Postdoc Informational Meeting and Networking Lunch – Sept 2011

msupda — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:57:10 +0000

Lunch meeting for all PostDocs and Research Associates of Michigan State University.

Tuesday September 20, 2011

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Spartan Rooms B & C, International Center

Featuring:
• Resource Fair – with the Associate Provost/Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources, the MSU Post-doctoral Office, the MSU Post-doctoral Association and many more!

• Hints & Advice from the MSU Community

• Lunch!

RSVP by September 13th to Sankalpi Warnasooriya (PDA Secretary) at warnasoo@msu.edu

Sponsored by The Graduate School & the Postdoctoral Association (PDA)

Networking Lunch 2011-Flyer

Annual Picnic – July 30th 2011

msupda — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:30:18 +0000

Where?

Central Park Pavilion 5151 Marsh Rd Okemos, MI

www.meridian.mi.us (and go to ‘Park and Recreation Home’)

When?

5:00 p.m. to dusk

Food will be provided by Woody’s Oasis.

Letting us know if you are coming and how many are coming with you at msu.pda@gmail.com would be very much appreciated but not necessary!

Picnic flyer_PDF

Thanks to the Graduate School and the Food Safety and Toxicology Building for their support.

Budget committee update – July 2011

msupda — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:09:47 +0000

The MSU-PDA Budget Committee was formed in February 2011 at the direction of the MSU-PDA steering committee to look into, and try to reverse a salary freeze for MSU-postdoctoral academics enacted a broader salary freezing measure by the MSU Board of Trustees and administration. The committee, collaborating with many in the administration, was successful in reversing this potentially harmful decision by the end of February. During this process of trying to reverse the salary freezes, it became apparent that some MSU postdoctoral academics are among the lowest paid employees at MSU, with roughly 12% being paid less then $35,000 per year. The Dean of the College of Natural Sciences (CNS), Dr. James Kirkpatrick, realized that postdoctoral researchers had legitimate concerns with regard to salary and set a salary floor of $35,000 for nearly all CNS postdocs (beginning October 2011). It is the hope of the PDA that this salary floor will be emulated in the other colleges and schools at Michigan State University. Most importantly, postdoctoral scholars were allowed merit-based, PI stipulated salary increases so long as they were funded from external grants with budgeted salary increases. In June of 2011, the Budget Committee was approached by a number of postdoctoral scholars who had been given raises by their PIs who thought them eligible for these increases, but were later denied at the departmental or college level. The Budget Committee raised these issues with the administration, and with the assistance of Dr. Karen Klomparens, Dean of the Graduate School (grad.msu.edu) and Dr. Terry Curry, Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources, corrected the issues. Associate Provost Curry has since issued a memorandum (Dr. Curry’s letter) specifically stating the criteria for eligibility for salary increases in fiscal years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Salary issues facing MSU postdoctoral researchers remain the top priority for the Budget Committee.

The process of reversing salary increases has been difficult at times and is one we hope will not have to be repeated. Throughout this course of action, the question of MSU postdoctoral researcher unionization to raise our collective voice, keep us more aware of decisions made by the administration that affect us, and to help us in negotiating with the administration when the goals of either side are at odds, has been suggested. The issue of unionization is complicated, and one that must be very carefully considered. If unionization of the MSU-postdocs were to occur, it would be by common consent of all MSU postdoctoral employees. For more information on unionization, please see the below announcement.

Issues regarding salary and benefits are always sensitive and frustrating. However, MSU postdoctoral academics are fortunate to have several good allies among MSU administrators, helping us get our voices heard and seeking solutions. These include, but are not limited to, Dr. Klomparens and Dr. Curry, mentioned above, as well as Dr. Tony Nunez, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of the MSU Postdoctoral Office (http://grad.msu.edu/pdo/). The victories we have won for postdoctoral academics regarding salary issues would have been much more difficult without their help.

Results of the MSUPDA Travel Fellowships!

msupda — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 19:54:58 +0000

July 20th

You can check the winners of both rounds and their applications (only for the second round) at pda-sponsorship.

Also, a few new rules will be incorporated before the next Travel Fellowship Award in the Fall!

MSU Postdoctoral Association

Postdoc Informational Meeting and Networking Lunch – Sept 2011

Annual Picnic – July 30th 2011

Budget committee update – July 2011

Results of the MSUPDA Travel Fellowships!