Weekly PDA Newsletter - October 16, 2016
Meghan Huber
mehuber at mit.edu
Sun Oct 16 13:44:52 EDT 2016
Dear MIT Postdocs,
Now that the semester is in full swing, our sports committee has arranged
for weekly sports activities on Friday nights! See details below and on the
sports activities Facebook group here
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499342643696472/>.
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
Friday Night Volleyball
The sports committee has been able to secure a regular spot every Friday at
7:30-9 pm (or later, if needed) for playing sports in the Z-center. After
the sports session, everyone will be invited to join for complementary
snacks at the Muddy. The first event will be on Friday Oct 21st. Everyone
is welcome regardless of skill level - we are there to have fun, socialize,
and decompress after the work week.
Date and Time Friday, October 21, 7:30pm
Location Z-Center
Visit our facebook group for additional info and logistics:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499342643696472/
Halloween Bash 2.0
Hosted in collaboration with the Boston Postdoctoral Association
Celebrate Halloween with your fellow postdocs from across Boston! Due to
last year's popularity and early close-out, we are going to a bigger
venue! Come dressed up, there will be prizes for best costumes! Some
appetizers provided!
Date and Time Thursday, October 27, 6:30-9:00pm
Location North Star (222 Friend Street, Boston)
Registration It is a free event but you need to register beforehand here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-bash-20-tickets-28408472506>
Also join Afterparty at Club Ascension immediate after the Halloween Bash
2.0!
Hosted in collaboration with the Boston Postdoctoral Association
Date and Time Thursday, October 27, 10:00-2:00am
Location Ascend Nightclub (295 Franklin Street, Boston)
Registration Register beforehand here
<http://www.eventbrite.com/e/killer-kitty-at-scend-102716-21-tickets-28347238353?aff=BPDA>
and use the promocode BPDA for $5 special BPDA tickets
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: October 17, November 7, 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
Life Science R&D Career Panel and Networking
Hosted by the Boston Postdoctoral Association
Join us for a high profile event with leaders in the field of Life Science
R&D for a panel discussion on careers in Industry Research and
Development! Our panelists include scientists from small startups to large
pharmaceuticals and across therapeutic areas. Meet scientists from: Evelo
Biosciences, Gingko Bioworks, NIBR, Novartis, InvitroMetrix, Seres
Therapeutics, VL37 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. We will begin a focused
panel discussion, followed by a networking reception. Meet our panelists,
ask detailed questions during the facilitated networking and learn the
secrets to success in Industry.
Date and Time Wednesday, October 19, 5:30-7:30pm (Please arrive 15 minutes
prior to the start of the event to ensure access to the event)
Location Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 220 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, MA
Registration http://bitly.com/BPDA-BioRnD (You must register by October 18
to attend)
Buying Your First Home: What You Need to Know Before Getting Started
Hosted by MIT Work-Life Center
Whether you’re considering a house or a condo, buying your first home can
be an intimidating process. This seminar will give you all the information
you need to feel confident and secure as you make this exciting life
decision. Learn how to examine and compare properties, and what questions
to ask. Find out about budgeting, dealing with brokers, making the offer,
negotiating purchase agreements, estimating ownership costs, arranging for
financing, and passing papers.
Date and Time Wednesday, October 19, 12:00-1:30pm
Location NE49-5145
Registration Register here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/buying-your-first-home-what-you-need-to-know-before-getting-started-registration-26810134835>
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, October 20 8:00am-1:00pm
Location 32-first floor, Lobby with big mirror
Academic Job Search
Hosted by MIT Global Education & Career Development
This event will help PhD students and postdocs prepare for the faculty
search. Topics include effective job search strategies and preparation of
documents (including overviews of the CV, teaching, research and diversity
statements). This event will use mostly lecture-based approaches with some
activities. Presenters are: Bob Dolan, Assistant Director of Postdoctoral
Scholars Career Services at MIT Jake Livengood, Senior Assistant Director,
Graduate Student Career Services at MIT.
Date and Time Thursday, October 20, 1:30-3:00pm
Location 35-225
Registration Advanced registration requested via CareerBridge
<http://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student>
Images of Science and Technology Edit-a-thon
Hosted by MIT Libraries
Join us to learn about how to contribute photographs and other media to
Wikimedia Commons, a collection of 30+ million freely licensed media files
that can be used in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Despite the size of
this collection, many topics are missing photographs and other important
visuals. Our theme for this event is science! Our goal is to enhance and
illustrate articles about science and technology. We’ll cover how Wikipedia
and Wikimedia Commons can work together, some easy ways to contribute to
Wikimedia Commons, and the free licenses that govern these projects. Bring
photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and other visualizations (that you
have taken or created and are willing to upload to Commons.) These can
feature scientific equipment, laboratory experiments and phenomena, samples
or examples, plants or animals, or anything else you can think of that
would be useful to Wikipedia! For example, if you work in a lab, try
documenting your equipment and how it is used. Or bring photographs of
interesting places you have been, buildings on your campus, etc. Please no
pictures that focus on people, and please only bring pictures you have
taken and have the rights to.
Date and Time Friday, October 21, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Location 14N-132 (DIRC)
Registration Register at http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2825479
Finding Dory (FREE admission and popcorn)
Hosted by MIT Lecture Series Committee
Join for a free viewing of the movie, Finding Dory, sponsored by the de
Florez Fund for Humor. This sequel to Pixar's 2003 smash hit Finding Nemo,
lovable, amnesiac blue tang Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) decides to go
off in search of her long-lost parents. With the help of young clown fish
Nemo (Hayden Rolence) and his dad Marlin (Albert Brooks), Dory heads for
California and the Monterey Marine Life Institute, evading predators along
the way as she hopes to find a place she can call home. (from allmovie.net)
Date and Times
October 21, 2016 at 8:00 pm
October 22, 2016 at 4:00 pm
October 22, 2016 8:00 pm
Location 26-100
Solar Energy Researcher Survey
The MIT Energy Initiative’s Low-Carbon Energy Center for solar energy is
working with the MIT Energy Club’s Solar/Grid community to host a new
series of events that will bring together MIT students and postdocs working
on research related to solar energy. These events aim to provide more
opportunities for interaction and collaboration between solar researchers
across campus, particularly across different research groups and
departments. If your research relates to solar energy technology, please
fill out this survey to indicate your interest and pass it on to your
colleagues: https://goo.gl/forms/fIhoTvVkiMkTOEvP2. Thank you!
Next Week
An Introduction to R
Hosted by MIT Libraries
Get an introduction to R, the open-source system for statistical
computation and graphics. With hands-on exercises, learn how to import and
manage datasets, create R objects, install and load R packages, conduct
basic statistical analyses, and create common graphical displays. This
workshop is appropriate for those with little or no prior experience with
R. A limited number of computers will be available to use in the classroom.
You can also bring your own laptop.
Date and Time Monday, October 24, 1:00-4:00pm
Location 14N-132 DIRC
Registration http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2818847
Basic R Programming for Data Analysis
Hosted by MIT Libraries
This hands-on, intermediate course will guide you through a variety of
programming functions in the open-source statistical software program R. It
is intended for those already comfortable with using R for data analysis
who wish to move on to writing their own functions. To the extent possible,
this workshop uses real-world examples. Concepts will be introduced as they
are needed for a realistic analysis task. In the course of working through
a realistic project, learn about interacting with web services, regular
expressions, iteration, functions, control flow, and more. Prerequisite:
basic familiarity with R, such as acquired from an introductory R workshop.
A limited number of computers will be available to use in the classroom.
You can also bring your own laptop.
Date and Time Wednesday, October 26, 1:00-4:00pm
Location 14N-132 DIRC
Registration http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2818851
Mindbugs: The Ordinary Origins of Bias
Hosted by Teaching and Learning Laboratory and Office of the Dean for
Undergraduate Education
Conscious experience provides an immediate, compelling, and incomplete
account of mental life. Much of perception, thinking, and action is shaped
by mental activity that occurs outside of conscious awareness or conscious
control. Because of that, judgment and action can be unintentionally
influenced by factors that we do not recognize, and may not value. There
will be three parts to the session: (1) demonstrations of perceptual and
cognitive illusions illustrating that we don't have complete access to or
control over our own minds, (2) examples of how this can translate to
social judgment of ourselves and others, and (3) research evidence and
implications for diversity and inclusion in teaching. Humans use a variety
of effective strategies for translating the world outside the mind into a
mental representation inside the mind. However, these processes are not
direct translations of reality. Experience is a combination of the
immediate input and our expectations and theories of how the world operates
derived from previous experience. These processes are highly efficient,
largely unconscious, and prone to surprising, sometimes amusing, 'errors.'
Research in cognition and perception reveals some of the basic processes
that occur outside of awareness to manage interpretation and interaction
with reality. Speaker: Calvin Lai, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of
Psychology (Harvard).
Date and Time Wednesday, October 26, 10:30am–12:00pm
Location 3-133
Data Management: File Organization
Hosted 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. The session will include hands-on exercises to apply the
concepts to your particular data project.
Date and Time Thursday, October 27, 3:00-4:00pm
Location 14N-132 DIRC
Registration http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2822746
Presentation Skills
Hosted by MIT Global Education & Career Development
Do you present your work to your lab, at conferences, or to a faculty or
industry hiring committee? If so, this workshop is designed to provide you
with tips and strategies for delivering an effective presentation, and one
that aligns you with your audience. The more prepared you are, the more
confident you will be. Discussions will include room set-up, proper dress,
room management, and actual professional delivery to your audience. Whether
you are targeting academia or industry, all employers will expect you to be
able communicate effectively.
Date and Time Thursday, October 27, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Location 35-225
Registration Advanced registration requested via CareerBridge
<http://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student>
MIT Rare Books Edit-a-thon
Hosted by MIT Libraries
Interested in rare books? Interested in Wikipedia? Come to this edit-a-thon
to learn about rare books at MIT and edit Wikipedia. There will be a
selection of rare books from the MIT collection for participants to look
at, read, and use to edit Wikipedia. MIT is home to thousands of rare
books, from the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle to a first edition of Whitman's
Leaves of Grass. Electricity, telegraphy, magnetism, popular science – even
witchcraft and mesmerism – are among the topics covered in MIT's rare
collections. Join us for an afternoon in the MIT archives to learn about
rare books and how you can use them to contribute to Wikipedia. Feel free
to drop in throughout the day.
Date and Time Friday, October 28, 12:00-4:00pm
Location 14N-132 DIRC
Registration <http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2822746>
http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2825474
Ghostbusters (FREE admission and popcorn)
Hosted by MIT Lecture Series Committee
Join for a free viewing of the movie, Ghostbuster, sponsored by the de
Florez Fund for Humor. Two paranormal researchers (Kristen Wiig and Melissa
McCarthy) join forces with a nuclear engineer (Kate McKinnon) and a subway
attendant (Leslie Jones) to fight off a slew of ghosts that have invaded
New York City. Eventually, they come face-to-face with an evil entity who
can control human beings. (from allmovie.net)
Date and Times
Friday, October 28, 2016 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 29, 2016 8:00 pm
Location 26-100
Innoskate 2016
The Smithsonian's Innoskate program travels the country celebrating
inventive creativity in skate culture. In collaboration with the
Lemelson-MIT Program, Innoskate 2016 comes to the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT) and Lynch Family Skatepark in Cambridge to spark the
imagination of skaters and non-skaters of all ages through skate
demonstrations, discussions with skaters and inventors, hands-on invention
educational activities, and other fun activities.
Dates Friday, October 28 - Saturday, October 29
Check out this website for details on all of the various activities:
http://invention.si.edu/innoskate/p/479-2016-cambridge-ma
How to Make a Super Hero
Hosted by MIT Museum
Have you ever wondered what goes into becoming a superhero? What is a
supersuit made out of and how hard it is to maintain a secret identity?
Join us for a evening of "speed geeking" and engaging conversations with
super researchers who know a bit about the gadgets, materials, and psyche
of superheroes. Ticket ($20 online, $25 at the door) includes admission and
two drinks. Costumes encouraged! This is a 21+ event.
Date and Time Saturday, October 29, 7-10pm. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Location MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Registration <http://libcal.mit.edu/event/2822746>
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-make-a-superhero-tickets-28402248891
Upcoming Registration Deadline
A Guide to Financial Planning
Hosted by de La Femme
Many people spend more time preparing for their dream vacations rather than
their dream retirement. We all talk about what we want to do when we
retire, whether it be pursuing a hobby, volunteering for a worthy cause,
moving to a beachfront property, or the bucket list of vacations that we’ve
been dreaming of. But, do you have what you need to retire comfortably and
pursue these dreams? Our event in November will be a guide toward educating
yourself on financial planning. Scot and Briana will be on deck to answer
some of the following basic financial questions: What to prioritize first
savings vs. investments? What are 401K, IRA, Roth IRA? What is a financial
portfolio? How can you diversify your investments? How much should you set
aside each month toward saving? What are a couple of approaches you can do
daily to save more? Does it mean you need to cut down on your early morning
coffee run? What does it mean to invest in a tax efficient way? How can you
approach it? What are some available options to paying off your loans
(student, car payment, etc.)? These and many other topics which include
ways to save up for rainy days will be covered at the event. This will be
an interactive discussion about your questions on saving and achieving your
financial goals without overstretching your budget. With our guest speakers
Scot Reynolds and Briana Willander combined experiences in the financial
planning field, they will cover ways to plan for your retirement in a way
that not only fits your budgets, but also gives you knowledge you can take
away to start your financial planning.
Date and Time Tuesday, November 1, 6:00pm
Location The Broad Institute, Kendall Sq, Cambridge, MA
Registration Register at here
<http://www.eventbrite.com/e/de-la-femmes-a-guide-to-financial-planning-tickets-28513072367>
by October 25!
Appetizers and wine will be provided. Registration is required, sign-in
upon arrival.
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
MBTA Access
As a reminder, all postdoctoral fellows and postdoctoral associates on
MIT’s Cambridge campus are eligible for free, unrestricted subway and local
bus access. MIT is providing ID cards with a special MBTA* chip inside that
will provide this access. (*Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority). If
you received a new MIT ID card on or after June 21 (or after August 9, in
the case of many postdoctoral fellows), check the back of your ID card. If
“Charlie INSIDE!” is written on it, you are all set, and already have
access. If not, you can visit the Card Office (W20-020) with your current
MIT ID card to swap it for one with the MBTA chip inside it. The Card
Office is open between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
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.
Spouses&Partners Connect
Offers social and career-related groups and events for your
spouse/partner/family. http://spouses.mit.edu/. Here are some of this
week’s of events for spouses and partners:
-
Pumpkin Carving Come carve traditional jack-o-lanterns for Halloween!
Bring your own pumpkin, and we will provide the carving supplies. Babies
and children are welcome in our meetings, and free optional childcare is
available in the Westgate playroom next door during our meetings.
Date and Time Wednesday, Oct 26, 3:00 -5:00pm
Location W85 - Westgate Lounge
For more information, contact Jennifer Recklet Tassi
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
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20161016/5b820963/attachment-0001.html
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 0.png
Type: image/png
Size: 45948 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20161016/5b820963/attachment-0001.png
More information about the mit-postdocs
mailing list