Upcoming Events
The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is hosting an Individual Development Plan (IDP) workshop for grad students and postdocs. Join the workshop about creating and maintaining an Individual Development Plan (IDP) to learn:
• What are IDPs and why are they recommended?
• How to leverage your IDP to benefit your research productivity, professional development, and career planning
• How to talk to your supervisor/mentor about your IDP
September 24, 12 to 1 p.m., online
The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is offering a New Postdoc Research Communication workshop. Some of the most important presentations that academics give are delivered to non-specialist audiences. "Brief Accessible Research Talks: Explaining Your Research to a Non-Specialist Audience" is a new workshop designed specifically for U of T postdocs to help you develop strategies to explain your ideas in accessible terms, making your work comprehensible and memorable for audiences beyond academia.
September 25, 2026 12 to 1 p.m., online
The Black Research Network will host “Navigating Workload, Well-Being and Research Momentum,” part of the BRN Academic Practice Lab, on Oct. 15 from 12–1:30 p.m.
Facilitated by BRN Associate Director of Mentorship Suzi Oliveira de Lima, this interactive workshop explores practical strategies for managing workloads while protecting well-being and maintaining meaningful progress on research and creative projects.
This virtual session is open to faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students at the University of Toronto who identify as racialized, Black or Indigenous.
Past Events
AI Teaching and Learning Series 6 - AI-Ready Teaching: What Does This Mean for You?
Facilitated by: Rob Huang, Educational Developer, Instructional Practices & Student Engagement, RGASC
In-person on Wednesday, March 18th, 2026, 11:00am - 12:00pm in the CDRS Small Breakout Room, MN3233
Online on Thursday, March 19th, 2026, 10:00am - 11:00am on Microsoft Teams
"AI Readiness" is more than just technical fluency; it is about preparing students for a workforce and society where human-AI collaboration is the norm. But what does an "AI-Ready" pedagogy look like in your specific discipline? This session serves as a facilitated discussion, inviting educators to zoom out and consider the broader implications of AI on curriculum design, workforce expectations, and digital literacy. We will move from reactive policies (policing use) to proactive pedagogy, discussing how to build a teaching philosophy that remains resilient in a rapidly shifting landscape.
Learning Outcomes:
· Articulate the specific "AI-Ready" skills and competencies required in their discipline or field of study.
· Identify gaps in their current curriculum where "human-distinctive" skills (e.g., empathy, complex judgment, physical intuition) need to be emphasized more strongly.
· Develop a personal "AI Teaching Statement" or action plan that defines their ongoing approach to AI integration for the upcoming academic year.
The Neuroinclusive Classroom Series 3: Assessment & Feedback for Neurodiverse Learners
Facilitated by: Laura McKinley, Educational Developer, Universal Design for Learning and Accessible Pedagogies, RGASC
In-person on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026, 11:00am - 12:00pm in ALC Room, MN3260
Online on Thursday, March 26th, 2026, 3:00pm - 4:00pm on Microsoft Teams
Assessments shape how many students experience learning and communicate what we hope students will learn. However, some traditional assessment and feedback practices can, unintentionally, create barriers for neurodivergent learners. Rigid time limits or deadlines, assigning a single mode of knowledge representation and expression (i.e. reliance only on written work) and feedback based solely on errors can heighten anxiety, penalize processing differences, and obscure opportunities for growth.
This workshop will offer neuroinclusive assessment and feedback strategies grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. Participants will explore practical approaches to (re)design assessments that uphold academic rigour while fostering flexibility, equity, and accessibility.
Learning Outcomes:
· Explore how traditional assessment and feedback practices can unintentionally create barriers for neurodivergent learners.
· Delineate key Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles relevant to inclusive assessment.
· Analyze existing assessments for potential equity and accessibility barriers.
· Apply practical strategies to (re)design assessments that allow a wider variety of learners to thrive.
SoTL Series 3 - Navigating Ethical Considerations in SoTL Research
Facilitated by: Amanda Brijmohan, PhD, Educational Developer, Assessment and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, RGASC
Faculty Co-facilitator: Prof. Jayne Baker, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream; Associate Chair, Academic, Department of Sociology, UTM; Chair, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education Research Ethics Board (tri-campus), University of Toronto
Online on Friday, March 27th, 2026, 12:00pm - 2:00pm on Microsoft Teams
When instructors conduct SoTL projects involving their own students, they step into a dual role as instructor–researcher, which brings with it specific ethical considerations that are unique to doing research in teaching and learning contexts. This workshop supports those in our teaching and learning community at UTM who are curious about studying their teaching but are new to navigating research ethics processes and the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2). This session will first explore how to distinguish research from reflective practice or quality assurance, and whether approvals are required from U of T’s Research Ethics Board. Next, participants will explore how to recognize and mitigate power relationships and conflicts of interest when students are research participants, and how to design consent, recruitment, and data practices that protect student welfare during their participation in SoTL research projects. This workshop is intended for faculty, instructors, and educational staff who are new to SoTL or have limited experience with human research ethics processes.
Learning Outcomes:
After this session, participants will:
· Differentiate SoTL research from reflective practice and quality assurance activities in their own courses and identify when REB review is required. · Explore ethical considerations related to instructor–student power relationships in their SoTL projects and identify strategies to mitigate ethical risks.
· Consider whether or in what ways, students are a vulnerable research participant group.
· Identify potential data sources for a SoTL question (e.g., existing coursework, surveys, focus groups, institutional data) and specify how they will address privacy, and confidentiality.
Fridays, April 17 to May 8, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in person at UTSC campus
The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) program is a comprehensive and internationally-recognized professional development opportunity for those teaching in higher education. Participants will gain experience with active learning and educational technology, and will have the opportunity to design, deliver, and receive feedback on mini-lessons. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive certificates recognizing their efforts and status as ISW-certified instructors.
Space is limited so please register early to secure your spot!
Click here to register for the Instructional Skills Workshop for Postdocs.
Questions about this session program can be directed to Lisa at lisa.aikman@utoronto.ca
All UTM postdocs are invited to the Office of the Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean (OVPAD) April Postdoc Coffee Hour! This is a casual and relaxed opportunity to connect with fellow postdocs from across UTM, share experiences, and enjoy complimentary coffee and snacks.
Feel free to bring your lunch if this lines up with your lunch hour.
Date: Thursday April 23
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: SB 3049
This informal get together is a great way to:
- Meet other postdocs and expand your network
- Chat about research, careers, and campus life
- Take a short break from the lab or office and recharge
Whether you’re new to UTM or have been here for a while, we’d love for you to join us!
Please RSVP here. While drop-ins are welcome, your RSVP helps us plan food and drinks.
Programming: Ready, Set...Reflect! - Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Time: 9:30 am-12:00pm (Breakfast to start)
Location: CDRS Large Collaboration Room, Maanjiwe nendamowinan (MN) 3230
Following the success of last year’s inaugural Ready, Set…Reflect!, we are pleased to offer this half‑day workshop again. Designed to support reflective and responsive teaching, the session gives instructors time, space, and practical strategies to examine what’s working in their classrooms, and what might be adapted.
Participants will explore reflective practice, share insights with colleagues, and learn from the Educational Development team’s year‑in‑review of emerging teaching supports and trends. We are also pleased to welcome keynote speakers Louis Busch (Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy) and Laura McKinley (UDL and Accessible Pedagogies), who will help guide reflection and planning for the year ahead.
Please secure your spot via the Microsoft Registration Form.
Programming: Indigenous Futurities in Higher Education - Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm (lunch to follow)
Location: MiST Theatre (CCT Building), UTM
On behalf of Dr. Louis Busch, Special Projects Officer, Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogies
I am writing to invite you to a shared learning gathering, Indigenous Futurities in Higher Education. This event brings together leading Indigenous scholars and educators to explore what it means to imagine and enact futures in higher education grounded in Indigenous knowledge, sovereignty, and thriving.
Program
9:30am – Keynote by Dr. Sandy Grande
10:45am – Panel discussion with Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek, Dr. Stephanie Waterman, Dr. Brent Debassige, and Dr. Candace Brunette-Debassige
12:00pm – Lunch
Spaces are limited, and registration is required. Please confirm your attendance here: https://forms.office.com/r/m8uzh867uM
I hope you are able to join us for what promises to be a meaningful and generative conversation!
Programming: Ready, Set...Teach! - Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre
Date: Monday, August 24, 2026
Time: 9:30 am-4:30pm (Breakfast and lunch will be provided)
Location: CDRS Large Collaboration Room Maanjiwe nendamowinan (MN) 3230
Ready, Set…Teach! is full-day conference of just-in-time pedagogical resources and supports to prepare you for the upcoming fall term. Full registration and session details will be available soon.
This year, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Elizabeth Norell, University of Mississippi, and author of The Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching who will deliver the keynote address.
Save-the-date, and secure your spot for the keynote address via the Microsoft Registration Form.
The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC) has begun organizing the pedagogical reading groups for this term. Groups will meet either weekly or biweekly to discuss thoughts, reactions, and how the reading influenced our teaching and/or related practice.
RGASC reading groups will take place online via Zoom/Teams this term, with the last meeting scheduled to take place in-person on campus. Graduate students, postdocs, sessional instructors, staff, librarians and faculty are all welcome to join!
To vote on the books we will read and to register your interest in joining the group, please complete the Microsoft Registration Form by Monday, June 1st, 2026.
Jiali Song, Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Applied Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory at UTM is organizing a UTM post-doc social series this summer, featuring a variety of board games. The goal of the series is to continue to strengthen in-person post-doc community here on campus by meeting monthly in the summer.
UTM Post-Doc Board Game Social - August Meetup
Thursday August 20, 3:00-4:00pm
Starbucks, across from UTM Library (Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre)
Open to all post-docs, drop-in when you're able!
Please RSVP using this form
For questions, contact Jiali Song - jiali.song@utoronto.ca
The Office of the Vice-Principal, Academic and Dean (OVPAD) is pleased to announce its Second Annual Postdoctoral Orientation and Appreciation Day, taking place ahead of Postdoctoral Appreciation Week.
Whether you are new to UTM or an established member of our postdoctoral community, we invite you to join us for a day dedicated to building connections, exploring campus resources, and recognizing the outstanding contributions of our postdoctoral scholars.
Event Details
Date: Thursday September 17, 2026
Time: 9:00am – 3:30pm
Location MN 3230 – The Collaborative Research Commons (Lunch to be held on MN 5th Floor North Patio)
Program Itinerary
- Campus Tour 9:00am - 10:30am - Learn about UTM’s facilities, including research spaces, libraries, wellness areas and lounges.*Start: Starbucks, Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre
- Welcome, Registration and Information Tables 10:30am - 11:30am (MN 3230) - Enjoy light refreshments and learn about UTM’s facilities, resources, and support services available to postdoctoral fellows.
- Breakout with CUPE 3902 Unit 5 11:30am - 12:00pm (MN 3230) - Learn about the collective agreement and take the opportunity to ask questions of your union representatives.
- Postdoctoral Lunch Mixer 12:15pm - 1:15 pm (MN 5th Floor North Patio) – Connect with fellow postdocs in an informal setting and begin building your professional network.
- Leadership Awards Ceremony, Panel and Reception 1:30pm - 3:30pm (MN 3230) – Celebrate the recipients of the Postdoctoral Leadership Award and their outstanding contributions to the UTM community. Enjoy light refreshments while connecting with colleagues following the awards ceremony.
We hope you will join us for this special event as we welcome you to UTM and recognize the achievements of our postdoctoral scholars.
RSVP by Thursday September 10, 2026 by completing the RSVP form. While online registration closes on September 10, all are welcome to attend. After this date, please contact postdocs.utm@utoronto.ca to register manually.