Do you want to join the PDA as an elected officer?

The PDA is run by Elected Volunteer Officers (the President and 7 Vice-Presidents). All 8 positions will be elected for the 2025-2026 year at the AGM.

The positions include:

President, VP Operations, VP External, VP Communications, VP Social, VP Finance, VP Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, VP Wellbeing

How to submit a nomination (DUE March 8):
To indicate your interest in running for an officer position, please download a copy of the nomination form, which can be found here, and e-mail us (ubc.postdoc@gmail.com) your completed nomination package and the position you are interested in. (For technical reasons, please download a copy of the registration form and e-mail it to us rather than filling it out immediately after opening).

Do you want to join the PDA as an executive member (non-elected position)?

We are always looking for new members to help us organize our events and provide new ideas! Just get in touch with us via e-mail and/or get a feel for what we do by joining our next meeting.

Why you should join the UBC PDA:
– Represent the postdoc community
– Gain leadership and management experience
– Organize professional development, research and networking events
– Interact with big-name academics, advocates, and UBC leadership

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Roles of the Elected PDA Members:

The UBC PDA President shall:

Act as the public face of the PDA to:

1. Speak on behalf of the PDA at the Postdoctoral Fellows Office’s orientation for new postdocs 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. Set up regular PDA meetings (via doodle poll) and arrange virtual meetings/ a suitable venue on or off campus
2. Chair and set the agenda for meetings
3. Ensure proper operation of the meetings
4. Take minutes at meetings, or designate a member to do so
5. 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
3. Organize career-focused events for postdocs

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. Liaise effectively with the UBC Postdoctoral Fellows Office and Dean’s Office
2. Represent the PDA during meetings with UBC faculty, staff and administrators
3. Coordinate the Executive Members of the PDA
4. Organize the annual Postdoc Research Day

Work together with the VP-Finance to:

1. Ensure responsible stewardship over the annual budget when planning events
2. Be aware of revenue outflow and inflow

Work together with the VP-External and all elected and non-elected PDA executive members to ensure that the PDA’s advocacy agenda is driven forward and communicated to the appropriate representatives of the UBC administration. The advocacy/ outreach includes (but is not limited to) an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion agenda, as well as a discussion about working conditions for postdocs and concerns that postdocs face

**President and/or VP-External may have the opportunity to attend the annual CAPA/CAPS Meeting or the CSPC meeting. 

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The UBC PDA VP-Operations shall:

1. Organize professional development activities for postdocs together with the VP-External, President and the whole executive team.
2. The VP-Operations is in the lead of organizing non-social UBC PDA events for postdocs (such as the annual Postdoc Research Day), with the help of the executive team.
3. Attend and participate in meetings of the PDA executive members
4. Assist in all PDA executive members plan and ensure smooth running of the organization
5. Assist the President and VP-Communications in answering e-mails and updating the PDA’s website
6. Perform duties of the President, in the event of absence or illness of the President
7. Work with the President, VP-External and VP-Communications to identify and collect job postings of interest for postdocs

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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. The VP-External is in the lead of organizing career-focused events for postdocs (such as Career Networking Events), with the help of the executive team.
3. Work closely together with the SFU (Simon Fraser University) PDA and other trainee-led organizations in the Vancouver area, as well as the UBC Okanagan PDA, to organize joint events and facilitate networking
4. Work with CAPS-ACSP to create and sustain dialogue with legislators to acknowledge the role of postdoctoral fellows and research associates to Canadian economy
5. Address or raise awareness for issues relevant to postdoctoral fellows and research associates
6. Work with the UBC PDA executive team and liaise with its partners
7. Work with the President, VP-Operations and VP-Communications to identify and collect job postings of interest for postdocs

**President and/or VP-External may have the opportunity to attend the annual CAPA/CAPS Meeting or the CSPC meeting.

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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, including running the PDA’s social media accounts, slack community and website
3. Assist the President and VP-Operations in replying to e-mails
4. Responsible for curating and disseminating news items relevant to UBC postdocs in the form of a monthly PDA newsletter, with the help of the President
5. The VP-Communications is in the lead of organizing the annual 3 Minute Postdoc Slam, with the help of the executive team
6. Exercise judgment to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare presentations and other supporting material as needed during events
7. Promote events
8. Support the communications needs of the PDA and the Postdoctoral Fellows Office
9. Work with the President, VP-Operations and VP-External to identify and collect job postings of interest for postdocs

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The UBC PDA VP-Social shall:

1. Attend and participate in the three PDFO orientations each year, during which the VP Social shall advertise the PDA to the new postdocs and deliver a short presentation about “Getting to know Vancouver”
2. Lead the planning, advertising and execution of social and networking events for postdocs, including
   1. Regular social events (around 1/month) for the postdoc community (virtual or in-person)
   2. The annual Whistler trip (organize to/from Whistler and reserve accommodation at the UBC lodge or a hostel of choice)
   3. Organize the Holiday party (venue reservation and run games e.g. “white elephant”)
3. Work with the VP Finance and President to set a budget for the monthly social events

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The UBC PDA VP-Finance shall:

1. Draft an annual budget for submission to UBC
2. Oversee correct use and spending of the UBC PDA budget and liaise with the Postdoctoral Fellows Office
3. Maintain up-to-date records pertaining to PDA finances
4. Be responsible for liasing with the PDA’s banking institution and preparing cheques for reimbursements
5. Help organize events (3-Minute Postdoc Slam, Postdoctoral Research Day, seminars in general)
6. Arrange for an annual audit of the PDA finances at the end of the fiscal year

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The UBC PDA VP-Equity, Diversity and Inclusion shall:

1. Call EDI subcommittee meetings
2. Set agenda for the EDI subcommittee meetings
3. Be responsible for the distribution of resources (via Slack, Twitter, Newsletter) in collaboration with VP Communications
4. Relay EDI information from CAPS (Canada Association of Postdoctoral Scholars) and work with CAPS on a national level
5. Oversee and take the lead in planning of EDI-related events