Executive Board Positions

Executive Board Responsibilities

President

  • Chair and preside over any Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs).
  • Chair and preside over Executive Board meetings and Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) meetings.
  • Present a report to the Membership at each EGM.
  • Coordinate the running of the UPPDA.
  • Act as official representative of the UPPDA to the University and external (outside the University) officials and parties.
  • Maintain the professional image of the UPPDA.
  • Serve as the official UPPDA contact for the Faculty Advisory Board.
  • Serve as the focal point for fundraising efforts
  • Authorize and verify all expenditures.
  • Prepare an annual budget to be submitted for University approval.
  • Represent the UPPDA by serving on the Senate Council.
  • Provide activity updates to the Executive Board and, when appropriate, OACD or other University bodies.

Advocacy Chair

  • Participate on the National Postdoctoral Association Advocacy Committee
  • Work with the OACD on advocacy issues for postdocs at the local level
  • Conduct necessary background research and draft proposals for change to present to senior university administrators
  • Coordinate and schedule EB Meetings and EGMs.
  • Write and distribute the minutes of all Executive Board meetings and EGMs.
  • Assume the responsibilities of the President when the President is absent.
  • Recruit UPPDA members to fill senate committee seats

Career Development Chair

  • Coordinate all activities and events related to professional development (e.g. Data & Dine Symposium)
  • Organize postdoctoral career fairs
  • Identify, advertise and execute new career/ training opportunities for postdocs

Networking Chair

  • Maintain the Pitt Postdoctoral Network page on LinkedIn
  • Coordinate all events for Postdoctoral Appreciation Week
  • Coordinate Happy Hour social gathering per year
  • Coordinate all external/volunteer activities of the UPPDA
  • Work with the University Center for Teaching and Learning and local schools and colleges to promote teaching development initiatives for postdocs
  • Assume the responsibilities of the Communications Chair when the Communications chair is absent. The Networking Chair will have access to all email, website, and social media accounts.

Communications Chair

  • Advertise and notify the Membership of upcoming EGMs.
  • Generate flyers, advertisements, and registration links for events
  • Keep an updated distribution list of Postdoctoral Professionals at the University
  • Ultimate responsibility for keeping the website, YouTube channel and Facebook page up to date
  • Field emails from the UPPDA account and forward them to the appropriate committee member or OACD official.

International Chair

  • Collaborate with the Office of International Service (OIS) and large ethnic student organizations on campus
  • Host seminars yearly for international postdocs
  • Maintain content for an International Page on the UPPDA Website, which would include resources specific to international postdocs
  • Serve (with committee members) as point of contact for international postdocs seeking information or assistance

Diversity and Inclusion Chair

  • Collaborate with the Office of Diversity
  • Host events related to diversity and inclusion
  • Maintain content for a Diversity and Inclusion page on the UPPDA Website, which would include resources specific to diversity and inclusion
  • Serve as chair (or co-chair) of UPPDA’s Diversity and Inclusion sub-committee and point of contact for all diversity and inclusion issues

Duties Common to All Positions

  • Perform other duties as deemed necessary by the Executive Board.
  • Present a report to the Membership detailing the actions of the UPPDA and Executive Board as required
  •  Provide content to the Communications Chair for regular website/social media updates
  • Promote engagement of UPPDA members, provide a pathway for University of Pittsburgh Postdoctoral Associates/Scholars, or Research Associates to serve as committee members
  • Serve on at least one senate committee of their choosing

As a whole, the Executive Board works towards planning the major events sponsored by the UPPDA, including:

  • Monthly P2P Events
  • Annual Data & Dine Symposium (May)
  • Fall Picnic (September)
  • Science 20XX Career Symposium (October)
  • Immigration Seminar (with OIS)
  • New activities!