for science!

Letter-Writing Party 2017-11.jpg

 

The Associate Dean for Postdocs comments on the Fundamental Science Review

Policy

Canada’s Fundamental Science Review has been released, and it’s a crucial time for Canadian Research.

We asked Dr. Rachel Fernandez, Associate Dean for the Postdoctoral Fellows Office and Student Professional Development over at the UBC PDFO, why the Review is important for UBC’s postdocs. Here’s what she had to say:

Canada’s Fundamental Science Review, or ‘The Naylor Report’ as it has come to be known, outlines a comprehensive plan for the government to support Canada’s research ecosystem, including providing a much-needed boost to investigator-led research and to the training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. If implemented, the increased investment -spread over 4 years – would amount to an additional 0.4% of the national annual budget. This investment will make a difference. It will ensure that newly-minted and seasoned researchers will have their work, deemed to be outstanding by experts, funded instead of being buried because of insufficient funds. It will allow for more diversity in the research ecosystem – both in the type of research being done and the people doing the research.  It will increase our research capacity and provide more opportunities for nurturing innovation. Indeed, implementing the plan outlined in the Naylor Report would be an excellent investment in Canada’s future.

We also asked what action we should be taking:

It is important that we convey to our Members of Parliament, and the public, the value of not just our research but also the significance of the training that we have received and provide. It is also important to express our gratitude for the support that we currently receive. Consider using social media and/or writing to your Member of Parliament, the Hon. Kirsty Duncan (Science Minister who commissioned this report), the Hon. Bill Morneau (Finance Minister), the Hon. Jane Philpott (Health Minister), the Hon. Navdeep Bains (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister) and, of course, our Prime Minister. Tell them a personal story and why you would like them to #SupportTheReport as the #NextGenCanScience.

You can show your support for Canadian research and the Review by coming to the UBC PDA’s letter-writing party, co-organised with Future of Research Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 29.

We hope to see you there!