The UBC Postdoctoral Associations is now accepting nominations for the 2015-2016 Executive Committee.

Run for the PDA Postdoc Executive and grow as a leader!

Benefits of leadership as a PDA Executive:

• Develop leadership and management skills
• Gain experience running an organization
• Enrich your postdoctoral experience
• Improve your networking and communication skills
• Serve your postdoctoral community
• Gain valuable professional and personal development

Download the UBC PDA nomination form here. Complete and return to ubc.postdoc@gmail.com along with a recent photo of yourself and a 100-200 word profile statement about yourself and your visions and goals for this position.

Nomination deadline: Monday March 23rd, 2015.
Online voting: Tuesday March 24 to Tuesday March 31, 2015.
Results announced: Wednesday April 1st, 2015

Executive positions open for election (click to read role descriptions):

• President
• VP-Operations
• VP-External
• VP-Communications
• VP-Social
• VP-Finance

The UBC PDA President shall:

Act as the public face of the PDA to:

1. speak on behalf of the PDA at orientation and wherever appropriate
2. understand the needs of PDA members and ensure equal representation across departments

Be responsible for meetings of the PDA Executive members to:

1. chair and set the agenda for meetings
2. ensure proper operation of the meetings
3. take minutes at meetings, or designate a member to do so
4. manage copies of the minutes, agendas, and any other materials

Be responsible for the execution of decisions by the PDA Executives

Lead the Annual General Meeting and PDA Elections

Work together with the VP-Communications to:

1. direct content for communication to members of the UBC postdoc community
2. manage and update the website
3. respond to emails
4. direct the advertisement of PDA events.

Work together with the VP-External to:

1. collaborate and communicate with the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars
2. raise awareness of postdoctoral issues and find avenues of support

Work together with the VP-Social to create a calendar of social events and ensure a broad outreach.

Work together with the VP-Operations to:

1. ensure liaising with the UBC Postdoctoral Fellows office and Deans office
2. representing the PDA during meetings with UBC faculty, staff and administrators
3. coordinate the Executive Members of the PDA

Work together with the VP-Finance to:

1. ensure responsible stewardship over the annual budget when planning events
2. being aware of outflow and inflow

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The UBC PDA VP-Operations shall:

1. Organize professional development activities for post docs.
2. Set up regular PDA meetings via doodle polls and arrange suitable venues on/off campus
3. Organize non-social UBC-PDA events
4. Attend and participate in meetings of the PDA executive members
5. Assist in all PDA executive members plan.
6. Perform duties of the President, in the event of absence or illness of the President

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The UBC PDA VP-External shall:

1. Raise the voice of UBC postdoctoral fellows at regional and national platforms through participation and dialogues with the Canadian Association for Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS-ACSP)
2. Build and promote alliance with various BC industrial sectors to create opportunities for researchers outside academia
3. Work with CAPS-ACSP to create and sustain dialogue with legislators to acknowledge the role of postdoctoral fellows and research associates to Canadian economy
4. Address or raise awareness for issues relevant to postdoctoral fellows and research associates
5. Work with the UBC PDA executive team to ensure smooth running of the organization and liaise with its partners

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The UBC PDA VP-Communications shall:

1. Be responsible for the development of the communication strategy
2. Manage communication activities that promote, enhance, and protect the PDA’s brand reputation
3. Manage the PDA’s email account and email listserv
4. Work with the President in planning content for the PDA newsletters
5. Work with the President to recognize internal and external communications opportunities
6. Work with the President in managing communications on the PDA’s Facebook page and Twitter
7. Exercise judgment to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare presentations and other supporting material as needed during events
8. Work with the team to maintain and continuously improve the PDA website
9. Promote events
10. Support the communications needs of the PDA and the Postdoctoral Fellows Office

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The UBC PDA VP-Social shall:

1. Attend and participate in the biannual PDA orientations
2. Advertise the PDA to the new postdocs
3. Deliver the “Getting to Know Vancouver” talk
4. Organize a social for postdocs after the orientation
5. Plan, advertise and execute regular social and networking events for postdocs, including the annual:
6. Whistler trip (organize to/from Whistler and reserve accommodation at the UBC lodge)
7. “3 Minute Postdoc Slam” competition (assist all PDA executive members plan)
8. “UBC Postdoc Research Day” (assist all PDA executive members plan)
9. Christmas party (venue reservation and run games e.g. “white elephant”)
10. Other outdoor activities including hiking and kayaking trips
11. Attend and participate in meetings of the PDA executive members, which include booking public venues on/off UBC campus

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The UBC PDA VP-Finance shall:

1. Be a Postdoctoral fellow residing in the Life Sciences Institute (due to budget restrictions)
2. Oversee correct use and spending of the UBC PDA budget and liaise with Life Science Institute (LSI) admin staff
3. Help organize events (3-Minute Postdoc Slam, Postdoctoral Research Day, seminars in general)
4. Serve as the LSI Postdoc representative on the Life Sciences Institute Steering Committee (meets once a month)

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