1. welcome to the first annual
Postdoc Orientation
September 19, 2017

2. Agenda
3:00-3:15 (Dean Jerry McMurtry) - the Postdoc Office: a brand-new entity sponsored by COGS and ORED
3:15-3:35 (Anahi Espindola, Kara Yedinak, Mariana Dobre, Jessica Lee) - the Postdoc Association: what we've got so far and what we want it to become
3:35-3:45 (Yvonne Nyavor) - the Professional Development Initiative: year- round programming to help grad students and postdocs succeed in their careers
3:45-3:55 (Kent Nelson) - from the Office of the General Counsel: legal responsibilities of postdocs who supervise students
~ short break ~
4:00-4:10 (Andrew Schaffer) - the Career Services Center: helping postdocs get jobs
4:10-4:30 (Nancy Holmes) - resources for research funding applications, from the Offices of Sponsored Programs and the Office of Research and Economic Development
4:30-4:40 (Barbara Beatty) - the Ombuds Office: help with communication and conflict resolution in the workplace
4:40-5:00 (Arlette Jameson) - how to make the most of Benefits Services

3. Who we are 66 Postdoctoral Fellows 6 Research Associates
College of Science
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Statistics
Geography Mathematics
College of Agricultural and Life Science
Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology
Entomology, Plant Pathology & Nematology
Food Science
Plant Sciences
Soil & Water Systems
College of Natural Resources
Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Fisheries Unit
Forest, Rangeland & Fire Sciences
Natural Resources and Society
Intermountain Forest Tree Nutrition Cooperative
Wildlife Resources
College of Engineering
Chemical & Materials Engineering
Center for Ecohydraulics Research
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
National Institute for
Advanced Transportation Technology

4. Who we are
One year ago, when 19 postdocs took our survey...

5. What we’ve been doing Activities:
(All of it independently)
Activities:
communicating via listserv
monthly breakfasts
grad student mentoring program
professional development workshop
Building for the future:
connecting to each other
understanding our demographics
evaluating our needs

6. The Postdoc Association (UIPDA)
What we’re creating
The Postdoc Office
by the administration, for postdocs
College of Graduate Studies +
Office of Research & Economic Development
The Postdoc Association (UIPDA)
by us, for us

7. Where the UIPDA fits in (nationally)
Thanks to UI, you can join the National Postdoctoral Association for free!
Sign up as an affiliate member
and provide address

8. What we want the UIPDA to do
Communication a systematic way to connect all postdocs and research associates
Social interaction regular breakfasts and happy hours; special events
Orientation resources to help us navigate working life at UI
Service mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students
Professional development workshops; postdoc seminar series
Participation in UI decision-making a seat on faculty senate?
Mentorship postdoc mentoring plans, a faculty advisor for UIPDA, avenues for advocacy
The official stuff that University recognition could give us website, channels for advertising, access to contact info, funding, space reservations

9. Speaking of mentoring students...
Two programs are currently recruiting postdocs to share your hard-won wisdom:
COGS Graduate Student Fellowship Support Program
seeking Partnering Reviewers to offer feedback on grad students’ funding applications
contact Brenda Hanley,
Professional Development Initiative
seeking panelists for Q&A sessions on time management and on becoming and being a postdoc
contact Yvonne Nyavor, (or in person today!)

10. We are writing Bylaws! Here’s a summary of the articles:
I. Definition of a postdoc
an individual holding a doctoral degree who is engaged in a temporary period of mentored research and/or scholarly training for the purpose of acquiring scholarly, scientific, and/or professional skills needed to pursue a career path of his or her choosing.
II. Name, Purpose, Activities
Main purposes:
a) to provide representation and a collective voice to address the needs and concerns of postdocs as well as to act as a liaison between postdocs and the administration of University of Idaho;
b) to promote academic and career goals of postdocs;
c) to promote interaction among UI postdocs on an academic, social and cultural basis, as well as to disseminate information relevant to postdocs;
d) to provide opportunities for postdocs to serve the UI community, with a focus on mentorship of graduate students.
III. Membership and officers
Members: all postdocs employed at UI are automatically members
Officers: 2 Co-chairs, 1 secretary-treasurer, <6 members-at-large

11. We want YOU! We need help with getting UIPDA up and running.
We’ll also need help running it!
Meet cool people – Develop leadership skills – Design the activities that YOU want – Have a voice in decision-making at UI – Take a break from research - Serve the future of science by serving your fellow postdocs
Talk to Anahi, Mariana, Kara or Jessica. And please fill out our questionnaire!

12. Rants & Raves Brewery • 308 N. Jackson St.
don’t miss
the first
UI Postdoc Happy Hour
Monday, September 25
5:00-7:00pm
Rants & Raves Brewery • 308 N. Jackson St.
Friends, family, and colleagues are more than welcome!
RSVP (if you can) online
(we’ll send a survey by soon)