Weekly PDA Newsletter - Apr 24, 2016

Sun Apr 24 21:08:38 EDT 2016

[cid:image003.png at 01D114AE.CBB7CB20]

Dear MIT Postdocs,

The last week of April is ahead of us and there are many great events coming up. You can improve your present live or drive your career forward.
Additionally, the new postdoc initiative grants (PInG) have been awarded: Postdoc Running and Jogging Club (Alex Klotz), Postdoc Meditation and Mindfulness Meetup (Dina Tsurkov), and Postdoc Zumba (Maria Patsyuk). Congratulations to the recipients and Thank you so much for your initiatives for our community! - So postdocs, make sure to keep your eyes open for the announcements (the first one in this newsletter)!

Wish you all a great week!

Best,
Kathrin

--------------------------------------------------------------
Dr.-Ing. Kathrin Graetz
Corresponding Secretary
Postdoctoral Association of MIT (PDA)
pda.mit.edu<http://pda.mit.edu/>                Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/groups/44093460815/>                Twitter (@MITPDA)<https://twitter.com/MITPDA>              Instagram (@mitpda)<https://www.instagram.com/mitpda/>                   LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/grps/MIT-Postdoc-2506720/about?>

Boston PDA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1969262336632168/\<https://www.facebook.com/groups/1969262336632168/%5C>

Next PDA meeting:  May 9, 12pm @E25-202              register here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-vT1gzgyik3JHFWaRgQwAVeVoiaoQFK7iP2MO4dtKwo/viewform>          Lunch will be provided!

This Week's Topics:

*       Upcoming PDA Events

o   Sports & Pizza Thursdays, 6pm

*       From the PDA Committees

o   Human Affairs Committee: Lunch Dates

*       Postdoc Orientation Sessions

*       From the PDA PInG Initiatives

o   Running and Jogging Club

*       Other Events at MIT

o   MIT Impact Program      New

o   Managing Confidential Research Data (Monday, 12pm)

o   Research Data Management: File Organization (Tuesday, 5pm)

o   Plan Your Finances, Plan Your Life: Strengthen Your Relationship with Money (Tuesday, 5:30pm)

o   CAP Lunch & Learn with Jobcase (Wednesday, 1pm)         New

o   Simple Strategies to Resolve Conflicts with Difficult Supervisors and Coworkers (Wednesday, 3pm)

o   Networking Pub Night (Wednesday, 6pm)

o   "distant future" events - new events

o

Upcoming PDA Events:

PDA Sports:
IMPORTANT: Please bring your MIT ID. To enter the MIT Rec Center, inform the staff that you are a postdoc attending the scheduled PDA event. The entrance is free only during our events. The MAC Court is difficult to find for the first time, so come on time. Use Vassar street entrance!!! The 3rd floor door from the other side is locked most of the time.

[cid:image005.png at 01D19E6D.749990A0]Sports & Pizza Thursdays
PDA weekly sports event continues! Join us for a friendly sports game and/or pizza at Muddy's. You don't have to play any sports to get a slice of hot pizza. But, if you do, we got free access to the MIT Rec Center for all postdocs during our events. We are continuing with soccer on Thursdays. For volleyball, there are additional events upcoming and we are working on basketball games and dance events. Recover, recharge and socialize after the games at Muddy's pub. Free, hot pizza will be served and drinks are available for purchase with a valid ID. Please, RSVP so we can order enough pizza. There is also space for your feedback in the form!
Date and Time: Thursday, April 28th               6:00-7:00pm Soccer,              7:30pm Pizza
Location:          MAC Court (3rd Floor of Zesiger Center, W35-375)
                             Muddy Charles Pub (MIT Building 50)
Register for Pizza at Muddy's here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HxRuFOUZgzW9UmhQbTrJ4L3Jz1WuUZOPGexKCfoBf-U/viewform>

For all questions regarding the events, email the Sports Committee of PDA at jelenas at mit.edu<mailto:jelenas at mit.edu>
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Sport%20Activities%20for%20MIT%20Postdocs

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From the PDA Committees:

Human Affairs Committee: Lunch Dates

Interested in making friends with other postdocs over lunch or coffee?  Connect is a great way to make friends in the MIT postdoc community who share your interests and schedule. An MIT graduate student created this extremely popular program last year, and now postdocs can join.

How it works:
Sign up at www.ghamut.org<http://www.ghamut.org> by answering a few questions about your interests and schedule.  You will be matched with other interested postdocs and given a set of times when you are both available to meet one-on-one.  Then, be your wonderful self and start making meaningful connections with your fellow postdocs.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postdoc Orientation Sessions:

The PDA offers Postdoc Orientation Sessions open to all postdocs at MIT. Topics covered include:
*       Data on postdoc population at MIT

  *   MIT oversight of postdocs
  *   Defining postdoc expectations
  *   Differences between fellows and associates
  *   PDA structure and initiatives
*       How to get involved
The sessions will be typically the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 12pm (45-60min) in E19-306. Lunch will be provided.
The dates for the next six months are as follows: Apr 25, May 2, May 16, June 6, June 20

If you are interested in participating, you can register via Atlas or using this link<http://web.mit.edu/training/course.html?course=CDT21061c>.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From the PDA PInG Initiatives:

New Running and Jogging Club
Meet new people, enjoy the fresh air, improve your fitness.
We are starting a jogging club for postdocs and looking forward to many participants! Jogs will generally be along the Charles River in the evenings, followed by snacks and socializing on or near campus. If interested, please fill out the following form: http://goo.gl/forms/VSPKwUcQCv

[cid:95222B00-F045-414B-A096-7C6A941BCEDB]Yoga Classes for Postdocs

We are conducting yoga class series regularly and the next one is starting on April 27, and will be taking place on Wednesdays, 7:30 pm on campus (building 37 or building 16). A rate for postdocs and their spouses/partners is offered for a 10 class session for $80. This is a gentle all-level relaxing yoga class and no prior experience is required.

The classes will take place on the following 10 dates:
April 27, May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25, June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29

If you are interested, please reserve your spots by contacting Sarah Safieddine<mailto:sarahsaf at mit.edu> or the instructor <mailto:hadassahsegal at hotmail.com> Hadassah Segal<mailto:hadassahsegal at hotmail.com> directly.
Thank you!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Events at MIT:

[/Users/ericnorman/Dropbox (Personal)/2016 IMPACT Program/Communications/Design files/IMPACT_SourceFiles/IMPACT_logo/IMPACT_Logo_Small.png]Own your career! New opportunity to sharpen your research and career focus
IMPACT Program for post-docs and advanced pre-docs

We're happy to announce that applications are now being accepted for the next round of the MIT IMPACT program. IMPACT is a supplementary training program, supported by MIT and NIH, for postdoctoral and advanced pre-doctoral trainees.

IMPACT combines group and individualized mentorship; through interactive sessions, you will mix with a diverse group of other trainees and professional mentors from the academic, medical, and business sectors. The program will challenge you to explore and defend the real-world impact of your research, and help you develop the skills and professional networks for successful careers inside and outside of academia.

Applications for the fall term are being accepted now through May 20.

For more information and answers to FAQs, go to impactprogram.mit.edu, or contact us at impact at mit.edu<mailto:impact at mit.edu>. Apply at http://bit.ly/mitimpact16b<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__bit.ly_impact16&d=AwMFaQ&c=WknmpdNpvrlj2B5K1aWVqL1SOiF30547pqSuOmtwXTQ&r=6JU420W2h96BsiFMbCf4kKpzeGpnEgXf1k9P_i6aspc&m=j2dY_FJ9VFJvZBsQ31ESJoDjctHwCD6bwb5h8EbHMqc&s=1qkGvn22YMqD9PTGTIR_E7t0eFwfdRlOnlsKM37xtTk&e=>

This Week:

Managing Confidential Research Data (organized by MIT Libraries)
Join us for a class on research design and research methods related to confidential information. In this class, we'll discuss how to:

  *   Recognize sensitive information
  *   Prepare for IRB review
  *   Reduce risks in data collection
  *   Evaluate information threats and vulnerabilities
  *   Organize and store sensitive data
  *   Understand data use agreements, and
  *   Create data management plans
If you're a researcher - whether a late career grad student, faculty, or professional research staff - this class is for you.
Date and Time: Monday, April 25th, 12:00-3:00pm
Location: E25-401
Register here<http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2518268>

Research Data Management: File Organization (organized by MIT Libraries)
Do you struggle with organizing your research data? Wonder if there's a better way to arrange and name your data files to optimize your work? This workshop will teach you practical techniques for organizing your data files.
Topics will include: file and folder organizational structures and file naming. This session will include hands-on exercises to apply the concepts to your particular data project.
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 26th, 5:00-6:00pm
Location: 14N-132
Register here<http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2515567>

Plan Your Finances, Plan Your Life: Strengthen Your Relationship with Money (sponsored by MIT Work-Life Center)
Would you like to strengthen your relationship with money and learn to live within your means while continuing to spend on what matters most to you? Learn to eliminate financial overwhelm and instead powerfully manage money in your day-to-day life by designing a spending and savings plan (a.k.a. a budget) that allows you to have more freedom, choice, and peace in your life.
In this session, you will learn:

  *   The main reasons why most people aren't as powerful with their money as they could be
  *   The #1 way to positively shift your mindset around money instantly
  *   Three steps to a life of financial ease and flow
  *   Five steps to developing a new financial plan that works for your life
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 26th, 5:30pm dinner, 6:00-7:30pm seminar
Location: 46-3189
Register here<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/plan-your-finances-plan-your-life-strengthen-your-relationship-with-money-registration-20974441118>

CAP Lunch & Learn with Jobcase: Data Analytics and Machine Learning for Powering Job Search Engines (hosted by CSAIL Alliances)                    New
What is the CAP Lunch & Learn? The CAP Lunch & Learn (L&L) is an informal lunchtime event planned for a small group of MIT Ph.D. students and postdocs who are thinking about an eventual career in industry. It is hosted by CSAIL Alliances and a guest from one of CSAIL's affliate companies. The event is highlighted by a short talk given by a senior corporate executive who presents a technical topic, explains how research in industry differs from academic research and shares personal experiences and a candid account of their own career path for the benefit of the participants. The speakers are encouraged to share honest perspectives about their career path and refrain from recruitment "pitching" and there will be ample Q&A.
Discussion:
*       Taxonomy of the kinds of jobs people can get after they graduate and an outline for deciding which ones to focus on.
*       Career path from Course 16 (Aeronautics & Astronautics) at MIT to appointment as the head of a Data Analytics and Machine Learning group at Jobcase<http://jobcase.com/>, a late-stage social media startup in Kendall Square.
*       Current focus: Full reengineering of core job search technology that powers over 100 jobsites. Jobcase applies analytical expertise in user behavior modeling, data quality, and search result scoring to create a total registration membership to date of 48 million+ Americans.
Terran Melconian ('00, SM '01) manages the Data Analytics and Machine Learning team at Jobcase. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Course 16 at MIT, where he researched the robustness of airline schedules to adverse weather. Terran subsequently worked on Image Search at Google and on reliability and big data at TripAdvisor. At Jobcase, the analytics team focuses on user behavior modeling, data quality, and search result scoring.
Fred Goff (SM '01) is an entrepreneur and workers advocate building technology to better serve working men & women to achieve success.  In 2009 he reorganized a machine learning asset management company to launch Jobcase.com<http://jobcase.com/> - a company now considered the only social media site dedicated to empowering the American workforce.   Jobcase, a CSAIL affiliate member, harnesses the power of big data to effectively provide tools, and to connect and empower America's workforce on a local level, matching the right candidate with the right mentors and career opportunities at the right time. Previously, Goff was a proprietary trader and hedge fund manager of various companies, successfully managing up to $1 billion. Fred Goff holds a MS in Management of Technology from MIT, as well as a MS in Public Policy Management and BS in Managerial Economics & Industrial Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 27th, 1:00-2:30pm
Location: Stata Center - Patil/Kiva Conference Room 32-G449 (Gates Building, 4th Floor)
Register here<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cap-lunch-learn-with-jobcase-tickets-24848935836>

Simple Strategies to Resolve Conflicts with Difficult Supervisors and Coworkers (sponsored by MIT VPR)
Discover simple and practical strategies to resolve conflicts and work effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and collaborators in an academic environment. Participants will learn the basic principles of assertive communication in order to develop long-term professional relationships at the workplace and to mentor other researchers effectively.
The presenter, Dr. Dora Farkas, received her Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering and her Ph.D. in Biological Engineering, both from MIT. Dora won an NRSA research grant from NIH and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Tufts Medical School as a principal investigator on clinical trials. She also worked for several years in the pharmaceutical industry as a Senior Scientist in Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics. Dora is currently a thesis and career coach for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. She is also the founder of www.FinishYourThesis.com<http://www.FinishYourThesis.com>, a community site that has helped thousands of graduate students finish their theses since 2009.
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 27th, 3:00-4:30pm
Location: 46-3002
Register here<http://goo.gl/forms/hpihBcciGf>

Networking Pub Night (organized by Boston PDA)    See end of newsletter
Meet your fellow postdocs and rub elbows with industry professionals from local Biotech and Pharma companies.  We'll have lots of excellent hors d'ouvres and our space will be staffed by bartenders eager to serve your favorite adult beverage from our cash bar.
Bring your friends, your business cards and make some new friends and contacts! Availability is first come, first served and is filling up quickly.  Postdocs from all institutions and Industry PhDs are welcome.
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 27th, 6:00-8:30pm
Location: Rattlesnake Bar and Grill (384 Boylston Street, Boston)
Register here<http://redir.aspx/?REF=QEtFJZZyWJO29ACsqiBBhiOMXfbF32qteXcCuKtQJfuuJE27s1zTCAFodHRwOi8vYnBkYWNhcmVlci1hcHJpbC5ldmVudGJyaXRlLmNvbQ..>

In the "Distant" Future:

Negotiations in the Workplace (sponsored by MIT Work-Life Center)          New
Like many young professionals, you know that you need to be a successful negotiator to further your career goals, and would like to develop your skills in this area. In this workshop, you will be introduced to the core concepts of negotiation which will help you become a more effective self-advocate.
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 10th, 12:00-1:00pm
Location: E19-306
Register here<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/young-professional-workshop-negotiations-in-the-workplace-tickets-21014867033>

How to Fix Almost Anything in Your Home (sponsored by MIT Work-Life Center)            New
This seminar will help you learn the basics of maintaining your home-patching walls, fixing leaks, repairing, and more. You will learn about the essential systems in your home, from basement to roof, and about the tools you need to keep your home in good working order. You also will learn how to spot and anticipate problems before they become emergencies, when to attempt to fix it yourself, and when to call a professional. Homeowners, homeowners-to-be, and renters are all welcome.
Date and Time: Thursday, May 12th, 12:00-1:30pm
Location: 76-156
Register here<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-fix-almost-anything-in-your-home-registration-20972844342>

Cell Press LabLinks: The Gender of Science and the Science of Gender (organized by Boston PDA)          New
In a first-of-its-kind event, Cell Press is partnering with MASS AWIS to present a unique LabLinks that explores several themes around gender and science. This free one-day conference is designed to excite, inspire, and empower, and will include speakers tackling both the social issues of gender diversity in science and the biology of gender, exploring gender science from different perspectives.
Date and Time: Thursday, May 19th, 9:00am-5:00pm
Location: Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer
Information and Registration here<http://www.cell.com/pb-assets/marketing/lablinks/2016/gender%20science/LabLinks2015_GenderScience2016_4pp.pdf>

Academic Career Panel and Speed Networking Event (organized by Cell Press and MASS AWIS)
Meet junior faculty and tenured professors and learn about their path to the tenure track.  Listen to a panel discussion where faculty members discuss their time on the job market, interviewing, negotiating their starting packet, hiring and managing lab members, getting funding and getting tenure.  We'll have representatives from R1, undergraduate and teaching intensive institutions as well as a discussion on diversity in Academia.
Following the panel discussion, we will have a speed networking event where individuals can speak one-on-one to faculty members.
Invite your friends and your questions and come make some new friends and contacts!  Registration is free, but required.  Availability is first come, first served and is filling up quickly.
Date and Time: Wednesday, June 1st, 6:00-8:00pm
Location: Tosteson Medical Education Center (260 Longwood Avenue Atrium, Boston)
Register here<bpdacareers-academia.eventbrite.com>

Free affiliate membership with the National Postdoctoral Association: http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/?page=individual_members

*NOTE: MIT is a Collegiate Rep of AWIS, so the MIT community can attend Mass AWIS (http://mass-awis.org/) events at the member price.
First, apply for your free membership through the national AWIS website http://www.awis.org/ as a Collegiate Rep and select the Massachusetts Chapter. Do this prior to registering for any events.

Other helpful sites:
postdocs.mit.edu (Office VPR)
MIT GECD Events<https://gecd.mit.edu/mit-events>
MIT Spouses&Partners Events<http://spouses.mit.edu/mit-events>
MIT Events<http://events.mit.edu/>

[cid:image014.png at 01D198DD.CCE466D0]

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0001.html
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 48146 bytes
Desc: image001.png
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0007.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image010.png
Type: image/png
Size: 124454 bytes
Desc: image010.png
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0008.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image012.png
Type: image/png
Size: 869815 bytes
Desc: image012.png
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0009.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image007.png
Type: image/png
Size: 145233 bytes
Desc: image007.png
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0010.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.wmz
Type: application/x-ms-wmz
Size: 62943 bytes
Desc: image002.wmz
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0001.bin
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.png
Type: image/png
Size: 24845 bytes
Desc: image005.png
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0011.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image008.png
Type: image/png
Size: 231133 bytes
Desc: image008.png
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0012.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image009.png
Type: image/png
Size: 228232 bytes
Desc: image009.png
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20160424/6688db2a/attachment-0013.png