The Postdoc Universe: Where training becomes a career

Maryse Lassonde Scientific Director Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies

FIRST, A GLANCE OF MY LIFE…

Lassonde 101: 3 lives 1977-1988 Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

1988-2012 Université de Montréal

2012-… Scientific director Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies

Lassonde 101: Life no. 1 • 1977-2001: Basic research conducted with modest grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and a few team grants • 3-4 papers/year • A few specialized TV shows… but who cares about the development of interhemispheric communication and cerebral plasticity?

Lassonde 101: Life no. 1 • 10 years on the way: knowledge application to clinical settings • Division of the two hemispheres to alleviate epilepsy in children without any foreseen cognitive deficits • Callosal agenesis does not necessarily lead to mental deficiency (medical abortions in France)

Lassonde 101: Life no. 2 • 2001-2013: Award of an NSERC Canada Research Chair with major infrastructure from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation • HQP (electrophysiologist, engineer, PDFs, research professionals, students, etc.) • 12-16 papers/year • But how can one pay for all this with “modest grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and a few team grants”?

Lassonde 101: Life no. 2 • Diversification of research interests in order to obtain grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) • Other factor: the Montréal Canadiens! • Neuropsychologist evaluating the effects of concussions: 1998-2012 • Use of P&P tests and some computer tests but testretest effects and other problems • Hence, a second life launched on the effects of sports concussions (thanks to CIHR grants)

Sports concussion: An epidemic • Sports injuries are by far the most prevalent cause of mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) • 50,000 to 300,000 new cases reported annually in the US (only cases involving loss of consciousness); 2-3 millions annually

>800 deaths from football Athletes are under reporters

• 49% of athletes who sustain a concussion do not report it 8

The paradox The effects of concussion are transient • •

Post-concussion symptoms disappear 10 days after the accident Normal neuropsychological test results at 10-14 days after the injury

But

Converging evidence that the adverse effects of sports concussions are cumulative • • •

Higher vulnerability to subsequent concussions More severe / longer-lasting post-concussion symptomatology Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment is fivefold in retired athletes with a history of 3+ concussions

Second impact syndrome • An athlete who suffers a concussion returns to play before symptoms have resolved • A new concussion may lead to death or important cerebral damage • Several cases have been reported in the US, especially at the High School level

Risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease? • Massive epidemiological study in 2005 revealed a link between a history of previous concussions and early onset of AD in retired professional football athletes. • Those with three or more concussions had a fivefold prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment diagnosis. • 60% of Mild Cognitive Impairment patients convert to dementia over a 5 year period. • Multiple- concussion football players developed AD 10 years prior to the general population.

Long term effects

Long term effects: Cognitive functions Electrophysiology / Neuropsychology Results Electrophysiology We found significant amplitude reductions of brain waves in former concussed athletes.

Neuropsychology • Significant reduction of inhibition control in former concussed athletes • Significant memory decline in former concussed athletes

Long term effects: Motor functions

• Abnormal motor reactions following transcranial magnetic stimulation • Significant motor execution slowness in former concussed athletes across each hand condition • Similar to what is seen in Parkinson’s disease

Cortical thinning in aging concussed athletes correlate with memory decline

Impact of the research's • Over 100 radio/TV interviews throughout the world (e.g. France 2; also including Hockey Night in Canada- in fact La Soirée du Hockey!) • Over 100 newspaper reports, including The New York Times • Over 50 invited presentations on this topic (for instance in Mexico, where they want to launch a monitoring program for their soccer players) Presentations to policy makers • Research Canada (poster presented to ministers, deputies, etc.) • French Olympic Committee • Hockey Canada • TBI and Emotional wellness alliance (New York), etc.

Impact: CIHR-sponsored Scientific Café

Impact: CIHR-sponsored Scientific Café

Impact: CIHR-sponsored Scientific Café

Basic vs Applied research • Two different impacts • One often has immediate impacts: media coverage, policy makers, etc. • The other one may also have such an impact in the long-term and should not be forgotten in any type of impact assessment

Lassonde 101: Life no. 3 Since January 1st 2012, Scientific Director of the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (Québec Natural Sciences and Engineering research funding agency). But what is the Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ)?

The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ)

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The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) On July 1st 2011, Bill 130 created: • Fonds de Recherche du Québec, regrouping 3 Funds: Nature & technologies, Santé, Société & culture • Québec Chief Scientist Position

Aims: • Increase competitiveness of Québec researchers • Increase international impact • Foster large inter-sectorial research programs • Improve public science literacy • Promote knowledge mobilization 23

Chief Scientist of Québec’s Mandates Rémi Quirion

Chief Scientist of Québec

Deputy Minister level

• Advise the Minister and the government on research and development policy in Québec • Ensure coordination of objectives and the development of intersectoral research • Preside over Québec international research & innovation policy • Identify our society’s great challenges and its sectors of excellence • Preside over the Boards of the three Québec research funds and ensure their work is integrated and coordinated • Support the development of a new generation of scientists

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Scientific Director’s Mandates • Ensure that the mission of the Funds is carried out

Maryse Lassonde • Responsible for scientific affairs, partnerships and Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies

other activities of the Funds

• Define, in close collaboration with the Chief Scientist and the Board of Directors, the orientations, goals and priorities of the Funds, and determine strategies and Renaldo Battista action plans to be implemented Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé

Louise Poissant Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture

• Serve as a member on the Board of Directors • Represent the Funds in dealings with various authorities and organizations and develops partnerships with academic, industrial and governmental stakeholders and the scientific community in general • Advise the Chief Scientist on issues relating to the areas of expertise of the Funds

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Research Funding: A Global Portrait Research Centres, Networks, Groups, Institutes and Teams

The Next Generation

Scholarship and Fellowship (Master’s, PhD’s and Postdoc

$51.5M 24.7%

Research Groups

$79.6M 38.2%

Career in research Research Projects

$42.0M 20.2%

• • • •

Partnership projects Innovation networks Team projects Chairs 26

$35.2M 16.9%

Budget: $208.3M

Source: FRQ Annual Reports 2014-2015

Research Scholars New Research Professor College researcher

FRQ’s Global Priorities 2014-2017

• • • • • • 27

Finance non-directed research (90%) Develop Intersectoral research on major societal challenges & niche areas Develop International collaborations Develop Public-private partnerships Train the next generation of scientists and researchers Promote scientific culture and research careers

Training of young researchers: A Priority for the FRQ A Day of reflection in April 2013 •

How to adapt the research training?

•

What professional opportunities for university degrees other than academics? How can future generations of research students integrate the knowledge society?

•

Are the requirements the same according to the fields or the scientific disciplines?

•

Innovative and efficient models here or elsewhere which could be drawn?

•

Labor market: of the importance to create demand for highly qualified personnel and to promote the expertise acquired in a PhD

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Training of young researchers: A Priority for the FRQ • Student training must be adapted to the reality of modern society; More individualized training? Entrepreneurship, placements practice, etc. • Around 50% of the three Funds budget go to support the next generation of researchers; Training and Bursary awards; direct and indirect support • Competition based on publication. In Québec, around 35% of students published before to get their PhD 29

Étudiants-chercheurs étoiles (‘Star studentresearcher’) competition • Since March 2012 • On a monthly basis; an awardee for each Fund; 8th edition of the competition underway • PhD : the group stands out as the best represented both in terms of nominations and winners

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% of nominations

% of winners

Santé

66,94%

61,11%

NT

78,19%

77,78%

SC

78,9%

64,3%

Postdoc Star student-researcher

Award winner of the FRQNT, May 2015 Postdoctoral fellow in wood and forest science, Université Laval Award-winning publication: Expression of the β-glucosidase gene Pgβglu-1 underpins natural resistance of white spruce against spruce budworm Published in The Plant Journal

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Postdoc Star student-researcher

Award winner of the FRQS, March 2015 Postdoctoral student in cellular and molecular neuroscience, Université Laval and CRIUSMQ Award-winning publication: A Spinal Analogue of Memory Reconsolidation Enables Reversal of Hyperalgesia Published in Nature Neuroscience

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Postdoc Star student-researcher

Award winner of the FRQSC, August 2015 Postdoctoral fellow, Centre Urbanisation, Culture et Société, INRS Award-winning publication: Vivre en quartier populaire. SaintSauveur, 1930-1980 Published in Éditions du Septentrion, Québec

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The ups and downs of scientific training – The Postdoc’s situation

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Of the importance of Post-Secondary Education

• •

Crucial for developed society like Canada

•

A competent and qualified skilled labor force in tune with the needs of society

•

The utmost importance of developing a scientific culture based on natural sciences and engineering

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Knowledge transfer and training individuals who will contribute to tomorrow’s society

The Postdocs: Essential part of the research system • Highly-trained and experienced early career researchers • They play a key role in driving discovery and expanding knowledge • The source of future productivity: postdoctoral appointments are the platform from which the next generation of researchers embarks on independent research careers Source: The 2013 Canadian Postdoc Survey: Painting a Picture of Canadian Postdoctoral Scholars. Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars and Mitacs

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The importance of Postdocs for the research system

Overall, postdoctoral fellows annually publish more articles than do university professors and PhD students.

Source: Held Barbosa de Souza et Vincent Larivière, Université de Montréal, Découvrir Web magazine http://www.acfas.ca/publications/decouvrir/2014/11/l-importance-postdoctorants-systeme-recherche

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The importance of Postdocs for the research system

In each field, postdocs articles have more impact on average than those of professors and doctoral students.

Source: Held Barbosa de Souza et Vincent Larivière, Université de Montréal, Découvrir Web magazine http://www.acfas.ca/publications/decouvrir/2014/11/l-importance-postdoctorants-systeme-recherche

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The Key Problems of the Postdoc Situation • Administrative Ambiguity – No clear employment or administrative status – Postdocs may be classified as employees, students, independent contractors, or trainees

• Low Compensation and Benefits – Approximately two-thirds of Canadian postdocs earn less than $45,000 annually

• Insufficient Training – Most Canadian postdocs view their position as a stepping-stone to employment as university faculty – However, the majority of postdocs will not obtain faculty positions Source: The 2013 Canadian Postdoc Survey: Painting a Picture of Canadian Postdoctoral Scholars. Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars and Mitacs

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The Necessity of Professional Training The training postdocs seek and receive is designed to prepare them for academic careers that few will obtain; postdoctoral training rarely includes the professional skills needed to succeed in non-academic settings. Source: The 2013 Canadian Postdoc Survey: Painting a Picture of Canadian Postdoctoral Scholars. Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars and Mitacs

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Which extra academic skills? • Communication • Management • Ethics • Entrepreneurship • Versatility, adaptability Establish a career plan Have a better understanding of career opportunities, especially the low perspective of academic careers 41

Québec’s Ministry of Education Survey: “La relance à l’université 2012” The employment situation of holders of a doctorate

Decrease between 2005 and 2012 the share of doctoral graduates who are postdoctoral fellows. Source: http://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/contenu/documents_soutien/Ens_Sup/Commun/Statistiques/Relance/Universite_Doc/Relance_ universite_Doc_Brochure_2012_VF.pdf 42

Québec’s Ministry of Education Survey: “La relance à l’université 2012” The employment situation of holders of a doctorate

Postdoc especially in health sciences , pure and applied sciences 43

Days of the Next Generation in Science FRQAcfas, September 2015 • In the wake of the FRQ’s Day of Reflection, April 2013 • Two days of plenary sessions and practical workshops • Between 150 and 200 participants • Graduate students, mostly doctoral • Conferences and workshops on training and soft skills, given by scientists and communication professionals • Dedicated to the enhancement and support of the next generation of researchers

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Days of the Next Generation in Science FRQAcfas, September 2015 Some discussion items on post graduate training • What kind of work do you want to do after your postdoc training? Is there a way outside academic career? • In fact, doctorate leads to many things outside the academic world. It is possible to reinvest what you have learned and practiced during your training. • Try to get the “Big Picture” of the career possibilities with your knowledge and skills. • Postdoctoral skills are very much sought on the labor market. • But the various career opportunities outside academic research lack the valuation. 45

How to prepare yourself to working out of college/university? • … Work outside college/university! • Go get practice, learn your field, realize concrete projects, understand the differences between academic and professional practice of your profession. • Take charge of your career! Embrace the multiple possibilities coming across your doctoral path. • Look for tools that could allow a passage to a job that suit maybe better than the university researcher. • Develop your transferable skills. 46

Where Are Canada’s PhDs Employed?

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The Postdoc Training from the FRQ’s point of view

48

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Status FRQ’s definition Person who performs, full-time and for a predetermined period, a supervised postdoctoral research fellowship with a researcher, a group, a team, a centre, a cluster or a network, and who contributes actively to their research work. Source: FRQ Common General Rules

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FRQ’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs • Evaluation criteria's mostly the same for the three Funds • Amount and allocation of the funding are different: – FRQNT: 35K – FRQS: from 30K to 39K – FRQSC: 30K + 2K to 5K for production costs, transfer, etc.

• Research location: Internationally-recognized research environments outside Québec are recommended and preferred 50

FRQNT New Measure To improve the work-family balance in order to facilitate the international mobility of postdoctoral fellows, especially women  Travel expenses of the spouse will be reimbursed for trainees who carry their internship outside Québec

2014-2015 new postdocs trainees • 28% go in another province • 43% go abroad Source: FRQNT’s 2014-2015 Management Report

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FRQS New Measure Enhanced value of the scholarship for candidates who will do their postdoctoral training abroad.  Awards granted for internships out of Canada will be adjusted upwards of an amount of $15,000.

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Major trends in Student Headcounts • Stabilization and declining enrollment Canadian student by level and sector • Increase foreign student enrollment

53

Headcount Québec Students – Master

54

Headcount Québec Students – PhD

Source: MEESR, 21 mai 2015. Données provisoires pour l’automne 2014. Note: The values ​“Multisectoral Studies” and “Not Applicable” have been distributed in other areas proportionately. 55

Competition results of FRQNT Fellowship Program in the last six years

1 Nombre

Postdoctoc

Demandes admissibles

Demandes recommandées

Demandes financées (incluant les reports)

Taux de financement1

2010-2011

187

135

69

51%

2011-2012

156

136

54

40%

2012-2013

168

158

48

30%

2013-2014

152

136

62

46%

2014-2015

146

137

64

47%

de demandes présentées lors du concours faisant l’objet d’un financement par rapport au nombre total de demandes présentées lors du concours faisant l’objet d’une recommandation par le comité d’évaluation.

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Postdoctoral Fellowships according to FRQNT research fields, 2014-2015 (competition and commitments) FIELDS

No

$

Abstract structures

13

$281,884

Energy

7

$100,609

Environment

22

$518,920

Information and Communications technologies

18

$405,086

Living organisms

26

$646,211

Manufacturing and construction

5

$90,000

Materials

10

$233,651

Natural resources

6

$163,853

Nature and interaction of matter

16

$383,113

Techniques, measurement and systems

21

$443,288

144

$3,266,615

TOTAL

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Competition results of FRQS Fellowship Program in the last six years

58

Postdoctorat

Demandes admissibles

Demandes recommandées

Demandes financées (incluant les reports)

Taux de financement

2010-2011

254

144

39

27%

2011-2012

283

186

65

35%

2012-2013

270

155

70

45%

2013-2014

273

191

66

35%

2014-2015

248

187

70

37%

Postdoctoral Fellowships according to FRQS research fields, 2014-2015 (competition and commitments) FIELDS Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis Cancer Human Genetics Infection and Immunity Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction Nutrition and Metabolism Circulatory and Respiratory Health Child, Youth and Maternal Health Populations Health Gender and Health Health Services Aging TOTAL

No 5 28 11 27 43 9 13 6 5 1 4 10 162

$ $142,500 $911,882 $357,086 $917,766 $1,372,030 $256,365 $381,069 $207,523 $174,323 $30,000 $133,308 $340,553 $5,224,405

Includes programs Postgraduate Training (Canadian citizens or permanent residents) and Postgraduate Training for non residents of Quebec candidates. The area concerned is the one stated in the Canadian Common CV.

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Competition results of FRQSC Fellowship Program in the last six years

1 Nombre

Postdoc

Demandes admissibles

Demandes recommandées

Demandes financées (incluant les reports)

Taux de financement1

2010-2011

191

162

40

25%

2011-2012

195

164

55

34%

2012-2013

211

178

61

34%

2013-2014

192

166

67

40%

2014-2015

223

191

59

31%

de demandes présentées lors du concours faisant l’objet d’un financement par rapport au nombre total de demandes présentées lors du concours faisant l’objet d’une recommandation par le comité d’évaluation.

60

Postdoctoral Fellowships according to FRQSC research fields, 2014-2015 (competition and commitments) FIELDS

No

$

Arts, Literature and Society

28

$586,017

Writing and Fine Arts

8

$197,706

Cultures, Religions and Civilizations

13

$243,899

Development and Functioning of Individuals, Communities and Social Living

26

$610,065

Economy, Employment and Markets

1

$25,000

Education, Knowledge and Skills

11

$290,368

Fundamental Issues and Meaning of Life

13

$337,636

Organizational Management

3

$76,090

Language and Languages

3

$133,978

Media, Communication and Information

16

$321,960

Living Environments, Planning and Appropriation of Human Spaces

5

$128,842

Nature, Transformation and Governance of Society and Institutions

19

$382,407

International Relations and Development

6

$107,284

155

$3,441,252

TOTAL 61

New Master scholarships granted by each Fund 300

250

200

FRQSC 150

FRQNT FRQS

100

50

0 2003-2004

62

2004-2005

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

New Doctoral scholarships granted by each Fund 400

350

300

250

FRQSC 200

FRQNT FRQS

150

100

50

0 2003-2004

63

2004-2005

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

New Postdoctoral fellowships awarded by each Fund 120

100

80

FRQSC 60

FRQNT FRQS

40

20

0 2003-2004

64

2004-2005

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

Value of the main scholarship and grants programs, FRQ and Federal Research Councils, 2004-2016 FRQ 15 000 $ par an, pour deux ans, depuis 2003-2004

Master 20 000 $ par an pour trois ans, depuis 2003-2004

PhD

Federal Research Councils Bourses d'études supérieures (BES) du CRSNG 17 300 $ par an depuis 2001-2002 jusqu’à 2013-2014 pour un an. TERMINÉ. Pas de concours en 2014 BES du Canada (BESC) 17 500 $ pour un an, depuis 2003-2004 BES/CRSNG: 19 100 $ entre 2001-2002 et 2002-2003 21 000 $ depuis 2003-2004 BESC/ Graham Bell : 35 000 $ depuis début du programme en 2003-2004 BESC/Vanier : 50 000 $ depuis début du programme en 2009-2010

30 000 $ par an, pour deux ans, depuis 2003-2004 FRQNT : 35 000 $ par an depuis 2015-2016

Postdoc

65

FRQS : supplément de 15 000 $ pour postdoctorat à l’extérieur du Québec de 2008-2009 à 2014-2015, à l’extérieur du Canada à partir de 2015-2016

BP: 35 000 $ de 2001-2002 à 2002-2003 40 000 $ de 2003-2004 à 2013-2014 45 000 $ depuis 2014-2015 Banting : 70 000 $ depuis début du programme en 2011-2012

Competition results and annual rates of success in SSHRC postdoctoral fellowships

66

Success rate of annual programs of scholarship and grants in CIHR – Postdoctoral fellowship

67

Success rate of annual programs of scholarship and grants in NSERC – Postdoctoral fellowship

1

Inclut les bourses d'études supérieures et postdoctorales du CRSNG, les bourses d'études supérieures du Canada et les bourses Banting.

Note : La compilation pour le Québec est basée sur l'établissement de l’étudiant au moment de la demande. Dans l’ensemble, environ 15% des candidats aux bourses doctorales et plus de 50% de ceux aux bourses postdoctorales ne proviennent pas d’une université canadienne.

Source : CRSNG, Résultats des concours

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Mitacs Acceleration In 2014-2015 , 670 Accelerate Québec Internship were offered to 443 students and postdoctoral fellows as part of the agreement between the FRQ and MITACS , including 539 internship in the NSE. Number of Accelerate Québec Internship

69

NSE

Social/Humanities/ Arts

Health

Total

Master

144

31

15

190

PhD

190

38

12

240

Postdoc

205

6

29

240

Total

539

75

56

670

Mitacs Acceleration • Nature of Internship: Workplace practice • Realistic response to the request for additional training and job out of college/universities • 51% of former trainees have landed a job in business • 14% of former trainees have established their own company

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Representation of Women Share of women among the candidates for financial support programs as Head (2015) Nature et technologies

Santé

Société et culture

Master

34%

64%

69%

PhD

32%

60%

61%

Postdoc Research Scholars (regulars and clinicians)* Establishing career

29%

48%

53%

--

47%

--

25%

51%

51%

Research Projects Strategic Field (Partnership Program for Innovation) Research Infrastructures (Strategic Clusters)

19%

56%

45%

18%

36%

60%

42%

14%

*FRQS specific program

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Representation of Women Nature et technologies

Santé

Société et culture

0,8 0,7 0,6 0,5 0,4 0,3 0,2 0,1 0

Maîtrise

72

Doctorat

Postdoctorat

Chercheurs boursiers (réguliers et cliniciens)*

Établissement en carrière

Projets de recherche

Domaines stratégiques (Programmes de partenariat pour l'innovation)

Infrastructures de recherche (Regroupements stratégiques)

Evolution of the share of women among the graduates

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Representation of Women in NSE • ⅓ of registrations • Economic impact: low retention of female students leads to annual losses of 3 billion dollars (United Kingdom) • Proportion of women at different academic levels in Canada

Source: Council of Canadian Academies, 2012 74

The Future • How to improve postdocs support? • How to improve training so that it’s more in tune with the needs of society?

Now… Let’s talk about it!

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té

Thank you for your attention! [email protected]