Since 2009, the National Postdoctoral Association has sponsored National Postdoc Appreciation Week to recognize the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to research and discovery. We hope that all supervisors recognize the efforts of their postdocs during this week of celebration.
UBC, and especially the PDFO, would like to take this opportunity to thank our postdocs for their hard work and for all the contributions they make to UBC's research enterprise.
2021 PDFO NATIONAL POSTDOC APPRECIATION WEEK EVENTS
This year, the PDFO is excited to host a series of panels and events related to career development for both the academic and non-academic career paths. Our National Postdoc Appreciation Week events are held online via Zoom. We hope you are able to join us at these upcoming events!
Hear from a panel of former UBC postdocs about their journeys toward securing tenure-track academic careers. Moderated by Professor and Faculty of Science Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Dr. Mark MacLachlan, this panel features:
- Dr. Chelsey Geralda Armstrong - Assistant Professor, Indigenous Studies; Simon Fraser University
- Dr. Armin Bodaghkhani - Assistant Professor, Engineering; University of Prince Edward Island
- Dr. Saima Hirani - Assistant Professor, School of Nursing; UBC
- Dr. Ryan Hulteen - Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology; Louisiana State University
- Dr. Caroline Ritter - Assistant Professor, Atlantic Veterinary College and Canada Research Chair in Veterinary Social Epidemiology (Tier 2); University of Prince Edward Island).
Your resume is one of the most important tools in your job search. It is used by employers to assess your fit both for a specific position and for the overall organization, and unlike an academic CV, the expectation is that your professional resume will be customized for the industry, employer, and specific position for which you are applying. Compelling, targeted resumes quickly and concisely express your value and expertise; generic resumes get lost in the shuffle. This webinar will dive into how to craft compelling resumes for industry positions. Participants will leave equipped to effectively communicate relevant accomplishments in an industry-ready resume format, and will learn how to customize your resume for a specific position or sector.
Your Academic CV is a key part of many job and grant applications and as your academic “life story” is a vital tool for researchers at any stage of their academic career. Over time, your CV will continue to grow in length and complexity; however, subtle organizational and design elements can support readability. This webinar will discuss the essential considerations for your CV, review the Canadian Common CV system, and touch on the basics of writing teaching philosophies and personal statements. Participants should leave this session feeling better equipped to build and maintain their CVs.
New postdoctoral fellows are invited to attend our fall Orientation for Postdoctoral Fellows. This half-day session will cover a range of important campus and academic information and advice geared to help you and your families obtain the most from your Postdoc experience at UBC.
Hear from a panel of experienced grant writers and facilitators about strategies and pitfalls when writing competitive grant proposals and applications. Moderated by Dr. Jeff Richards, this panel features:
- Dr. Stephane Dragon – Manager of Research Development, SPARC; UBC
- Dr. Omar Herrera – Manager, Transportation Futures, Clean Energy Research Centre; UBC
- Dr. Erica Machulak – Owner, Hikma Strategies
Transitioning from academia to industry can bring many challenges, and postdocs may not know where their past research experience may fit in an industry environment. Hear from a variety of employers about the many career paths available to advanced-degree holders. Moderated by Dr. Susan Porter, Dean and Vice-Provost of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, this panel includes HR professionals from:
- Amazon Web Services
- Genome Sciences Centre
- National Research Council Canada
- Public Health Agency of Canada / Health Canada
No two negotiations are the same. Political (internal or external), economic, environmental, personal and or a variety of other factors will present themselves in different ways in different negotiations. You cannot control these variables, no matter how talented a negotiator you are. What you can influence, and control is how you prepare for the pending negotiation, how you present yourself as a negotiator, and how you offer acceptable solutions that, ultimately, work for all parties. Delivered by Joanna Shea, this 90-minute seminar will be delivered interactively over zoom, providing attendees with relevant research, case studies, and a guidebook on negotiation styles, negotiation strategies, and closing.
Hear from a panel of former UBC postdocs about life as a full-time faculty member and the process of preparing for the tenure track. Moderated by Professor Dr. Tony Farrell (Professor, Zoology and Land and Food Systems), this panel features:
- Dr. Catherine Corrigall-Brown - Associate Professor and Associate Head, Sociology; UBC
- Dr. Mohammad El Smaily - Associate Professor, Math Statistics; University of Northern British Columbia
- Dr. Daniel Grace - Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Canada Research Chair in Sexual and Gender Minority Health (Tier 2); University of Toronto
- Dr. Tillie-Louise Hackett - Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Canada Research Chair in Asthma and COPD Lung Pathobiology & Therapeutics (Tier 1); UBC
What does it take to build and launch a successful business? Hear from a panel of entrepreneurs and company founders about entrepreneurship and the process of building a company. This panel is moderated by Dr. Konrad Walus, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Co-Founder of Aspect Biosystems, and features:
- Dr. Shannon Bard - Entrepreneur in Residence and Co-Lead, Climate Venture Studio; UBC
- Dr. Aria Hahn - Chief Executive Officer; Koonkie Cloud Services
- Mr. Chang Han - Entrepreneur in Residence; UBC
- Mr. Blair Simonite - Entrepreneur in Residence; UBC
UBC POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATION (PDA) EVENTS
Visit the UBC Postdoctoral Association for information about the events that the PDA will be hosting as part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week. PDA events include:
- Thursday, September 23, 2021 (12:00 PM): Yoga - Outside Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Building (2207 Main Mall)
- Thursday, September 23, 2021 (2:00 PM): The Role of CAPS in Invigorating the Canadian Postdoc Community - Featuring Dr. Edris Madadian, Chair of the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS-ACSP)
- Thursday, September 23, 2021 (4:00 PM): Happy Hour at Gallery Patio & Lounge (6133 University Blvd, 4th floor)
- Friday, September 24, 2021 (8:00 AM): Coffee, Croissants & Muffins at MacInnes Field (6121 University Boulevard)
OTHER ON-CAMPUS EVENTS
If your faculty, department/unit or research group will be offering events for National Postdoc Appreciation Week, please let us know!
PAST EVENTS
