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Welcome to the     Graduate and Postdoctoral Development Network

A three person conversation on developing and sharing best practices on professional development and success of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars kick-started the Graduate and Postdoctoral Development Network (GPDN) in January 2013. The first formal name of the association, Consortium of Canadian Graduate Student Professional Development Administrators (CCGSPDA), was introduced at the CAGS conference in Toronto 2016. In 2019, after much deliberation and consultation, the new, shorter name was announced. Presently, GPDN consists of  nearly 100 professionals supporting graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from 38 institutions across Canada.

Réseau pour le Perfectionnement aux Études Supérieures et Postdoctorales

Une conversation à trois en janvier 2013 sur le partage et le perfectionnement des pratiques exemplaires en matière de développement professionnel et de réussite pour les étudiants aux études supérieures et postdoctorales est à l’origine du Réseau pour le perfectionnement aux études supérieures et postdoctorales (RPESP). Le premier nom officiel de l’association, le Consortium canadien des administrateurs du perfectionnement professionnel des étudiants canadiens des cycles supérieurs, a été dévoilé lors de la conférence de l’ACES à Toronto en 2016. En 2019, après plusieurs délibérations et consultations, une nouvelle appellation, plus courte, a été annoncée. À l’heure actuelle, le RPESP est composé 100 professionnels qui soutiennent des étudiants aux études supérieures et des chercheurs postdoctoraux provenant de 38 établissements canadiens.


Become a member 

Come join us to educate and inspire Canadian graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to develop and take action to achieve current and future career goals.

Devenez membre 

Joignez-vous à nous pour guider et pour inspirer les étudiants aux cycles supérieurs et les chercheurs postdoctoraux canadiens à prendre les mesures nécessaires pour atteindre leurs objectifs de carrières actuels et futurs.

Recent News and Posts

Responsibilities may include

Read our latest article!

Has someone ever asked you, "What is a postdoc?" and you weren't quite able to quite articulate it? Postdocs are often confused as either students or faculty, and there are myths surrounding the postdoc that adds layers to that confusion. In the latest RMI, Katie George busts some of those myths and provides a clear overview of what exactly a postdoc is and why they are vital to the academic ecosystem.

Check out other articles of the Responsibilities May Include column in University Affairs magazine

Upcoming events

    • 28 Oct 2024
    • 12:00 PM
    • 29 Oct 2024
    • 5:00 PM
    • Hybrid (Toronto, ON and virtual on Zoom)
    • 145
    Register

    The Graduate and Postdoctoral Development Network (GPDN) is excited to invite you to our Annual Conference on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, 2024. We are pleased to offer a hybrid format with an in-person conference in Toronto, Ontario, and a virtual conference on Zoom. The GPDN Conference will be held during the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies’ (CAGS) conference.

    Agenda

    • Date: Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, 2024

    • Time: 12:00pm - 5:00pm ET on Monday and 8:45am - 5:00pm ET on Tuesday

    Please see our conference schedule (Google Doc) for further details.

    Important registration information

    Early bird discounted registration is available until September 20. Regular priced registration will be available from September 21 to October 8 for in-person attendance and September 21 to October 23 for online attendance.

    The conference is open to members of GPDN who have an active membership. Current members must login to the website to register for the conference, and non-members much purchase a membership prior to registering. Please following the appropriate steps below: 

    • Non-members: 

      • Learn about and purchase a membership by visiting our Join Us page and following the prompts: https://gpdn-rpesp.ca/join-us

      • Wait for your email confirmation that your membership has been reviewed an approved 

      • Follow the steps below for current GPDN members

    • Current GPDN members: 
      • Click "login at the top right of the GPDN website to access your GPDN account (if you forget your password, please select the "forgot password" button and follow the prompts; if you continue to have difficulty logging in, please contact operations.manager@gpdn-rpesp.ca). 
      • Access the conference event page
      • Register for the conference

    For more information about membership, visit: https://gpdn-rpesp.ca/join-us.

    Hotel information

    For those attending in person, the conference will be held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. GPDN members can book rooms through the CAGS portal.

    Registration Fees

    • In person (Toronto) – $375.00
    • In-person (Toronto) - Early Bird Rate (until Sept 20) – $300.00
    • In person (Toronto) - Grad/Postdoc Rate – $200.00
    • Online – $200.00
    • Online - Early Bird Rate (until Sept 20) – $150.00
    • Online - Grad/Postdoc Rate –  $50.00
    • 19 Nov 2024
    • 21 Nov 2024
    • 11:30 PM
    Register

    Each year, the GPDN hosts a career symposium for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows aimed at professional development and career exploration. The 2024 GPDN Career Symposium is taking place from November 19 – 21, 2024. A full program agenda (PDF) is now available. 

    Institutions wishing to provide their graduate students and postdocs with access to the symposium can register and pay fees through this form. The cost, per institution, is $250.

    Please note that your registration fee must be paid within 15 minutes of completing the registration, or your registration will be cancelled. 

    Later in the fall, all registered institutions will receive a sponsorship email with information on how your graduate students and postdocs can register to attend the symposium. 




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Graduate and Postdoctoral Development Network | Le Réseau pour le Perfectionnement aux Études Supérieures et Postdoctorales

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