Various units on UBC campus organize events and provide services and resources to support the professional development of graduate students. Some upcoming events and opportunities from these providers are also listed within forums in community.grad.ubc.ca. Click on the links below for more information on these providers.
UBC providers
Main collaborators
Other providers
Institutional Memberships
UBC graduate students have access to additional professional development opportunities provided by UBC-sponsored institutional memberships as well as through other national and international organizations. Learn more about these organizations below.
Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning
CIRTL@UBC is the UBC node of the Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL), a network of research-intensive universities interested in improving STEM undergraduate teaching through graduate student and postdoc training. The mission of CIRTL is to enhance the training and support available to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who teach in STEAM undergraduate classes. Learn more at http://cirtl.ubc.ca
Mitacs Training
Mitacs Training provides professional skills development courses for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The courses, with content aligned with competencies needed by industry partners and employers, surround eight unique themes consisting of eight asynchronous courses and seven synchronous courses. The themes include networking skills, project and time management, reconciliation and EDI, communication skills, career planning, R&D management, leadership skills, and writing and presentation skills. Synchronous components are offered in an interactive learning environment consisting of small groups, with approximately 24 participants. They are facilitated by leading business and industry professionals who have undergone a competitive selection process. Facilitators are subject matter experts in their respective fields and understand what it takes to succeed professionally. Facilitators deliver hands-on, engaging, and experiential learning.
Sessions are offered at no charge to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows currently registered at a Canadian university.
N2 Network of Networks
The Network of Networks (N2) is a not-for-profit incorporated organization and an alliance of Canadian research networks and organizations working to enhance national clinical research capability and capacity. Professional Education and Training is provided through a partnership with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), now part of the Biomedical Research Alliance of New York (BRANY). UBC members may register through the 'University of British Columbia' subscription.
National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity
At UBC, we subscribe to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (facultydiversity.org). Register to become a member and you will have access to their Monday Motivator email which offers tips and strategies for helping you thrive in academia. You will also have access to their 12-week, on demand, Dissertation Success Program (modules on writing habits and process, overcoming perfectionism, assessment, and more), guest webinars and multi-week online courses.
Additional Providers
Beyond the Professoriate
Beyond the Professoriate (beyondprof.com) is an online organization with a mission to empower PhDs to build impactful careers and engaged lives, wherever smart people are needed. They host online career and professional development webinars and conferences for masters and PhDs in humanities, social sciences and STEM disciplines.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's federal funding agency for health research. Composed of 13 Institutes, they collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.
iBiology
iBiology’s mission is to convey, in the form of open-access free videos, the excitement of modern biology and the process by which scientific discoveries are made. Our aim is to let you meet the leading scientists in biology, so that you can find out how they think about scientific questions and conduct their research, and can get a sense of their personalities, opinions, and perspectives. We also seek to support educators who want to incorporate materials that illustrate the process and practice of science into their curriculum.
The iBiology site contains research talks, stories, and career resources. There are also interactive online courses to help you do good science and enhance your career and professional development.
s2bn
The Science to Business Network (s2BN) partners with stakeholders in academia and industry to create greater linkages and to provide leadership and mentorship to graduate trainees and scientists who are interested in commercialization, entrepreneurship and enhancing career path opportunities outside of academia. The S2BN organizes and frequently participates in events aimed at helping graduate-level trainees in career-related development and transitions, organizes networking events to connect like-minded professionals, academia and industry and is a partner for outreach educational programs that promote innovation among teens and young scientists. Learn more at https://www.s2bn.org/.