Weekend Whistler Trip at the UBC Whistler Lodge

Events, Socials

0708-p2pgondolacomp-final1As the tradition follows, the UBC-PDA would like to invite you for our annual trip to Whistler. We’ll be arriving in Whistler early on Saturday, March 28th to enjoy a full day on the gorgeous mountains in Whistler. Whether you’d like to ski/snowboard/cross country, there will be something for everyone! Saturday night we’ll have a potluck dinner at the lodge, and Sunday we’ll hit the slopes for another day of skiing/snowboarding!

Accommodation Details:

UBC Whistler lodge, which is located 3 Km south of Whistler Village and within walking distance of the Creekside gondola (for more info go to http://www.ams.ubc.ca/services/whistler-lodge/). The UBC-Postdoc Association has secured 15 beds at the UBC Whistler lodge for one night on Saturday, March 28th at 36$/person. SPACE IS LIMITED and it will be first come first served, so contact Miranda Kirby (Miranda.Kirby@hli.ubc.ca) with ‘PDA-Whistler’ in the subject line, and provide us with the following:

• Name: FIRST NAME / LAST NAME
• I want to stay at the UBC lodge: YES / NO
• I will pay for my accommodations at the UBC lodge via: email transfer YES / NO
• I will pay for my accommodations at the UBC lodge via cold cash to MIRANDA OR ELISA directly: YES / NO
• MY email address is: ______________________

Deadline:

We require the full payment by Saturday, March 14th. You can pay in full by email transfer to Miranda Kirby (Miranda.Kirby@hli.ubc.ca)or we can collect the full cash amount at UBC campus or off campus during the week. For post-docs on campus, Elisa can arrange to collect the deposit and post-docs off campus can directly speak to Miranda (our contact and work addresses are shown below).

Important points:

  1. Re: accommodation, if you are unable to confirm by Saturday, March 14th, you can make a reservation yourself online (Bookings.com) or send an email to the Whistler Lodge booking representative (whistler@ams.ubc.ca). Private rooms may be available and cost $54/person.
  2. If you are booking your own accommodation, please leave us your contact details and we’ll let arrange to meet with you on March 28th.
  3. In the past, car pools were arranged which is the cheapest option so if you have a car and can fit a couple people please let us know. For others interested in taking public transportation, Greyhound or Whistle Shuttle bus 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 up to $20. A 1-day edge card costs $99 versus $119 for regular window ticket rate. For more info: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/
Looking forward to see you all on the 28th of March!

Thanks,

Miranda & Elisa

Contact Information
Miranda Kirby
(604) 682-2344 ext. 62868
Miranda.Kirby@hli.ubc.ca
OR
Elisa Wong
604-442-2879
lizoiahong@gmail.com

whistler_ski

PDA Seminar Series: Financial Literacy for Postdocs Feb 3rd

Events, Professional Development, Seminars

The slides from the presentations are available for download.
Download Presentation Slides Here

We are continuing our seminar series for postdocs!  In partnership with the Financial Literacy Counsel Inc. of Vancouver, we are offering a seminar on money management, tax planning, and wills and estates. This seminar is applicable to Canadian and international postdocs from all disciplines.

*There will be no promotion of any financial institution or their products.

 

Food and beverages will be provided.

 

INSTRUCTORS:

Alphil Guilaran
Executive Director, Financial Literacy Counsel

Samuel Raharjo, RHU

Bob Wang, BCComm CPA (2015)

Part 1: Basic

Financial Literacy 501
February 3, 2015
4:30 – 6:00 pm
Location: Life Sciences Institute, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver
Lecture Hall 3 (LSC3)

We will cover money management principles to help get your financial house in order.

In this session you will learn:

  • How to pay off grad school debts
  • The ABC’s of saving money in Canada
  • Should you do RRSP’s, TFSA’s or both?
  • How to reduce taxes as a postdoc
  • Tax planning for international postdocs

Stay tuned for Part II on February 17th!

Recap and slideshare: Pursuing academic and industry careers in the life sciences

Events, Seminars, ,

On October 28, 2014, Dr. Grace Lee led a practical and interactive panel session on:

  • how branding your professional profile is important as you move towards your next career milestone
  • how to prepare an outstanding application for a faculty position in the life sciences
  • how hiring managers in industry choose the best candidates from among a sea of applicants

Time: 4:30 – 6:30pm
Location: Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Room LSC3

The slides from each presentation are downloadable. Click the link below to download:
Creating Career Marketing Tools by Developing your Personal Brand – Presentation by Grace Lee
Pursuing a Faculty Position – Presentation by Michael Gold
Pursuing Industry Careers in the Life Sciences – Presentation by Nilly Razavi and Brian Duff

Visit HERE for both the video and audio recordings of the seminar.

We have posted the photos to this event on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ubcpda) and on Flickr. A link to our Flickr album is available on the photos tab.

End of Summer 2014 BBQ

Events, Socials

Celebrate the end of Summer 2014 with a BBQ!  

 

Time: Saturday Sept 27, 2014 from noon
Location: Kits beach (specific location will be announced)
Food/Drinks: bring your favorite food and drinks for the BBQ!
Numbers: let us know if you are coming so we can plan how many grills/utensils to bring!

Please note that this event will depend on the weather, so stay in touch for any changes to the plan!

Recap: PDA Postdoctoral Research Day 2014

Events

On September 17, 2014, the UBC Postdoctoral Association organized the annual Research Day. We heard from 7 speakers:

  1. Dagmar E. Ehrnhoefer (Medical Genetics): Interrupting the toxic feedback loop that activates caspase-6 in Huntington’s disease – A therapeutic strategy?
  2. Allen Yi-Lun Tsai (Botany): Using Seeds as a Novel Model to Study Pectin Synthesis
  3. Cole Vonder Haar (Psychology): Assessing Therapeutics to Treat Cognitive Dysfunction following Traumatic Brain Injury
  4. Mia Olsson Microbiology & Immunology): To explore the mechanisms behind autoinflammation – with a little help from a wrinkled friend
  5. Maria Morell (Zoology): Acoustic Trauma and High-frequency Hearing Adaptations in Toothed Whales
  6. Evan Ashworth (Linguistics): Bringing Flexible Learning to the Linguistics Classroom
  7. Mimi E. Lam (UBC Fisheries Centre): Seafood Ethics

(L to R): Rachel Fernandez, Ainara Garde, Maria Morell, Grace Lee, Cole Vonder Haar, Erin Macmillan

In the speakers category, the first place winner of $200 was Maria Morell, and second place winner of $100 was Cole Vonder Haar.

Winners for our posters category were Erin Macmillan ($100), Luisa Burhenne ($75), and Ainara Garde Martinez ($50).

Congratulations!

We were grateful to our judges, who chose the winners based on the mastery of 4 components: demonstrated comprehension, audience engagement, effective communication, and visual impact.

Many thanks to Amy Lee @minisciencegirl who tweet during our event: “What does the rat brain injury tell us about NFL players? Increase in impulsivity and inflammation. #ubcpostdocs #researchday”

We have posted the photos to this event on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ubcpda) and on Flickr. A link to our Flickr album is available on the photos tab.

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

PDA Seminar Series: Pursuing Academic and Industry Careers in the Life Sciences

Events, Seminars

Are you a PhD graduate looking to transition into a professional appointment suited to your skills, interests, and objectives? Have difficulty developing your professional profile in an a way that conveys your full value for a faculty position or a position in industry?

The UBC Postdoctoral Association has started a seminar series for postdoctoral fellows and research associates. Graduate students are more than welcome.

Join us during UBC Learning Week 2014 for our inaugural event!

 

Date: October 28, 2014
Time: 4:30 – 6:30pm
Location: Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Room LSC3

This seminar will provide information on:

  • how branding your professional profile is important as you move towards your next career milestone
  • how to prepare an outstanding application for a faculty position in the life sciences
  • how hiring managers in industry choose the best candidates from among a sea of applicants

Join us for a practical and interactive session with Dr. Grace Lee, Dr. Michael Gold, Ms. Nilly Razavi, and Dr. Brian Duff.

Dr. Grace Lee is a postdoctoral fellow at the National Core for Neuroethics, President of the UBC Postdoctoral Association and a PhD career peer coach. Her research focuses on pursuing purpose-driven relationships with stakeholders in health care and health policy. She has led many seminars on developing career objectives, effective networking, and the pursuit of non-academic career options. She is a marketing entrepreneur and Communications Chairperson for the Vancouver Board of Trade Small Business Council.  She values outside-the-box thinking, collaboration, and active networking within and outside academia.

Dr. Michael Gold is Head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UBC. His research is focused on understanding how the cytoskeleton regulates B-cell activation.  He was the 2013 winner of the Canadian Society for Immunology’s Cinader award for contributions to immunology.  As department Head, he has hired five faculty members and will provide insights about the selection and interview processes for faculty positions.

Dr. Brian Duff is Training Manager at The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD).  In this role, Brian manages the design, development and delivery of a Multidisciplinary Training in Drug Development Program which is aimed at creating Canada’s next generation of leading drug developers. He strives to provide CDRD Trainees with the multi-faceted toolkit required to take on leading positions in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.  Brian encourages all young Post-Docs to enhance their online presence through the strategic use of social media, to actively network and to seek out perfectly-aligned mentors who will help guide them in their early careers.

UBC Postdoc Research Day: Registration new open!

Events, Professional Development

Our next annual event is coming up on September 17 at the Life Sciences Centre. We are committed to improving your postdoctoral experience at UBC by providing opportunities for you to showcase your work and engage with faculty, staff, and peers.

All postdoctoral fellows, research associates, PhD students, faculty and staff are welcome. Our event invites guests and participants from all departments in academia and industry.

Please join us for a series of talks, interdisciplinary posters, and a reception with food and beverage. For more information on this event and how to contact us, see the flyer below.

Registration is now open at THIS LINK. Please help us to spread the word!

Research Day Flyer

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

Professional Development

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!

ToolsforTransition_070714_v.VL.140731

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

Events, Socials

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!