Weekly MIT-PDA Newsletter - November 12, 2017
Sabrina Huber
smhuber at mit.edu
Sat Nov 11 16:08:09 EST 2017
[cid:fec228d2-489e-43b7-9146-67ffa33bf351 at exchange.mit.edu]
Dear MIT Postdocs,
Come and join us tomorrow for our next MIT-PDA General Meeting!
We will elect our new Corresponding Secretary & Orientation Committee Chair and will vote on our budget for the 2017/2018 academic year.
Have a good week,
Sabrina
------
Dr. Sabrina Huber
Recording 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
Monday, November 13, 2017
12:00 pm
68-181
Lunch will be provided!
REGISTER HERE<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc14UZWlOC1pyKdrJsq-0ZOpvkQO89ISg4QtEHZC--OtKzSgg/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
Elections for MIT-PDA Corresponding Secretary & Orientation Committee Chair
Hosted by MIT-PDA
We are looking for postdocs to join our team as Corresponding Secretary and Orientation Committee Chair. Interested postdocs should email pda-board at mit.edu<mailto:pda-board at mit.edu> describing their qualifications and interest in the position.
Date and Time Monday, November 13, 12:00 PM
Location 68-181
Celebrating Cultures at MIT: A Potluck Dinner
Hosted by MIT-PDA Community Building Committee
The MIT-PDA Community Building Committee is planning a potluck dinner to celebrate the diverse cultures in our postdoctoral community! This event is open to all MIT postdocs and their family and friends.
For a potluck in the US, participants traditionally prepare homemade dishes. For our event, you can bring a homemade creation or a store-bought dish. Share a delicious dish from home or from a culture you want to celebrate with everyone! Dishes can be an appetizer, snack, main dish, side dish, soup, dessert, or beverage. They can be meat-based, vegetarian, or vegan. Each dish should have enough portions to share for 5-6 people.
The MIT-PDA will provide serving utensils, plates, bowls, cups, and napkins. Also rice, bread, and some dessert items to help get the meals started. We will also have some non-alcoholic drinks.
Please RSVP your attendance, the number of guests you will likely bring, and indicate the dish(es) you plan on contributing to the potluck. We would also like to play festive music from different cultures and would like to include your suggestions for songs to share during the potluck!
Date and Time Thursday, November 30, Dinner time (exact time to be announced)
Location TBC
Registration RSVP for the event by clicking here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJuBtwy3XZLWf_CokThripd_Rkbo1zMgo373DCarka7YRfFA/viewform>
Questions Please email pda-community at mit.edu<mailto:pda-community at mit.edu>
Postdoc Volleyball and Soccer
Hosted by MIT-PDA Sports Committee
Join us for indoor volleyball and soccer! Never played before? Don’t worry! All abilities are welcome. If you are a beginner, we encourage you to show up early to learn how to play and improve skills. The courts are located in 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).
Please also add yourself to our <https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499342643696472/> sports Facebook group<https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499342643696472/> for more information!
Volleyball
Date and Time Every Friday, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Location Rockwell Court (Zesiger Center)
Soccer
Date and Time Every Tuesday, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Location Johnson JAC TRACKINFIELD (Zesiger Center)
PDA and Strategic Games Society (SGS) Partnership
Hosted by MIT-PDA Community Building Committee
Thanks to an MIT-PDA partnership, MIT postdocs may join for free the weekly board games hosted by the MIT Strategic Games Society (MIT-SGS). Moreover, you can bring 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 <mailto:sgs-officers at mit.edu> the officers<mailto:sgs-officers at mit.edu>.
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
You may register for a session via Atlas or here<http://web.mit.edu/training/course.html?course=CDT21061c>. Orientation begins at noon (45-60 min) in the Atlas Service Center (E17) and lunch is provided. Dates for the semester are as follows (all Wednesdays): November 29 and December 20.
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<mailto:glimpse.podcast at gmail.com>. For more information, please visit us at: http://glimpse.mit.edu/
Boston-PDA NEWS AND EVENTS
BPDA Careers Networking Pub Night at Meadhall
Hosted by Boston-PDA Careers
Please join the Boston PDA for a fun night of networking at Meadhall! Meet local postdocs and rub elbows with industry professionals from local Biotech and Pharma companies. We'll have hot and cold appetizers and our space will be staffed by bartenders eager to serve your favorite adult beverage from our cash bar. 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!
Date and Time Wednesday, November 15, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Location Meadhall (4 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142)
Registration Registration required on Eventbrite<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bpda-careers-networking-pub-night-at-meadhall-111517-tickets-39210405378>
OTHER MIT AND LOCAL EVENTS
This Week
Increasing Resiliency In Your Job Search
Sponsored by MIT GECD with support from the Office of the Vice President for Research
The job search can be a very challenging process. Join this interactive workshop to:
* Identify challenges during your job search
* Brainstorm ideas for addressing those challenges
* Create specific next steps for increasing resiliency in your job search
This workshop will be led by Dr. Robbin Chapman, an MIT alumna and Associate Provost and Academic Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Lecturer of Education at Wellesley College. Dr. Chapman earned her S.M and her Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she conducted research at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the MIT Media Laboratory. Her research interests include design and use of computational tools for learning in public spaces, and examining equity issues as they relate to learning technologies and culturally-responsive pedagogy. She currently serves on a number of boards and is regional liaison for the Ford Foundation Fellowship Program, administered through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Date and Time Monday, November 13, 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Location E19-202
Registration Pre-registration is requested via CareerBridge<https://candidate.gradleaders.com/MITGECD/Candidates/Login.aspx?pid=3624&workshopID=60384>
Scientific Ethics Workshop
Hosted by the Harvard University Physics Department
Prof. Christopher Stubbs will give an interactive workshop on scientific ethics and professional integrity. The workshop goals are to identify the various ways in which ethically difficult situations can arise, and to provide some approaches one can use to deal with them, using a combination of case studies and exercise.
Date and Time Wednesday, November 15, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Location Jefferson Laboratory 250 (17 Oxford St, Cambridge)
Registration Please email Bonnie Currier<mailto:bcurrier at fas.harvard.edu>
Engineering Career Fair Collaborative
Hosted by the career offices of Harvard University, Boston University College of Engineeering, Olin College, Tufts University, and MIT.
Meet representatives from small engineering firms across the area seeking engineering students for full-time and internship opportunities in innovative fields including robotics, energy, medical devices, and civil/environmental design. All levels of engineering students from the five sponsoring institutions are invited to attend.
Note: This event is open to MIT postdocs and graduate students, but is geared to undergraduates. You may wish to look at the company list and check their websites for information on openings.
Date and Time Wednesday, November 15, 3:30 – 6:00 PM
Location Sheraton Commander Hotel (16 Garden Street, Cambridge MA)
Registration Registration required on CareerBridge<https://candidate.gradleaders.com/MITGECD/Candidates/Login.aspx?pid=3622>
Eating for High Energy
Hosted by MIT Work-Life Center
In this seminar, you will learn how your mitochondria affect your energy levels, what to eat to maintain high energy levels, and what to have on hand for a quick, healthy snack. You will also learn other tips to keep you at your best all day!
Date and Time Wednesday, November 15, 5:30 – 7:00 PM (Dinner available from 5:00 pm)
Location 46-3189
Registration Registration required on Eventbrite<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eating-for-high-energy-registration-36747050417>
Engineering My Way Through a Career in Tech
Sponsored by Women’s Accelerators
How does an engineer at Bell Laboratories in the 1980’s wind up as a champion of women in science in Europe? Hear the story of Tamar Newberger as she navigated through some of America’s most esteemed technology companies, built a career in Silicon Valley and then had to start over after moving to Prague when her husband became U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Plenty of career hacks will be provided as we look forward to a lively session peppered with entertaining stories and serious advice.
Date and Time Wednesday, November 15, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Location Broad Institute, Monadnock Room
Registration Registration is requested on Eventbrite<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/engineering-my-way-through-a-career-in-tech-tickets-38195055439>
Raising Children Who Care About Others and Their Communities
Hosted by MIT Work-Life Center
This presentation will share research about children’s social, emotional, and ethical development and will describe the skills that contribute to success in relationships, in school, and in life. Strategies will be shared for building empathy and perspective taking, and for helping children to be more compassionate in their everyday interactions.
Date and Time Thursday, November 16, 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Location NE49-5145
Registration Registration required on Eventbrite
FoR Leads: Getting A Seat At The Table
Organized by Future of Research
The Future of Research<http://futureofresearch.org> is hosting a symposium in Boston focused on the creation of leadership positions for early career scientists (specifically postdocs) to ensure their voices are heard during decision-making conversations that affect the future of the scientific enterprise.
Date November 17 – 18
Location Boston University
Registration http://bit.ly/2gzceic
Questions Visit the website<http://bit.ly/2gzceic> or contact Sonia Hall<mailto:shall at genetics-gsa.org>
Later in November and December
Student Loan Repayment Strategies
Hosted by MIT Work-Life Center
Student loan debt has an overwhelming impact on the lives of graduates and parents alike. This workshop will examine ways in which graduates and parents can manage education debt and guide borrowers’ successful transition from college to repayment. Attendees 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
* Ways to avoid becoming delinquent and defaulting on education debt, even during times of personal economic hardship
* The best resources for managing and maintaining a repayment strategy
Date and Time Tuesday, November 28, 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Location 76-156
Registration Registration required on Eventbrite<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/student-loan-repayment-strategies-registration-36734432677>
Jorge Cham from PhD Comics: Communicating Your Research
Sponsored by MIT GSC, GECD, and the MIT Office of the Vice President for Research
Jorge Cham will relay his experiences creating successful science communication projects (videos that have been viewed by millions of people and a book release from Penguin Random House). He will convey how he communicates his passion for engaging with the public and exploring the unknown.
Jorge holds a Ph.D. in Robotics from Stanford University and is the creator of Piled Higher and Deeper (PHD Comics), the popular comic strip about life (or the lack thereof) in Academia.
Often called the "Dilbert of academia,” PHD Comics appears online where it is read by over 6 million visitors a year from over 1000 universities worldwide.
Date and Time Tuesday, December 05, 5:00 – 6:00 PM
Location 34-101
Registration Pre-registration is requested (but not required) via CareerBridge<https://candidate.gradleaders.com/MITGECD/Candidates/Login.aspx?pid=3624&workshopID=56379>
UPCOMING DEADLINES
StartMIT: A workshop for entrepreneurs and innovators
Interested in exploring entrepreneurship? Curious what it means to found a company and launch a startup?
StartMIT<https://startmit.mit.edu/> will give you an introduction to the skill set and spirit that entrepreneurship requires over 2.5 weeks during the January 2018 Independent Activities Period (IAP).
You'll get experience with hands on workshops and hear from successful entrepreneurs and innovators such as:
* Caroline Brown (former CEO, Donna Karan International)
* Paul English (Founder, Kayak)
* Brad Feld (Managing Director, Foundry Group; Co-Founder, TechStars)
* Bob Langer (MIT Institute Professor and the most cited engineer in history)
* Tom Leighton (Cofounder and CEO, Akamai)
Questions Email startmit at mit.edu<mailto:startmit at mit.edu> or come ask in person at StartMIT Office Hours on Tuesday, November 14, from 11:00 AM - 1 PM in Room 1-207
Application Form https://startmit-apply.mit.edu/
Application Deadline November 19, 2017
MIT IMPACT Program - New opportunity to sharpen your research and career focus!
* Gain a broader perspective on your research and career
* Heighten the potential of your research to achieve real-world impact
* Identify actionable opportunities to strengthen your work’s focus
* Express your research mission with clarity and power to attract collaborators and support
* Expand your professional network for lasting, valuable relationships
IMPACT combines interactive group and individualized instruction with professional mentors from academic, medical, and business sectors. The program challenges fellows to explore and defend the real-world impact of their research and helps them develop the skills and professional networks for successful careers inside and outside of academia.
More information and answers to FAQs Please visit the website<http://impact-program.org/> or email impact at mit.edu<mailto:impact at mit.edu>
Application Form http://bit.ly//impact18a
Application Deadline December 18, 2017
Eligibility Anyone in biomedical research with US citizenship or permanent residency
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://www.massawis.org/events/category/mass-awis-events/list/>
EVENTS FOR POSTDOCS WITH CHILDREN
Parents and Parents-to-be Group at Eastgate
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education and organized by MIT Spouses & Partners Connect
A peer-led weekly group for parents and parents-to-be to share information, support each other, and let the kids play together. Babies and kids of all ages welcome. Open to all parents in the MIT community.
For more information, contact Kate<mailto:07turnerk at gmail.com> and Margeux<mailto:margeux at gmail.com>.
Date and Time
Monday, November 13, 20, 27,
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Monday, December, 04, 11,
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location Eastgate Penthouse, E55-29th floor
Toddler Play Group at Westgate
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education and organized by MIT Spouses & Partners Connect
All kids from 1.5-3.5 years old are welcome! You can bring siblings as well. On our first class we will paint pictures with animals, cars, nature, geometry shapes and etc. Contact Tatiana<mailto:angelgirl05 at mail.ru> to join the group.
Date and Time
Tuesday, November 14, 21, 28, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday, December, 05, 12, 19, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Location Westgate Lounge, W85-Basement
Expecting and New Parents Group at Westgate
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education and organized by MIT Spouses & Partners Connect
Led by MIT moms Teresa and Ruby, this is a weekly group for parents-to-be and parents of infants to crawlers to share information and support each other. For more information, contact: Teresa<mailto:terecha27 at hotmail.com>
Date and Time
Wednesday, November 15, 22, 29, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Wednesday
, December, 06, 13,
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location Westgate Lounge, W85-Basement
Choosing Quality Child Care
Hosted by MIT Work-Life Center
This introductory discussion is specially designed for expectant parents and those new to parenting or child care. This session addresses your different infant and toddler child care options, what child care costs, how to find and evaluate your child care choices, planning your parental leave, and the transition to parenting. Infants are welcome if alternative child care is unavailable.
Date, Time & Registration Wednesday, December 13, 12 – 1:30 PM, Register<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/choosing-quality-child-care-registration-36761796523?lang=en-us&locale=en_US&last_touch=1501866975&view=domo>
Location NE49-5000
Raising Bilingual Children
Hosted by MIT Work-Life Center
How might being bilingual benefit your child? What is the best way to go about raising a bilingual child? Whether you are anticipating or already raising a multilingual child, this workshop will help guide you through that process. The discussion will include a review of the research on the effects of bilingual experiences on children’s language development, as well as the social factors that can help children acquire and maintain fluency in more than one language.
Date and Time Tuesday, December 5, 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Location 76-156
Registration Registration required on Eventbrite<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/raising-bilingual-children-registration-36734319338>
MIT RESOURCES FOR POSTDOCS
New Atlas Course on Responsible Waste Disposal Practices
Curious what to do with old packing peanuts, used light bulbs, oily pizza boxes, batteries, and more? Take this new 10-minute course on the Atlas Learning Center to learn how to sort most items you would want to dispose of while at MIT. Own your actions and become a recycling expert today! Developed by the GSC Sustainability Subcommittee and IS&T, with support from the Office of Sustainability, Department of Facilities, and the Environmental Solutions Initiative.
URL https://www.goo.gl/DxJns9
Contact recycling-course at mit.edu<mailto:recycling-course at mit.edu>
Career Counseling Services for Postdocs
In Collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research, the GECD provides career guidance and strategies for both industry and academic tracks. You can discuss your career plans or concerns and receive support on developing your Resume, CV, Research and Teaching Statements, Cover Letters, and LinkedIn profile. 45 minute individual sessions are available and tailored to your needs. You can also conduct a mock interview to help strengthen your interview skills including the delivery of your presentation. Schedule appointments online using the CareerBridge system https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student or by phone at 617-715-5329. Appointments are held in E25-143G.
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 some FREE confidential mental health counseling sessions, as well as access to 24/7 confidential counseling services. We encourage you to learn more about the program<http://hrweb.mit.edu/worklife/mitmylifeservices> (including frequently asked questions), and to call MyLife Services directly at 1-844- 405-LIFE (1-844- 405-5433).
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/
MIT Spouses&Partners Connect<http://spouses.mit.edu/>
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
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 provides this benefit through a special MBTA* chip embedded in the MIT ID card. (*Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority). Check the back of your ID card. If “Charlie INSIDE!” is written on it, you are all set. Questions? Visit the Atlas Service Center (E17-106).
OTHER RESOURCES
Free Membership for the National Postdoctoral Association
MIT is a Sustaining Member of the NPA, which means you can become an affiliate member for free. This will help you network with other postdocs across the country and gain access to members only resources that can help further your career. To join, click on this Affiliate Memberships direct link for MIT<https://npamembers.site-ym.com/general/register_member_type.asp?regkey=B87D7B9B-5C95-48F6-9ECA-A5014531B05D> and follow the registration process, using your MIT email address. Once you click “submit,” the NPA will review your request and confirm your membership by email about a week later.
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