Postdoctoral Fellows Onboarding

Work Permit
Foreign Postdoctoral Fellows are required to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a Work Permit in Canada. The Immigration Process for Foreign PDFs on the Faculty Relations website outlines the steps involved in obtaining a temporary work permit and Social Insurance Number (SIN). It also provides information on what is expected after the foreign PDF arrives at UBC.

Please visit the Faculty Relations website for complete information on topics such as:

• Work Permit
• Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
• Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
• Where and how to apply for your visa/permit
• Permit for accompanying dependents
• Implied Status and how it affects MSP coverage

Before entering Canada, please ensure to read and sign Resource for Self Isolation Resource Packages.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number that you need to work in Canada or to have access to government programs and benefits. All employees are required by Service Canada to present their SIN card to their employer within three days of starting work.

For more information about obtaining a Social Insurance Number, visit the Service Canada website.

Health Care

B.C's Medical Services Plan is mandatory for all B.C. residents.

For information about MSP and how to enroll: BC Medical Services Plan

*New (and returning) residents are required to complete a wait period consisting of the balance of the month in which residence in British Columbia is established, plus two months before benefits can begin. Please find more details: Coverage Wait Period

Find a physician for you and your family: College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC

Find a dentist in your area: BC Dental Association

Hospitals in Vancouver and the Lower mainland

• Vancouver Coastal Health (serving Vancouver, Richmond, North Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, and Sea-to-Sky)
• Fraser Health (serving Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Mission, Delta, Langley, and Chilliwack)
• BC Women’s Hospital
• BC Children’s Hospital

Taxation in Canada/BC - Income Tax

While at UBC, any earnings received are considered Canadian income, unless otherwise indicated by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in writing prior to arrival.

Please note that, by law, deductions are taken from your salary for Canada Income Tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI). If you receive fellowship earnings, these will not be deducted for CPP and EI.

Please contact a financial advisor or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for tax and financial information.

You can also access the CRA website for a self-directed online course on understanding taxes, which includes help on how to file a tax return.

If you have any questions about paying income tax in Canada, please refer to CRA’s information for non-residents or contact the International Tax Services Office (collect calls are accepted):

• Calling from Canada and the U.S.: 1 800 267 5177
• Calling from outside Canada and the US: 1 613 952 3741
• Fax: 1 613 941 2505

Get information about taxable benefits related to UBC housing programs.

Banking and Credit Cards

There are a number of banking institutions and branches for you to choose from in British Columbia. Several banks are located near UBC's Vancouver campus, including:

• Royal Bank of Canada
• Bank of Montreal
• TD Canada Trust
• CIBC
• HSBC
• Scotiabank

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) can be found on campus and throughout Vancouver.

Housing and Child Care

Contact UBC's relocation Team and find housing information: Finding Housing

Resources, links, and contacts for help from UBC's housing and relocation services team in finding a home to buy in Vancouver or Kelowna: Buying a home in BC

Find Vancouver & Kelowna Child Care resources: Child care and schooling options

In order to have an official appointment in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UBC, please submit the following documents to our Assistant HR Manager, Ayaka Bosshard (ayaka.bosshard@ubc.ca):

1. Copy of your passport (foreign employees only)
2. Copy of work permit (foreign employees only)
3. Copy of SIN
4. Copy of Ph.D. or MD
5. Copy of Curriculum Vitae
6. Copy of signed offer letter supplied by your Supervisor

Building and Lab Access

Please ensure to sign up for Campus Wide Login (CWL) Account and apply for UBC Card, so our staff, Naz Khan (Naz.Khan@ubc.ca) can grant you access to our building and lab.

Campus Wide Login (CWL) Account

CWL Sign-up allows you to create a unique login name and password. A CWL and password is required to access your UBC email and a variety of UBC's online applications.

If you do not have a Campus Wide Login (CWL) Account, please sign up immediately: CWL Sign-up

As soon as you obtain a CWL, please apply for a UBC card for your access to our building and labs.

UBC Email

Once your CWL has been created, please contact our Assistant HR Manager, Ayaka Bosshard (ayaka.bosshard@ubc.ca)

He will assist you in creating your UBC email account.

UBC employee orientation hub

This UBC employee orientation hub is a self-directed resource and learning space to assist new faculty and staff in navigating UBC. Regardless of your specific role, this resource hub is designed to support you during your first couple months at UBC. (Canvas access required)

New to UBC Vancouver Resource Hub

Questions? If you have questions or need help in your first days and weeks at UBC, contact Sara Sawatzky at workplace.orientations@ubc.ca

• Department Introduction
• UBC Postdoctoral Fellows Office
• UBC Postdoctoral Association
• UBC HR UBC Postdoctoral Fellow Recruitment Page
• Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Administration Team's contact information: Administration Directory
• Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Official Twitter
• Faculty of Medicine home page: Faculty of Medicine
• Information about emergency notifications, “lockdown” procedures and  FAQs: UBC Emergency Procedures
• Important dates throughout the academic year: Vancouver Academic Calendar
• UBC Vancouver Campus Attractions: Visit UBC

Please visit our IT Support page for more information regarding onboarding: UBC BMB - IT Support

As a new employee, a number of courses are mandatory to meet WorkSafeBC and UBC requirements: UBC Safety & Risk Services

You will find the following mandatory training and surveys in your Workday - Sign in

Mandatory Health & Safety Training for All Workers 

• Preventing COVID-19 Infection in the Workplace
• New Worker Safety Orientation
• Preventing and Addressing Workplace Bullying and Harassment Training
• Workplace Violence Prevention Training

Mandatory Privacy & Information Security Fundamentals Training for all Workers

• Privacy & Information Security Fundamentals Training Part 1 & 2

Survey

• Employment Equity & Inclusion Survey
• Recruiting Experience Survey

Lab Safety Training

You will be notified and instructed by our staff, Naz Khan: Naz.Khan@ubc.ca

What training is required for working in a lab?

Once your appointment is complete in our HR system (Workday), you will receive your onboarding tasks to complete within Workday.

Onboarding tasks (CWL required)

• Contact information - How to edit contact Information
• Payment elections - How to update payment elections
• Tax forms - How do I make Provincial Tax Election and Federal Tax Election
• Benefits enrolments - How to enroll in benefits and pension as a new hire

Benefits

If you are eligible, Workday will notify you to enrol in the UBC employee benefits.

Please check your eligibility: UBC HR Benefits Eligibility and Plan Cost

Benefit plan details: UBC Benefit Plan

Questions?: Contact Benefits

UBC card

A UBC card identifies you as an active student, faculty or staff member.

Library Card

• Your UBC card is your library card.
• Obtain your card from the UBC Carding Office
• A valid UBC card is required to borrow books and use library services.
• A valid UBC CWL account is required to access library eResources.

• UBC HR UBC Postdoctoral Fellow Recruitment Page
• UBC Postdoctoral Fellows Office: Find resources, events and awards for Postdoctoral Fellows
• UBC Postdoctoral Fellows Guide:Find information about appointment process, career, work hours and benefits (January 2020 version)
• UBC Postdoctoral Association

Benefits

Benefit plan details: UBC Benefit Plan

Questions?: Contact Benefits

• UBC Wellbeing: Find resources for wellbeing strategic framework, tools and workshops.
• UBC Recreation: Find information about how to stay active at home, fitness classes and general wellness
• UBC HR Webpage: Find information about Staff and faculty mental health resources and how to get support
• Postdoctoral Fellows Office Resource page: Find free health, mental health, and wellbeing resources available to Postdoctoral Fellows at UBC.

Canvas Courses (CWL access required)

• Self and Community Care: Building Skills to Manage Stress (Self-guided)
• Wellbeing in the Workplace (Self-Guided)
• Travelling Health Fair 2021

You must have a valid work permit to cover the period of your postdoctoral fellow training. Initially, you will have at lease one year's work permit to be able to work at UBC. Postdoctoral Fellows should contact the department to make arrangements, if necessary, to continue your employment at UBC. A postdoctoral fellow's appointment is limited to 5 years.

If the appointment is to be renewed, this needs to be done at least 4 months prior to expiry of current work permit. The department administrator will prepare a new Letter of Offer and provides it to the Postdoctoral Fellow along with the IRCC Offer of Employment number and proof of payment of the compliance fee.

Further details on the immigration process and immigration documents can found in our Immigration information for Visitors Section.

Please visit the Faculty Relations website for complete information on topics such as:

• Work Permit
• Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
• Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
• Where and how to apply for your visa/permit
• Permit for accompanying dependents
• Implied Status and how it affects MSP coverage

How to apply for a Work Permit: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) webpage