L to R: Deepak Kadam (Vice President Fort Garry), Manpreet Kaur (Secretary), Nazanin Vafaei (President), Ruchira Nandasiri (Treasurer), Amir Barzegar Behrooz (Vice President Bannatyne), Ruth Boachie (Communication Officer)
New Association Launches to Support Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Manitoba
A new chapter in postdoctoral life at the University of Manitoba has officially started with the launch of the University of Manitoba Postdoctoral Fellows’ Association (UM-PDFA), the first university-wide organization dedicated to supporting, representing, and connecting postdoctoral researchers across all of the UM campuses.
The idea for the UM-PDFA was sparked in June 2022, when two colleagues, both postdoctoral fellows, recognized a need for representation and community for postdocs at UM. What began as a small departmental initiative within the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, with support from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, has now evolved into a full-fledged association uniting over 140 postdocs at both the Fort Garry, St. Boniface and Bannatyne campuses.
After partnering with the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) in December 2023, the association gained momentum with the creation of a new executive position of Vice-President Postdoctoral Affairs (VPPA), within the UMGSA. This partnership led to the formal establishment of the UM-PDFA. The association’s constitution was approved at its general meeting on January 27, 2025, and its inaugural executive board was elected in March of this year.
“Postdocs are vital to the university’s research engine, yet they often work in isolation,” said a member of the founding team. “The UM-PDFA was created by postdocs, for postdocs, to ensure that we have a collective voice, access to resources, and a strong sense of community.”
The association’s mission is threefold:
- to represent the collective interests of postdoctoral fellows at UM;
- to advocate for professional development, resources, and inclusion in university governance;
- to foster a collaborative and supportive community across all faculties.
All current postdoctoral fellows at the University of Manitoba are automatically members of UM-PDFA, with no sign-up required. Communications are coordinated through the official Faculty of Graduate Studies postdoc email list, with ongoing support from both the (UMGSA) and the Health Sciences Graduate Students’ Association (HSGSA).
The 2025 Executive team consists of:
- President: Nazanin Vafaei
- Vice-Presidents Fort Garry: Deepak Kadam & Armina Soleymani
- Vice-Presidents Bannatyne: Hoda Badran & Amir Barzegar Behrooz
- Secretary: Manpreet Kaur
- Treasurer: Ruchira Nadasiri
- Communication Officer: Ruth T. Boachie
“At the University of Manitoba, our postdoctoral community plays a vital role in advancing research, innovation, and collaboration. It’s an honour to support such a dedicated and diverse group of scholars, and we’re proud to see their contributions recognized and celebrated.” said Dr. Nazanin Vafaei, President, UM Postdoctoral Association
The newly elected executive team officially began their term on May 1, 2025, and is already gearing up for its first major initiative—Postdoc Appreciation Week, taking place from September 15–19. A highlight of the week will be the third annual “Three Minute Postdoc” (3MP) competition, inspired by the internationally recognized Three Minute Thesis (3MT© competition. This exciting event challenges UM postdoctoral fellows to present their research in just three minutes to a non-specialist audience. Applications are now open to all UM postdocs interested in participating. The competition will take place on September 19, 2025 at the Fort Garry Campus, with the greater UM community and public invited to attend. Full event details, including how to apply, are available on the 3MP competition website.
“This is a major milestone for our university,” said Dr. Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. “The UM-PDFA not only supports the current needs of postdocs but also lays the groundwork for a lasting culture of advocacy, engagement, support and recognition.”
Dean Main recently announced new awards that will be given out annually to recognize outstanding mentorship of postdoctoral fellows. The James House Memorial Awards for Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring, named in honour of Dr. James “Jim” House, a beloved professor, researcher and mentor who passed away in 2024. The first award recipients were announced for the 2024-2025 academic year to:
- Dr. Keith Fowke, Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Dr. Miyoung Suh, Professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies also recently appointed a Postdoctoral Fellow Affairs Lead, Dr. Stephen (Steve) Kirkland. You can read more about Dr. Kirkland and his role here.
To learn more about the University of Manitoba Postdoctoral Fellows’ Association (UM-PDFA, visit the UM-PDFA webpage at www.umgsa.org/postdoctoral-affairs.