Transitioning from wet to dry lab: a panel discussion

Events

GrasPods is organizing an online panel event on the best ways to transition from wet-lab to dry-lab:

In the current COVID-19 pandemic, many scientists are looking into dry lab research, including exploring big data and bioinformatics methods. In this panel discussion and Q&A session, our invited guests will talk about the best approaches in transitioning from wet to dry lab work, including project considerations, funding, and employment opportunities.

Invited speakers:
Dr. Sam Aparicio- Distinguished Scientist, BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Chris Hughes- Staff Scientist, BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Sarah Grasedieck- Postdoctoral Fellow, Michael Smith Laboratories

And more!

Event Details:
July 28th, 11 AM-12:30 PM
Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 880 4432 3079​​

3 Minute Postdoc Slam

3MPS, Professional Development, Seminars

The PDA proudly presents 3 Minute Postdoc Slam 2020

The Postdoc Slam Event is going virtual this year! Tune in on July 22 to compete in or attend our annual slam competition and for two great keynote speakers discussing science communication.

Everyone is welcome to attend! (Postdoc Slam Competition is only open to postdocs). Registration is required to attend the event.

When? July 22, 2020 from 2:00pm – 4:30pm

Where? Online via Zoom (participants will receive a Zoom link after registration)

Register here!

If you would like to participate in the Postdoc Slam Competition, presenter registration Deadline is July 8th

Alan Shapiro is a water, sustainability, and science communication professional passionate about applying science communication tools to environmental issues. Alan splits his time between teaching at BCIT and SFU and consulting for non-profits and companies on water and sustainability challenges. He is also co-founder and chair of science outreach non-profit Science Slam Canada. Find him on Twitter at @watercomm.

Dr. Sinéad Aherne is currently a Project Manager at Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) at BC Cancer where she has worked since 2017.  Dr. Aherne has a PhD in Molecular Medicine, PMP certification, and 14 years experience conducting & managing clinical and basic science research.  At the GSC she works with Principle Investigators to provide research project management support for large-scale epigenomics projects with a particular focus on financial management, stakeholder management, and knowledge translation. Prior to her role at the GSC, Dr Aherne worked as Science Festival Coordinator for Taste of Science Tampa.  In this position she led a team of seven volunteers to produce Tampa’s largest science festival showcasing 27 speakers across 10 venues.  She has MC’ed events, given TV, radio, & newspaper interviews, and spoken to the general public about her cancer research at the 2016 festival.  She was also a speaker at the March for Science in St. Petersburg, Florida (~ 7,000 people, 2017).

Register Here!

 

Anti-Racism Resources

Policy

Dear UBC Postdocs,

As a community, we value diverse voices and stand for equity and justice. If you would like information on how to connect, become more informed, or how to take action, the Postdoc Community has compiled a list of anti-racism resources:

 

PDA Covid-19 Survey

Policy, Uncategorized

Dear UBC Postdoc Community,

In order to identify and resolve any COVID19 response-associated issues you might be currently facing, the UBC Postdoc Association (PDA) would like to assess the impact of the state of emergency on UBC’s postdoc community.

Therefore, we have prepared an anonymous survey inquiring about the impact of the lock-down and research curtailments on UBC postdoc’s health, safety, work and research, immigration status, career paths, and financial situation.

Please take 5 to 10 minutes to give us your feedback and help us to identify situations that need immediate attention (University-wide or Department-specific), which we can then actively follow up on and present to the responsible authorities. If you are especially satisfied with how UBC or your Department responded to the pandemic, you can also take this opportunity to highlight what you appreciated.

Please follow this link to the (mobile-friendly!) survey and feel free to pass it on to other UBC- and affiliated postdocs:

https://bit.ly/ubcpda-covid-survey

Parts of the anonymous data collected in this survey will be incorporated in the national CAPS survey report on the COVID19 pandemic impacts on postdoc’s, which will provide the basis of national science policy discussions and negotiations (https://sciencepolicy.ca/news/limiting-negative-impact-covid-19-pandemic-canadian-postdoctoral-scholars).

Thank you for your cooperation!

Your UBC PDA team

Online Game Night

Socials
Join us for an online Games Night on Wednesday, June 17th @ 6pm on Zoom. 
We have games for everyone! You will be able to join different groups to play: Online pictionary, Card games and Codenames! Learn to play and if you already know how… you’ll know how much fun it’ll be! Roommates, partners and family welcome!

 

Register here: https://bit.ly/PDAgame-night

Do you have any other online game suggestions ? Let us know!

PDA Movie Night – Watch Party

Socials
Miss the smell of popcorn? Bored of watching movies alone? Join your UBC PDA for a THURSDAY NIGHT WATCH PARTY on June 11th at 7:00pm.

 

Register and Vote for your favorite movies here: https://bit.ly/PDAmovie-nightWe will watch the movie with the most votes together on Thursday, June 11th at 7:00 pm using the Netflix Party app (download google chrome extension here: https://www.netflixparty.com/). We will let you know which movie we will be watching the day before the movie party, so please RSVP!

Join us online for Trivia Night!

Events, Socials

We are excited to announce that we are transitioning our social events to online platforms! First virtual meet-up: Trivia Night!

So grab your favorite snacks and drinks while teaming up with other postdocs to answer fun trivia questions and socialize! There will be prizes (vouchers for local restaurants) for the winning team and runner-up!

Housemates and partners are welcome, but please let us know how many people will be joining so that we can form teams with the same number of people.

When? Tuesday, April 28th at 7pm

Where? Join from the comfort of your own home. We will send you a confirmation e-mail with the Zoom meeting ID and password after you have successfully registered!

Spots are limited, so be sure to sign-up early before it fills up!
Register here: https://bit.ly/pdatrivia

COVID-19: A message from the UBC PDA

Uncategorized

COVID-19: A message from the UBC PDA

Dear fellow postdocs,

Considering the circumstances, the UBC PDA has made the decision not to host any in-person gathering in the near future. We have cancelled our upcoming ski trip and will not be planning any socials and events until the COVID-19 situation has resolved in an effort to help to #flattenthecurve.

We are currently making plans on how to serve and strengthen the postdoc community during this time of isolation. Please stay tuned for updates. We are looking forward to welcoming you to online get-togethers!

We are aware that a lot of you will be dealing with different problems, such as ramping down research, finding a routine while working from home, travel bans – and being worried about your own health as well as about friends and family in Canada and abroad.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you are struggling – or if you just need someone to talk to. Supporting each other in this difficult time is the least we can do. Stay safe and healthy and take care of yourself and others!

 

Yours sincerely,

UBC Postdoctoral Association

 

We would like to share the following resources with you:

Regulations at UBC:

For the latest updates please visit https://covid19.ubc.ca

For those of you working in labs, all research activities have been curtailed until April 15th. Talk to your supervisor and department head about applying for an exemption to continue critical research and to maintain critical reagents/animal husbandry – but ONLY when absolutely necessary. For those of you who still have to come to campus, there’s free parking available. Stay safe!

 

COVID-19 update from the Postdoctoral Fellows Office:

https://www.postdocs.ubc.ca/covid-19

 

General information about COVID-19:

Latest information about COVID-19 in the World and in Canada

Stay informed, but please check the mental health resources below, as it is very easy to get overwhelmed by the news about the outbreak.

 

Getting involved as volunteer:

  • UBC Faculty of Medicine Educational Technology is urgently looking for volunteers to help translate informational videos about COVID-19 to as many languages as possible. More information on Twitter and Youtube.
  • Crowdfight Covid19 is looking for volunteers who assist in various (mostly administrative) tasks to fight against COVID-19. Scientists from all areas of research welcome. It takes one minute to sign up and you decide about your level of commitment. For questions contact crowdfightcovid19+contact@gmail.com.

 

Travel bans and advisories:

 

Funding insecurities:

 

Information regarding immigration:

  • Special regulations from the Canadian government for immigrants affected by COVID-19
  • If you have any questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on your current application for a work permit/PR, reach out to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) via the contact form in your online application portal. They get back to you within a week.

 

Managing Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Outbreak:

Amidst the current outbreak of COVID-19, you may be developing feelings of fear, stress, worry and isolation – these feelings are natural when facing threats that are beyond our control. Everyone reacts differently to these feelings and they can be overwhelming for some. It is important to understand that if you need help in coping with these feelings, there are resources available. Below are articles and resources that will guide you in managing your mental health.

 

Fun activities from home:

Other resources available online or on the phone to support your mental health

 

UBC Counselling Services Counselling Services will be offering appointments by phone during the COVID-19 outbreak: 604 822 3811

  • MindhealthBC – Take a quick online assessment on your mental health and get resources for a variety of related concerns.
  • Here to Help – help you find quality information, learn new skills, and connect with key resources in BC
  • HealthlinkBC – If you still have questions call 811 to speak with a registered nurse, or access online resources for health-related questions.
  • CrisiscentreBC – If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or at risk of harm, call or chat online with a crisis responder any time
  • TAO – Manage your well-being with tools on stress, relationship problems, substance use, and more. Register with a UBC email.

Webinar: Professional Development and Career Planning – Getting You Back in the Driver’s Seat

Events, Jobs and Funding, Professional Development, Seminars, Socials, Uncategorized

This is a joint event by us and the SFU PDA.

When? Feb 25, 11:30 am – 1 pm

Where? This webinar will be broadcast at

MSL (Michael Smith Laboratories) Room 237
(https://tinyurl.com/MSLRoom237)

Register now to secure your spot!

Light snacks will be provided!

Topics of the webinar include

  • Developing self awareness (Skills and personality assessment)
  • Personal branding
  • Getting out there (Online presence, networking)

The webinar is facilitated by Justine Salam. Justine is a Professional Skills Program Specialist at the University of Waterloo where she guides graduate students to assess their skills, identify their talents and interests, and succeed in their post-graduate work transition, both in academic and non-academic careers. She also coaches students one-on-one to better their resumes, CVs, cover letters and enhance their interview skills.

Justine Salam