Tools for transition: A 4-part seminar to empower your PhD career decisions

How can we use change as an opportunity to make meaningful decisions about our lives and careers? We are often called upon to make important choices during times of change, yet many of us resist moving forward because the experience of change – the transition – is confusing and uncomfortable. Transitioning from post graduate education to professional life may be unsettling yet this change may also hold potential to identify what is most important while letting go of beliefs and values that may not work for you anymore.

SCWIST is offering a series of four workshops with speaker Sally Halliday, MA, RCC (counselling psychology), a specialist in the areas of managing change, career development, and building interpersonal skills for the workplace.

To read more about the workshop and to register, visit the SCWIST website.

Early bird registration is August 15, 2014!

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Kayaking Trip: Saturday August 23, 2014, 11:00am

KayakTripJoin us for our upcoming Kayaking Trip on Saturday August 23 2014, 11:00am.

 

 

 

 

We are going to Deep Cove in North Vancouver, 30 minutes away from downtown. Rental rates include equipment and assistance from instructors at the Deep Cove kayaking centre.

Weekend Rates (minimum 7 participants, rates subject to 5% GST):

  • Double kayak: $45 for 2 hours, $10 for each additional hour
    (e.g. $45 for 2 hours; $55 for 3 hours; $65 for 4 hours)
  • Single kayak: $55 for 2 hours, $10 for each additional hour
    (e.g. $55 for 2 hours; $65 for 3 hours; $75 for 4 hours)
  • Stand up paddle board: $45 for 1.5 hours or $50 for 2 hours

Limited number of participants for each, so sign up ASAP!

Questions? Interested in joining?
Email Elisa (lizoiahong@gmail.com) by August 9 and provide the following:

  1. Full name and email
  2. I want to rent a kayak: SINGLE / DOUBLE
  3. I want to rent the equipment for: 1/2/4 hours
  4. I would like to meet the PDA group in downtown Vancouver to travel together by transit: YES / NO

See you all on August 23rd!

Postdoctoral Research Day Announcement

SAVE THE DATE for the Postdoctoral Research Day hosted by the UBC PDA

All postdocs, research associates, PhD students, and faculty are welcome.

 

When: Wed Sept 17, 2:00pm-6:00pm (with food and beverage to follow)
Where: UBC Life Sciences Centre, Room LSC3 and West Atrium

This event will be an opportunity for interested participants to showcase their work, meet peers, and increase their visibility! Registration to present a talk or a poster will open in mid-August. Stay tuned for more details on our website, Twitter, or Facebook page.

Interested guests can send their questions to ubc.postdoc@gmail.com.

Please help distribute widely! We look forward to strengthening connections within the research community.

PDA Day of Hiking at Two Canyon Loop, July 12, 2014

Thank you to the hikers who trekked the distance and made the morning spectacular!

 

Postdocs, are you free Saturday July 12th and looking for a great way to enjoy the summer outdoors?

The PDA has organized a scenic hike in the North Shore Two Canyon Loop which will take you through both Lynn Canyon and the Seymour River Canyon passing waterfalls, a suspension bridge, and scenic views along the way.

We will take public transit to the trail.  We will meet at the Seabus Terminal in Waterfront downtown Vancouver at 9am.  The Seabus will take us to the North Shore Lonsdale Quay. We will then take bus#228 from the Seabus Terminal to the trail.   

At the end of the hike, we will stop for lunch at the Ecology Centre Cafe.

If you would like to join us please email Miranda with “PDA Hike” in the email subject line.

 

 

Recap: 2014 Three-Minute Postdoc Slam

On May 8 2014, the UBC Postdoctoral Association organized the annual 3-Minute Postdoc Slam, a friendly competition for cash prizes where contestants have exactly 3 minutes to showcase their research to an interdisciplinary audience. The event was entertained by fellows from UBC main campus, BC Cancer Agency, Children & Women’s Health Centre, and Vancouver Prostate Centre. It would not be possible to cover all of the impactful work from all the presentations, but here is an outline of the program:

  1. Jason Barker from Forest and Conservation Sciences: 3 Minute Guide to Root Decomposition
  2. Ainara Garde from Electronic and Computer Engineering in Medicine: The Phone Oximeter: A Screening Tool for Sleep Apnea in Children
  3. Geetanjali Kharmate from Vancouver Prostate Centre: EXOSOMES: The Tiny Big Thing!!
  4. Evgeniy Panzhinskiy from Cellular and Physiological Sciences: Diabetes and Stress
  5. Zoe Riches from Pharmaceutical Sciences: Drug Metabolising Enzymes: The Good, the Bad, and the UGTs
  6. Nichollas Scott from Centre for High Throughput Biology: Cataloging the Composition of Protein Complexes in a System Wide Manner
  7. Nancy Soontiens from Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences: Storm Surges in the Strait of Georgia
  8. Christopher West from ICORD: From Rodent to Rehab: Exercise Improves Heart Health in Spinal Cord Injury
  9. Cole Vonder Haar from Psychology: Assessing Cognitive Dysfunction in a Rodent Model of Traumatic Brain Injury
  10. Yin Zhe Ma from Physics and Astronomy: What is Cosmology?

We were grateful to our three judges, who chose the winners based on the mastery of 3 components: demonstrated comprehension, audience engagement, and effective communication. Our judges were Vinay Kamat from the department of anthropology, Stuart Bowyer from the Life Sciences Institute, and Laura Cabrera from the department of neurology.

The first place winner of $150 was Christopher West. Runners up ($50) were Ainara Garde, Evgeniy Panzhinskiy, and Nancy Soontiens.

The winner of the best Tweet during the event was Doug Latornell, who tweeted: “Roots decomposing, phone app for apnia, exosomes, stressed beta cells, enzymes, oh my! #postdocs #3MPS @UBCPostdoc”

Congratulations!

We have posted the photos to this event on our Facebook page.

We invite you to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @UBCPostdoc to stay up to date on this event and more.

Koerner’s Pub on Wednesday, December 11th

Dear Postdocs and friends,

Come and join your colleagues and crowd Koerner’s Pub on Wednesday, December 11th from 6 PM until closing. This is a great opportunity for UBC Postdocs and friends to meet new and familiar faces …and to try the uncanny, yet taste bud-tantilizing PHO NATCHOS.

Please let us know you’re coming by adding your name to the Google Docs form BEFORE THE END OF THURSDAY and we’ll see you there. The link to the form is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PYE5zmpEH6KePHQIQkXyDQe_BxS44kEs3NYb6_jPXzE/viewform

NOTE: Space is limited so get there early!

 

Kelly

Would you like more information on the PDA or Koerner’s Pub? Please see the following links:

* UBC Postdoctoral Association: https://blogs.ubc.ca/ubcpda/category/events/

** Koerner’s Pub: http://koerners.ca/

 

FAQ

Finances, tax and benefits

Q: “What do I have to do to get paid?”

A (Tom): If you’re an employee, and paid by UBC, you need to fill out the payroll/benefits forms in your welcome package. This includes a direct deposit form, which you can put your bank account details. You will need to have been registered by your department so that you have an employment ID, and it can all take a few weeks. When it’s sorted you should get paid twice a month.

Q: “Can you recommend a bank account?”

A (Tom): All the major banks have branches in Vancouver. Several have branches on UBC campus, which might be most convenient (CIBC, Bank of Montreal). Opening an account is normally easy, and you’ll need some ID and preferably something to prove your being paid (by UBC or a fellowship). Most accounts charge a (small) monthly fee, which will usually cover a certain number of transactions (e.g. withdrawals) a month, some accounts refund this if your balance is kept above a certain amount.

Q: “Help, I’m not getting paid much!”

A (Tom): Yeah, it sucks! Is this really all a PhD is worth?! Having said that, postdocs are seen as trainees in Canada and you should be getting enough to live on comfortably. The general consensus seems to be that, internationally speaking, Canadian postdoc earnings fall somewhere in the middle (less than the US, more than many places in Europe). Vancouver is an expensive city which means, compared to other places in Canada, your money may not go as far.

Q: “Do postdocs pay (income) tax?”

A (Tom): Yes. Starting in 2010, all postdocs, including those on fellowships,  have to pay tax. The situation was a little bit ambiguous before, as postdocs at some universities had to pay tax (e.g. at UBC), whereas other universities found a way around. However, this year the government decided that all postdocs in Canada have to pay tax. The Canada Revenue Agency is pretty clear that you have to be taking paid tuition to be exempt, so all postdocs are required to pay tax.

Q: “Do I have to file a tax return? How do I do that?”

A (Tom): Yes, pretty much everyone has to do a tax return in Canada. Plus, it’s worth your while as often postdocs are not earning much, and so you may well end up getting tax back at the end of the year. There’s lots of (not particularly easy to understand) information on the CRA website explaining the system. The tax return is due at the end of April, and in February or March you should get a T4 or T4A form which you need to fill out the return. The tax package can be picked up at any post office (including the OutPost in the SUB, if they haven’t run out). The CRA have also run introduction sessions on tax (through the International House) at around this time, and there might be one organised just for postdocs if there is interest.

Postdoc Appreciation Week!

Postdoc Appreciation Week is here!  From Sept 16-20, we hope you feel valued for your integral contributions to the UBC community!  This week, while mainly sponsored by the NPA in the US (http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/meetings-and-events-4/appreciation), is supported by Canadian institutions too.  Check out the link for the locations of all the events in the coming week.  See more details about Appreciation events in Canada at the CAPS facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/capsacsp

At UBC, we are excited to host 3 events during the week.  Please joins us for drinks, food, and fun!

Tuesday, Sept 17:  Orientation for new Postdocs

12:00pm – 4:30pm, Thea Koerner House

Please register here

Followed by Happy Hour at Mahonys

starting at 5 pm, Mahonys on campus, University Blvd

No registration needed, just show up!

 

Thursday, Sept 19: Moving Culture Walking Tour

4 – 7 pm, Meet us in the Rose Garden, just north of the flagpole.

At 6 pm, we will end up at the Bean Around the World for continued socializing. 

Please sign up by emailing ubc.postdoc@gmail.com

See this map, for our start and end locations.

Have you ever wondered why there is a nineteenth-century horse drawn carriage on campus? Did you know that this carriage has been converted into a camera obscura? How many times have you passed by the large blue whale skeleton kept in the Beaty Biodiversity Museum without actually going inside to see it?  This is your chance to visit and explore these sites!

 

Friday, Sept 20: BBQ and Networking event hosted by the PDFO

12:00pm – 2:00pm, GSS Ballroom – Thea Koerner House

Please register here

Postdoc Research Day 2013

3rd Annual Postdoctoral Research Day

is only 4 days away!!!

 

Register to attend the day and subsequent reception afterwards, can be done here: http://post-doc.lsi.ubc.ca/research-day/

 

Friday, August 23rd, 2013

Life Sciences Centre on UBC Point Grey Campus

12:15 PM – 7 PM

                              

                                          Schedule

12.15-12.30 – Lunch                                         LSC 3

12.30-3.30 – Talks (with coffee break)        LSC 3

3.30-4.00 – Keynote: Dr Sid Katz                  LSC 3

4.00-7.00 – Poster viewing + Reception   LSC West Atrium

 

Keynote Speaker: Dr Sid Katz, UBC

“Confessions of a University Lifer”

Sid Katz arrived at UBC in 1975 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and almost 38 years later is still here. His career path, though, has hardly been a usual one. Not only did he pursue a parallel career as a science and medicine broadcaster on CBC Radio and CTV, he also became CEO of Science World in Vancouver and, in 1997, the Ontario Science Center in Toronto, all while maintaining his research lab at UBC. In his talk, Sid will provide insight into his eclectic career and provide a guide to survival as a University Professor/Researcher.

 

Please join us for talks, posters, and a wine and cheese reception.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at this event!