Biology IAP 2006

[pchien@MIT.EDU]

Dear Postdocs,

Every year during IAP, the Biology department sponsors a series
of workshops and seminars designed to inform members of our community
about scientific advances and career opportunities. Best of all,
this series is completely defined by postdocs!

Last year, there were career workshops on writing NIH grants,
raising families in science, and getting that first academic job.
Not to mention an entire series devoted to those seeking careers in
other fields such as consulting and scientific publishing.

We are writing to ask for volunteers in joining the organizing
committee.  Every lucky postdoc who replies will be responsible
for inviting speakers to one or two workshops and chairing that
session in January.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to contribute to a series
of talks organized by the postdocs, for the postdocs and for you
to be involved in shaping what topics will be covered during this
time.  As you know, your postdoctoral appointment serves not only
to enrich your scientific life but also to establish connections
and networks within the scientific community.  This would be your
chance to have a positive influence on both your own career and
helping others with their choices.

In addition, we would like to solicit response from the postdocs
about what kind of seminars you would find interesting and for
those of you here last year, which seminars you did not find
rewarding.  Specifically, what career choices are you interested
in finding out more about?

Please email Peter Chien (pchien at mit.edu) if you are interesting
in volunteering or if you have feedback/suggestions.

Cheers,

Peter Chien