Weekly PDA Newsletter - December 4, 2016

[Meghan Huber]

​

Dear MIT Postdocs,

Join the Postdoc Initiatives Grant (PInG) Committee: Do you want to help
choose initiatives and programs that will benefit our postdoc community in
the next year?  Join the Postdoc Initiatives Grant (PInG) Committee!  The
first meeting will be this month via email.  We will likely have no more
than 3 in person meetings.   Our responsibilities will include:

a) Updating Grant Guidelines (via email in December),

b) Calling for Proposals (December-January),

c) Evaluating and Awarding Proposals (Early February), and

d) Supporting Funded Proposals (February-September).

Please email the PInG Committee Chair, Elizabeth Stewart at pda-ping at mit.edu
if you would like to join this committee or learn more about the
responsibilities.


Enjoy your week!

Cheers,

Meghan

-----

Dr. Meghan Huber

Corresponding Secretary

Postdoctoral Association of MIT (PDA)

Follow the MIT-PDA on social media!

MIT-PDA

website <http://pda.mit.edu>

Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/groups/44093460815/>

Twitter <https://twitter.com/MITPDA>

Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/mitpda/>

LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2506720/profile>

Boston-PDA

website <http://bostonpostdocs.org/>

NEXT MIT-PDA MEETING

December 12, 2016

12:00pm

Rm E25-202

Lunch will be provided!

REGISTER HERE
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-vT1gzgyik3JHFWaRgQwAVeVoiaoQFK7iP2MO4dtKwo/viewform>

Please join us for our monthly MIT-PDA meeting! Get involved with any of
the various committees (e.g., sports, advocacy, committee, community
building) and have your voice heard. This is a great opportunity meet your
fellow postdocs on campus!


MIT-PDA NEWS AND EVENTS

Upcoming MIT-PDA Events


Postdoc Coffee Hour

Hosted by the MIT-PDA

Do you have questions about life as a PD at MIT?  Would you like to meet
other PDs over a cup of coffee? Would you like to learn more about what the
PDA can do for you? If so, please join us for the monthly postdoc coffee
hour! We will have fresh coffee, fruit, and snacks for you to enjoy!

Date and Time Thursday, December 8th, 4-5:30 pm

Location One Community Room (8-219)

PDA Christmas Market Tour - SOLD OUT

Hosted by the MIT-PDA

The MIT-PDA is happy to announce an exciting trip to magical Maine in
December. On December 10th, you can join us on a road trip to
Kennebunkport's Christmas Prelude for a nominal charge of $10. Here are a
couple of cool facts about the event: Kennebunkport's Christmas Prelude was
voted the #2 Christmas Town in America by HGTV! Kennebunkport's Christmas
Prelude was designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for
2015 by ABA!

Itinerary

Date: Saturday, December 10th

Departure Time from MIT: 10 AM (We will meet on the street outside of 40
Ames Street -- Building E17)

Arrival Time at Kennebunkport: ~12 PM

Departure Time from Kennebunkport: 4 PM

Arrival Time at MIT: ~6 PM

Tickets to this event are SOLD OUT.

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 E49-5145. Lunch will be provided. The dates for the semester
are as follows: December 5, December 19, January 9, January 23, February 6,
February 27, March 6, March 20, April 3, April 24, May 22. If you are
interested in participating, you can register via Atlas or here
<http://web.mit.edu/training/course.html?course=CDT21061c>.

GLIMPSE (PDA PInG Initiative)

If you would like to be interviewed by GLIMPSE podcast or would like to
help with the podcast (music, logo, artwork), please contact us at
glimpse.podcast at gmail.com. For more information, please visit us at:
http://glimpse.mit.edu/

OTHER MIT AND LOCAL EVENTS

This Week

ICE SKATING @ Kendall Square

Hosted by MIT Spouses & Partners Connect

Winter is finally approaching, and MIT Spouses & Partners Connect would
like you to invite you to an evening of outdoor fun. Please join us for a
night of ice skating in Kendall Square. We are looking forward to this
festive opportunity to spend some quality time with our colleagues and
their families while enjoying one of the season's most wonderful pastimes.
The cost of skating will be covered by us, as will skate rentals for all!

Date and Time Monday, December 5, 5:30-8:00pm

Location Community Ice Skating Rink @Kendall Square

Winterfest 2016

Hosted by MIT Institute Events

President and Mrs. Reif invite the MIT community to Winterfest. Enjoy lunch
and seasonal refreshments as we celebrate the semester's end.

Date and Time Tuesday, December 6, 12:00-1:30pm

Location 50, Morss Hall, Walker Memorial

Work-Life Seminar - Changing How You Respond to Stress

Hosted by the MIT Work Life Center

Kids pushing your tolerance? Commuting getting to you? A new project
keeping you up at night? Stressful situations can be seen as obstacles in
your life that can cause you to be overwhelmed, reactive, sleep deprived,
lacking energy, or worse. Your response to stress can make it hard to think
or problem-solve at work and at home. In this seminar, you will explore
what stress is and isn’t. You will learn about your own ability to identify
situations that may increase your stress and, most importantly, you will
practice how to monitor your stress response and decrease its negative
impact.

Date and Time Tuesday, December 6, 12:00-1:30pm

Location Register here
<http://www.eventbrite.com/e/changing-how-you-respond-to-stress-registration-26809661419>

BPDA Careers Career Fair at the Broad Institute

Hosted by the Boston Postdoctoral Association

Please join the Boston PDA for our first annual career fair! Meet local
companies eager to hire postdoctoral scholars and rub elbows with industry
professionals from local Biotech/Pharma, Technology and Engineering
companies. Bring your friends, your business cards and come make some new
friends and contacts! Availability is first come, first served and is
filling up quickly! Companies include: Biolegend, Boston Electronics, EMD
Serono, Evelo Biosciences, Miltenyi Biotec, Regeneron, SQZ Biotech,
STEMCELL Technologies, Stratacuity, Thermofisher Scientific, and VL37.

Date and Time Tuesday, December 6, 4:00-7:00pm

Location The Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA

Registration Register here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bpda-careers-career-fair-at-the-broad-institute-registration-28657504367>

MIT Endicott Holiday Plant Sale

Hosted by MIT Endicott House

MIT Endicott House is sponsoring the annual Holiday Plant Sale in Lobby 10.
A selection of flowering plants, herbs, planters and holiday gifts will be
offered for sale. All items are reasonably priced and nurtured at our
greenhouse. Members of our Staff will be available to answer your gardening
questions. We hope to see you there!

Date and Time Thursday, December 8, 9:00am-2:00pm

Location Memorial Hall (Lobby 10)

After the PhD/Postdoc:  Positioning yourself for Success

Co-Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Global
Education and Career Development

How can you maximize your time in graduate school and/or during
postdoctoral training?  What strategies can you use for landing the right
occupation?  This presentation will provide an up-to-date assessment of the
current career landscape facing science PhDs. Author Melanie Sinche will
share proven strategies based on her research and profiles of science PhDs
across a wide range of disciplines. Her research identified transferable
skills from PhDs and career paths in a range of options, including
education, industry, and non-profits. Melanie V. Sinche is director of
education at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine. Her book Next Gen
PhD: a Guide to Career Paths in Science was recently published by Harvard
University Press.  Ms. Sinche is also a certified career counselor with
extensive experience working with graduate students and postdocs.

Date and Time Thursday, December 8, 3:00-4:30pm

Location 3 – 270

Registration Register here
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbkjt2bRPA9aCb2kJEQU4Eo6z73wmt45CkAVxq_96qkEyr5g/viewform>

Hack My Nonprofit: Public Lab

Hosted by MIT Alumni Association

Jeff Warren SM '10 is the cofounder of Public Lab. This month, the MIT
Alumni Association invites you to hack his nonprofit, whose aim is to
democratize science to address environmental issues that affect people.
Spend a few seconds, minutes, or hours helping an alum build and scale this
fledgling nonprofit.

Date and Time Thursday, December 8, 5:30-8:00pm

Location Aeronaut Brewery, Somerville MA

Registration Registration and more information here
<http://alumic.mit.edu/s/1314/03-alumni/wide.aspx?sid=1314&gid=13&pgid=35507&content_id=38856>

Science Trivia Night at the MIT Museum

Hosted by the MIT Museum

Challenge your science side and join in a night of science trivia and short
talks by science researchers. See how you'll fare with categories ranging
from anatomy to astronomy!  Sign up as a team—6 people max—or come in and
make new friends. Snacks and cash bar available.

Date and Time Thursday, December 8, 7:00-9:00pm

Location MIT Museum

Registration Event is free, RSVP is requested RSVP at
scienceshowdown.eventbrite.com
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-showdown-trivia-night-the-mit-museum-tickets-26563668648>

Kubo and the Two Strings

Hosted by MIT Lecture Series Committee

Join for a viewing of the movie, Kubo and the Two Strings. Kubo and the Two
Strings is an epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan from
acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art
Parkinson of "Game of Thrones") ekes out a humble living, telling stories
to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Akihiro
(Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), and Kameyo (Academy Award nominee Brenda Vaccaro).
But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally
summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to
enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey
(Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award winner
Matthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family
and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior
the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen - a magical musical
instrument - Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful
Moon King (Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters
(Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara), to unlock the secret of his legacy,
reunite his family, and fulfill his heroic destiny. (from rottentomatoes.com
)

Date and Times

Friday, December 9, 2016 at 8:00 pm

Saturday, December 10, 2016 4:00 pm

Saturday, December 10, 2016 8:00 pm

Location 26-100

Tickets can be purchased at the door, see
http://lsc.mit.edu/info/tickets.shtml for more details

Upcoming Deadlines

Yoga classes for postdocs

There is a regularly held yoga class series for MIT postdocs. The next
series is starting on December 7th, and will be taking place on Wednesdays,
7:30 pm on campus. 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: December 7, 14, 21, Christmas/New Year's break;
January 4, 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8 and 15. If you are interested or have
questions, please reserve and/or contact the instructor, Hadassah Segal
<hadassahsegal at hotmail.com>.

NU Grant Writing Coaching Group @ Boston College

Hosted by the The National Research Mentoring Network

Both coach and mentee applications are now being accepted for the Boston
Grant Writing Coaching Group. Mentees will enhance their grant writing
skills and knowledge by working closely with successful researchers who
know what it takes to obtain NIH grant funding. Group sessions will be held
at a Boston College and online throughout the Spring 2017. Visit their
website
<https://nrmnet.net/grantwriting-coaching-groups/trainee-programs/nu-grant-writing-coaching-group-for-mentees-at-boston-college/>
for full details on the program and how to apply.

Priority deadline for applications January 17, 2017

Final deadline for applications January 30, 2017

CHECK OUT THESE SITES FOR ADDITIONAL EVENTS

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/>

Boston PDA Events <http://bostonpostdocs.org/events-calendar/>

Mass-AWIS Events <http://mass-awis.org/category/events-calendar/>*

*NOTE: Association of Women in Science Massachusetts Chapter (
http://mass-awis.org/): Since MIT is a Collegiate Rep of AWIS, the MIT
community can attend Mass AWIS 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.

MIT RESOURCES FOR POSTDOCS

FREE Mindfulness and Meditation Classes from MIT Medical

Find Some Om Under the Dome

MIT Libraries is offering drop-in meditation and relaxation sessions.
Please join us for silent meditation in the Barker reading room. Sit for a
minute, or 30. Beginners welcome - no experience necessary. Every Monday at
noon in the Barker Dome of Barker Engineering Library (10-500). Please
arrive promptly. Registration is required.
<https://medical.mit.edu/community/wellness/classes/mindfulness-meditation>

Meditation for your Wellbeing

Community Wellness at MIT Medical offers drop-in meditation and relaxation
sessions. Sit back and relax - no experience necessary. Please arrive
promptly. A short talk and guided meditation begins at 12:10 pm. This class
is held every 2nd Wednesday of the month, 12:10 pm-12:40 pm. Led by Seth
Monk. Registration is required.
<https://medical.mit.edu/community/wellness/classes/mindfulness-meditation>

MIT Writing & Communication Center

The Center provides free professional advice about all types of writing and
speaking/oral presentations, including specialized help for non-native
English speakers. See their website for more details:
http://cmsw.mit.edu/writing-and-communication-center/


MyLife Services

MyLife Services
<http://o6os.mj.am/link/o6os/xlkt8jnnqpg8/1/-kBne3WjUT8Ww6LEA98gxw/aHR0cDovL2hyd2ViLm1pdC5lZHUvd29ya2xpZmUvbWl0bXlsaWZlc2VydmljZXM>
is
a free, confidential, 24/7 counseling, consultation, and work-life referral
service provided by KGA, Inc., a trusted external provider of employee
assistance programs. Postdoc Associates and Fellows are eligible for
services provided by KGA, Inc. through the MIT Work-Life Center and MyLife
Services. You can now access a network of experts who can help with the
challenges of life and work, such as:

   -

   Financial planning, debt management, and legal issues
   -

   Personal and work relationships
   -

   Sleep and nutrition
   -

   Stress, anxiety, depression, and other emotional concerns
   -

   Child and elder care

This includes 5 FREE confidential mental health counseling sessions, as
well as access to 24/7 confidential counseling services. We encourage you
to learn more about MyLife Services by calling 1-844-405-LIFE
(1-844-405-5433) or going online
<http://o6os.mj.am/link/o6os/xlkt8jnnqpg8/2/y46EmaQ0aMF6d85vixaLTg/aHR0cDovL2hyd2ViLm1pdC5lZHUvd29ya2xpZmUvbWl0bXlsaWZlc2VydmljZXM>.
For more information or to provide feedback, please contact the MIT
Work-Life Center.

MIT Spouses&Partners Connect

Offers social and career-related groups and events for your
spouse/partner/family. For more information and event listings, visit
http://spouses.mit.edu/.

MIT Employee Resource Groups

Join an Employee Resource Group (ERG) at MIT!

ERGs are employee-led groups formed around common interests, issues and/or
a common bond or background. ERGs host activities such as lectures,
socials, dinners, etc. Both Postdoctoral Fellows and Associates are invited
to join. Current ERGs include:

   -

   African, Black, American, Caribbean @MIT (ABAC at MIT) ERG
   -

   Asian Pacific American ERG
   -

   Latino ERG,
   -

   Lesbian, Gay, ,Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) ERG
   -

   Millennials ERG
   -

   Women in IT ERG

Check out the link for more information and upcoming events:
http://hrweb.mit.edu/diversity/ergs/current

OTHER RESOURCES

Free Membership for the National Postdoctoral Association

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a member-driven organization
that provides a unique, national voice for postdoctoral scholars. Since
2003, we have taken on the ambitious agenda to enhance the quality of the
postdoctoral experience in the United States. We have assumed a leadership
role in addressing the many issues confronting the postdoctoral community
that are national in scope and requiring action beyond the local level. Get
your free affiliate membership with the National Postdoctoral Association
here: http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/?page=individual_members
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