Today, Queen’s School of Graduate Studies is launching its new name: School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA). The name change is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing the visibility and experiences of postdoctoral fellows, who play vital research and instructional roles at the university. 

“Following extensive consultation with current postdoctoral fellows and campus-wide stakeholders, we are proud to announce a new name that better reflects the breadth and depth of our programming and supports,” says Fahim Quadir, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. “Raising the profile of postdoctoral fellows in this way signals an even stronger Queen’s commitment to working to meet their needs as important contributors to the research and teaching missions of the university.”

In addition to the name change, SGSPA also launched increased support for postdoctoral fellows — individuals conducting research after the completion of their PhD — through the creation of a full-time staff position dedicated to postdoctoral affairs. This role allows for greater focus on the coordination of new and existing resources, serving to welcome fellows, provide orientation, and connect them with the broader Queen’s community. 

“At any point during the year, Queen’s has around 200 postdoctoral fellows working in about 40 programs across faculties,” says Nenagh Hathaway, who recently joined SGSPA to serve as Coordinator of Postdoctoral Affairs. “Fellows are at a critical stage in their career, and I look forward to enhancing our professional development resources designed for this group. I encourage fellows and their supervisors to contact me at any time.”

The bolstering of postdoctoral affairs at Queen’s aligns with the institution’s larger strategic goals, as laid out in the Queen’s strategy and the Strategic Research Plan (2018-23), which aim to strengthen the university’s research intensity and prominence in Canada and the world.

"Postdoctoral fellows play an important role in supporting the university’s strategic research and teaching goals,” says Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “The school’s new name acknowledges their vital contributions, represents greater inclusivity, and signals our recommitment to attracting top talent and nurturing excellence across our university community.”

More support for postdoctoral fellows and faculty will also increase the university’s ability to recruit and retain top talent from around the globe, further boosting the institution’s commitment to diversity, and to promoting exemplary, ground-breaking, and interdisciplinary research.

To learn more about the new name, as well as SGSPA’s programming and resources, visit the newly launched School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website.