Based on a program created at Stanford University, the Professors in Training Program was pilot-tested at UBC in July 2025 under the direction of Dr. Carolina Tropini and Dr. Stefanie Blain-Moraes. The PDFO is excited to be working with Drs. Tropini and Blain-Moraes on the next run of the program, which will run from June 15-19, 2026.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
The Professors in Training Program is a week-long, intensive professional development program designed to demystify the academic job market and support Postdoctoral Fellows in transitioning to independent investigator positions. The 2026 program will be held in person from Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19, 2026, on the UBC Point Grey Campus in Vancouver.
The Professors in Training Program aims to:
- Support postdocs in assessing whether an academic career aligns with their goals and values
- Help participants define the type of research program, lab structure, and research culture they wish to build
- Guide the development of core academic application materials, including research, teaching, and diversity statements
- Build foundational skills in hiring, mentoring, budgeting, and planning for lab sustainability
- Foster a supportive, cross-disciplinary peer network
- Encourage reflection, iteration, and alignment between personal values and professional goals
2026 TIMELINE:
- Professors in Training Program Information Session: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 from 11 AM–12 PM (Online via Zoom)
- Know What You Want (Mandatory Pre-Program Workshop): Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 1 PM–4:30 PM (In-Person, UBC Point Grey Campus, Vancouver)
- Program applications open: Thursday, April 9, 2026
- Program applications close: Friday, April 24, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: Monday, May 4, 2026 (via email)
- Professors in Training Program: Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19, 2026 from 9 AM–4:30 PM
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
The Professors in Training Program runs from 9 AM–4:30 PM daily, and all sessions will be held in-person on the UBC Point Grey Campus in Vancouver.
- Day 1 - Monday, June 15: Launch your job search with purpose – values, CVs, and pitching your research
- "Job Search Basics" with Dr. Carolina Tropini
- "Pitching Your Research: Fitting In with Your Institution" with Dr. Stefanie Blain-Moraes
- "CVs" with Dr. Stefanie Blain-Moraes and Dr. Carolina Tropini
- Day 2 - Tuesday, June 16: Hone your research narrative & job talk
- "Research Statements" with Dr. Chris Moraes
- "Job Talks and Chalk Talks" with Dr. Anna Blakney
- Day 3 - Wednesday, June 17: Write compelling diversity and teaching philosophy statements and hear from past program participants about their experience on the academic job market
- "EDI in the Job Search and Diversity Statements" with Dr. Ninan Abraham
- "Teaching Statements" with Dr. Marcia Graves
- Alumni Panel with past Professors in Training Program alumni
- Day 4 - Thursday, June 18: Get behind-the-scenes insight on the interview and hiring committee process and learn how to decode job ads & cover letters
- "Interviews: Tactics and Preparation" with Dr. Carl de Boer and Dr. Yanpu He
- "Job Ads & Cover Letters" with Dr. Calvin Kuo
- Hiring Committee Panel
- Day 5 - Friday, June 19: Learn to negotiate effectively, manage stress, and clarify next steps
- "Negotiation" with Dr. Martin Hirst
- "Stress Reduction" with Dr. Maria Tokuyama
The goal is for participants to finish the week with a strong draft portfolio, a clearer sense of direction, and a supportive academic community.
APPLICATION AND PROGRAM ATTENDANCE
Applications for the Professors in Training Program are now open, and will close at 11:59 PM on Friday, April 24. All applicants will be contacted by Monday, May 4 with an application status update. Please note that there are limited seats available in the program and we will not be able to accept all applications.
In order to be eligible for the Professors in Training Program, prospective participants must attend a mandatory Know What You Want pre-program session on Wednesday, April 8 from 1–4:30 PM and submit an application to the program. The application will require the following, which will be addressed in the mandatory pre-program session:
- Short overview of why you’re applying to the week-long program.
- Draft lab name with a brief description of your lab’s focus and naming rationale.
- Draft lab expectations document.
Attendance is mandatory for all five program days from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Supervisors/PIs should support their postdoc’s full-time participation, and are welcome to contact the PDFO at postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca with any questions.
Postdoctoral Fellows from all faculties and units are welcome to apply, including those from the social sciences and humanities. However, please note that program content and facilitators are drawn from STEM and the health sciences, and as such, program content will be based on STEM/health science experiences.
PRESENTERS AND PANELISTS
We gratefully acknowledge the UBC faculty members who have volunteered their time and expertise to support the Professors in Training Program:
Dr. Ninan Abraham - Presenter, "EDI in the Job Search and Diversity Statements"
Dr. Ninan Abraham
Professor, Departments of Microbiology & Immunology and Zoology
Dr. Ninan Abraham is a Professor in the UBC Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Department of Zoology and the former Associate Dean, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the UBC Faculty of Science. He has a track record in shifting academic culture using data-centred policy making and best practices. He pioneered use of disaggregated metrics in assessing gaps in faculty recruitment and correcting systemic biases, including racial and sex disparities in STEM. In the last 4 years, he has shifted his attention to health equity issues, serving as Director of EDI&I on a Canadian network of COVID researchers, CoVaRR-Net. This interdisciplinary network led to national collaboration on how researchers approach work with historically under-served communities and identified factors that shape trust amongst such communities. He has a unique perspective as an academic administrator effecting real change in a research-intensive environment.
Dr. Mehwish Anwer - Panelist, Professors in Training Program Alumni Panel
Dr. Mehwish Anwer
Postdoctoral Fellow, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
Dr. Mehwish Anwer is a postdoctoral researcher at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at the University of British Columbia, where she investigates how traumatic brain injury shapes long-term brain health and dementia risk. Her research has been recognized with competitive funding from CIHR, Michael Smith Health Research BC, the UBC Faculty of Medicine, and the Jock & Irene Graham Brain Research Endowment. She completed her PhD at the University of Eastern Finland as a Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellow. Now transitioning into an independent faculty role, Dr. Anwer brings firsthand experience navigating the path from postdoctoral training to securing a faculty position. She is committed to mentorship and is eager to share practical insights, challenges, and strategies with trainees preparing for academic careers.