The UBC Postdoctoral Association Research Day is back in person (and online) this year!

Featuring a full day of interdisciplinary talks, the annual Postdoc Research Day brings together postdoctoral researchers from across faculties and affiliated institutions at UBC Vancouver. This event will be held in parallel with the UBC Okanagan Postdoc Research Day with all recorded presentations available online afterwards. Full schedule to follow shortly.

When: December 6, 2021 (Monday) Research Day 9:15am-5:45pm; Evening Reception from 6pm onwards

Where: Life Sciences Institute (2350 Health Sciences Mall), UBC Vancouver campus, and on Zoom

Who can attend?
Following the latest COVID-related safety guidelines*, in-person attendance is limited to UBC postdocs and research associates who will abide by these rules and to the latest occupancy limit. However, everyone else is welcome to attend virtually! This full-day event will be broadcast online, and the recordings will be available for viewing later.

Why should you attend?
– Share your research with awards for the best presentations
– Connect with your postdoctoral peers over the free coffee, lunch, and light dinner
– Find new collaborators and learn about ongoing research at UBC

Want to present your research?
Submit your abstract here before November 19th at 5pm PT to be considered for a talk (full talk or lightning talk). Notification of acceptance will be sent out no later than November 29, 2021, 9am PT.

Abstract submission guidelines:
– prevent expert language and abbreviation
– limit abstract title to 200 characters with spaces
– limit abstract to a maximum of 250 words
– no tables or graphics

Keynote Speaker
We are excited to introduce Dr. Steven Barnes as our Keynote Speaker!

Title and abstract:
An Incomplete Painting: Academia and Mental Wellness
The relationship between the academic environment and mental wellbeing is a popular topic of research—particularly in the context of undergraduate and professional programs.  However, such increased awareness has yet to be adequately translated to significant action; this is especially true for the lives of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff.  Having lived with a mental illness for the entirety of my academic career, I have witnessed both the progress and noticeable gaps.  This talk will reflect on mental health and mental illness in academia, by interleaving relevant research with a retrospective of my visual art and personal experiences.

About Dr. Steven Barnes: 
Steven J. Barnes (he/him/his, @sj_barnes) is a faculty member in the UBC Department of Psychology. He is well-regarded for his work related to student mental health and wellbeing, online learning technologies, and bipolar disorder (BD). Steven is one of the founding members of Kaleidoscope, a mental health peer support group at UBC’s Vancouver Campus. In addition, he is the recipient of multiple institutional awards for his teaching, including the Killam Teaching Prize. He is also the recipient of the 3M National Teaching Fellowship, the top national award given for teaching in any discipline in any postsecondary institution in Canada. Steven is an accomplished author, having published in the fields of epileptology, neurophysiology, student mental health, digital mental health, bipolar disorder, and behavioural neuroscience. Beyond being a prominent educator, researcher, and author, Steven is also an accomplished artist.

Postdoc Town Hall
The UBC PDA wants to hear from you! As the independent organization working to represent all UBC postdoctoral fellows and advocate on their behalf, the PDA would love to hear about your experience as a postdoc.  For example, how are you liking our socials? Are you satisfied with your professional development opportunities? How about that extended benefits package? Come chat with the PDA exec team and help us prepare an advocacy agenda that represents you!

Ready to sign up?
Register here: https://forms.gle/UxUKb9hymGk3NHdD7
Submit your abstract here: https://forms.gle/eHirUy5135bNt3cx5 (250 words, or less, targeting a general audience)
Deadline for abstract submission: November 19, 2021, 5 pm PT

Email us if you have any questions.

We are extremely grateful to our partners and sponsors who made this event possible:
STEMCELL Technologies
Variational AI
BC Research
New England BioLabs
adMare Bioinnovations
UBC Vancouver Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
UBC Okanagan Postdoctoral Association

*COVID-related safety guidelines will be dependent on the latest provincial public health orders. These will include a requirement for proof of vaccination, a legal occupancy limit, physical distancing when possible, and indoor mask-wearing.

Research Day 2021 – Event Safety Plan

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):
9:15-9:30 Welcome and opening remarks
9:30-10:30 Lightning talks by postdocs and research associates
10:30-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-12:30 Full talks by postdocs and research associates
12:30-13:30 Lunch and town hall
13:30-14:30 Keynote presentation by Dr. Steven Barnes
14:30-15:00 Keynote lecture discussion
15:00-16:00 Lightning talks by postdocs and research associates
16:00-16:30 Coffee break
16:30-17:30 Full talks by postdocs and research associates
17:30-17:45 Awards and closing ceremony
18:00 to … Reception & award ceremony

Register here!