What is Postdoc Appreciation Week? / Qu’est-ce que la semaine d’appréciation des postdocs ? 
PAW is an annual global celebration to recognise the hard work and significant contributions that postdocs make to research, innovation and teaching. Each year CAPS/ACPP hosts a range of free events for postdocs, we hope you join us for the celebrations!
 
PAW 2024 ran on September 16-20 2024. Read on to learn more about past Postdoc Appreciation Week events hosted by CAPS
 

PAW est une célébration annuelle mondiale visant à reconnaître le travail acharné et les contributions significatives des postdocs à la recherche, à l’innovation et à l’enseignement. Chaque année, ACPP/CAPS organise une série d’événements gratuits pour les postdocs. Nous espérons que vous vous joindrez à nous pour les célébrations !


PAW 2024 s’est déroulé du 16 au 20 septembre 2024. Lisez la suite pour en savoir plus sur les événements de la Semaine d’appréciation des postdocs organisés par l’ACPP.

Postdoc Appreciation Week Agenda
September 16 – 20, 2024
 
Monday, September 16
Special General Meeting:
Discussion of CAPS/ACPP Constitutional Amendments and CAPS Virtual Open House
 
Tuesday, September 17th 
Public Debate: The Endless Precarity of Research Fellowships Contributions 
Hosted by the International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA) Featuring: CAPS/ACPP (Canada), CICS.NOVA NOVA FCSH (Portugal), Max Planck PostdocNet (Germany), Norwegian Association of Researchers, and ANIH (Spain)
 
Virtual Awesome: Strategies for delivering engaging presentations online
Presented by Ivan Wanis-Ruiz
 
 
Wednesday, September 18th
Organizing to Win: How to form a union and improve your working conditions
Jesse Cullen, Staff Organizer at CUPE 3902 
 
Thursday, September 19th
U.S. Immigration and Employment Options for Postdocs and Graduate Students
Arkell Immigration Team of Dunn Law Firm. LLP
 
Friday, September 20th
Exploring Job Options after Your Postdoc: Strategies for Finding What Fits
Jennifer Polk, PhD
 
 
Interested in more Postdoc Appreciation Week events?
Visit Postdoc Appreciation Week Germany for a list of events around the world: https://paw-germany.de/ 
Public Debate: The Endless Precarity of Research Fellowships Contributions
 
Presented by ICoRSA
September 17, 10AM Eastern.
Click here to register on Zoom!

The International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA) and CAPS are pleased to invite you to our upcoming online workshop, aimed at addressing the challenges faced by researchers who rely on stipends and fellowships. This event will take place on September 17th, 2024, from 4pm to 5.30 pm CEST (10am to 11:30am Eastern), and we believe your participation will be invaluable in shaping a comprehensive understanding and potential solutions to improve the working conditions for these researchers.

 

Workshop Overview: In academia and other research institutions, many researchers depend on stipends and fellowships, often facing financial insecurity, professional instability, and mental health challenges. Despite the intellectual fulfillment these fields promise, the reality for many is less promising. Research fellowships, typically used for PhD work or short-term research tasks, are often extended to postdoctoral researchers, reducing costs for institutions but also reducing access to regular employment benefits. Our workshop will delve into these issues, share personal experiences, and collaboratively discuss potential solutions. By understanding the negative impacts on working conditions, we aim to advocate for better policies and support systems that foster a more equitable and sustainable research environment. 

Speakers
Dr. Henny Bennett, Chair of the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS): “Improving the social benefits of research fellowships in Canada”
Dr. Ana Ferreira, Assistant Researcher at CICS.NOVA NOVA FCSH: “Precarity in Portugal” 
Dr. Tracy Wietecha, Max Planck PostdocNet 
Mrs. Jorunn Dahl Norgard, Head of International Affairs, Norwegian Association of Researchers 
Dr. Francisco Javier del Castillo, ANIH: “Pathways to end precarity: Government incentives and regulations in Spain” 

Virtual Awesome: Strategies for delivering engaging presentations online

Presented by Ivan Wanis-Ruiz
September 17th, 3PM Eastern.
 

In this interactive online session, participants will build a tool belt of tactics to maximize engagement and attention when presenting and speaking online.  By the end of this session participants will be able to:

    1. Apply YouTube strategies to communicate confidence and command attention
    2. Learn a series of strategies to simplify complex topics
    3. Understand how to create interaction and compel conversations 

Although the focus will be in virtual engagement the tactics discussed can also be applied to in-person communication.  Participants should expect to be on camera and interact in small groups as well as infront of the whole group.  This session is designed to not only push you outside of your comfort zone but also to have fun and laughs along the way.

 

About Ivan: Ivan believes that charisma, confidence, and an executive presence are physical actions that can be learned.  His techniques are very unconventional and are based on:

    • Neuroscience 
    • Poker analysis
    • Modern police interrogation & lie detection
    • Professional wrestling & busking
    • Improv and Stand-up Comedy

Ivan Wanis-Ruiz

Organizing to Win: How to form a union and improve your working conditions
 
Presented by Jesse Cullen, Staff Organizer at CUPE 3902
September 18th, 12 Noon Eastern.
 
 
More details to come
U.S. Immigration and Employment Options for Postdocs and Graduate Students
Presented by Jim Arkell, Dunn Law Firm
September 19, 12 Noon Eastern.
Click here to register on Zoom!

Led by Tom and Jim Arkell, the Arkell Immigration Team at Dunn Law Firm possesses decades of experience filing successful applications for U.S. permanent residence (‘green cards’) as well as U.S. citizenship. The team has represented dozens of leading universities in highly complex U.S. immigration matters and helped thousands of researchers, scientists and professors. The firm is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. 

 

Dunn Law Firm, LLP

www.nationalinterestwaivers.com

Topics include:
 
  • U.S. permanent residence (‘green cards’)
  • National Interest Waivers for researchers and entrepreneurs
  • Extraordinary Ability petitions
  • Transitioning from F-1 OPT or J-1 status to H-1B, and ‘H-1B cap’ issues
  • Recent changes in U.S. immigration, executive orders and related issues

If you wish to have a free review of your credentials regarding U.S. permanent residence, please email your CV and Google Scholar profile to Dunn Law Firm Immigration Paralegal Kayla Clark at kayla[at]dunnlaw.com 

 Exploring Job Options after Postdoc: Strategies for Finding What Fits
 
Presented by Jennifer Polk, PhD
Friday, September 20th, 12 Noon Eastern.
 
Are you a postdoc ready to figure out what’s out there for you outside academia? Join us for “Exploring Job Options after Your Postdoc: Strategies for Finding What Fits,” a 60-minute interactive workshop designed to guide you through the process of identifying and pursuing opportunities that align with your unique profile.
 
In this session, we’ll address common assumptions that may be limiting your career exploration and help you clearly articulate your values, strengths, and transferable skills. You’ll learn how to develop a professional identity that highlights both your academic expertise and broader abilities. We’ll explore strategies for researching career paths across various sectors, industries, and roles, and discuss the importance of networking and informational interviews in discovering new opportunities. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have actionable steps to move forward with confidence in your job search.
 
Jennifer Polk, PhD, is a career coach, educator, and recognized expert in PhD careers. She regularly facilitates professional development workshops and delivers keynote presentations at institutions across the US, Canada, and internationally. Jen created her PhD Career Clarity Program to help PhDs navigate their career paths with confidence.
 
Jen’s writing is published in University Affairs, Inside Higher Ed, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Globe and Mail, Academic Matters, and in three books. More recently, she was an expert panelist for the 2021 Canadian Council of Academies report, Degrees of Success, on the challenges PhDs face transitioning to employment. Jen currently serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, and she’s on the management committee for a multi-year transborder project about PhD career paths. She earned her PhD in history from the University of Toronto. Find Jen online at From PhD to Life.

Jennifer Polk; Photo by Nadalie Bardowell.

2021 – CAPS/ACPP PAW, September 20-24 2021

2020 – CAPS/ACPP PAW, September 21-25 2020

2018 – CAPS/ACPP PAW, September 17-21 2018