GU PDA By-laws

OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Georgetown University Postdoctoral Association (GU PDA) is to prepare postdoctoral fellows for the next steps of their careers through networking, professional branding, and mastering skills necessary to search for and obtain a job. These goals will be attained while simultaneously fostering a sense of community and enhancing the quality of the postdoctoral experience.

MEMBERSHIP

Any Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgetown University at eligible for membership. This includes individuals who are working in similar positions (e.g. individuals with a PhD, MD, JD, EdD, etc.) and conduct research under the supervision of a Georgetown faculty member.

MEETING STRUCTURE

Monthly meetings will take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 1:00 pm in W202 in the Research Building. The meeting is split into two parts - a workshop and a business meeting. Attendance will be recorded. The workshop is open to any postdoctoral fellow (not necessarily the GU PDA executive). More information about workshops is described under the “Committees” section.

(In view of the current pandemic, monthly meetings will take place online over Zoom. The time and link will be shared a week prior to the meeting.)

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

In order to be a member of GU PDA Executive Branch (co-chairs of the GU PDA, or co-chairs of the GU PDA committees), members need to attend 6 out of the 12 meetings for the year and attend the annual symposium.

Committees

There will be three committees that oversee the goals of the Association are achieved. These committees will be headed by a chair or two co-chairs. The committees are:

Workshop Committee

• 1. The workshop committee will oversee the organization of the monthly meetings by organizing professional workshops and/or speakers. These workshops/talks will take place at the beginning of the GU PDA meetings.

  2. There will be a Workshop Committee Chair that organizes the workshops. If there is no one to fill this position, the Co-chairs of the GU PDA will be responsible for organizing Workshops.

Symposium Committee

• 1. The GU PDA will put on an annual symposium to bridge the gap among postdoctoral fellows and graduate students of Georgetown’s main and medical campuses.

  2. The symposium will include (but is not limited to): a poster session, a speaker who focuses on career development, and a career panel.

  3. There will be co-chairs who organize and run the Symposium Committee.

Mentorship & Outreach Committee

• 1. The Mentorship Committee will work to organize mentorship activities both with mentors outside of our PI as a mentee and opportunities to be a mentor to students.

  2. The committee will be run by Mentorship Committee co-chairs. In the absence of co-chairs, this committee can be run by an individual.

Head Co-Chairs

• 1. There will be two head co-chairs of the GU PDA who will be responsible for the oversight of operations of the GU PDA including maintaining the website.

  2. Assist in meeting organization, workshops, and overseeing the three subcommittees.

  3. Serve as the main point of communication with the Georgetown University Administration.

  4. Oversee the timely appointment and/or election of new members and notify vacancies to the postdoc community.

  5. Will update and maintain the GU PDA website regularly to inform the broader community of the ongoing events at the GU PDA.

Term Expiration

1. Appointments will be held for one year (starting either in September or January). The goal is to have one executive member of a certain committee start in September and the next to start in January so there is overlap.

2. Executive members who are not able to fulfill their duties may withdraw at any time through written communication with one of the co-chairs.

Appointments and Elections

1. At the end of a term, individuals can nominate themselves or another person for a position.

2. If more than one person is interested in a position, elections will be held at a regular meeting where a majority vote will determine the person to hold that position.

3. If only one person is interested in a position they will automatically be appointed the position.