Postdoc Careers Panel at Research Day 2017

Events, Professional Development, Seminars

Postdoc Research Day 2017 is coming up on Monday, 4th December.

This year, the day will end with a Panel Discussion on Postdoc Careers. We have invited 5 panelists who have all recently transitioned from being postdocs into a diverse array of careers.

The discussion will be a chance for you to hear about how they made this transition, how their postdoc experience has influenced their subsequent jobs, and tips for postdocs planning careers going forward.

Our five panelists will be:
Dr. Nirupa Goel, Research and Project Manager, BC Centre for Substance Use (previously a postdoc at UBC)
Dr. Leslie Grad, Manager, Research Programs (Design & Development) at Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (previously a postdoc at UBC)
Dr. Chayne Piscitelli, Scientist, Protein Engineering at Zymeworks Inc. (previously a postdoc at the Paul Scherrer Institute & ETH Zürich)
Dr. Elizabeth Rideout, Assistant Professor at UBC (previously a postdoc at the University of Calgary)
Dr. Mark Romanish, Senior Business Development Officer at STEMCELL Technologies (previously a postdoc at the BC Cancer Research Centre)

We look forward to seeing you at Postdoc Research Day to join in the discussion and see the research presentations from postdocs across UBC! Check out the web page for all the details and online registration.

PDA Whistler Trip is back February 2018 – book now!

Events, Socials

Join us for our annual trip to Whistler on the last weekend of February (23-25 February)! Network with your fellow postdocs, discuss your research, and whether you’d like to ski/snowboard/cross country, there will be something for everyone!

 Cost for Friday & Saturday night’s accommodation: $105.00 per person (including tax)

 Accommodation Details: The The Whistler Lodge is about 2km from Whistler Village. We have booked 2 four bed dorms, which include bed sheets and towels as well as complimentary use of our wifi, pool table, bbq, sauna, and hot tub.

 RSVP here – the deadline is Wednesday, February 7. Places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. You can also organize your own accommodation, and we’ll meet you for the activities.

 Transportation: Car pools are the cheapest option, so if you have a car and can fit a couple of people, please let us know. If we don’t have enough cars, we could rent cars or take public transportation – Greyhound or the Whistler Shuttle can be reasonably cheap when booked in advance.

 Pass and equipment info: You are responsible for purchasing your ski pass and/or equipment rentals. If you purchase an Edge Card online 48 hours in advance, you can save some money. For more info see http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/. Check out the Whistler Blackcomb site for more information relating to passes, rentals, and lessons. Please contact Jessica, if you have any questions.

Postdoc Research Day keynote speaker announced!

Events, Seminars

The UBC PDA is excited to announce that the keynote speaker at Postdoc Research Day 2017 will be Dr. Lori Brotto!

Dr. Brotto is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UBC, a Canada Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health, and Executive Director of the Women’s Health Research Institute at BC Women’s Hospital. She makes frequent media appearances and contributions in relation to sexual health and is a champion of knowledge dissemination.

Her talk will be titled ‘From postdoc to promotion: Making a career out of sexual health’. Here is a summary of what she will cover:

In contemporary times of stress and quick fixes and societal misconceptions about sex, it is perhaps no wonder that a third of individuals experience distressing sexual concerns. This talk will focus on how the practice of acceptance can lead to change with regards to sexual response. It will share the story of how a light-bulb moment during my Postdoctoral Fellowship paved the way for a productive program of research leading to promotion and a book and a number of stumbling blocks along the way.

Postdoc Research Day is an annual event for UBC postdocs to share their research across campus, organised by the UBC PDA. This year’s event will be held on Monday, December 4th – you can find out more here, and submit an abstract to present your work.

UBC endorses the Fundamental Science Review

Policy

The Fundamental Science Review, often referred to as the Naylor Report, was released in April, making wide-ranging recommendations for improvements in Canada’s research climate. These include reorganised oversight, substantial increases in federal funding, and better working conditions and career prospects for early-career researchers. Read more about what it means for postdocs in our summary.

Some of these recommendations have been taken on board by the Federal Government, including the recent creation of a new Chief Science Adviser, and the formation of the Canadian Research Coordinating Committee. However, many of the issues raised by the Review are yet to be addressed – meaning Canadian researchers still need to engage with the public and their representatives to show that they support the Review.

You can speak up for science and make a difference – read our tips on how to write to your MP.

UBC has now fully endorsed the recommendations of the Fundamental Science Review – outlined on the website of the VP Research and Innovation. As part of the endorsement, they have launched a social media video campaign featuring UBC researchers explaining why their work is important and why they #SupportTheReport. Two postdocs, both on the PDA Executive Committee, have been featured in the campaign.

UBC PDA President Kieran’s video:

UBC PDA Executive Member Stefanie’s video:

If you would like to be involved in the campaign, you can get in touch with the VPRI team through the link on their page (beneath the video).

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: