PDA Newsletter 2/2025

[Danlei Chen]

[https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfaOaHMA0gzjde6VCNWy7PFjFHp7HLsL_NLSzg_A8iYM4M994OIYt2YQmiwoVn9yi_DY3aEI5kYUvg6whLhE0Tu5SZ3I44D58z0jqDsGB0oGMjTbXiMByp83el23n1QD0vk9R_n1F4DJE_Y2Xc325s?key=DFfkmuvptKjlevuoseM72uNG]

MIT PDA GENERAL MEETING AND COFFEE HOUR! ☕

Join us for our monthly PDA meeting! Enjoy coffee and snacks while we connect, share updates from PDA officers, and discuss postdoc life.

We're reformatting our coffee hour to be more casual—drop by for a relaxed chat, share your thoughts and concerns, and get more involved in our community. In these challenging times, let’s support each other and strengthen our connections!

Tuesday, Feb 25th, 12pm-1pm
In person @E25-141
On Zoom @ https://mit.zoom.us/j/96221008860

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Share your thoughts in an open forum with PDA officers and VPR office

We invite you to share your concerns and any challenges you face—whether related to visas, funding, workplace policies, or broader uncertainties on Thursday, Feb 13th 1-3pm in the Simons Center Conference room (46-6011) in building 46/BCS.

Ian Waitz, MIT Vice President for Research, will join us for the first part of the forum and together with the OVPR we will work on addressing those concerns where possible.
No sign-up required, you may drop in and out at any time and the discussion will also be hybrid if you cannot make it in person. We have the room reserved for an additional hour if postdocs wish to continue their conversation. To reach the conference room, use the BCS lobby entrance at the Vassar street crosswalk, take the elevator to 6th floor, exit, turn left and walk down the short hallway.

Please also, or exclusively, submit your experience and concerns anonymously via this link<https://intake.mit.edu/surveys/?s=K7DWDTF4XJ7WD8P7>. Your input will help us better understand the needs of our postdoc community and work toward solutions. As an additional resource we are also going to host recurrent coffee chats where you can feel safe to share and hopefully relax a bit in these times of uncertainty, so stay tuned for that and get in touch with us if you would like to volunteer in those events. Please don't hesitate to reach out to contactpda at mit.edu<mailto:contact-pda at mit.edu> with any questions!
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PDA Coffee and Crafts Event: Origami for Togetherness

In times of uncertainty and tremendous difficulties, let’s come together through creativity! The PDA will be hosting a craft event on March 4th or 5th (exact date and time TBA), where we’ll be making origami as a way to decompress, socialize, and create together.  Join us to learn something new or share your origami knowledge with others!  Feel free to stop by just for the coffee, as well.

We’ll provide craft paper, and together, we’ll collect our final creations in a shared vase to represent our strength as a community. Dani Coogan (decoogan at mit.edu), Chair of the Alumni Committee, will lead the session and teach the art of origami.

We’re also planning more creative events, including knitting, crocheting, and reading—stay tuned for details! All are welcome—join us in folding hope and solidarity!

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MIT European Career Fair 🇪🇺

The MIT European Club is thrilled to invite you to the next in-person 29th Annual European Career Fair (ECF) on March 1st, 2025 and get the opportunity to find internship and work opportunities in Europe! It is the largest Europe-focused career fair in the United States, with 28 years of successful fairs. Each year, the ECF attracts over 2,000 students and more than 100 companies from across Europe.
This year’s ECF will feature a variety of satellite events, including free professional headshots, free resume-writing workshops, seminars on hot-topics including AI, Mobility, Sustainability, and more. Moreover, you have the chance to sign up for coffee chats and interview days with companies you’re interested in working with. A detailed schedule with all events during the ECF week will be available on our website soon!
You can find further information about the MIT European Career Fair 2025 program, on their website<https://euro-career.mit.edu/>.
 REGISTER <https://tinyurl.com/MailListServ> HERE<https://tinyurl.com/MailListServ> FOR THE ECF 2025!
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Reach out to us through slack, email, and instagram!

Join the Slack channel: https://mit-postdocs.slack.com/
Email the PDA: contactpda at mit.edu<mailto:contactpda at mit.edu>
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitpda/

[https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf4H_OMiLaDJZrmAPgWTCE5pjWUlavhgqPg8ALlrUt-bDcuOGmbC6NaLR-AsgTdQqxA4PUqQeKmRqwfIQZ3xuhmix9i6rw-mTScNYk_8g5K0dBjJFYzQflFWLqcKSnmLiPphTToU6thcmqNCvBZ2NY?key=DFfkmuvptKjlevuoseM72uNG]
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