Weekly PDA Newsletter - November 27, 2016
Meghan Huber
mehuber at mit.edu
Sun Nov 27 14:35:40 EST 2016
Dear MIT Postdocs,
Welcome back from Thanksgiving break! This week, be sure to check out
details for the 2nd Annual Sloan-Postdoc Mixer on Thursday (12/1). The
event is hosted by the MIT-PDA, MIT Sloan School of Management, and MIT
Venture Mentoring Service.
If you are interested in going on the MIT-GSC Ski Trip, keep in mind that
the last day to purchase tickets is also on Thursday (12/1).
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
2nd Annual Sloan-Postdoc Mixer
Hosted by the MIT-PDA, MIT Sloan School of Management, and MIT Venture
Mentoring Service
Let's get to know some of our campus neighbors interested in
entrepreneurship! You are invited to attend the 2nd Annual MIT
Sloan-Postdoc Mixer on Thursday, December 1, at the Thirsty Ear Pub. While
enjoying light appetizers, you will have the opportunity to network with
future business leaders interested in entrepreneurship, leading to exchange
of expertise, and potential future collaborations!
Date and Time Thursday, December 1, 5:30-8:00 pm
Location Thirsty Ear Pub (Ashdown House, 235 Albany St., Cambridge)
Registration Space is limited, so please RSVP here
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSek8Di0yw9D8qxNFTMn9YPON94ZSCemihXynKGw-aQEr5Vltw/viewform?c=0&w=1>
to
attend.
Optional Attendees will have the opportunity to display a 1-slide
PowerPoint presentation advertising their interests, team, or ideas. Please
send the non-confidential slide to pagarcia at mit.edu by 5:00 pm on Tuesday,
November 28 to be included.
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, December 2 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/>!
BPDA Trivia Night
Hosted by the BPDA in collaboration with the MIT-PDA
Please join the Boston PDA another fun trivia night at the Lansdowne Pub in
Boston! Come compete for team pride and prizes! There will be prizes for
the top three scoring teams and snacks! Please plan on a maximum number of
six people per team, you can come with preformed teams, or come and form
new teams.
Date and Time Friday, December 2nd, Door open and teams form at 6pm, Trivia
starts at 6:30pm
Location The Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA
Registration Please register here <https://bpda-trivia-night.eventbrite.com>
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 this
semester are as follows: 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>.
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
MIT Giving Tree
Organized by the Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center at MIT
Surprising an individual or family with unexpected gifts is one of the most
rewarding ways to celebrate the holidays—especially when they might not
expect to receive any gifts at all. The MIT Giving Tree campaign makes it
easy for you to brighten someone’s holiday experience. We work with staff,
students, alumni, faculty, and friends to provide gifts to individuals and
families in the Cambridge and Boston area then partner with local service
organizations to distribute those gifts. The MIT Giving Tree campaign kicks
off every year right before Thanksgiving break, and gifts are collected
until the week of final exams. This past winter, the MIT community donated
447 gifts to children who requested them through our local community
partners and an additional 491 gifts through the general donation drive.
That’s over 900 toys, books, and essential supplies that went to families
in need. Visit the MIT Giving Tree website
<http://studentlife.mit.edu/pkgcenter/givingtree> for full details on how
to participate.
Gift Tags Pick-Up
Dates and Times Monday, November 21–Friday, December 2, 9 am–5 pm
Location PKG Center (W20-549)
Gift Drop-Off
Dates and Times Monday, November 28–Friday, December 9, 9 am–5 pm
Location PKG Center (W20-549)
Student Loan Repayment Strategies
Hosted by the MIT Work-Life Center
The MIT Work-Life Center is pleased to announce an upcoming free seminar
presented by Jeanne Mahan, M.S.; Senior Manager, College Finance, College
Coach, called, “Student Loan Repayment Strategies.” This seminar explores
the strategies that you can use to help successfully transition to
debt-repayment responsibilities. You will learn: how to identify repayment
responsibilities for each loan, methods for reducing monthly payments,
strategies for identifying cash flow that can be used to prepay education
debt, and ways to avoid becoming delinquent and defaulting on education
debt, even during times of personal economic hardship.
Date and Time Wednesday, November 30, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location 76-156
Registration Register for the seminar here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/student-loan-repayment-strategies-registration-26848993061>
On-Site Consultations
On Friday, December 2 and Monday, December 5, an expert will be onsite at
the Work-Life Center (NE49-5000) to provide individual consultations on
your unique student loan situation.
Register for an on-site consultation on December 2
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/college-coach-consultations-student-loan-repayment-strategies-tickets-27198861527>
Register for an on-site consultation on December 5
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/college-coach-consultations-student-loan-repayment-strategies-tickets-29052236020>
Increasing Student Motivation through Instructional Practices
Hosted by the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Education and the
Teaching and Learning Laboratory
This session will address two types of instructional practices for
increasing student motivation. The first type involves fostering students'
"growth mindsets"; that is, helping them to think about intelligence and
ability as something that can be improved over time with effort. The second
type aims to enhance the perceived utility or relevance of course content.
We'll review theory and discuss empirical research examining the efficacy
of these practices in different learning contexts and for diverse groups of
students. Professor Miele received his Ph.D. in Psychology from
Northwestern University, where he worked primarily with Dan Molden and
Wendi Gardner. He completed a postdoc with Janet Metcalfe at Columbia
University, where he also worked with Tory Higgins. His primary research
interests are in the area of self-regulated learning. His work in this area
has focused on cognitive and motivational differences in how people
metacognitively assess their own learning and then use these assessments to
control their study.
Date and Time Wednesday, November 30, 4:00-5:30pm
Location 3-442
Community Forum - The Engine
Hosted by the MIT Executive Vice President & Treasurer
Join us for a community forum on The Engine, a new accelerator at MIT
specially geared to serve new ventures based on cutting-edge science and
technology. It will supply the particular combination of resources they
need to develop and bring to market innovations that address society's most
important challenges. President L. Rafael Reif, Provost Martin A. Schmidt,
Executive Vice President & Treasurer Israel Ruiz, and Professor & Head of
EECS Anantha Chandrakasan will present to the MIT community and be
available to answer questions.
Date and Time Wednesday, November 30, 5:30-6:30pm
Location 32-123
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, 2017
Location Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Ticket sales until Thursday, December 1st!
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Hosted by MIT Lecture Series Committee
Join for a viewing of the movie, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. This
mockumentary satire of the music business and modern celebrity centers on
self-absorbed pop rapper Conner4Real (Andy Samberg). Once a member of a
popular rap trio called the Style Boyz, Conner is now a solo artist about
to drop his second album. Unfortunately, the release gets abysmal reviews,
and his career begins to melt down when his attempts at rehabing his image
lead to such disasters as a global blackout and a proposal to his
girlfriend interrupted by a wolf attack. Eventually, Conner considers
burying the hatchet with former colleagues Owen (Jorma Taccone) and
Lawrence (Akiva Schaffer) in order to reunite the Style Boyz. (from
allmovie.net)
Date and Times
Friday, December 2, 2016 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 3, 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
Connected: The Future of MedTech
Hosted by Tufts MedStart
Tufts MedStart is a healthcare conference with a mission of helping
attendees turn ideas into action. This year's conference, themed
“Connected: The Future of MedTech,” will focus on the various ways digital
medical technologies are changing healthcare in the community and at the
bedside. The goal of MedStart is to help foster ideas in entrepreneurship
through various themes including healthcare policy, technology startups,
innovation, biotechnology, and patient interaction with technology. This
year's keynote speaker is Dr. Tom Lee, CMO of Press Ganey. Additional
speakers will be representing Tufts Medical Center, the BWH Innovation Hub,
AthenaHealth, Genzyme, and Boston Millennia Partners, among other local
organizations. MedStart is a student-run organization from Tufts University
School of Medicine and School of Public Health. Visit here
<http://tuftsmedstart.com/> for more information.
Date and Time Saturday, December 3rd, 9:00am - 7:00pm
Location Tufts University School of Medicine, 145 Harrison Avenue, Boston,
MA
Registration Register here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medstart-connected-the-future-of-medtech-tickets-28748794418?aff=eac2>
.
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
Next 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>
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, 3:00-4:00pm
Location 3 – 270
Registration Register here
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbkjt2bRPA9aCb2kJEQU4Eo6z73wmt45CkAVxq_96qkEyr5g/viewform>
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
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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