1.4 Being a Postdoc

Postdoctoral Fellows (PDFs) are individuals who have completed a doctoral degree and who are seeking further training in a particular area of research. As valued members of the UBC community, PDFs make an indispensable contribution to the research environment of the University and to their chosen field. In doing so, they raise the profile of themselves and UBC. They work under the general supervision of a faculty member and may assist with the supervision of graduate students.

Postdoctoral fellows at UBC can be either employees or trainees (award recipients), depending on the job description, level of direction and nature of the research grant.

• A postdoctoral fellow is an employee where the individual plays a key role on a research team under the direction of and funded by the supervising faculty member.
• A postdoctoral fellow is an award recipient where the individual is awarded a competitive fellowship from an external granting agency, which may or may not be paid through UBC, or receives financial support from a sponsoring agency. Award recipients don't have an employment relationship with UBC. They independently work under the mentorship of a supervising faculty member at UBC.
  
  

Postdoctoral Fellows Success Stories