PDAC Executive Board 2024-2025
Meet the Team
President
Dr. Ayan Chanda (He/Him)
Ayan is a postdoctoral research associate at the Charbonneau Cancer Institute in the Cumming School of Medicine. His research focus is on understand the mechanisms of oral cancer progression. He is originally from Kolkata, India where he completed his B.Tech. and M.Tech. degrees in Biotechnology. He moved to Canada in 2013 to pursue doctoral training in cancer biology at the University of Calgary. Outside work he likes to travel with his family and read fiction. This is his third year as VP Finance at PDAC where he works diligently to manage member dues and collaborate with other team members to make Postdoc life at the university marginally better. He also represents UCalgary postdocs at several university and institutional committees.
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Responsibilities​
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Supervises and guides the affairs and actions of the PDAC Executive Council
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Conducts or oversees all negotiations done on behalf of PDAC or its members, including collective bargaining
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Chairs all meetings of the PDAC membership or Executive, unless delegated to another Executive Officer
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Acts as an ex officio member of all PDAC Standing or Working Committees
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Acts as the spokesperson for PDAC and its members
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Carries primary responsibility for ensuring the effective and efficient functioning of the Executive and the Association and the continuity of PDAC
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Presidency started on April 2025
Executive Director & Labour Relations Expert
Kim Smith (She/Her)
With 18 years of Human Resources and Labour Relations experience, Kim’s HR credentials support repeated success, implementing best practices. While building credible relationships and influencing meaningful working partnerships, Kims years of experience working with both small and large brand name companies in various industries, in addition to Aboriginal Communities will bring valuable knowledge to PDAC.
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As PDAC Executive Director / Labour Relation Expert, Kim will work closely with the University and PDAC members. Together, they form a vital tripartite agreement to facilitate amicable resolutions, to ensure employees are treated fairly, in accordance with the collective agreement.
Kim's responsibilities will be to ensure continuity by managing the PDAC office. Still, her primary focus will be to ensure fair labour practices, between the University of Calgary, the Board of Governors and the Post Doctoral Fellows.
Vice President Communications
Dr. Margarita Maltseva (She/Her)
Margarita is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute focusing on epilepsy research. She completed her medical doctorate in Frankfurt, Germany, where she also gained experience as a student representative. Outside the office her recreational passions include music and all kinds of outdoor activities such as climbing, running, skiing. As VP communications, she aims to offer approachable information about PDAC work and to support the postdoc community. This includes being the first port of contact, creating the newsletter and managing media accounts.
Responsibilities​
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First port of contact for the members of PDAC
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Responsible for communicating the affairs of PDAC and the Executive Council to the membership
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Manages the PDAC office email account and PDAC member mailing list
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Creates and disseminates the monthly PDAC newsletter
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Responsible for designing and updating the PDAC website
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Manages the PDAC social media accounts
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Advertises PDAC events and manages event registration
Vice President Operations
Currently unfilled
Responsibilites​
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Organizes Executive Council meetings as well as meetings of the general membership
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Records and minutes from for all meetings of the PDAC Executive and/or membership
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Manages the storage and maintenance of all official records of PDAC and the Executive Council, as well as the sharing of those records with members as needed
Vice President Internal
Dr. Gavin Petrie (He/Him)
My research focuses on investigating how the endocannabinoid system regulates social processing. Specifically, I am exploring how varying levels of natural cannabinoids influence individual socialization. The study involves administering a synthetic version of THC and measuring physiological responses to social situations to comprehend how manipulating this system may alter social behaviors and perception. In addition to my research, I served as the Scientific Outreach Director for the Hotchkiss Brain Institute trainees during my PhD.
Beyond academia, I am passionate about community service and have volunteered with organizations such as the Calgary Humane Society and the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiers.
Hobbies: Outside of my academic pursuits, my recreational passions include climbing, mountain biking, skiing, and enjoying a pint with friends.
As a post-doc, I've observed the under-representation of our community, prompting me to take on the role of VP Internal. In this capacity, I actively advocate for the wants and needs of post-docs at the University of Calgary, speaking up in various university groups to ensure our voices are heard.
Responsibilities
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Acts as the primary liaison between the PDAC Executive and the faculties, departments, institutes, and offices internal to the University of Calgary
Vice President External
Dr. Carina Oedingen (She/Her)
Carina joined the University of Calgary in April 2024 as a Postdoctoral Associate in the Eyes High Postdoctoral Match-Funding Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, a master’s degree in public health from the University of Bielefeld and a doctoral degree in public health from the Hanover Medical School in Germany and worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Her research is focused on stated preference methods and eliciting patient preferences interested in how stakeholders make decisions and how these can be incorporated in health-policy making aiming to improve people’s health and the healthcare system.
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Responsibilities
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Is the spokesperson for the Association’s partners outside of the University, including other postdoctoral associations at provincial and national levels
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Ensures that the Association is forwarding opportunities for which Members might be eligible
Vice President Finance
Dr. Ellen Koch (She/Her)
​​Ellen is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and with the Faculties of Medicine and Kinesiology. Currently, her research uses robotics technology to explore how motor learning is affected after stroke. She completed her B.Sc. and PhD at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She has extensive expertise in motor learning in the context of disease, from both animal and human research perspectives. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies, Ellen was involved in the student community through various committees, outreach projects, and clubs. Her previous experience as the Treasurer of the UBC Yoga Club, and as co-founder of the AMiNDR podcast, have been especially useful in preparing her for the role of VP Finance with PDAC. Ellen also has a daughter and 3 pets, and is a huge animal lover! Outside of academic life, Ellen enjoys spending time with her family, exploring nature, teaching and practicing yoga, and podcasting (whether it’s listening to them or hosting them).
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Responsibilities​
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Conducts all financial transactions on behalf of PDAC
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Manages all of PDAC’s financial accounts including the maintenance and storage of financial records and the sharing of those records with members as needed
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Responsible for developing PDAC’s annual budget in consultation with other members of the Executive
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Vice President Community Engagement
Dr. Sara Dolan (She/Her)
Sara is a postdoctoral scholar in the Faculty of Social Work. Her research interests are rooted in using education (particularly simulation) to improve patient safety. Although she completed her PhD at the University of Calgary in the Faculty of Nursing, Sara is originally from the United States. Her clinical background is in emergency and critical care nursing. Sara has taught at the undergraduate level and in the practice setting. While in the United States, Sara earned a BA in chemistry, a BS in Nursing, and a MS in nursing. Outside of work and school, Sara loves spending time with friends and family, hiking, and traveling.
Responsibilities​
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Engages the postdoc community through social activities and workshops, while supporting the overall goal of community building.
Labour Relations Consultant
Terry Sway (He/Him)
Terry is the PDAC Labour Relations Consultant and is a valuable resource for the PDAC Negotiating Team.
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Terry has negotiated somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 collective agreements and has represented members in hundreds of grievances.
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1983 - Negotiator for first collective agreement at Westerra.
1989-90 - Bargaining Team NASA
1994-95 - Chair of collective bargaining for NASA,
1995 - Vice-President & Director of Labour Relations ACIFA
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In 2016, Terry was awarded the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) Donald C. Savage Award for his significant contributions to collective bargaining in post-secondary education.
