SRP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN PRIORITY PROJECTS
2023 SRP Progress Report
A detailed summary of泭the progress we made on SRP Priority Projects in 2023.
泭
間眅埶AV Strategic Research Plan (SRP) Priority Project
Supporting Postdoctoral Fellows
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Challenge
間眅埶AV hosts a relatively small number of postdoctoral fellows (postdocs) for our number of faculty members. Existing postdocs sometimes feel like they fall between the cracks at 間眅埶AV. They are neither faculty members nor students, and they have identified that many systems at 間眅埶AV do not cope well with their in-between status.
Action
Working with the provost, the dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, 間眅埶AV Human Resources, and the Postdoctoral Association we will identify the concerns of postdocs andwithin a yearprovide a central managed point for support of postdocs. We will work with 間眅埶AV Advancement & Alumni Engagement to create an institutional postdoc program. Our purpose is to improve the recruitment and retention of postdocs which will improve the support for research at 間眅埶AV.
Project Goals
- March 2024
Coordinator, Postdoctoral Affairs in the VPRI Office has been actively working with postdoctoral fellows and administrators to泭provide continuous support for the postdoc community.泭
- October 2023
All postdoctoral fellow support provided by Graduate Studies has transitioned to the VPRI portfolio, including: funding opportunities, support for events, organizing professional development activities, website support, and general enquiries.
Coordinator, Postdoctoral Affairs is the central point of contact for postdoctoral fellows, and manages the泭postdoc@sfu.ca泭account for enquiries.
- May 2023
VPRI office has been identified as the central area of administrative support for postdoctoral fellows.
The VPRI office is responsible for the postdoc policy泭泭and is taking a more active role in providing oversight, support and advocacy for postdoctoral fellows.
- May 2024
Beginning May 2024,泭a monthly newsletter is being sent out to postdoctoral fellows that provides information on upcoming events, fellowships, awards, and other important resources and opportunities for postdoctoral fellows at 間眅埶AV.泭
- March 2024
Work is underway to re-design a monthly newsletter to be sent out to postdoctoral fellows.泭
- March 2024
The home泭website泭for postdoctoral fellows has been re-designed to include more resources for postdoctoral fellows. It is updated on a regular basis, an events calendar has been added which provides an overview of the activities of interest to postdoctoral fellows.泭
間眅埶AV Postdoctoral Fellowships positions that are currently available across different faculties and departments are also advertised on this website as well to other institutions through the CAPA society.泭
- February 2024
Work is in progress to connect with communicators in various faculties & departments as well as with individual grant/award winners to raise awareness and highlight stories about postdoctoral fellows.泭
- December 2023
Work is underway to redesign the home website for postdoctoral fellows to include resources, information about various support units and other relevant updates and improve traffic/visibility to this website.
- September 2023
To honour National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week, profiles of泭postdoctoral fellows and their research were highlighted泭and included in 間眅埶AVs What's On newsletter, sent to all faculty and staff.
- June 2023
A communications activity plan for raising the profile and awareness of postdoctoral fellows at 間眅埶AV is being created by the VPRI Communications team.
- May 2024
The VPRI office has established a point of contact with Advancement & Alumni Engagement to develop case for support to identify funding opportunities for postdoctoral fellows.泭
- September 2023
The Vice-President, Research and Innovation has allocated top-up research funding of $15,000 to every successful Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship applicant.
- May 2023
The VPRI office will establish a point of contact with Advancement & Alumni Engagement to discuss establishing a postdoctoral fellows program to help with funding.
- May 2024
In collaboration with UBC, the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation & Graduate Studies hosted a泭Career Symposium泭for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. The symposium focused on finding and applying for academic positions and how to泭thrive in the first few years after securing a faculty position.泭
- March 2024
Planning is underway to jointly host a泭career symposium泭with UBCs Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Career Centre and 間眅埶AVs Graduate Studies and Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.泭
- December 2023
More workshops and networking opportunities are being planned and made available to postdoctoral fellows to inform them about the services and research supports at the university and enhance their professional development & research journeys. For example:泭.
- May 2023
The Emeritus group has offered to meet and mentor postdoctoral fellows.
- 泭Processes need to be clear and simplified (e.g. longer-term appointments)
After a thorough evaluation泭in accordance with the guidelines provided by泭泭it has been determined that the living wage salary for postdoctoral fellows at 間眅埶AV is $40,725.40 annually.泭All faculties and departments have been asked to adjust the salaries of postdoctoral fellows for new appointments and contract renewals that are below the living wage. These changes take effect July 1, 2024, and apply to泭internal postdoctoral fellows, who are employees of the university (i.e., those paid through a supervisors grant).
It is to be noted that the annual living wage amount is not a recommended salary for postdoctoral fellows, it is a baseline figure to ensure postdoctoral fellows are not earning below a living wage.
Postdoctoral fellows can now seek conflict resolution coaching support from Conflict Resolution and Investigation Specialist within the Office of the Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion. If you are interested in learning more please contact Christeen Livingstone,泭clivings@sfu.ca.
A participatory professional development workshop for postdoctoral fellows on "Dealing with Conflict Situations: Respectful Learning Environments and Communication at 間眅埶AV" was hosted at the 間眅埶AV Surrey Campus on Feb 21, 2024. (Event information:泭Welcome Day - Postdoctoral Association - 間眅埶AV (sfu.ca))
The management of employment contracts for postdoctoral fellows is now handled by Research People Team泭in泭VP, People, Equity and Inclusion. Work was done to clarify and amend the contract language to address the concerns raised. The supervisor, employee (postdoctoral fellow) as well the department administrators are copied on the offer of employment to ensure all parties are aware of conditions of employment.
A set of guidelines have been made available to support faculty and department administrators involved in the appointment of postdoctoral fellows for teaching opportunities at 間眅埶AV. Postdoctoral fellows granted teaching opportunities should be appointed as a Limited Term Lecturer (LTL). These appointments are governed by the collective agreement between 間眅埶AV and the 間眅埶AV Faculty Association (間眅埶AVFA) under Article 35.泭
The MOU between housing and VPRI that provides postdoctoral fellows with access to two residential units on campus was renewed in June 2024.泭
2023
Allowing external postdocs (who are paid by funds not held by a university faculty member) to become university employees with access to benefits and other services available to employees (e.g. library, fitness center, 間眅埶AV email, labs, etc.)泭was identified as one of the high priority challenges by泭間眅埶AV Postdoctoral Association (PDA) based on a survey conducted by them.
In June 2023, a process was established to provide external postdoctoral fellows access to the same benefit plan as internal postdoctoral fellows.泭The cost of the benefit plan will need to be paid by the postdoctoral fellow or their PI.
This was identified as one of the highest-priority challenges by泭間眅埶AV Postdoctoral Association (PDA)泭 based on a survey conducted by them.泭 An泭improved benefit plan offering泭was made effective starting June 1, 2023 which includes funding to support those PIs who may require support for the increased cost.
External postdoctoral fellows have access to 間眅埶AV's Library, 間眅埶AV fitness center computing services, and recreational facilities as well as office space, local telephone service and, if applicable to their research, laboratory space, equipment and supplies.
Allowing postdoctoral fellows to participate in existing housing programs was one of the high priority challenge raised by the postdoctoral fellows. In 2023, an MOU was finalized between housing and VPRI that provides postdoctoral fellows with access to two residential units on campus.泭
Working group泭
A working group was established in May 2023 with a one-year commitment to address the project goals. This working group includes representation from the Postdoctoral Association, Graduate Studies, the Vice-President Research and Innovation (VPRI) portfolio, Human Resources, and faculty members. The membership of the working group was renewed at the end of the 1 year term (April 2024). The current composition of the group is listed below.泭
| Name | Role | Unit |
| Valorie Crooks, Chair | Associate Vice-President, Research (AVPR) | VPRI |
| Varundeep Chahal | Strategic Projects Manager | VPRI |
| Clare Zheng | Coordinator, Postdoctoral Affairs | VPRI |
| Elsa Plican | Director, HR Research Personnel & HR Information Systems | |
| Kate Slaney | Associate Dean | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences |
| Naveed Gulzar | Research Facilitator | |
| Jiguo Cao | Professor | |
| Numaira Obaid | Member, 間眅埶AV Postdoctoral Association | 間眅埶AV Postdoctoral Association |