Overview
The heart and engine of CONVERGE CDR will be a cohort of five postdoctoral fellows (PDFs) working across science, data, policy, community engagement and business strategy. Unlike traditional postdoctoral fellowships, CONVERGE PDFs will be early-career researchers* with a drive and commitment to bring expertise from their research and work collaboratively with new people and across new organizations to advance the responsible and equitable mCDR sector in Canada.
The CONVERGE PDFs will possess ‘Entrepreneurial DNA’ and wake up each morning motivated to harness their deep expertise and work innovatively across disciplines to deliver value to CONVERGE CDR partners, the community, policymakers, and the sector.
CONVERGE PDFs will learn new skills, broaden their networks, and engage in diverse professional development opportunities. This postdoctoral experience is akin to the prestigious interdisciplinary fellowships such as the Knauss Fellowship, the Schmidt Science Fellowship, and the Stanford Doerr School Sustainability Accelerator Fellowship.
The CONVERGE PDF cohort of today will become the leaders of tomorrow within their communities and in their selected academic, government, or industry organizations.
* CONVERGE PDFs shall be postdoctoral scholars within two years of completing their PhD.
Professional development and training
The cohort of CONVERGE PDFs will have the opportunity to participate in a range of professional development opportunities and training in topics such as:
- Communicating science
- Working with the media
- Intellectual property
- Data management
- Policy scenario mapping
You know you are a HERO if you:
Are comfortable with ambiguity – Radical collaborations often involve open-ended questions, evolving goals, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. They thrive in dynamic, less-structured environments.
Value diverse perspectives – They work with experts from different fields (e.g., ocean scientists, economists, policymakers, engineers, community leaders), which means embracing different ways of thinking, even when they challenge their assumptions.
Are willing to share credit and ideas – Unlike traditional academia, where individual contributions are emphasized, radical collaboration requires collective ownership of ideas, findings, and success.
Can adapt to new communication styles – Working across disciplines means learning to translate research into language that policy makers, community leaders, and other scientists can understand.
Are open to fast-paced, cross-sector work – Unlike long-term, single-discipline projects, radical collaboration often involves rapid experimentation, feedback loops, and pivoting based on new insights.
