PDAC Executive Board 2025-2026
Meet the Team
Dr. Ayan Chanda (He/Him)
President
Ayan is a postdoctoral research associate at the Charbonneau Cancer Institute in the Cumming School of Medicine. His research focus is on understand the mechanisms of oral cancer progression. He is originally from Kolkata, India where he completed his B.Tech. and M.Tech. degrees in Biotechnology. He moved to Canada in 2013 to pursue doctoral training in cancer biology at the University of Calgary. Outside work he likes to travel with his family and read fiction. This is his fifth year at PDAC where he works diligently and collaborates with other team members to make Postdoc life at the university marginally better.
Responsibilities
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Supervises and guides the affairs and actions of the PDAC Executive Council
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Conducts or oversees all negotiations done on behalf of PDAC or its members, including collective bargaining
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Chairs all meetings of the PDAC membership or Executive, unless delegated to another Executive Officer
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Acts as an ex officio member of all PDAC Standing or Working Committees
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Acts as the spokesperson for PDAC and its members
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Carries primary responsibility for ensuring the effective and efficient functioning of the Executive and the Association and the continuity of PDAC
Presidency started on April 2025
Kim Smith (She/Her)
Executive Director & Labour Relations Expert
With 25 years of experience in Human Resources and Labour Relations, Kim has a proven record of driving best practices and fostering positive workplace outcomes.
As PDAC’s Executive Director and Labour Relations Expert, she works with the University and PDAC members in a vital partnership that promotes fair treatment and constructive resolution of workplace issues under the collective agreement.
Kim oversees PDAC’s operations to ensure continuity, with her primary focus on preserving the interpretation, application, and spirit of the collective agreement while ensuring fair labour practices between the University of Calgary, the Board of Governors, and Postdoctoral Fellows.
Dr. Shaelyn Xu (She/Her)
Vice President Communications
Shaelyn is a postdoctoral associate in the Parkins Lab in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases. Her research focuses on bacterial strain typing in a cystic fibrosis cohort and using a wastewater-based surveillance platform to characterize pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in marginalized populations. She completed her Ph.D. in Food Microbiology at the University of Alberta, where she served as Chair of the AFNS Graduate Student Association from 2020 to 2023. Outside the office her recreational passions include coffee arts and traveling. As VP communications, she aims to build a more connected and visible postdoc community by promoting events and professional development opportunities across platforms, ensuring postdocs are aware of available resources, and supporting the Executive team in organizing meaningful community-building initiatives.
Responsibilities
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First port of contact for the members of PDAC
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Responsible for communicating the affairs of PDAC and the Executive Council to the membership
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Manages the PDAC office email account and PDAC member mailing list
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Creates and disseminates the monthly PDAC newsletter
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Responsible for designing and updating the PDAC website
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Manages the PDAC social media accounts
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Advertises PDAC events and manages event registration
Dr. Samra Khan (She/her)
Vice President Operations
Dr. Samra Khan is a postdoctoral scholar in the Faculty of Social Work, specializing in simulation-based research. Her work centers on integrating cultural humility into mental health interventions, with a particular emphasis on improving care for marginalized populations through more effective and culturally responsive approaches.
She holds a PhD in Psychology, a master's in applied psychology (Clinical specialization), and a bachelor's in applied psychology. Originally from New Delhi, India, Dr. Khan has taught undergraduate students and practiced as a psychologist, bringing a diverse range of experiences that inform her research interests.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Samra enjoys playing basketball, reading, hiking, swimming, and watching action movies.
Responsibilities
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Facilitating effective functioning of the Executive Council.
Dr. Haydee Mesa-Galloso
Vice President Internal
Dr. Haydee Mesa-Galloso is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary. She completed her PhD in Biophysical Chemistry at the University of Calgary, where she studied lipid–protein interactions using molecular dynamics simulations and computational biophysics. Her current research investigates how membrane lipids regulate proteins involved in cellular function and human health, with a particular focus on ABCA1 regulation during sperm capacitation and the potential effects of environmental contaminants on male fertility.
Beyond academia, Haydee enjoys travelling, spending time outdoors, and exploring Alberta with her family.
Dr. Ellen Koch
Vice President Finance
Ellen is a postdoctoral associate in the departments of Kinesiology and Clinical Neurosciences at the Cumming School of Medicine and Hotchkiss Brain Institute. Her research focuses on how motor learning is affected starting at early stages after stroke, how this evolves over time with stroke recovery, and the relationship between motor learning and brain damage in stroke survivors. She is originally from British Columbia and completed her B.Sc. and PhD at the University of British Columbia. In her free time, you’ll find her spending time with her family and pets, practicing and/or teaching yoga, and exploring the great outdoors.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for day-to-day financial transactions for PDAC as approved by the executive team in alignment with the annual budget
- Compiles budgets to present to the executive team for approval and regularly updates executive on financial standing
- Reviews financial transactions and prepares financial reports prior to the annual third-party audit
- Creates an annual report and presents findings to the membership at the Annual General Meeting
- Provides information regarding current financial standing as requested by members
Dr. Nazanin Vaziri (She/Her)
Vice President Community Engagement
Nazanin is a postdoctoral research associate at the Charbonneau Cancer Institute in the Cumming School of Medicine. Her research focuses on investigating genetic mutations associated with cancer, contributing to a deeper understanding of cancer biology. She completed her PhD in Medical Science at the University of Calgary, where she also gained valuable experience organizing science fairs and participating in outreach initiatives. These roles allowed her to connect with diverse audiences from students to faculty and the broader community while strengthening her communication and organizational skills. Outside of the lab, Nazanin enjoys traveling, listening to podcasts, reading, and playing golf.
Responsibilities
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Fosters community among postdoctoral scholars by organizing social activities and workshops, supporting the broader goal of community building.
Terry Sway (He/Him)
Labour Relations Consultant
Terry is the PDAC Labour Relations Consultant and is a valuable resource for the PDAC Negotiating Team.
Terry has negotiated somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 collective agreements and has represented members in hundreds of grievances.
1983 - Negotiator for first collective agreement at Westerra.
1989-90 - Bargaining Team NASA
1994-95 - Chair of collective bargaining for NASA,
1995 - Vice-President & Director of Labour Relations ACIFA
In 2016, Terry was awarded the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) Donald C. Savage Award for his significant contributions to collective bargaining in post-secondary education.
Dr. Melika Moradi
Vice President External
Dr. Weronika Klecel
PDAC Members of Large
Dr. Weronika Klecel is a postdoctoral associate in Poissant Lab at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). Her research focuses on the genetics of free-living population of Sable Island horses. Before moving to Canada in 2025, she obtained her PhD in her home country, Poland, focusing on population genetics and morphometry of the Arabian horses. She serves as Member-At-Large at PDAC since April 2025. Outside academia, Weronika enjoys training for her first Ironman, reading non-fiction books, and exploring Alberta.
Dr. Farnaz Sheikhi
PDAC Members of Large
Dr. Farnaz Sheikhi is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on designing trustworthy artificial intelligence and machine learning models for applications in the healthcare and agriculture sectors.
Alongside her research, Dr. Sheikhi has extensive teaching experience and is committed to advancing AI education, knowledge sharing, and the responsible adoption of AI across academic and professional communities. She develops educational programs, fosters collaboration between academia and industry, and creates opportunities for learners to gain knowledge and practical skills in emerging AI technologies.
Dr. Sheikhi serves as the Program Chair of the AI Research School and the Program Coordinator for the National AI Summit, where she is dedicated to advancing AI literacy, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the next generation of AI researchers and practitioners.
Dr. Shuhiba Mohammad
PDAC Members of Large
Dr. Shuhiba Mohammad is a 4th year Postdoc in the Cumming School of Medicine supervised by Dr. Myriam Hemberger and Dr. Wendy Dean, in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, as well as a Member-at-Large at PDAC. Her research focusses on the epigenetic regulation of human trophoblast stem cell identity. Dr. Mohammad also is the founder of the Parent Postdocs Working Group.
PDAC Executive Alumni
2023-2024
President
Dr. Nynke van den Hoogen
Labour Relations Expert
Kim Smith
Labour Relations Consultant
Terry Sway
VP Communications
Dr. Margarita Maltseva
VP External
Dr. Yanyang Fang / Dr. Vinay Saini
VP Finance
Dr. Ayan Chanda
VP Internal
Dr. Gavin Petrie
VP Operations
Dr. Stephanie Bishop
VP Community Engagement
Dr. Liz Paola Noguera
2022-2023
President
Dr. Mehdi Mohammadi Ashani
Labour Relations Expert
Kim Smith
Labour Relations Consultant
Terry Sway
VP Communications
Dr. Stephanie Bishop
VP External
Dr. Sourabh Kumar
VP Finance
Dr. Ayan Chanda
VP Internal
Dr. Nynke van den Hoogen
VP Operations
Dr. Asfaw Yohannes
VP Community Engagement
Dr. Anitha Ravishanka
2021 - 2022
President
Dr. Mehdi Mohammadi
Labour Relations Expert
Kim Smith
Labour Relations Consultant
Terry Sway
VP Communications
Dr. Claire Kamaliddin
VP External
Dr. Catherine Hume
VP Finance
Dr. Ayan Chanda
VP Internal
Dr. Donovan Ashby
VP Operations
Dr. Sourabh Kumarement
Connect with Our Team
If you have any questions or need assistance with your postdoctoral research journey, our team is here to help. Reach out to us for support, resources, or to learn more about how we can assist you in achieving your academic and professional goals.