UBC’s Postdoctoral Fellows Office, in collaboration with the UBC Postdoctoral Association, have released a report and recommendations on how to improve the experience of postdocs at UBC.
The report is based on the findings of a survey conducted in 2022 on postdoctoral fellows at UBC. With more than 1,300 postdocs across 120 different units on campus, this survey offers a birds-eye view of the landscape at the UBC Vancouver campus (UBC-V).
Postdoctoral fellows are integral to the research engine at UBC but can face challenges and difficulties in staying at the University and in the Lower Mainland. This is partially due to the high cost of living in the Lower Mainland in general, and in comparison to postdoc stipends.
Marcus Johns, a previous president of UBC’s Postdoctoral Association and a contributor to the survey and report, says he was aware of differences in the postdoctoral system in comparative countries prior to coming to Canada.
“I was aware of the financial difficulties being faced by postdoctoral researchers. It was apparent to me that those with a financial safety net, such as having a partner who earned more than them or coming from a wealthy background, were able to take more risks and spend longer in the position, thus increasing their likelihood of remaining in academia,” says Marcus.
After approaching the PDFO and discussing the potential for a survey of postdocs, he realized “We could run a survey that would provide a snapshot of the postdoctoral landscape at UBC-V and the potential financial precarity, the results of which are presented in [this] report.”
“This report is one step towards enhancing the postdoctoral experience at UBC,” says Dr. Mary De Vera, Associate Dean, Postdoctoral Fellows at Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS). “Postdocs are valued members of our community and work has already started on report recommendations.”
The report outlines key issues that postdoctoral fellows face, and outlines recommendations such as establishing a minimum stipend with a rising scale to adequately recognize experience and retain quality postdocs.
“I believe this survey is the first step towards solving a very big issue – the quality of postdoctoral experience and wellbeing of this highly qualified population. Time and again, we are witnessing brain drain from the Canadian scientific community due to systemic issues in taking care of the postdoctoral community – much of which is attributable to the poor financial conditions of the postdocs,” says Dr. Mehwish Anwer, who served as president of the Postdoctoral Association from 2022 to 2023.
“The financial survey allowed us to scope the extent of financial difficulties faced by our postdocs – a milestone in identifying needs and devising an action plan to make their experience at UBC and in Canada worthwhile and fulfilling. Postdocs are the future faculty members, an asset to the Canadian Research and training Ecosystem, and should be empowered to carry out their research without compromising their wellbeing, family life and mental health.”
The report includes anonymized quotes from participants as well as the questions utilized in the survey. According to Marcus, the report can also be used as a resource for postdocs. “The report provides median salaries by field of research and number of appointments, enabling a postdoctoral researcher to negotiate a salary that is reflective of their experience. Similarly, academics could use the report to determine a suitable wage for an advertised position that will be attractive to the highly qualified individuals from around the world that the university should be hiring. The report recommendations, such as the application of a rising salary scale, would also be beneficial to attracting rising global talent should senior management decide to implement them.”
At a minimum, the report offers a baseline for the PDA and/or PDFO to run a similar survey in future years to see if there have been improvements or changes.
“We are now in a world where wealth inequality is increasing whilst social mobility is decreasing both nationally and internationally. Universities should be at the forefront of changing this and can start by addressing this within their own communities,” says Marcus. His hope is for university administration to take a greater interest in the findings of the report.
Dean pro tem of Graduate Studies Michael Hunt confirms that work is under way to review and act on the recommendations, but that changes must be implemented across the university for it to make the most impact.
Contributing authors include postdoctoral fellows Dr. Marcus Johns and Dr. Mehwish Anwer, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies staff Dr. Mary De Vera, Hourik Khanlian and Sarah J. Henderson, as well as Dean pro tem Dr. Michael Hunt and Dr. Susan Porter, former Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
About the PDFO
The Postdoctoral Fellows Office (PDFO) within the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is the central unit supporting postdoctoral fellows (‘postdocs’) appointed at UBC. PDFO-led activities such as onboarding, advocacy, professional development, administration of funding opportunities, and other supports aim to enhance the experiences of postdocs at UBC while assisting in their preparation for long-term employment in their chosen fields.
About UBC's Postdoctoral Association
UBC’s Postdoctoral Association (PDA) is an interdisciplinary group of postdocs at UBC. Entirely postdoc-led, the PDA’s elected executive team works closely with the PDFO to represent UBC postdocs. Their mission is to enhance the academic experience, offer professional development opportunities, and encourage peer engagement between postdocs at UBC. This is accomplished by advocating on behalf of the postdoctoral community to all levels of UBC administration. Membership with the PDA is free and open to all currently-appointed postdocs at UBC.
To cite this report: UBC Postdoctoral Fellows Office and UBC Postdoctoral Association. (2024). UBC Postdoctoral Fellows 2022 Finance Survey: Final Report.