Board of Directors

I currently serve as CAPA President and I have been a CAPA Board Member since 2022. Outside of CAPA, I am the Associate Dean of Students and Postdocs, Faculty of Graduate Studies at Dalhousie University.

Besides my administrative role in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, I am a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, where I lead a research group focused on Respiratory Physiopathology (Cystic Fibrosis) and metabolic disorders (CF-Related Diabetes).

I bring a strong background of 20 years experience in Graduate Education and Academic Leadership to my role at CAPA. I am deeply passionate about supporting young talents in their academic journey and I am dedicated to advocating for a supportive and inclusive community of scholars.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my animals and my family in our rural community in Nova Scotia.

Contact: valerie.chappe@dal.ca

Hourik Khanlian currently serves as the Vice President of CAPA, having been an active member of the Board for several years. She has been involved with the CAPA Association since its founding in 2011.

In her professional role, Hourik is the Senior Manager of Postdoctoral Affairs at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she has been a key member of the Postdoctoral Fellows Office since its establishment in 2010. She has played a pivotal role in building and expanding the office, increasing postdoc visibility on campus, and advocating for the well-being of the postdoctoral community.

Driven by a passion for supporting postdocs, Hourik is dedicated to improving the postdoctoral experience at UBC and fostering professional development opportunities that prepare postdocs for successful careers in academia, industry, and beyond.

I have been a member of CAPA since its inception in 2012. I have served on CAPA’s Board of Directors since 2020 when I assumed the role of Treasurer. Outside of CAPA, I am the Manager of the Office of the Vice President (Research), at the University of New Brunswick.

I received my Undergraduate degree in Integrated Studies at UNB in 2020, and am currently working towards my Master’s degree in Adult Education with a plan to graduate in the Spring of
2025.
I have been working within the world of business and financial affairs for many years, so I bring knowledge of bookkeeping and government financial reporting to the CAPA table.
As most of UNB’s postdoctoral population is international it is important for me to stay current with all federal immigration issues and challenges. My membership in CAPA has been instrumental in making that a possibility.
When I am not working for UNB or for CAPA I am spending time with my wife and my 2 teenaged children (who happen to have special needs). I only mention the fact about my children because having children with special needs requires a parent to be a strong advocate, and I am happy to use the skills I have acquired as an advocate in my work with and for CAPA.
In my free time, I enjoy being in nature. I especially love fishing and camping in the beautiful country that can be found here in New Brunswick.

James Fraser is a Professor in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy at Queen’s University, where he also serves as the Associate Dean (Graduate) in the Faculty of Arts and Science.

When he’s not overseeing program development for graduate education or advocating for postdocs, James can be found working with his research team on high-power laser manufacturing or exploring photonics frontier research.

James also serves as a director with the Canadian Association of Physicists and is a strong proponent of scholar advocacy organizations working together to speak with one voice to the public and government. In his ample spare time, you can find James on the ice (indoor or wild) speed skating. Connect with James through linkedin.

I serve as a Board Member and have been on the CAPA Board since November 2023. Outside of CAPA, I am the Manager of the Postdoctoral Office at the University of Calgary.

With a strong background in research administration, I bring strong knowledge about research funding and postdoctoral appointments to my role on the Board. I am deeply passionate about postdoctoral professional development in research and am dedicated to fostering a strong community.

In my free time, I enjoy photography, movies, and traveling.

A mathematician by training, I also have extensive administrative experience, having served on the boards for the Applied Algebra and Optimization Research Center (Korea, 2016-2023), the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (Canada/US, 2015-present) and the Centro de Matematica (Portugal, 2013-present), and as President of the International Linear Algebra Society (2008-2014). 

I have been a CAPA Board Member since 2023. Outside of CAPA, I am the Manager of Postdoctoral Affairs and Immigration Services at the University of Lethbridge.

As a licensed immigration practitioner, I bring key skills in cross-border mobility to support international researchers. I am deeply passionate about bringing top-tier talent to our universities, and overcoming administrative hurdles to resolve the issues facing institutions and postdoctoral researchers both. I am dedicated to developing ways to not only attract top-tier postdoctoral researchers, but to develop their professional development to position them for success as future research leaders.

In my free time, I enjoy refinishing old furniture, camping, and spending time with my family. I am also the current President of the Kinette Club of Coaldale and work to raise money to support local initiatives such as building playgrounds and supporting the needs of the community.

Contact: Angela.rosenau@uleth.ca

Annie Pilote has been Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at Université Laval since 2023. A full professor at this institution, she has expertise in educational administration and policy. Her research in the sociology of education focuses on higher education pathways, with a particular emphasis on equity issues.

Prior to her current role, she was Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Education (2011-2012, 2014-2022). She led a number of initiatives to promote student retention and educational success, particularly among First Peoples. Aside from her involvement with the postdoctoral community, she is Chair of the Board of the Federation for Social Science and Humanities, Vice-President of the Association of Deans of graduate studies in Québec and a member of the executive committee of the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS).

E-mail: annie.pilote@fesp.ulaval.ca

En Francais:

Annie Pilote est doyenne de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales de l’Université Laval depuis 2023. Professeure titulaire au sein de cette institution, elle possède une expertise en administration et politiques de l’éducation. Ses travaux de recherche en sociologie de l’éducation se concentrent sur les parcours dans l’enseignement supérieur, en mettant un accent particulier sur les enjeux d’équité. Avant son rôle actuel, elle a été vice-doyenne à la recherche et aux études supérieures à la Faculté des sciences de l’éducation (2011-2012, 2014-2022). Elle a dirigé plusieurs initiatives visant à favoriser la persévérance scolaire et la réussite éducative, en particulier auprès des Premiers Peuples. Outre son implication auprès de la communauté postdoctorale, elle est présidente du conseil d’administration de la Fédération des sciences humaines, vice-présidente de l’Association des doyennes et doyens des études supérieures au Québec et membre du comité exécutif de Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS).