Welcome to the UC Santa Cruz Postdocs Association webpage!

The USPA is a postdoctoral-led organization that aims to provide career training and resources to postdoctoral scholars here at UC Santa Cruz. Each year the USPA organizes a symposium, and a series of workshops to highlight postdoctoral research, provides postdocs with career planning support, and build a stronger postdoc community.  Our goal is to create a welcoming environment for new postdocs and a supportive group of peers to navigate this pivotal career stage together.

The USPA is part of the larger network of Bay Area Postdocs.

Activities of USPA include:

  • postdoc science and social hour
  • career development workshops
  • annual symposium

Check out our upcoming events and:

Latest from USPA

2018 Postdoctoral Conference Travel Fund Now Open!

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The Postdoctoral Conference Travel Fund provides conference travel opportunities to postdocs in biological or biomedical science in the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences. This year, we will be able to make one or more awards totaling $1,100.

Award criteria:

•      Past and continuing evidence of research accomplishments

•      Ability for the award to substantially improve your career prospects

•      Financial need

Apply here.

Grant Writing Workshop 2018

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Grant Writing Workshop

hosted by UCSC STEM Postdocs Association (USPA)

Postdocs, grad students and staff scientists are all welcome!

 

TIME: June 25th (Monday) 9:30am-3pm

LOCATION: Biomed 300

 

INSTRUCTORS:

David States, Biomedical Research Development Specialist, Office of Research

David has decades of experience with research funding. Currently he works with UCSC faculty on federal grant proposals, especially on biomedical research topics.

Carrie Partch, Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry Department

Carrie has extensive experience with NIH on both sides: she has received multiple R01 grants, and has sit on the review panels. She also teaches a grant-writing course.

TENTATIVE AGENDA:

9:30am Check in

9:45-10:00am Introduction

10am-12pm David States: basic principles of grant writing, going over examples (for those who submit writing samples ahead of time), how to write NSF grants

12-1pm Lunch and networking

1-3pm Carrie Partch: NIH funding mechanisms and review process, going over examples (for those who submit writing samples ahead of time)

 

 

Registration is required.

Register here! Deadline June 19th.

 

Both instructors have taken time out of their busy schedules and offered to review your proposals and provide specific advice. In order to get the most out of this workshop, we strongly encourage you to submit your draft proposal, especially the specific aim page. You can submit any sections you find challenging to write. You may upload your draft in the registration form. These materials will not be shared with any one else besides the workshop instructors.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions!

– UCSC STEM Postdoc Association (USPA)

Job Hunting in Industry Workshop: How to locate and apply for jobs, get interviews, and negotiate more from your first job offer

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We're excited to announce a workshop for STEM postdocs and graduate students who are interested in industry career:

Job Hunting in Industry:  How to locate and apply for jobs, get interviews, and negotiate more from your first job offer

Presented by Bill Lindstaedt, MS

Bill is the Assistant Vice Chancellor and manages Career Advancement, International and Postdoctoral Services at UCSF. He is a career counselor specializing in career development issues for doctoral level trainees in the sciences. He is also a co-author of Science Magazine's myIDP, a free career development tool launched designed to help research scientists take charge of their careers.

JOB HUNTING IN INDUSTRY:

How to locate and apply for jobs, how to get interviews, and how to negotiate more from your first job offer

Postdocs, grad students and research scientists are all welcome!

Space is limited. Register now!

Jan 12th (Friday) 1-4:30PM

Biomed

Did you know that only 10-15% of PhDs will get faculty jobs? Industry career has become the prevailing path for PhDs in life sciences. But it could be challenging to land a good job straight out of academia, and the training and resource to prepare PhDs for industry jobs is lacking.
This workshop is designed to provide PhD students and postdocs with the knowledge and skills to launch a successful job search for positions in industry research. 
The workshop is consisted of 3 segments: (feel free to choose the segment(s) of your interest to attend)
  1. Job Hunting for Industry Research Positions:  How to apply for jobs and get interviews - 1 hour
    You will learn how to prepare resumes and cover letters that will get you noticed during your search for research jobs in industry.   You will learn how to find information on companies and how to reach out to industry scientists who can connect you with job opportunities, and push your resume along through the selection process. After this workshop, you will understand how to execute three techniques that comprise a comprehensive job search.
  2. Succeeding in Interviews for Industry Research Positions - 1.5 hour
    After attending this 90-minute skill-building workshop, you will leave with a set of frameworks that will help you respond effectively to the most common questions asked of postdocs when they interview for that first industry researcher position.  You will improve your ability to respond to opening and closing interview scenarios, as well as tough and awkward interview questions.  Finally, we will discuss tips for tailoring your job talk to an industry setting.
  3. Compensation Negotiation for Industry Research Positions - 1 hour
    Know how to answer these common questions that everyone has as they are getting their first industry job offer.
  • What do I say when the employer asks me about my salary requirements before the job offer (during the interview)?
  • What do I say when the employer asks me about salary during the job offer discussion?
  • What kinds of benefits and compensation components will I see in my industry job offer letter?
  • Which job offer components are negotiable and which ones should I not try to negotiate?
  • Most importantly, how do I ask for more graciously, so that I get what I need while maintaining a positive relationship with my future employer?
 

Chalk-talk workshop recap

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We hope everyone find the workshop helpful for your current or future job search. Thank you for participating!

Big thanks to the panelists: Dr. Karen Ottemann, Dr. Jordan Ward, Dr. Daniel Kim and Dr. Camilla Forsberg for taking time out of their busy schedules to join us! They shared their personal experience in giving chalk-talks or judging chalk-talks. They also discussed the academic hiring process, what is expected in a chalk-talk and how to prepare for the talk. For a good talk, be sure to first state your overall goal for your future lab concisely and clearly, then describe the projects starting from the most important one, while confidently present yourself as the expert in the field. And keep in mind that sometimes things don’t go as you expected, so don’t panic and improvise!

Then postdocs Katlin and Paul each gave a excellent mock chalk-talk, and received feedback from the instructors. They are actively looking for jobs, so we hope this experience is helpful to them and wish them good luck!

Are you looking for jobs? Let us know what kind of workshops you would like to see so we can help you get the job you want!