WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 12-1

Life Sciences Centre, Rm 1510

Please join us for the first postdoc seminar of the year!

Speaker:  Alisdair Wallis

Title: “Ultracold molecules – doing physics and chemistry in the cold”

Dept: Chemistry

Please consider getting involved in running the PDA!   We need your help in planning the next Research Day, postdoc seminars, and social events.  Descriptions of each position are below and an election will be held in late Jan or early Feb.

If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else, or have questions, please email ubc.postdoc@gmail.com.  Nominations will close on Jan 20th.

President
leads all UBC-PDA Executive Committee and Annual General Meetings
organizes and delegates duties to facilitate the operations of the UBC-PDA
acts as liaison to the PDFO
attends 2 meetings a month / 5-10 hours a month

Vice-President Operations
schedules UBC-PDA meetings once a month
assists in organizing professional development and “non-social” UBC-PDA events
attends 1-2 meetings a month / 5-8 hours a month

Vice-President External
acts as public relations officer
liaison to the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars
attends 1-2 meetings a month, plus 1-2 teleconferences a year / 2-5 hours a month

Vice-President Finance
preparation of the yearly budget
reimbursement of expenses, paying invoices
assists with planning PDA events
** must work in the Life Sciences Centre
attends 1-2 meetings a month / 2-5 hours a month

Vice-President Communications
maintains the postdoc-cafe email list, our website, and social media
responsible for the UBC-PDA newsletter, the UBC-PDA homepage
attends 1-2 meetings a month / 2-5 hours a month

Vice-President Social
planning, executing and advertising social events
attends 1-2 meetings a month / 2-7 hours a month

Executive Committee Members
These volunteers are non-elected and serve as helpers.

Date:  Wed, Nov 30, 2011

Where:  Life Sciences Center, West Atrium

Time: Starts at 5:30 pm   (please come before 6, when doors will be locked)

Join us for a pre-holiday social!  We’ll be having a potluck dinner and our annual general meeting.  This is your chance to give us feedback on how the PDA is doing, and what you’d like to see for next year.  What needs of the postdoc community are not being met?  This is also a great opportunity to get involved!  We will be opening nominations for the exec board positions with an election to be scheduled early next year.  

Please sign up for the potluck here:

http://ubcpdaevents.pbworks.com/w/page/48009903/November%2030%20Potluck%20Dinner

Click on the “request access” button on the right side.

The National Postdoc Association of the US puts out a quarterly newsletter.  You can find it here

This issue of the NPA’s quarterly newsletter features an article on National Postdoc Appreciation Week; profiles of new leadership within the NPA member committees and the Board of Directors; and a spotlight on Shirley Malcolm, head of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources Programs at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She was instrumental in the founding of the NPA.  “Must read” articles on advocacy for scientists and helpful tips for talking to your supervisor about parental leave are also featured.

National Postdoc Appreciation week is coming up (Sep 19-23). There are two fun events to commemorate the week.

The PDFO is hosting a BBQ/networking event on Tues, Sep 20, from 11:30 am – 2 pm, at Koerner’s Pub. Please see their website for more info and registration.

 On Thurs, Sep 22, the PDA is hosting a 5-pin bowling night at the Commodore Lanes at 7 pm. To reserve your spot, please email Chris Parker at parkercac@gmail.com

The first Postdoc Research Day was a great success!  All of the talks were interesting and engaging and the poster session was really enjoyable.  Thanks to all of you who came out to the event, and a special thanks to all of the presenters.

Congratulations to the following presenters!

Talks:

1st prize – Julien Bergeron

2nd prize – Amber Southwell

3rd prize – Rana Sarfraz

Posters:

1st prize – Whitney Weikum

2nd prize – Stuart Cain

Registration is now open for our Postdoc Research Day.  The event will take place on Friday, August 26, in the afternoon, in the Life Sciences Centre.  Please register here, if you would like to present a poster, give a talk, or simply attend.  You will be asked to provide an abstract for talks and posters, and the deadline for abstract submission is July 31st.

The PDA is planning on hosting the first annual Postdoc Research Day on Friday, August 26, 2011!!  It will be an afternoon event (approx 1 pm – 6 pm) held in the atrium of the Life Sciences Centre.  We will have poster presentations, speakers, and prizes, with a wine and cheese reception afterwards.

Nature News article on the challenges of producing too many PhD’s and not enough jobs, highlighting trends in specific countries.

From the article:
Education: The PhD factory
David Cyranoski Natasha Gilbert Heidi Ledford Anjali Nayar Mohammed Yahia

The world is producing more PhDs than ever before. Is it time to stop?