Weekly PDA Newsletter - February 12, 2017

Sun Feb 12 16:59:01 EST 2017

*Dear MIT Postdocs,Barring a snow day, please join us for our monthly
meeting tomorrow Monday, February 13 at 12:00pm in E25-101!Stay warm and
enjoy your week!Cheers,Meghan-----Dr. Meghan HuberCorresponding
SecretaryPostdoctoral Association of MIT (PDA)Follow the MIT-PDA on social
media!MIT-PDAwebsite <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-PDAwebsite
<http://bostonpostdocs.org/>NEXT MIT-PDA MEETINGMonday, February 13,
201712:00pm Rm E25-101Lunch 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 EVENTSEventsPostdoc SoccerHosted by
the MIT-PDAInterested in playing soccer with your fellow postdocs? Join the
soccer mailing list <https://groups.mit.edu/webmoira/list/soccer-pda> and
the sports facebook group
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499342643696472/> to stay up-to-date with
playing times! For soccer, it is critical that you check the Facebook book
group and note your availability on the poll. Events are subject to
cancellation if there is insufficient attendance.Date and Time Tuesday,
February 14, 5:30-7 PMLocation Zesiger Mac CourtPostdoc VolleyballHosted by
the MIT-PDAPlease join the PDA this Friday for soccer!! 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.
Please also add yourself to our sports Facebook group
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499342643696472/>!Date and
Time Information pending. Trying to find a court to play. Please look out
for an update via PDA email and FB group.Location TBAWe continue to invite
people to come to the Muddy at 9:30 PM on Fridays. Please note that due to
limited funding we will now provide pizza on every other event, and it will
be noted in the newsletter / FB group.Data Science, Informatics, and Data
Science Career PanelHosted by the MIT-PDA in collaboration with the Boston
Postdoctoral AssociationJoin us for a panel discussion on career in data
science, informatics and computer science. Panelists includes Regina
Barseli (MIT), Aman Bhandari (Merck), Amir Handzel (AstraZeneca), Francesca
Lazzeri (Microsoft), Burt LaFountain (BCG), and Wang Chao (Amazon). Come
and ask questions during the one-hour panel, and stay for a fun reception
and speed networking event with industry professionals.Date and Time
Wednesday, February 15, 5:00-7:00pmLocation 6-120Registration Please
register at https://bpdadatacs.eventbrite.com
<https://bpdadatacs.eventbrite.com/>Weekly Board Game NightsHosted by the
MIT-PDA, MIT-GSC, and CSAILMIT-PDA, along with GSC and the CSAIL
departments, are happy to announce that we will be having weekly board game
nights on Friday evenings. Please contact Jon Gjengset
(jon at thesquareplanet.com) if you have any questions regarding the venue or
the time.Date  Friday, February 17, 6 PMLocation Stata Center, 32-D463
Postdoc Valentine SocialHosted by the MIT-PDA in collaboration with Harvard
Medical Postdoc Association, and Faculty of Arts and Sciences,
HarvardMIT-PDA, in collaboration with Harvard Medical Postdoc Association,
and Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard, is happy to announce a Valentine
Social on  February 16th. It's a great opportunity for all of you to to
meet fellow postdocs from HMS, FAS and MIT, enjoy beverages and chocolates,
make new friends and collaborations, and win prizes! Date and Time
Thursday, February 16, 5:30-8:30pmLocation Room 1031 (10th floor), New
Research Building (NRB), 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115
(Harvard/Hospital/MIT ID required for building entry)Registration Please
register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joint-harvard-hms-fas-mit-post-doc-social-tickets-30907764957
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joint-harvard-hms-fas-mit-post-doc-social-tickets-30907764957>2017
MIT Postdoctoral Association Vendor FairHosted by the MIT-PDAMark your
calendars! On Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 the PDA will host a vendor fair in
the "student street" of the Ray and Maria Stata Center. This is a great
opportunity to meet sales representatives of a wide range of companies
(start-ups as well as the big players) where you typically order goods and
equipment for the laboratory. This is the chance to meet the real people
behind the products and not only the checkout webpage of the eCatalog. Join
us and get in touch with companies and your fellow PostDocs. More details
to come!Date and Time  Tuesday, March 14, Time TBALocation  Stata
CenterBattle of the Bands -- Call for ApplicationsHosted by MIT-PDA and
MIT-GSCApplications for the prestigious MIT Battle of Bands is now open.
You are a band? You have at least 50% members that are at MIT? You know how
to get a crowd going? All styles are welcome, as long as they are not
pre-recorded and can be performed live. The Battle of Bands takes place on
March 10th in Morss Hall. Professional judges will elect and announce the
winners, which can win great prices. Musicians, apply!Apply online here
<http://gsc.mit.edu/bands/> by February 19!  Postdoc Orientation
SessionsThe 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
involvedThe 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: 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
<glimpse.podcast at gmail.com>. For more information, please visit us at:
http://glimpse.mit.edu/ <http://glimpse.mit.edu/>OTHER MIT AND LOCAL
EVENTSThis WeekEvaluating, Negotiating, and AcceptingHosted by MIT Global
Education & Career DevelopmentEvaluating, Negotiating & Accepting
Internship/Job Offers - Sometimes making a decision and committing to an
internship or job opportunity is hard. How can you be sure the offer is the
best one for you? How can you convey an interest in the position and ask
for more time? How do you balance multiple interview processes and offer
deadlines that do no align? In this session we will cover: - Recruiting
expectations for students and employers. - How to effectively communicate
with employers if you have questions or need more time to make a decision.
- Evaluating offers and the decision making process. - Making a commitment
and what is expected. Participants are encouraged to send their specific
questions in advance to Tamara Menghi at trmenghi at mit.edu to be
incorporated in this workshop content and activities. Date and Time Monday,
February 13, 5:00pm-6:00pmLocation 56-115Valentine’s Day Vendor FairHosted
by Campus Activities ComplexLooking for that unique gift for that special
someone or just something fun for yourself? Check out the Valentine's Day
Vendor Fair in the Student Center.Date and Time Tuesday, February 14,
11:00am-2:00pmLocation W20-LobbySmall Teaching: From Minor Changes to Major
LearningHosted by the MIT Teaching and Learning Laboratory and Office of
the Dean for Undergraduate EducationSpeaker: James Lang, Associate
Professor of English and Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence,
Assumption College. Research from the learning sciences and from a variety
of educational settings suggests that a small number of key principles can
improve learning in almost any type of college or university course, from
traditional lectures to flipped classrooms. During this interactive talk,
Professor Lang will introduce some of the principles, offer practical
suggestions for how they might foster positive change in higher education
teaching and learning, and encourage instructors/participants to consider
how they might adopt the principles in their current and upcoming
courses.Date and Time Tuesday, February 14, 3:30pm – 5:00pmLocation
4-321Choose to ReuseHosted by Working Green Committee, Staff for
Sustainability, MIT Recycling ProgramReduce, 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
<http://web.mit.edu/facilities/ChoosetoReuse_FAQ_oct2016.pdf>Date and Time
Thursday, February 16, 8:00am-1:00pmLocation 32-first floor, Lobby with big
mirrorThe Narrative Imperative: Storytelling for StartupsHosted by the
Martin Trust Center for MIT EntrepreneurshipA workshop & networking event
for MIT and WPI students led by Trust Center Entrepreneur in Residence,
Nick Meyer. Learn a critical skill ... connect with peers ... and dinner
will be served for those who pre-register.Date and Location  Thursday,
February 16, 6:00pm-8:00pmLocation E40-160Registration Please pre-register
here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mit-wpi-storytelling-workshop-tickets-31648106338>Next
WeekAcademic Interviews and Offers PanelHosted by MIT Global Education &
Career Development, the Graduate Student Council and Office of the Vice
President for ResearchFaculty panelists will address the process of
searching for academic positions, effective interview strategies, and ways
to successfully navigate this process. Academic job offer negotiation will
also be discussed. Date and Time Thursday, February 23,
2:00pm-3:30pmLocation 1-190Daimler and Mercedes-Benz Info SessionHosted by
MIT-Germany Program, MISTI, Center for International StudiesSelling over 3
million vehicles and employing more than 282,000 employees worldwide,
Daimler AG - which includes Mercedes-Benz - is one of the world's most
successful automotive companies. A pioneer of automotive engineering dating
back to 1886, Daimler continues to shape the future of mobility today,
focusing on innovative and green technologies. Come learn about the
company's cutting-edge research and discover opportunities to connect
through internships and full time jobs. Refreshments will be served.Date
and Time Friday, February 24, 5:00pm-7:00pmLocation E40-496, Lucian Pye
Conference RoomSwiss Sciences NightHosted by Swissnex BostonOn February 24,
the eve of the MIT European Career Fair, swissnex Boston is organizing a
career development evening event featuring several top Swiss universities
and research institutions looking to attract talented students and young
professionals to Switzerland. Employers available to meet interested
candidates during the night include: Disney Research, EPF Lausanne, ETH
Zurich, Swiss Re, University of Basel, University of Bern, University of
Zurich, Greater Zurich Area.Date and Time Friday, February 24,
6:00pm-9:00pmLocation Building E15Registration
https://swisssciencesnight.eventbrite.com
<https://swisssciencesnight.eventbrite.com/>21st MIT European Career Fair
(ECF)Hosted by the MIT ECF Organizing CommitteeLooking for a career in
Europe? — Academia or Industry? Come and join the 21st MIT European Career
Fair (ECF). Registration and résumé upload are for free – we invite
everyone to sign up! Students, Postdocs, young professionals from all over
the US are welcome at the fair and can submit their résumé prior to the
fair to be selected for interviews. Meet company representatives, schedule
interviews, listen to information sessions, and improve your job
application in our CV workshop! These are just a few of the many exciting
companies that will be present at the fair: Boston Consulting Group, ETH
Zurich, ASML, Fraunhofer Institute, Bayer, Roche, Philips Healthcare,
Daimler, TU Munich, Swiss Re, Confederation of Danish Industry, European
Research Council, PSL Research University Paris, and High Tech NL.Date and
Time Saturday, February 25, 9:00am-4:00pmLocation W-34, MIT Johnson
TrackRegistration:
<https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fecf.fairsey.com%2F&h=ATP9p5RwYwuaBd4frSC-wsfZ7I9TL0-jZkw7Prj8i_aNZVtd32kCtgAOT71jkQsiiBoYGZa_gQHbuCy3QDun0JmbDwUloLS3awk8s4KI6XZLmHwy_3FYvKi3jOFWs4AaHIHipd8EWw&enc=AZN75pFeo5Kylqsl2sNXhAypYNGLDSr7a5iLLLAb3ZJ9bDDMK8o2T7CDKSo4ec2bzMESyV5HrWp-Us2n2oTNkixj8vaf6g5nl2AQNu4KG6WgGmjNIgVIxojrMIjtuRoXJU-xm_Vb3DzaUF45jv8TbPj_&s=1>https://ecf.fairsey.com/
<https://ecf.fairsey.com/>. Upcoming DeadlinesDe Florez Fund for Humor
Spring Comedy Show: Leslie Jones    Hosted by the MIT School of Humanities,
Arts, and Social Sciences and The de Florez Fund for HumorLeslie Jones
(from "Saturday Night Live" and the 2016 Ghostbusters movie) will be coming
to the MIT campus for a comedy performance on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at
7pm in Kresge Auditorium. The event is open to all MIT students, faculty,
and staff. The event is free, but tickets are required. A ticket lottery
will be open between Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 9am to Sunday, Feb. 12 at
11:59pm: http://shass.mit.edu/resources/jones
<http://shass.mit.edu/resources/jones>. Entrants will be able to select up
to two tickets each.Sloan EMBA 2017 Postdoc Lab ToursHosted by MIT Sloan
The Executive MBA program at MIT Sloan would like to invite you to share
your research projects (via a Lab visit) and exchange perspectives with the
current class of Executive MBAs (EMBA) at MIT’s Sloan School of Management
– a group of mid-career leaders from a range of sectors working full time
but also doing an MBA. As part of their curriculum, the EMBAs are learning
about the MIT and Cambridge/MA innovation ecosystem. Technical (science and
engineering) communities are clearly an essential part of this ecosystem
and we would like to bring the EMBA and research community together. This
will give them a glimpse into the real heart of MIT and give you the
opportunity to make a personal connection with highly placed executives in
diverse fields: pharma and biotech (Pfizer, Biogen Idec, Perkin Elmer,
etc), energy and power (Chevron, Schlumberger, etc), software and tech
(Microsoft, Cisco, VMWare, etc.), finance (Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Fidelity,
etc.), the military, local hospitals, and others. Here is our request: (1)
Please host a group of EMBA student for a lab tour on Friday, the 24th of
February starting at 5:15pm.  We will leave it up to you how you want to
structure your tour and how long you want it to be. Talk about your
research, technology, your dog, anything really… (2) You are invited to a
MIT Sloan networking event immediately following your tour. At the
reception, you can meet and mingle with the rest of the EMBA classes as
well as the Sloan Fellows class. The reception will be at 7:00pm (Location
TBA). If you are interested, please RSVP by filling out this form
<https://goo.gl/forms/YFVJufQ2j9ypIHmE2> by Thursday, February 16th by
11:59pm. Space is limited to 30. First come, first served.  Please email
with any questions (jdkim at mit.edu)Postdoc YogaHosted by Instructor Hadassah
SegalYoga for postdocs (and spouses/partners) is being offered on an
ongoing basis and the new session begins February 22, 2017. This open
level, gentle yoga class is on Wednesdays, 7:30pm-8:30pm, on the MIT campus
(location tba). The rate for the 10 class session is $90 (no makeups or
single classes). The dates are: Feb. 22, March 1, March 8, March 15, March
22, March 29, April 5, No class April 12, April 19, April 26, May 3. If you
are interested in joining, please email hadassahsegal at hotmail.com to
reserve your spot!Falling Walls Lab BostonHosted by Falling Walls Lab
BostonDo you have an idea? Come to Harvard April 9th 2017 to pitch it in
front of our panel of leading business leaders and academics for a chance
to change the world and win a trip to Berlin to make it happen. Join the
German American Conference for the first annual Falling Walls Lab Boston
hosted at Harvard. The Falling Walls Lab is a platform for academics,
entrepreneurs and professionals from all disciplines to present their
research, work, business model, innovative project or idea. Each
participant has 3 minutes to present their idea on our stage and the winner
will be invited to Berlin in November to pitch their idea at the Falling
Walls Lab finale in Berlin and is awarded a ticket for the international
Falling Walls Conference on November 9, 2017. Applications can be submitted
through the website www.falling-walls.com/lab
<http://www.falling-walls.com/lab>. The application deadline is February
28th. All are welcome to participate and to watch on the 9th. CHECK OUT
THESE SITES FOR ADDITIONAL EVENTS postdocs.mit.edu
<http://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/
<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/ <http://www.awis.org/> as a Collegiate Rep and select
the Massachusetts Chapter. Do this prior to registering for any events.MIT
RESOURCES FOR POSTDOCSMBTA AccessAs 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.FREE Mindfulness and Meditation Classes
from MIT MedicalFind Some Om Under the DomeMIT 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 WellbeingCommunity 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 CenterThe 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/
<http://cmsw.mit.edu/writing-and-communication-center/>MyLife Services
<http://o6os.mj.am/link/o6os/xlkt8jnnqpg8/1/-kBne3WjUT8Ww6LEA98gxw/aHR0cDovL2hyd2ViLm1pdC5lZHUvd29ya2xpZmUvbWl0bXlsaWZlc2VydmljZXM>*
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