Weekly PDA Newsletter - March 26, 2017

[Meghan Huber]

*Dear MIT Postdocs,Happy Spring Break! While campus may be quiet this week,
the PDA will hold its usual sports activities (soccer on Tuesday and
volleyball on Friday) and its monthly coffee hour on Thursday. Be sure to
check them out!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, April 10,
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-PDA Sports CommitteeInterested 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, March 28, 6:00 - 7:30 PMLocation Zesiger Mac CourtPostdoc Coffee
HourHosted by the MIT-PDA Human Affairs CommitteeDo you have questions
about life as a PD at MIT?  Would you like to meet other PDs over a cup of
coffee? Would you like to learn more about what the PDA can do for you? If
so, please join us for the monthly postdoc coffee hour!Date and Time
Thursday, March 30, 4 - 5:30 PMLocation One Community Room (8-219)Postdoc
VolleyballHosted by the MIT-PDA Sports CommitteePlease join the PDA this
Friday for volleyball!! 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 Friday,
March 31, 7:30 - 9:00 PMLocation Rockwell North CourtEngineering Career
Panel and Speed NetworkingHosted by the MIT-PDA Professional Development
Committee and the Boston Postdoctoral AssociationJoin us for the panel
discussion and learn about careers in Chemical and Electrical Engineering
from experts. Panelists include: Dane Walther, Senior Vice President,
Platform Engineering and Quality Assurance at Akamai, Bob Porras, Vice
President at VMAX Engineering, Dell EMC, Michele Ostraat, Downstream Center
Lead at Armco Research Center, Raming Haghgooie, Vice President Engineering
at Genera Fluidics, and Jason Bylsma, Co-founder & Chief Engineer at
MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.Date and Time Wednesday, April 5, 5:00 - 8:00PM
(5:00 - 6:30 PM Panel Discussion, 6:30 - 8:00 PM Speed Networking)Location
Monadnock Room, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MARegistration
https://bpdapan-eng.eventbrite.com/
<https://bpdapan-eng.eventbrite.com/>MIT Cooking CompetitionHosted by
MIT-PDA Community Building Committee and MIT Spouses and Partners
ConnectThe PDA and the MIT Spouses & Partners Connect proudly present:The
MIT Cooking Competition. Postdocs, spouses, and partners from all over the
world will gather on April 14th in the Dining Hall of the Sydney Pacific
Dorms (Bldg. NW86) to participate in this unique competition. Come and see
their creations of finger food and enjoy a cooking demonstration by the
Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. The winners of the competition will be
crowned that night, and you can be in the jury. So come join us for light
snacks, drinks, and good company. If 21+, please bring ID.Date and Time
Friday, April 14, 6:00 PMLocation Dining Hall of the Sydney Pacific Dorms
(NW86)PDA and Strategic Games Society (SGS) PartnershipMIT-PDA is happy to
announce a new partnership for the board games nights with the MIT
Strategic Games Society (MIT-SGS). It is now free for Postdocs to join the
weekly board games nights hosted by the MIT-SGS. Moreover, you can bring
your non-MIT friends for a small fee of $5 per year. SGS meets every Friday
at 7PM in MIT Building 50-316 (Walker Memorial Hall, Floor 3, Room 16) for
 board games and card games. Gaming sessions typically go until around 12-2
AM. For more information about the board game branch of SGS, contact the
officers.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: 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
EVENTSNext WeekHow to Work a Career FairHosted by MIT Global Education and
Career DevelopmentMany people are overwhelmed when attempting to navigate a
career fair with many employers. This workshop will provide tips and
strategies on how be effective during the upcoming Spring Career Fair on
April 5th.  You will learn what to do in preparation for the fair, what to
do at the fair, and what to do after the fair. The fair is an excellent
opportunity to connect with employers -- create a strategy that will help
you in this competitive employment environment!  Events are open to MIT
undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and alumni.Date and Time
Monday, April 3, 1:30 - 3:00 PMLocation E19-202Registration
Pre-registration requested via CareerBridge
<https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student>.Does Your Resume Communicate the
Right Message?Hosted by MIT Global Education and Career DevelopmentThis
workshop presented by Bob Dolan will discuss the many ways of creating a
resume that effectively targets the Hiring Manager. Can your resume survive
a 15 second scan and still get into the YES pile? You will need to bring
your resume to the Spring Career Fair so you will want a document that is
effective.  Discussions will surround the strategies of effective messaging
and how to be "on-point" with your written communication. Your resume is
not an autobiography, but rather a list of relevant accomplishments that
links your skills to the needs of the company. You’ll use these techniques
in your lifelong career strategies. Actual MIT PhD/Postdoc resumes will be
provided as handouts.  All GECD events are open to MIT undergraduates,
graduate students, postdocs, and alumni.Date and Time Tuesday, April 4,
1:30 - 3:00 PMLocation 3-333Registration Pre-registration requested via
CareerBridge <https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student>.Making It All Add Up
– Part II: The Big Financial DecisionsHosted by MIT Work-Life CenterDo you
feel like your finances control the decisions you make, instead of the
other way around? Do you ever wonder how you’ll manage to pay your loans,
your rent, and your bills, and live your life on your salary? Steve
Dimitriou and Larry Glazer will continue their conversation from this
fall’s Making It All Add Up-Part I seminar and will address important
financial decisions and essential factors to consider when making them.
This session will focus on life’s big investments, including the decision
to go back to graduate school, buy a home, or start a family. Come learn
about the small decisions that can add up to make a big impact. It is never
too early to start being prepared. Presenters – Steven Dimitriou
<http://hrweb.mit.edu/worklife/seminars/bios#Steven>, B.A., AIF, PRP;
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Mayflower Advisors and Lawrence Glazer
<http://hrweb.mit.edu/worklife/seminars/bios#Larry>, AAMS; Co-Founder and
Managing Partner, Mayflower Advisors.Date and Time Tuesday, April 4, 5:00 -
7:00 PM. Dinner will be available beginning at 5:00 p.m. and the seminar
presentation will run from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.Location 46-3189 Registration
Register here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-it-all-add-up-part-ii-the-big-financial-decisions-registration-31289628120>.Knitting
101Hosted by MIT Spouses and Partners ConnectIf you are interested in
learning to knit, this is your course! We'll learn the basics of knitting
such as cast-on, cast-off, knit or purl. We'll also learn how to choose the
yarn and needles for a project, and how to read a simple pattern. At the
end of the course, you will not just have learned the basics of knitting,
but you will have made your own cowl.Dates and Time Tuesday, April 4 to
Tuesday, April 25 (4 sessions), 6:00 - 7:30 PMLocation 5-232Registration
MIT students $55, other students and MIT affiliates $65, general public
$80. MIT Spouses prices adjusted to their spouse status. For more
information or to reserve a spot follow the link:
https://goo.gl/forms/GVCn5kv6bsBmLulj2
<https://goo.gl/forms/GVCn5kv6bsBmLulj2> or contact Adelaida
(adelaidanogales at gmail.com).Lace KnittingHosted by MIT Spouses and Partners
ConnectDo you know that you can also knit your own garments for spring and
summer time? With the Lace knitting technique you can knit from wonderful
summer sweaters to charming shawls for your summer nights. With this course
you will learn this technique (reading lace knitting patterns, best
cast-ons and bind-offs for lace, lace stitches, and blocking techniques) by
making a gorgeous lace shawl. Level: Advanced beginner (you need to know
how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off). Dates and Time Tuesday, April 4
to Tuesday, April 25 (4 sessions), 7:30 - 9:00 PMLocation 5-232Registration
MIT students $55, other students and MIT affiliates $65, general public
$80. MIT Spouses prices adjusted to their spouse status. For more
information or to reserve a spot follow the link:
https://goo.gl/forms/GVCn5kv6bsBmLulj2
<https://goo.gl/forms/GVCn5kv6bsBmLulj2> or contact Adelaida
(adelaidanogales at gmail.com).MIT Spring Career FairHosted by MIT Global
Education and Career DevelopmentWhether you're looking for an internship or
job, or just want to network and explore opportunities, come meet with
recruiters from 75 companies and diverse industries. These companies are
looking for MIT students (grad and undergrad!) and postdocs, and we select
them to ensure a range of opportunities. MIT alumni are also welcome. MIT
ID cards will be required to enter on the day of the fair. This event is
not open to the public, including MIT staff or spouses. Once you register
for the fair, your resume will automatically be added to the MIT Spring
Career Fair Resume Book -- even if you can’t attend the fair in person. The
Resume Book will be available to employers attending the fair, plus it is
also available to many employers who could not get space at the fair. We
always have strong demand for this book! Date and Time Wednesday, April 5,
11:00 AM - 4:00 PMLocation Johnson Athletic CenterRegistration Register
here <https://springcareerfair.mit.edu/#!/candidate>.Solve MIT Challenge
Design WorkshopHosted by Solve MITSolve <http://solve.mit.edu/> challenge
design workshops are a unique opportunity for like-minded organizations to
co-host sessions with 30-80 industry experts, entrepreneurs, and those
passionate about social impact innovation to inform Solve’s future
challenges. Challenge design workshop attendees work together in subgroups
of 8-10 to workshop specific questions around Solve’s four pillars:
education, health, climate and sustainability, and economic prosperity.
These sessions aim to fulfill the following objectives: (1) Inform upcoming
challenges to be launched on Solve’s open innovation platform, (2) Convene
cross-sector leaders around Solve’s mission and give them the opportunity
to be a part of the Solve community, and (3) Establish a global network of
strategists that will continue to unite around Solve’s challenges and open
innovation methodology. Challenge design workshops are 90 minutes-2 hours
long and led by experienced facilitators who provide the groups with a
series of prompts around Solve’s pillars using human-centered design
methodology. Table facilitators guide each subgroup through 4 phases:
framing (15-30 minutes) brainstorming (30 minutes), refining (30-45
minutes), and reporting back (15 minutes). Date and Time Wednesday, April
5, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PMLocation Student Center (Building W20) Room
400Registration Register here
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solve-mit-challenge-design-workshop-march-20-or-april-5-tickets-31939078644>.
2017 German American ConferenceHosted by the 2017 German American
Conference Organizing CommitteeThe 9th German American Conference at
Harvard brings together leaders from business, politics, academia and
media. Taking place on April 7-9, 2017, it will inspire leadership, foster
dialogue and promote innovation. Participants will engage in discussions on
the most pressing transatlantic challenges of our time. With more than 700
participants and 30 speakers, it is the largest student-led conference of
its kind in the United States. Please find more information on
http://germanamericanconference.org/
<http://germanamericanconference.org/>. Among this year's speakers are Joe
Kaeser (CEO, Siemens), Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (Vice President, European
Parliament), Gina McCarthy (13th Administrator, Environmental Protection
Agency), Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann (CEO, Opel/President Europe, GM), Nicholas
Burns (former U.S. Ambassador to NATO) and many more. We invite anyone who
is interested in furthering transatlantic relations to attend the
conference. Date and Time Friday, April 7 to Sunday, April 9Location Boston
Convention CenterRegistration Tickets (Post-Docs are eligible for tickets
of the category ‘faculty’) are on sale and can be found here:
http://germanamericanconference.org/tickets/
<http://germanamericanconference.org/tickets/>Upcoming DeadlinesAsk Me
About 2017Hosted by MIT Priscilla King Gray Public Service CenterAre you
passionate about sharing your knowledge with broad audiences? We're looking
for enthusiastic MIT community members to engage the public with MIT's
fascinating research, student activities, and people! Sign up for a 1.5-2
hour shift on April 18th to share your MIT experience. Bring a
prop/poster/demo/image about your research, studies, or hobbies at MIT and
join your peers in answering questions about your selected topic.
Participants will come to a brief training prior to April 18th to prepare
for engaging with the public in this fun and creative partnership. Ask Me
About is part of the Cambridge Science Festival and the Priscilla King Gray
Public Service Center sponsored MIT Together in Service: City Days. Please
fill out this form <https://goo.gl/forms/8yOyEgDXe3TWfl2m2> if you'd like
to sign up as a group or an individual volunteer -- deadline is April 4th!
 Limited funds are available for props/equipment and hands-on demos. If you
have any additional questions please feel free to email Sarah Bouchard at
sarahbou at mit.edu.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>. All are welcome to participate and to
watch on the 9th. New England Future Faculty Workshop at Northeastern
UniversityHosted by the NE-FWW Planning CommitteeWe would like to invite
them to participate in the New England Future Faculty Workshop for Women in
STEM Fields (NE-FFW) on the Northeastern University campus in Boston,
Massachusetts on August 10, 2017.  The NE-FFW is designed specifically for
women in STEM fields who are late-stage PhD students and postdoctoral
scholars and interested in an academic career. The NE-FFW is focused on the
academic job search.  The format of the one-day workshop includes
faculty-led interactive discussions and peer-to-peer interactions.
Workshop topics include:  Finding Your Institutional Fit, Standing Out in
the Interview, Reviewing CVs, Developing a Research Statement, Negotiating
the Job Offer, and more.  To learn more about the New England Future
Faculty Workshop for Women in STEM Fields, go to:
http://www.northeastern.edu/advance/recruitment/future-faculty-workshop/
<http://www.northeastern.edu/advance/recruitment/future-faculty-workshop/>.
To participate in the NE-FFW, Apply by May 26th online here.
<http://www.northeastern.edu/advance/recruitment/future-faculty-workshop/>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/>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
ServicesMyLife 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 careThis 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 <(844)%20405-5433>) 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/
<http://spouses.mit.edu/>. MIT Employee Resource GroupsJoin 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 ERGCheck out the link for more information and
upcoming events: http://hrweb.mit.edu/diversity/ergs/current
<http://hrweb.mit.edu/diversity/ergs/current>OTHER RESOURCESFree Membership
for the National Postdoctoral AssociationThe 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
<http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/?page=individual_members>*​
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20170326/12071fe6/attachment-0001.html
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pda.png
Type: image/png
Size: 45948 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20170326/12071fe6/attachment-0001.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: cooking competition part2(1).jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1230455 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20170326/12071fe6/attachment-0001.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 20170405 Engineering Panel.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 158653 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/mit-postdocs/attachments/20170326/12071fe6/attachment-0001.pdf