GAAP

A Guide to Applying for Astronomy Postdocs

A series of online workshops
June-July, 2025



Registration Form

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GAAP (Guide to Applying for Astronomy Postdocs) is an online workshop series designed for prospective postdocs in astronomy. The initiative aims to support emerging astronomers who are looking to transition, or bridge the gap, from graduate studies to postdoctoral research positions, as well as from one postdoctoral position to another. The series ran for the first time in summer 2025, jointly organized by the Graduate Student Committee (GSC) and the Postdoctoral Committee (PDC) of the Canadian Astronomical Society / Société Canadienne d'Astronomie (CASCA).

The GAAP workshop sessions provide helpful information and experiential insights about the process of applying for postdoctoral positions and fellowships. The events also serve as a platform for discussions and opportunity for applicants to forge supportive connections with other applicants. We invite participation from students or recent graduates engaged in astronomy research who are interested in pursuing postdoctoral research opportunities, particularly senior graduate students in Canada.

The workshop materials and recordings from the 2025 GAAP series are available below as a permanent open resource.

Important Dates

  • February 28, 2025: The Expression of Interest Form opened, and we were amazed by the number of responses; thank you to everyone who filled this out!

  • May 5, 2025: Registration opened! Complete the Registration Form to receive connection details for the sessions. This form remained open until the last session on July 31st. You do not have to be at a Canadian university to register; participation is welcomed from one and all! The list of invited guest speakers and panelists at each of the sessions is now available below as well.

  • June 19, 2025 (1:00-3:00pm ET): Thank you for joining us for Session 1 of GAAP!

  • July 3, 2025 (1:00-3:00pm ET): Thank you for joining us for Session 2 of GAAP!

  • July 17, 2025 (1:00-3:00pm ET): Thank you for joining us for Session 3 of GAAP!

  • July 31, 2025 (1:00-3:00pm ET): Thank you for joining us for Session 4 of GAAP!

Session 1

Session 1. The Fundamentals of Applying to Postdoctoral Positions

Thursday, June 19, 1:00-3:00pm ET

  • Essential tips & tricks; background and reflection; finding and parsing opportunities; typical components of an application; timeline of the application and selection processes

  • Setting priorities and expectations; statistics to be aware of; the importance of organization tools and communication; personal branding; questions submitted by registrants


Emily Deibert, CASCA Postdoctoral Committee (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab)

Taylor Hutchison (NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, NASA Goddard)

The slide deck from GAAP Session 1 can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

The directory housing all GAAP slides is here: https://www.canfar.net/storage/vault/list/jspeedie/GAAP2025

We are grateful to the CANFAR Data Publication Service for indefinite file hosting.

Session 1 Slides

Full recording on the CASCA GSC's Youtube channel:

Session 2

Session 2. Writing Your Research Proposal

Thursday, July 3, 1:00-3:00pm ET

  • Why this is the most important component of your application and what it accomplishes

  • The qualities of a strong proposal; where to find examples; when and how to start writing


Eric Koch (Submillimeter Array & NSERC Fellow, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian)

Jess Speedie, CASCA Graduate Student Committee (University of Victoria)

The slide deck from GAAP Session 2 can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

The directory housing all GAAP slides is here: https://www.canfar.net/storage/vault/list/jspeedie/GAAP2025

We are grateful to the CANFAR Data Publication Service for indefinite file hosting.

Session 2 Slides

Full recording on the CASCA GSC's Youtube channel:

Session 3

Session 3. Interview Preparation // Two Sides of the Hiring Process

Thursday, July 17, 1:00-3:00pm ET

  • What an interview accomplishes, from the perspective of both sides: the selection committee and the applicant

  • How to prepare for an interview; typical formats; what to put in your presentation; questions you may be asked; questions you may ask

  • Featuring invited panelists: Roundtable discussion with insights shared from folks who have served on selection committees

  • Featuring invited speaker: Special presentation by NSERC Physics Program Officer on Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)


John Blakeslee (Director of Research and Science Services, NOIRLab)

Kristine Spekkens (Professor, Queen's University)

Lily Zhao (NASA Hubble Fellowship Program Sagan Fellow, University of Chicago)

Jess Speedie, CASCA Graduate Student Committee (University of Victoria)

Emily Deibert, CASCA Postdoctoral Committee (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab)

Kari Saumur (Physics Program Officer, NSERC)

The slide deck from GAAP Session 3 can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

The directory housing all GAAP slides is here: https://www.canfar.net/storage/vault/list/jspeedie/GAAP2025

We are grateful to the CANFAR Data Publication Service for indefinite file hosting.

Session 2 Slides

The slide deck by Kari Saumur (NSERC) can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

Session 2 Slides

Full recording on the CASCA GSC's Youtube channel:

Session 4

Session 4. The Many Possible Paths // Maintaining Mental Wellbeing During Application Season

Thursday, July 31, 1:00-3:00pm ET

  • How everyone's path is different; the diversity of considerations in making decisions

  • Mental health; the two-body problem; moving internationally; the process of finding one's way

  • Featuring invited panelists: Stories and advice from current postdocs and faculty with experiences from around the world


J. J. Zanazzi (51 Pegasi b Fellow, the University of California Berkeley)

William Thompson (Herzberg Instrument Science Fellow, NRC Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics)

Matthew Taylor (Assistant Professor of Astronomy, University of Calgary)

Katie Crotts (Postdoctoral Research Associate, Space Telescope Science Institute)

Matías Bravo, CASCA Postdoctoral Committee (McMaster University)

The slide deck from GAAP Session 4 can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

The directory housing all GAAP slides is here: https://www.canfar.net/storage/vault/list/jspeedie/GAAP2025

We are grateful to the CANFAR Data Publication Service for indefinite file hosting.

Session 4 Slides

This session was an open discussion exploring personal topics in a safe space. As such, it was not recorded.

Organizers


CASCA GSC Logo

  • Adrien Hélias, CASCA Graduate Student Committee (Western University)

  • Jess Speedie, CASCA Graduate Student Committee (University of Victoria)

  • Veronika Dornan, CASCA Graduate Student Committee (McMaster University)

  • Isabel Sander, CASCA Graduate Student Committee (University of Manitoba)

  • Solveig Thompson, CASCA Graduate Student Committee (University of Calgary)

  • Hannah Christie, CASCA Graduate Student Committee (Western University)

  • Emily Deibert, CASCA Postdoctoral Committee (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab)

  • Matías Bravo, CASCA Postdoctoral Committee (McMaster University)

Additional Resources

AMP-UP

NSERC - Canada Postdoctoral Research Award program (CPRA)