NEWS / Nouvelles

August 23, 2024 CAPS announces Postdoc Appreciation Week Agenda

 

Join CAPS for a week of free webinars and online workshops for postdocs! Visit the PAW page for more information and registration links.

  • 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)

  • Tuesday, September 17th. 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. Presented by Jesse Cullen, Staff Organizer at CUPE 3902

  • Thursday, September 19th. U.S. Immigration and Employment Options for Postdocs and Graduate Students. Presented by the Arkell Immigration Team of Dunn Law Firm. LLP

  • Friday, September 20th. Exploring Job Options after Your Postdoc: Strategies for Finding What Fits. Presented by Jennifer Polk, PhD

     

23 août 2024 L’ACPP annonce l’agenda de la semaine d’appréciation des postdocs
 
Rejoignez la CAPS pour une semaine de webinaires gratuits et d’ateliers en ligne pour les postdocs ! Visitez la page PAW pour plus d’informations.
 
  • Lundi 16 septembre. Assemblée générale extraordinaire : Discussion sur les amendements constitutionnels de la CAPS/ACPP et sur la journée portes ouvertes virtuelle de la CAPS.

  • Mardi 17 septembre. Débat public : La précarité sans fin des contributions aux bourses de recherche. Organisé par le Consortium international des associations de personnel de recherche (ICoRSA). En présence de : CAPS/ACPP (Canada), CICS.NOVA NOVA FCSH (Portugal), Max Planck PostdocNet (Allemagne), Norwegian Association of Researchers, et ANIH (Espagne).

  • Mardi 17 septembre. Virtual Awesome : Stratégies pour faire des présentations attrayantes en ligne. Présenté par Ivan Wanis-Ruiz

  • Mercredi 18 septembre. S’organiser pour gagner : comment former un syndicat et améliorer ses conditions de travail. Présenté par Jesse Cullen, organisateur de personnel au SCFP 3902.

  • Jeudi 19 septembre. L’immigration aux États-Unis et les options d’emploi pour les postdocs et les étudiants diplômés. Présenté par l’équipe d’immigration Arkell du cabinet d’avocats Dunn. LLP

  • Vendredi 20 septembre. Explorer les options d’emploi après votre postdoc : Stratégies pour trouver ce qui convient. Présenté par Jennifer Polk, PhD

August 14, 2024 CAPS appoints new Vice Chair Survey & Data and University of Western Ontario Postdoc Association (PAW) Joins CAPS Leadership as Members-at-Large on the Executive Council
 CAPS welcomes our new Vice Chair, new Member-at-Large and continued connection to the postdoctoral community at Western!
  • Chanele Polenz, CAPS VC Survey and Data
  • Arash Salahinejad, VP External of the Postdoctoral Fellows Association
14 août 2024 ACPP nomme un nouveau vice-président chargé des enquêtes et des données et University of Western Ontario Postdoc Association (PAW) se joign à la direction de la CAPS à titre de membre extraordinaire du Conseil exécutif

ACPP souhaite la bienvenue à son nouveau membre extraordinaire et connexion continue avec le communauté postdoctorale de l’Université de l’Ontario du Ouest !
  • Chanele Polenz, ACPP VP des enquêtes et des données
  • Arash Salahinejad, vice-président externe du Postdoctoral Assocation at Western (PAW), CAPS membre extraordinaire

August 2, 2024 CAPS Submits pre-budget consultation to the Government of Canada

August 2 (Canada) CAPS recommends that The Government increase research funding in 2025 to:

    1. Double the number of federal postdoctoral fellowships
    2. Increase grant budgets to increase pay for postdocs and graduate students paid by their supervisors grants. 

These recommendations build on the investments of Budget 2024, and recommend an accelerated timeline for grant budget increases to address the urgent need to raise pay for all postdocs. This submission was co-signed by the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Administrators (CAPA).

Read the full CAPS pre-budget submission here.

 

2 août 2024 L’ACPP soumet une consultation pré-budgétaire au gouvernement du Canada

2 août (Canada) L’ACPP recommande au gouvernement d’augmenter le financement de la recherche en 2025 pour :

  1. doubler le nombre de bourses postdoctorales fédérales
  2. Augmenter les budgets de subventions pour augmenter la rémunération des postdocs et des étudiants diplômés payés par les subventions de leurs superviseurs.

Ces recommandations s’appuient sur les investissements du budget 2024 et recommandent un calendrier accéléré pour l’augmentation des budgets des subventions afin de répondre au besoin urgent d’augmenter la rémunération de tous les postdocs. Cette soumission a été cosignée par l’Association canadienne des administrateurs postdoctoraux (ACAP).

Lire entièrement le consultation pré-budgétaire de l’ACPP ici.

July 28 2024 CAPS Publishes Issue 8 of the Postdocs eMagazine

July 28 (Canada) Issue 8, July 2024 features a quarterly news recap, our response to Budget 2024, the CAPS/ACPP postdoc immigration survey results, and announces the September 1 Launch date for the next National Postdoctoral Survey. Read the latest issue here!

 

10 juillet 2024 ACPP publie le numéro 8 du Postdocs eMagazine

Le numéro 8, juillet 2024, présente une récapitulation des nouvelles trimestrielles, notre réponse au budget 2024, les résultats de l’enquête CAPS/ACPP sur l’immigration des postdoctorants et annonce la date de lancement de la prochaine enquête nationale sur les postdoctorants, le 1er septembre. Pour en savoir plus, cliquez ici

July 10, 2024 University of Alberta PDFA and University of Saskatchewan SPS Join CAPS Leadership as Members-at-Large on the Executive Council
 CAPS welcomes our new Members-at-Large and our new connections to the postdoctoral communities at UofA and USask!
  • Dr. Alsayed Mostafa, VP External of the Postdoctoral Fellows Association
  • Dr. Josephine Chileshe, managing director of the Society for Postdoctoral Scholars at USask

10 juillet 2024 L’Université de l’Alberta PDFA et l’Université de la Saskatchewan SPS se joignent à la direction de la CAPS à titre de membres extraordinaires du Conseil exécutif
ACPP souhaite la bienvenue à ses nouveaux membres extraordinaires et à ses nouveaux liens avec les communautés postdoctorales de l’Université de l’Alberta et de l’Université de la Saskatchewan !

  • Alsayed Mostafa, vice-président externe du Postdoctoral Fellows Association (PDFA) de l’Université d’Alberta
  • Josephine Chileshe, directrice générale de la Society for Postdoctoral Scholars de l’Université de Saskatchewan
July 10, 2024 Postdoc Day at the McMaster Education and Cognition Conference hosted by the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching & Leadership Program.
 
  • (McMaster University, Hamilton, ON) CAPS/ACPP Chair Dr Henny Bennett participated in a panel discussion on the postdoc experience, and how to improve engagement, professional development, and mental health.

10 juillet 2024 CAPS/ACPP fait une présentation lors de la journée des postdocs à la conférence McMaster Education and Cognition organisée par le McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching & Leadership Program.

  • (Université McMaster, Hamilton, ON) La présidente du CAPS/ACPP, la Dre Henny Bennett, a participé à une table ronde sur l’expérience postdoctorale et sur la façon d’améliorer l’engagement, le développement professionnel et la santé mentale.

June 27, 2024 CAPS/ACPP Presents at the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies (CAGS) Board Meeting
 
  • (Canada) CAPS/ACPP presented key findings from the 2020 National Survey, trends in postdoc employee status, and the need for improved immigration support.

27 juin 2024 CAPS/ACPP présente à la réunion du Conseil d’administration de l’Association canadienne pour les études supérieures (ACES)

  • (Canada) CAPS/ACPP a présenté les principaux résultats de l’Enquête nationale 2020, les tendances en matière de statut d’employé postdoctoral et la nécessité d’améliorer le soutien à l’immigration.
June 7, 2024 CAPS/ACPP Presents on the Canadian Postdoc Experience of Labour Unions at the National Academy of Science
  • (Washington DC) CAPS/ACPP Chair, Dr. Henny Bennett, shared the Canadian postdoc experience with out neighbours to the south at the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine in Washington DC. We highlighted that the rise in Unions and Employee Status for postdocs over the past decade are key factors in improving working conditions for postdocs. We expect to see more Unions and more wins for Postdocs in the years to come!

7 juin 2024 CAPS/ACPP présente l’expérience canadienne des syndicats de postdocs à la National Academy of Science

  • (Washington DC) La présidente de l’ACPP, Henny Bennett, a partagé l’expérience des postdocs canadiens avec nos voisins du sud à la National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine à Washington DC. Nous avons souligné que l’augmentation du nombre de syndicats et du statut d’employé pour les postdocs au cours de la dernière décennie sont des facteurs clés de l’amélioration des conditions de travail des postdocs. Nous espérons voir plus de syndicats et plus de victoires pour les postdocs dans les années à venir !
May 31, 2024 Researchers should be employees, yet Canadian postdoc forum finds that too many postdocs are lacking in status and benefits
 
  • The CAPS/ACPP Advocacy working group hosted an online forum on employee status with CAPS members from across Canada. While postdoc employee status and access to benefits have improved in Canada over the past 20 years, serious gaps in postdoc working conditions persist: employee status varies by funding source and province, and some postdocs with employee status lack full benefits. Several international postdocs noted that Canadian postdocs are treated poorly compared to many European countries and Australia, due to inconsistent employment policies and cultural attitudes.
  • Slides from the introductory presentation by CAPS are available here: Presentation on CAPS and Canadian Postdoc Employee Status
 
31 mai  Les chercheurs devraient être des employés, mais le forum canadien sur les postdocs constate que trop de postdocs n’ont pas de statut ni d’avantages
 
  • 31 mai 2024 (Canada) Le groupe de travail CAPS/ACPP Advocacy a organisé un forum en ligne sur le statut d’employé avec des membres de CAPS de tout le Canada. Bien que le statut d’employé des postdocs et l’accès aux avantages sociaux se soient améliorés au Canada au cours des 20 dernières années, de graves lacunes persistent dans les conditions de travail des postdocs : le statut d’employé varie selon la source de financement et la province, et certains postdocs ayant le statut d’employé ne bénéficient pas de tous les avantages sociaux. Plusieurs postdocs internationaux ont fait remarquer que les postdocs canadiens sont mal traités par rapport à de nombreux pays européens et à l’Australie, en raison de l’incohérence des politiques d’emploi et des attitudes culturelles.
  • Les diapositives de la présentation introductive de la CAPS sont disponibles ici (en anglais): Presentation on CAPS and Canadian Postdoc Employee Status
May 27, 2024 CAPS/ACPP publishes report on postdoc work permit applications
 
  • In 2021-2022, CAPS/ACPP conducted a Postdoc Immigration Survey on Canadian work permit applications and renewal. In collaboration with Science Policy Exchange (SPE), our analysis and report highlights current challenges in this process, as well as recommendations to the IRCC and postdoc employers to better support postdoctoral work permit holders in Canada. 

Read the report here: The 2021-2022 Canadian Postdoctoral Immigration Report: How to Improve the Postdoc Work Permit Application Procedure in Canada

27 mai  ACPP/CAPS publie un rapport sur les demandes de permis de travail des postdocs

  • En 2021-2022, ACPP/CAPS a mené une enquête sur l’immigration des postdocs concernant les demandes de permis de travail canadiens et leur renouvellement. En collaboration avec Science Policy Exchange (SPE), notre analyse et notre rapport soulignent les défis actuels dans ce processus, ainsi que des recommandations à l’IRCC et aux employeurs de postdocs pour mieux soutenir les détenteurs de permis de travail postdoctoraux au Canada.

Lire le rapport ici : Le rapport sur l’immigration postdoctorale au Canada 2021-2022 : Comment améliorer la procédure de demande de permis de travail postdoctoral au Canada

May 15, 2024 CAPS/ACPP presents at the CAPA Board Meeting
 
  • The Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Administrators (CAPA)
  • We discussed key findings from the 2020 National Survey, and how to improve postdoc networking and engagement for the 2024 National Survey.

15 mai 2024 CAPS/ACPP présente à la réunion du conseil d’administration de l’ACAP

  • L’Association canadienne des administrateurs postdoctoraux (ACAP)
  • Nous avons discuté des principaux résultats de l’Enquête nationale de 2020 et de la façon d’améliorer le réseautage et l’engagement des postdoctorants en vue de l’Enquête nationale de 2024.
April 23, 2024 CAPS/ACPP Chair presents at the OECD Science and Technology Meeting

 

23 avril  Présentation de la présidente de l’ACPP à la réunion de l’OCDE sur la science et la technologie

  • Le 23 avril 2024 (OCDE Paris, France) Dr. Henny Bennett a participé au « Panel B2.2 – Développer les talents et promouvoir des parcours de recherche diversifiés dans un monde en transition, une table ronde sur les défis de la main d’œuvre dans la recherche et les principales opportunités. » Lisez le rapport sur la science et la technologie rédigé par le Consortium international des associations de personnel de recherche ici : https://icorsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/OECD-ministerial-meeting-on-science-and-technology-Report.pdf
April 16, 2024 Budget 2024 was released with exciting new investments in Canadian Research including increased funding for postdocs:
 
  • $825M over the next 5-years to support future research talent
  • $1.8B over the next 5-years to support grants
  • Federal postdoctoral fellowship value will be increasing from $40k to $70k!
  • Approximately 1,720 more graduate student and postdoc fellowship awards
  • Read Canada’s Budget 2024

Read our full statement here

Read the full Support our Science statement here

March 28, 2024 Release of the the Postdocs eMagazine Issue 7 
 
In this issue: 
  • Welcome: The CAPS/ACPP 2024 Executive Council

  • CAPS Governance and the 5 Working Groups

  • News

  • Statement from Press Conference in Ottawa on Budget 2024

  • Special Topic: Discrimination and Harassment

  • Member Feature:“Respect in the workplace, what it means to me”

  • Announcements

Read more here!

March 19, 2024 CAPS/ACPP Chair Dr. Henny Bennett gave a press statement in Ottawa advocating for increased postdoc funding in Budget 2024
 
Canada’s 300,000 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are the country’s largest research and innovation workforce. Despite their importance, they have not received increased federal funding in over 20 years, even in the face of 55% inflation over this time. Together, Support Our Science, the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars, Union étudiante du Quebec, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, and the Ottawa Science Policy Network, support the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research’s (SRSR) report, and the multiple e- petitions sponsored by Liberal, NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Conservative MPs, which call for the urgent need to substantially increase funding for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in Canada.

CAPS/ACPP stood with postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and politicians to voice the financial challenges Canadian postdocs are currently facing. We are hopeful to be supported in Budget 2024 and we look forward to working with the government to find longterm funding solutions for the betterment of Canada, Canadians, and our economy.”

 

Read our full statement here!   I   Watch the full press conference here!

 

Winter/Spring, 2024 Ongoing Initiatives
 

We are currently collecting information on the following issues pertaining to the Postdoc experience:

  • The cap on international students

  • The national security guidelines for research postdocs

  • Employment status related to funding source

  • Harassment reporting mechanisms

CAPS/ACPP invites members to share your questions, comments, concerns and experiences relating to the following. Our goal is to better understand how each of these issues affect postdocs so that we can formulate recommendations and advocate for improvements. Please contact us at: chair[at]capsacpp.ca

February – March, 2024 CAPS/ACPP Statement of Solidarity with Postdoc Unions advocating for improved working conditions.
 
CAPS/ACPP encourages all Unionized Postdocs to learn about their Collective Agreements, to join postdoc associations nationally and locally, to understand and negotiate their work contracts, and to be proactive about their needs. Where Postdoc Unions do not exist, CAPS/ACPP recommends that Postdocs organize and develop a Collective Agreement.
 
February 22 – We wrote to the Postdoctoral Researchers at Queen’s University to express our support for their bargaining process and share our recommendations.
 
March 1 – We wrote to the Postdoctoral Researchers at the University of Toronto to express our support for their bargaining process and share our recommendations.
January 17, 2024 CAPS/ACPP Writes to the House of Commons Recommending increased federal investment in Postdoctoral Scholars for Budget 2024

CAPS/ACPP executive member placing many letters to MPs in a Canada Post box.

 
We wrote to every MP representing a University, Party Leaders, and Federal Ministers
Read our letter to Hon. MP Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance here
 
Our asks:
1. That the value of Tri-Agency Funded postdoctoral fellowships also increase by 53% to $61K; and index to inflation moving forward
2. we ask for a 100% increase in the number of Tri-Agency postdoctoral fellowships

January 12-13, 2024 Chair Henny Bennett Attends and Presents at the ICoRSA Annual General Meeting

December, 2023 Release of the the Postdocs eMagazine Issue 6 
 
Cover of the 6th issue of eMagazineIn this issue:
  • CAPS/ACPP Year in Review
  • Minutes from the 13th Annual General Meeting
  • Image contest winning submissions
  • Proposed amendments to the CAPS/ACPP constitution
  • Announcements – Our New 2024 Executive Council
Nov 16, 2023 CAPS-ACPP hosts the 13th Annual General Meeting, at UBC Vancouver and Online  
Read more here! 
Nov 9, 2023 CAPS-ACPP publishes the 2020 Canadian National Postdoc Survey Report  
Read the survey report here! 
Nov 6-7, 2023 CAPS-ACPP Chair, Dr. Padmapriya Muralidharan, advocates for postdocs at the Annual Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Administrators (CAPA) Conference
Sept 25-29, 2023 CAPS-ACPP participates in SOS Advocacy Week 
Find out more about SOS Advocacy Week here! 
Sept 18-22, 2023 CAPS-ACPP celebrates postdocs appreciation week (PAW) with postdoc-focused webinars
Find out more about PAW 2023 here! 
Sept 15, 2023 CAPS-ACPP re-launches The Postdocs eMagazine!
In this issue:
  • About CAPS/ACPP
  • Postdoc Appreciation Week: free CAPS/ACPP webinars
  • CAPS/ACPP Advocacy: call to increase federal funding
  • Announcements: our new website, National Postdoc Registry & Annual General Meeting
Sept 5, 2023 CAPS-ACPP submits letter to Hon. MP Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance, urging  the need to increase federal support for postdoctoral scholars
Read the full letter HERE!
 

CAPS/ACPP VC Operations, Dr Henrietta Bennett, alongside SOS and CASA representatives, met with Hon. MP Chrystia Freeland to advocate for postdocs. CAPS/ACPP is grateful to the Minister for her time and attention. CAPS/ACPP VC Operations, Dr Henrietta Bennett (second from the left)

Screen Shot 2023-09-13 at 2.54.32 PM
July 28, 2023 CAPS-ACPP submits brief to  the House of Commons Science and Research Committee study on the Government of Canada’s Graduate Scholarship and Post-doctoral Fellowship Programs
June 15, 2023 CAPS-ACPP Chair, Dr. Padmapriya Muralidharan, speaks at the Standing Committee on Science and Research, House of Commons

 

June 14, 2023 CAPS-ACPP advertises for open executive positions
  • VC Communications
  • VC International
  • VC Career Development
Contact chair[at]capsacpp.ca for enquiries

May 1, 2023 CAPS-ACPP joins the SOS May Day Walkout to advocate for increased funding for grad students, postdocs, and grants

VC External, Dr. Peter Harrington, was a lead organizer at the UBC Protest in Vancouver – the largest of the nationwide protests. CBC News

VC Operations, Dr. Henrietta Bennett, organized hospital affiliated postdoc attendance at the University of Toronto protest. Globe and Mail

Chair, Dr. Padmapriya Muralidharan, organized the protest at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, British Columbia), and VC Membership Dr. Raghu Sundaresan Nagalingam participated. Global BC News

Visit SOS for more Walkout media coverage HERE

CAPS-ACPP VC Operations, Dr. Henrietta Bennett, speaks on behalf of postdocs in front of Hon. Chrystia Freeland's Office. Toronto, ON

April 12, 2023 CAPS-ACPP welcomes back Dr. Sarah Grasediek as VC Surveys and Data

March 8, 2023 CAPS-ACPP votes in Dr. Marine Hemmerle as new VC French Communications

January 18, 2023 The first meeting of the 2023 CAPS-ACPP Executive Council

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