Weekly PDA Newsletter - January 8, 2016

Sun Jan 8 16:39:19 EST 2017

Dear MIT Postdocs,

Do you have an idea for an activity or event that you think would benefit
the postdoc community? The MIT Postdoctoral Association is pleased to
announce the third annual call for Postdoc Initiative Grant proposals.
Please see the call attached for more information.

Please also note the time and room change for our monthly PDA meeting on
Wednesday, January 11 at 12pm in Rm E25-119!

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

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

12:00pm

Rm E25-119

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

BPDA Ice Skating Night

Hosted by the Boston Postdoc Association and MIT-PDA

Join the BPDA for it's annual ice skating night at Community Ice Skating!
Bring a friend or your family to this kid-friendly event and enjoy a night
of hot cocoa, snacks and skating! Bring your own skates or rent them on
site for $8.50 per person!

Date and Time Sunday, January 29th 5:30-7pm

Location Community Ice Skating @ Kendall, 300 Athenaeum Street in Cambridge

Registration Register here: https://bpdaskating2017.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 semester
are as follows: 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

Art of Behavioral Interviewing

Hosted by MIT Global Education & Career Development

While your technical skills will get you the interview, it is your
behavioral attributes that will get you the job.  This session facilitated
by Bob Dolan will discuss preparation and strategies for a successful
interview.  In addition, sample behavioral interview questions will be
provided along with tips on how to answer those tough questions.

Date and Time Tuesday, January 10th, 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Location 4-270

Registration Pre-registration requested via CareerBridge
<https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student>.

Convert your CV to a 2-page Resume for Industry

Hosted by MIT Global Education & Career Development

If you are considering exploring Industry positions, you will need to have
a resume that effectively positions you for this path.  This workshop
presented by Bob Dolan will discuss the process of converting your 4-6 page
CV into a 2-page resume for industry, and creating a document that
effectively targets the Hiring Manager.  Can your resume survive a 15
second scan and still get into the YES pile? Discussions will surround the
strategies of effective messaging and how to be "on-point" with your
written communication.  Actual MIT PhD/Postdoc resumes will be provided as
handouts.

Date and Time Thursday, January 12th, 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Location 4-270

Registration Pre-registration requested via CareerBridge
<https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student>.

Creating Scientific Figures with Adobe Illustrator

Hosted by the MIT Biology Department

Visual aids are one of the most important tools we have in communicating
our research to others, be it in a publication, a talk, or a class. In the
first hour, learn how to efficiently use Adobe Illustrator to make and edit
figures, and work on your own figure during the second hour. Geared towards
beginners, but all levels welcome. We may have some tricks you don’t know
yet! Please bring a laptop with Adobe Illustrator installed and working,
and an idea or figure to work on. Presenter – Sera Thornton, Digital
Learning Fellow, MITx Biology

Date and Time Tuesday, January 10, 2:30-4:30pm

Location 68-181

Alternative Careers in Academia

Hosted by the MIT Biology Department

Interested in opportunities in academia other than a faculty position? Our
panelists do exciting work as senior scientists, core facility management,
in health and safety and in education. Come hear about the career paths
that led them there!

Date and Time Thursday, January 12, 12:00-1:30pm

Location 68-181

Next Week

BPDA Networking Pub Night at Lansdowne Pub

Hosted by the Boston Postdoc Association

Postdocs, join us for the first networking night of 2017 and kickstart your
job search!  Meet industry professionals from local companies who are eager
to meet you and share their experiences in their respective fields.

Date and Time Wednesday, January 18, 6:00-8:00pm
Location The Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215

Registration Register here: https://bpda1lansdowne.eventbrite.com

Making the Most of Your Presentation

Hosted by MIT Global Education & Career Development

Strong oral presentation skills are a key to success for engineers,
scientists, and other professionals, yet many speakers are at a loss to
tackle the task. Systematic as they otherwise can be in their work, they go
at it intuitively, sometimes haphazardly, with much good will but seldom
good results. Based on Dr Doumont's book Trees, maps, and theorems, about
"effective communication for rational minds" this lecture proposes a
systematic way to prepare and deliver presentations. Among others, it
covers structure, slides, and delivery, as well as stage fright. Dr.
Doumont holds an engineering degree from the Louvain School of Engineering
and a PhD in applied physics from Stanford. He specializes in professional
speaking, writing, and graphing, and incorporates a unique engineering
perspective. More at www.principiae.be.

Date and Time Thursday, January 19th, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Location 10-250

Registration Pre-registration requested via CareerBridge
<https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student>.

Patent Law Essentials: What Scientists, Engineers & Entrepreneurs Need to
Know

Hosted by MIT Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science; MIT
Graduate Student Council; Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship; MIT
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Graduate Students Association

Patent protection for inventions is a valuable component of business
strategy for startups and established companies. This workshop covers the
basics of U.S. patent law, including the patent application process,
prosecution, litigation, and licensing. Undergraduates, graduate students,
and post-docs in science, engineering, and business are welcome. We will
discuss what recent developments in patent law mean for inventors, and draw
examples ranging from the computer software to the pharmaceutical
industries. All members of the MIT community (including alumni) are
welcome. Refreshments will be served!

Date and Time Two identical sessions are being held

Session 1: Friday, January 20, 2017, 2pm-6pm

Session 2: Saturday, January 21, 2017, 2pm-6pm

Location 32-124

Registration https://goo.gl/forms/r7Km1xmLMzJSe8ej1 Limited to 60
participants in each session. Walk-ins allowed, but advance sign-up
preferred.

Upcoming Deadlines

2017 L’Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship Program

Applications for the 2017 L’Oréal USA For Women in Science fellowship
program are now open. The application and more information about the
L¹Oréal USA For Women in Science program can be found at
www.lorealusa.com/forwomeninscience. Applications are due on Friday,
February 3, 2017. Please see the website page for information.

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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