Weekly PDA Newsletter - November 13, 2016

Sun Nov 13 11:31:40 EST 2016

Dear MIT Postdocs,

This week, the band MICRO RITMIA from Mexico is in town, and the PDA has
arranged an exclusive show for the MIT on Tuesday night! Check out the
attached poster for details. Also this Wednesday, the Office of the Vice
President for Research is hosting a seminar on “The Basics of Grant
Writing”, which is definitely worth attending.

And don’t forget, tomorrow (Monday, 11/14) is our monthly PDA meeting!

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

November 14, 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

MICRO RITMIA

Hosted by the MIT-PDA

The band MICRO RITMIA from Mexico is in town and we could convince them to
play an exclusive show at MIT. Ernesto and his band will perform their
music in the Gillian Auditorium (66-110) and will mesmerize you with their
high speed percussions, their multi rhythmic guitar and bass lines, and
their custom made instruments. This will  push the borders of modern music
to a new border of speed and complexity.

Date and Time Tuesday, November 15, 5pm

Location 66-110 (Gilliland Auditorium)

BPDA Networking Pub Night of 2016

Hosted by the BPDA in collaboration with the MIT-PDA

Postdocs, join us for a fun night of drinks and informal networking!  We'll
have representatives from 20 local companies, and counting, that
traditionally hire PhD's (some who are actively hiring!) and who can speak
about their experiences on the job market and in their current jobs.

Date and Time Wednesday, November 16, 6-8pm

Location Meadhall in Cambridge (4 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA).

Registration https://bpda11meadhall.eventbrite.com

Postdoc Volleyball

Hosted by the MIT-PDA

Please join the PDA this Friday for post-doc volleyball!! The court is
located on the first floor of the Zesiger center. Enter through the Vassar
street entrance and the attendees at the gate should let you through if you
say you are with the PDA and present MIT ID. There are bathrooms in the
facility where you can change or come with someone with a membership who
can give you access to the locker rooms. Spouses and significant others of
postdocs are welcome free of charge. Friends and colleagues may join only
if they have an athletics membership (otherwise you may need to pay a 1
time entrance fee that is around $15). Anyone can join for the Muddy
afterwards (you just need to be with someone who has MIT ID) providing you
are 21 or over. Note the Muddy is cash only if you want to buy drinks.

Date and Time Friday, November 18, at 7:30 PM, followed by pizza at the
Muddy at 9:30 PM.

Location Zesiger Rockwell North Court

Please also add yourself to our sports Facebook group
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499342643696472/>!

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 next six
months are as follows: November 21, December 5, December 19. If you are
interested in participating, you can register via Atlas or here
<http://web.mit.edu/training/course.html?course=CDT21061c>.

Postdoc Jogging Club (PDA PInG Initiative)

Interested in meeting new people and experiencing the outdoors? Join the
postdoc jogging club. Email aklotz at mit.edu if interested. All speeds and
levels of experience welcome.

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

Discussion of the 2016 Presidential Election with Professor Charles Stewart

Hosted by Residential Scholars @ Simmons Hall, William R. ('56) and Betsey
P. Leitch

No matter who you supported or how you voted, the 2016 election likely
contained elements of surprise, emotion, and idealism. On Tuesday, November
15, join us for a discussion of the campaign, results, and implications of
this year's historic election. Dr. Charles Stewart, Professor of American
Politics at MIT, will present his analysis of key aspects of the election.
We're looking forward to an opportunity to engage diverse perspectives in a
discussion of what to expect next. Charles Stewart III is the Kenan Sahin
Distinguished Professor of Political Science at MIT, where he has taught
since 1985, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His
research and teaching areas include congressional politics, elections, and
American political development. His current research about Congress touches
on the historical development of committees, origins of partisan
polarization, and Senate elections. He is currently the MIT director of the
Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project (http://vote.caltech.edu/).

Date and Time Wednesday, November 16, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Location W79-MPR, Simmons Hall Multipurpose Room

Basics of Grant Writing

Hosted by the Office of the Vice President for Research

Speaker: Dr. Sonal Jhaveri, Science Program Director, Postdoc and Graduate
Student Affairs Office, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Jhaveri's talk on
"Basics of Grant Writing" will focus on NIH applications, but the basic
principles she emphasizes are applicable to all types of grant writing. Dr.
Jhaveri is an MIT alumna (BS, MS). She received her PhD from Harvard
University, has been Principal Investigator on a number of grants from NIH,
NSF and other private foundations, has co-authored 60 professional
articles, and has consulted on a number of science and medical writing
projects. She teaches Science Communication and Language Skills to graduate
and medical students as well as to postdocs at MIT and Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute.

Date and Time Wednesday, November 16, 3:00 - 4:30 pm

Location Singleton Auditorium, Building 46-3002

Registration Click here to register.
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfx5o-m3pC_zfpwQqWzAhPnPK73N4O7LbLvPNFZowGyHTHlng/viewform>

MIT Press Bookstore Opening Party

Hosted by the MIT Press Bookstore

Please join us as we celebrate the MIT Press Bookstore's reopening in its
new space at 301 Mass. Ave! Browse the vast book selection, receive
discounts on titles, and see a demonstration of our new Espresso Book
Machine. Meet the staff while you enjoy raffles, door prizes, and
refreshments!

Date and Time Wednesday, November 16, 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Location N50, 301 Massachusetts Avenue

Registration
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mit-press-bookstore-opening-celebration-tickets

Choose to Reuse

Hosted by Working Green Committee, Staff for Sustainability, MIT Recycling
Program

Reduce, reuse, recycle! Drop off starting at 8:00 AM. Take five free items
from 11:00 AM to 12:20 PM. No limit from 12:20-1:00 PM. You don't have to
give to get. You just have to want to save the planet! MIT ID required. For
more details, check out this website:
http://web.mit.edu/facilities/ChoosetoReuse_FAQ_oct2016.pdf

Date and Time Thursday, November 17, 8:00am-1:00pm

Location 32-first floor, Lobby with big mirror

FINDING AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE AS A POSTDOC: Your guide to the healthcare
marketplace

Hosted by the Harvard FASPDA and Boston PDA

Not eligible for University employee healthcare or hoping to learn about
other options? Learn about your healthcare choices and navigating the
Massachusetts Health Connector! This seminar will be lead by Tina Alu,
Healthcare navigator at Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (
http://www.ceoccambridge.org), and a representative from the healthcare
connector. Tea/coffee and light refreshments provided! To set up a
one-on-one consultation with Tina, email katrinajones at fas.harvard.edu

Date and Time Thursday, November 17, 8:30-4:30pm

Location Yenching Lecture Hall, 2 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA

Registration Register here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/affordable-healthcare-seminar-tickets-29260003458>
.

Ski Trip

Hosted by the MIT-GSC

The Ski Trip is open to all MIT graduate students and post-docs. The trip
includes 3 days of skiing, boarding and frolicking. Smugglers’ Notch
consists of three mountains (Morse, Sterling, and Madonna), and ranks among
the finest ski resorts in New England with plenty of trails for all levels
of skiing and boarding. A system of 8 lifts will take skiers and boarders
from The Village and lodging area to 78 trails along the three mountains.
With forecasts of a snowy winter, we're super excited to bring MIT up to
Smugglers’ Notch this year. So, save the date! All the details are on the
dedicated ski trip website, https://gsc.mit.edu/skitrip/.

Dates January 20-23

Location Smugglers’ Notch Resort

Tickets go on sale Nov 7 for grad students, Nov 14 for postdocs

Next Week

xTalk with Steven Hall, Lori Breslow & Jeff Gore: Active Learning

Hosted by xTalks: Digital Discourses and the MIT Office of Digital Learning

The xTalks series provides a forum to facilitate awareness, deep
understanding and transference of educational innovations at MIT and
elsewhere. We hope to foster a community of educators, researchers, and
technologists engaged in developing and supporting effective learning
experiences through online learning environments and other digital
technologies. MIT professors Steven Hall, Lori Breslow & Jeff Gore will
give a panel discussion on active learning and how they are implementing it
in their teaching.

Dates Tuesday, November 22, 4:15-5:15pm

Location 10-105, (Bush Room)

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. 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

Save Science

Please take 30 seconds of your time right now to help ensure science
funding and prevent government shutdown using our super easy online email
tool at http://save-science.org/.  The fate of next year's science budget
is your hands during this critical week. You can read more about the
federal budget and 2017 science funding on our blog
http://goo.gl/CDFRxZ. Please
also forward this email to any list serves that might help get the word out
particularly at institutions in other states. Your voice really does count.

Thanks for doing your part for science funding.

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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