Join us for one of our open offerings. All postdocs are welcome to join us virtually in our hyflex learning environment to experience one of our program offerings in teaching or leadership. Experience innovative programming first hand as you engage and network with seasoned faculty, industry experts and other PDFs. Registration is free. REGISTER HERE
10:00am – 11:00am EST Zoom link Meeting ID: 9577392 3010 Passcode: 674623
10:30am – 12:00pm EST Led by Matteo Tardelli, Beyond Academia (ONLINE)
Creating a job talk for a tenure track position is a very different process than preparing an industry resume. Learn more about how to adapt language, formatting and design to best represent your skills in academia and industry.
1:00pm – 2:30pm EST Led by Jordan Moore, RISEilient (ONLINE)
In the realm of academia and research, leadership is not just about individual excellence but also about the ability to build and nurture meaningful relationships. Effective networking, or rather relationship building, is a vital skill that can open doors to new opportunities, foster collaboration, and drive personal and professional growth.
During this engaging session, you will learn the value of relationship building as a leader, where we will explore the principles, strategies, and benefits of effective networking. As a postdoctoral fellow, you will learn how to cultivate a strong professional network that supports your career advancement and contributes to a vibrant, collaborative research community.
10:00am – 4:00pm EST (IN PERSON and ONLINE)
This event challenges the most brilliant minds to share their research in an accessible way with the community. Knowledge translation can be one of the biggest challenges faced by academics when working in interdisciplinary groups or industry. This friendly competition gives early career researchers a chance to flex their communication and presentation skills in one of Ontario’s most unique venues, the LIVELab at McMaster University. Winners from the 5min Research Talks (5MRT) will be featured in the 5MRT Finals. Winning participants will receive great prizes and be featured on the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching and Leadership Program website and associated social media outlets. Interested in competing? (complete the FORM to send in your submission by Jan 10th 2026)
5:00pm – 8:00pm EST (IN PERSON and ONLINE)
10:00am – 12:00pm EST led by Jack Young, The Sherman Center, McMaster University (ONLINE)
Many academics utilize ORCID ID’s to track and monitor the impact of their research. Jack Young walks you through the process of creating an ORCID ID as well as maximizing the impact of your ID on your professional online presence.
1:00pm – 3:00pm EST led by Bissy Waariyo, Research Impact Canada (ONLINE)
Join Bissy Waariyo from Research Impact Canada (RIC) to help navigate the online arena and how to make the most with your research. Create meaningful online resources and connections to broaden your research reach.
1:00pm – 3:00pm EST led by Katie George, Program Manager, McCall MacBain Postdoc Program (ONLINE)
How can emotional intelligence impact your leadership style? Review concepts related to emotional intelligence and apply your new knowledge to solve case studies with your peers. You will also learn more about how your EI can influence your interview style.
Led by: Matteo Tardelli Location: Psychology Building, Room 205
Location: Psychology Building, Room 205
Discussion – job talks and negotiations that you have experienced
Many Postdocs strive for a job in academia, estimates range from 75-81% of PDFs aspire to attain a tenure track professorship. The issue: there are limited appointments in academia. The market is highly competitive, and the interview process can be laborious! Join our panel of experts to gain an insider’s perspective on the academic job search, job talk and interview process.
Panelists:
Panelists will represent different areas of academia to allow for a more “well-rounded” and insightful conversation. Leadership from Science, health sciences, engineering, grad studies and more, will join the discussion and share their knowledge about job talks (do’s and don’ts) as well as negation strategies.
Led by: Dr. Cameron Murray and Dr. Manaswini Ramkumar Location: Psychology Building room 205
Gillespie, S., Morency, M. M., Fajemirokun, E., & Ferguson, G. M. (2025). Promoting Identity Development, Multicultural Attitudes, and Civic Engagement Through Ethnic Studies: Evidence From a Natural Experiment. Child Development, 96(3), 966–979.
Zoom link Meeting ID: 9577392 3010 Passcode: 674623
Location: Psychology Building room 205
Practice your 5MRT talk and receive feedback from your peers
Led by: Jordan Moore, RISEilient Location: Psychology Building room 205
Led by: Brandon Love Location: Psychology Building room 205
Learn the art of presenting and conveying an effective message with this workshop on knowledge translation. Brandon will walk you through the impact of stage presence and how to engage with your audience in a meaningful way. This could give your next presentation the edge you need in your next presentation.
Led by: Dr. Taiana Pereira, Dr. Milena Esser, Dr. Alicia Battalgia Location: Psychology Building room 205
Anyidoho, P. A., & Gallant, D. J. (2025). Benefits and Challenges of Virtual Early Arrival or Summer Bridge Programs for Underrepresented Minority Students Majoring in STEM. Journal of College Science Teaching, 54(1), 51–56.
Present your 5min Research talk (5MRT) and receive feedback from your peers.
Led by: Carla Labella Location: Psychology Building room 205
Remaining resilient through leadership challenges can seem impossible. This segment allows researchers to investigate their own practices that foster perseverance, grit, mindful leadership and introspection. Join facilitator Carla Labella, as she guides you through the eye-opening world of resilient leadership.
Location: Psychology Building LIVELab
Location: Psychology Building LIVELab atrium 2nd floor
Come prepared with your 5min research talk and experience the stage at the LIVELab! Students, staff and community members will be welcomed to the event to provide feedback and identify the top talks.
Led by: Dr. Christopher Greyson-Gaito, Dr. Meghan McCue Location: Psychology Building room 205
Marano, G., Kotzalidis, G. D., Lisci, F. M., Anesini, M. B., Rossi, S., Barbonetti, S., Cangini, A., Ronsisvalle, A., Artuso, L., Falsini, C., Caso, R., Mandracchia, G., Brisi, C., Traversi, G., Mazza, O., Pola, R., Sani, G., Mercuri, E. M., Gaetani, E., & Mazza, M. (2025). The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing—Who Wins the Battle? Life (Basel, Switzerland), 15(3), 345.
Led by: Katie George Location: Psychology Building room 205
How to prepare an academic CV vs a Resume. Whether you are applying to a non-teaching academic position or an industry/government position, your CV may not appropriately translate your worth.
Led by: Jack Young, the Sherman Center, McMaster University Location: Psychology Building room 205
Present your 5min job talk and receive feedback from your peers.
Led by: Bissy Waariyo, Research Impact Canada Location: Psychology Building room 205
Led by: Dr. Sadman Sakib, Dr. Ailsa Edward, Dr. Basil Ibrahim Location: Psychology Building room 205
Wu, C.-H., Liu, C.-H., & Huang, Y.-M. (2022). The exploration of continuous learning intention in STEAM education through attitude, motivation, and cognitive load. International Journal of STEM Education, 9(1), Article 35
Led by: Nancy Watt Location: Psychology Building room 205
Emotional influence every aspect of our lives: from conflict resolution to leadership, being aware of your EI is a necessary skill for anyone in a leadership position. Review your EQ scores and understand how you can maximize your EI to lead with emotional intelligence.
Led by: Dr. Joe Kim Location: Psychology Building room 205
Discuss your current EdCog research experience with educational research projects. Speak with your peers about barriers, successes and future goals. Discuss conflict management strategies and how to communicate effectively with a team.
Learn from Dr. Joe Kim about how to better engage with you education research supervisor and how to get the most from your experience.
Led by: Dr. Faizan Saleem, Dr. Mouna Reda, Dr. Peter Adesina Location: Psychology Building room 205
Pastor, M. A. S., Cervantes-Marreros, M. D., Cubas-Pérez, J. D., Reategui-Apagueño, L. A., Tito-Pezo, D., Piña-Rimarachi, J. M., Vasquez-Perez, C. A., Correa-Vasquez, C. L., Soplin Rios, J. A., del Pino, L. F., & Botelho Junior, A. B. (2025). Project-Based Learning at Universities: A Sustainable Approach to Renewable Energy in Latin America—A Case Study. Sustainability, 17(12), 5492.
Led by: Bruce MacDonald Location: Psychology Building room 205
Learn how researchers can better engage government and influence public policy to enhance their impact. Bring your research to the next level and create real change.
Led by: Brandon Aubie Location: Alumni Memorial Hall, West Room
Learn how you can translate your academic skills to benefit your entrepreneurial pursuits. Speaker Brandon Aubie (Q-Reserve) will discuss his journey from academia to industry and starting his own tech company.
Location: Alumni Memorial Hall, West Room
Open to all postdocs
Location: Alumni Memorial Hall, Great Hall
Panel of postdocs, industry leaders and policy makers (from academia to industry), in collaboration with The Office of the Vice-President of Research (OVPR), and The McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO)
How can you express your WHY to expand your impact beyond academia. Expand your learning about entrepreneurial leadership and identify how these concepts might apply to you.
Led by: Dr. Alexandra Macdonald, MD Masuduzzaman, Dr. Mallory Terry Location: Psychology Building room 205
Aaron, Cassandra, Tania Heap, Audon Archibald, Laura Keyes, Maeleigh Novosad, and Adam Fein. “Applications of Human–AI Interaction to Optimize Teaching Workload and Improve Student Writing.” Journal of Computing in Higher Education, ahead of print, November 3, 2025.
Location: The Buttery
Final program day: Debrief and lunch. Join us for the final lunch and program debrief. Share your experiences and speak with facilitators that have taught you throughout the program.
After attending workshops relating to effective PowerPoint design and how to give a fantastic presentation, postdoctoral fellows will develop a 5-minute talk about their research aimed towards a general audience. The top talks will also present at the 5MRT Finals event. This will allow the postdoctoral fellows an opportunity to continue honing their science communication and leadership skills.
Postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to work with a professor doing education-related work or choose to investigate their own topic. The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to select from these projects to form a research collaboration and mentoring relationship to be conducted throughout the year. The goal of this research project is to showcase the work they’ve done and to disseminate findings that will translate into prescriptions for teaching in the classroom and result in changes in policy.
In the winter term, program members will complete several components of the leadership certification including:
Program members will prepare a general “job talk” and receive guidance from our mixed media expert on how to better prepare for their next important presentation (in academia or industry) NOTE: During Program lunches, program members or external PDF’s from around McMaster are welcome to deliver and receive feedback on a job talk. Hear from your peers and perfect your talk to heighten your chances of getting that next job.
(Winter term = in person facilitation)
Program members will be paired to present an educational research journal article of their choosing. Each week a pair of McCall MacBain PDF’s will lead an informative discussion on an educational/cognitive topic.