SRP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN PRIORITY PROJECTS
2023 SRP Progress Report
A detailed summary of the progress we made on SRP Priority Projects in 2023.
SFU Strategic Research Plan (SRP) Priority Project
Supporting Postdoctoral Fellows
On this Page:
Challenge
SFU 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 SFU. They are neither faculty members nor students, and they have identified that many systems at SFU do not cope well with their in-between status.
Action
Working with the provost, the dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, SFU Human Resources, and the Postdoctoral Association we will identify the concerns of postdocs and—within a year—provide a central managed point for support of postdocs. We will work with SFU 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 SFU.
Project Goals
- Build on the current level of administrative support that postdoctoral fellows are receiving link
- Raise the profile and awareness of postdoctoral fellows at SFU link
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Explore ways to improve funding support for postdoctoral fellows link
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Enhance professional development supports for postdoctoral fellows at SFU link
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Continue work to prioritize and address the challenges & issues in consultation with postdoctoral fellows at SFU link
1. Build on the current level of administrative support that postdoctoral fellows are receiving
2023 - Ongoing
Updates
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March 2024
Coordinator, Postdoctoral Affairs in the VPRI Office has been actively working with postdoctoral fellows and administrators to provide continuous support for the postdoc community.
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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 postdoc@sfu.ca account for enquiries.
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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 (R 50.03) and is taking a more active role in providing oversight, support and advocacy for postdoctoral fellows.
Updates
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March 2024
Work is underway to re-design a monthly newsletter to be sent out to postdoctoral fellows.
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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.
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March 2024
The home website 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.
SFU 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. -
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.
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September 2023
To honour National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week, profiles of postdoctoral fellows and their research were highlighted and included in SFU’s What's On newsletter, sent to all faculty and staff.
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June 2023
A communications activity plan for raising the profile and awareness of postdoctoral fellows at SFU is being created by the VPRI Communications team.
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September 2023
The Vice-President, Research and Innovation has allocated top-up research funding of $15,000 to every successful Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship applicant.
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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.
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March 2024
Planning is underway to jointly host a career symposium with UBC’s Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Career Centre and SFU’s Graduate Studies and Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.
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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: SFU’s Postdoctoral Fellows Welcome Day: Professional Development, Networking and Free Headshot Photos / Events - Simon Fraser University.
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May 2023
The Emeritus group has offered to meet and mentor postdoctoral fellows.
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June 2023
A process has been established to provide external postdoctoral fellows access to the same benefit plan as internal postdoctoral fellows.
The cost of the benefit plan will need to be paid by the postdoctoral fellow or their PI.
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May 2023
A temporary solution has been created where an exception request is submitted to SFUFA for a postdoctoral fellow to be appointed as a Limited Term Lecturer, but a longer-term solution is being worked upon.
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June 2023
VPRI office will be working with Advancement & Alumni Engagement to discuss establishing a postdoctoral fellow program to help with funding.
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February 2024
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, clivings@sfu.ca.
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January 2024
A participatory professional development workshop for postdoctoral fellows on "Dealing with Conflict Situations: Respectful Learning Environments and Communication at SFU" will be hosted at the SFU Surrey Campus on Feb 21, 2024. (Event information: Welcome Day - Postdoctoral Association - Simon Fraser University (sfu.ca))
Updates
4. Enhance professional development supports for postdoctoral fellows at SFU
2023 - Ongoing
Updates
5. Continue work to prioritize and address the challenges & issues in consultation with postdoctoral fellows at SFU
5.1 Highest priority challenges
In Progress
A. More support for external postdocs
2023 - Ongoing
Allow postdocs who are paid by funds external to the university (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 centre, SFU email, labs, etc.)
Updates
B. Teaching options for postdocs
2023 - Ongoing
Updates
C. Low salary levels for the cost of living in vancouver (possibly establish a minimum salary level)
2023 - Ongoing
Updates
B. Processes need to be clear and simplified (e.g. longer-term appointments)
2023 - Ongoing
C. Better support for departments/pis when hiring and onboarding a postdoc
2023 - Ongoing
D. Improved orientation resources for new postdocs
2023 - Ongoing
Key Achievements
Conflict Resolution Options
2024
Updates
Improve Postdoc Benefit Plan
2023
This was identified as one of the highest-priority challenges by SFU Postdoctoral Association (PDA) based on a survey conducted by them. An improved benefit plan offering was made effective starting June 1, 2023 which includes funding to support those PIs who may require support for the increased cost.
Housing Options for Incoming Postdoctoral Fellows
2023
Allowing postdoctoral fellows to participate in existing housing programs was one of the high priority challenge raised by the postdoctoral fellows.
An MOU has been finalized between housing and VPRI that provides postdoctoral fellows with access to two residential units on campus.
Improved access to campus resources (e.g., fitness centre, research commons)
2023
External postdoctoral fellows have access to SFU's Library, SFU 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.
Working group
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.
| Name | Role | Unit |
| Valorie Crooks, Chair | Associate Vice-President, Research (AVPR), pro tem | VPRI |
| Varundeep Chahal | Strategic Projects Manager | VPRI |
| Clare Zheng | Coordinator, Postdoctoral Affairs | VPRI |
| Elsa Plican | Director, HR Research Personnel & HR Information Systems | Human Resources |
| Kate Slaney | Associate Dean | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences |
| Naveed Gulzar | Research Facilitator | Faculty of Environment |
| Jiguo Cao | Professor | Faculty of Science |
| Numaira Obaid | Member, SFU Postdoctoral Association | SFU Postdoctoral Association |