Minute from PostDoc Committee Meeting 15.12.2014

Minute: PostDoc Committee meeting with head of department

Date: 15.12.2014

Participants:

Lars Birkedal, Ira Assent, Nico Marcel Döttling , Thomas Dinsdale-Young, Gerth Brodal, Olivier Danby, Robert Brewer, Clemens Nylandsted  Klokmose, Kaj Grønbæk, Ann Eg Mølhave

Minute taker: Ann Eg Mølhave

Agenda:

Annual meeting with head of department. Discussion could be within the below list of topics:

- Is there a need to update the commission of the committee?

- Is the committee well composed and are there plans for member changes?

- Is there an adequate number of postdoc members in the committee?

- Is there a need for web page updates?

- What are the most important things that the committee is working on at the moment?

- What does the committee try to achieve with its work?

- Are there major problems in the committees focus area?

- Are there new things that the committee would like to take up?

- Cooperation with other committees

- Does the committee have the required resources (secretarial support, economy, etc)?

- Other things we find relevant

 

  1. Is there a need to update the commission of the committee?

    The commission has just been updated. However, lacks information about the start-up meetings.

  2. Is the committee well composed and are there plans for member changes?
    Are there an adequate number of postdoc members in the committee?

    There are no female members – Joanna Saad-Sulonen has accepted to join the committee.

  3. List of postdocs

    I would be nice with a list of postdocs on the web. Ann will take care of that.

    Also, the committee would like a list with start and ending dates. Ann will ask Jan to mail it to all committee members.

    It seems that there is a problem with getting new postdocs on the mailing list in time, so new postdocs don’t get all information. Since this doesn’t seem to be a problem easily solved system wise – the problem could be solved with a mentor for new postdocs, who should then make sure that they get all relevant information during the first period of their employment. Ira will talk to Jan about appointing postdocs.

  4. Start-up meetings

    It would be a good idea to include the below topics in the meeting:
    - Networking with other universities (visits for talks, etc.)
    - Expectations
    - Future

  5. PostDoc  events

    A supplement to talks and events could be just to arrange to meet in the coffee room every second week just to talk – no food, just coffee.

    Kaj Grønbæk suggested an annual wheel e.g. for 2 years. Retreat + 2-3 more events.