SLS Postdoc Association anticipates a top 2006

The School of Life Sciences' Postdoc Association has continued to build in strength since its inception in early 2005, having been successful in attracting high profile external speakers to the University, such as the Guardian's Science editor Tim Radford.

To encourage postdocs in presentation skills, it holds bi-weekly seminars where fellow postdocs can discuss their research or hear from other internal speakers. The notable highlight in 2005 was a special Christmas lecture from the Principal.

Several generic skills workshops, ranging from scientific writing skills to data presentation, have also been organised by the postdocs themselves. From early 2006 these types of initiatives may be adopted campus-wide, with the appointment of a Generic Skills Training Co-ordinator Dr Christine Milburn.

In the School of Life Sciences, several of this year's speakers are already lined up - with a Biotech/business theme in mind. Former Dundee postdocs Dr Steve Davies from Upstate Biotechnology, Dr Sarah Mackelvie from Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Dr Axel Knebel from Kinasource, have all agreed to talk to postdocs about their work. The association also plans to invite a number of high-profile speakers to Dundee in 2006.