PDA Newsletter October 2025

[Danlei Chen]

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🍕 PIZZA HOUR with the PDA!

Happy spooky season everyone! 👻 We’re making our general meeting shorter so there’s more time to connect and have fun. Come hang out with fellow postdocs, hear updates from PDA officers, and enjoy free pizza courtesy of the PDA! Register<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGPdgh08l-lNgvuh3530YjRFrGet1k1msP7YvHrNsvBB-_HA/viewform?usp=header> to help us get a headcount for pizza (we’ll get more this time).

*NOTE THE TIME & LOCATION CHANGE*
When: Tuesday, October 28th, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Where: In person @ 56-191
Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGPdgh08l-lNgvuh3530YjRFrGet1k1msP7YvHrNsvBB-_HA/viewform?usp=header

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💬 Recap of forum with VPR Ian Waitz

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, VPR Ian Waitz hosted a postdoc-only forum to address questions during this unprecedented time. Ian provided an overview of MIT’s current financial situation and future plans, and responded to questions from the audience as well as anonymous submissions, including topics such as visa uncertainties, new postdoc appointments, fellowship plans, and more. We hope the forum was helpful and provided some level of clarity on these pressing issues.

Because the content was requested to remain within the forum and the postdoc community, the PDA is happy to provide an in-person recap. The most convenient way is to meet us at the pizza hour and ask us questions there!

For additional questions, please contact the Director of Postdoctoral Services, Ann Skoczenski at annskocz at mit.edu<mailto:annskocz at mit.edu>.

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🎨 Art Break: Postdoc Painting & Craft Event!

Take a break, get creative, and connect with fellow postdocs! We are hosting our third art break in the lovely fall weather. Painting and craft materials will be provided. You are also welcome to bring your own and share with the group. Keep an eye out for the sign-up email.

Date & Time: October 16th, 5:00 pm-6:30pm (before the sunset)
Location: Hockfield Court (subject to change)
Sign up: https://forms.gle/72ptLCwbwXnZuomY8

Come unwind and make something beautiful! For questions, please reach out to Danlei Chen (danlei at mit.edu<mailto:danlei at mit.edu>) or Yiqiao Zheng (yqzheng at mit.edu<mailto:yqzheng at mit.edu>).

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🎲 October Postdoc Board Games Night

Looking for a way to make new friends in a fun and relaxed environment? Look no further than the PDA Board Games Night! Our monthly event brings together postdocs from across MIT to unwind and have some fun together. Feel free to bring as many of your own games as you’d like!

Join us for an evening of fun and games by RSVPing using the link below (so we know how much pizza to order!)

When: Monday 20th October, 6-8pm
Where: 68-181
What: Board games + pizza
RSVP: https://forms.gle/ZiQiN4QSJaWE7NDf7

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🍂 Postdoc Buddy Program Fall Chapter!!!

Want to get out of your small circles, meet postdocs from other departments, and make new friends? The PDA Buddy Program is a great way to do just that! Designed to help postdocs build academically and mentally supportive communities, the buddy scheme will group postdocs with like-minded individuals to meet for coffee/tea and get to know one another. Whether you’ve just joined MIT or been here for years, the buddy scheme is a great way to meet new people and make friends.

One hour of support from someone who is in the same shoes can be more valuable than 100 pages of documents and lists of resources. 😊

For this chapter of the program, you can opt to either meet in a larger social gathering or small-group meetups:

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The large group gathering will be a coffee meeting on campus (date TBD, coffee and pastries provided), where you can meet your buddy group, as well as mingle with other postdocs at the event.
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In a small group meetup, you will meet your buddy group on your own time for coffee/tea and receive a reimbursement for your expenses!


Tell us about yourself, and we will match you with 2-3 postdocs with similar academic and personal interests. Registration closes on Thursday, 9th October. Register at: https://forms.gle/nb472BeXULgTLBeN9

For questions, please reach out to Megan Priestley (megp at mit.edu).
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🎓 New to MIT? Join a Postdoc Orientation!

New postdocs are welcome to sign up for a <https://pda.mit.edu/pins/postdoc-orientation/> Postdoc Orientation<https://pda.mit.edu/pins/postdoc-orientation/>, hosted by the PDA in collaboration with Human Resources and Postdoctoral Services. It will be a great opportunity to meet other new postdocs, learn about postdoc-specific benefits, and ask any questions you may have about Boston MIT.

The orientation sessions are held monthly and you can sign up here<http://web.mit.edu/training/course.html?course=CDT21061c>. Bonus: Lunch and refreshments will be provided! Hope to see you there!
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📅 Grad Student Council (GSC) Monthly Events
The Graduate Student Council has kindly put together a monthly event announcement just for postdocs! Many of their events are open to the entire MIT community, and they’ve put a lot of effort into making us feel welcome. It’s a great opportunity to connect with grad students and share interests. Let’s show our appreciation by joining their activities and building stronger ties across our communities!
Check it out here: GSC Event Announcements<http://gsc.mit.edu/current-anno>
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🌍 Travel Guidance
MIT has prepared travel guidance cards—one version for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and another for non-citizens and non-residents. We encourage everyone to carry the appropriate version when traveling internationally, as a precaution for the foreseeable future. The reference cards can be found here<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YUdTqEYacl5rx8z5EqYXrXGQXm8FHymx?usp=share_link>. Additionally, Alex Yen at CAPD (alexyen at mit.edu) has kindly put together a handy, pocket-sized travel guide. You’re welcome to pick one up at the front desk in E17-294.
Other resources:
International Travel Guidance – IScho:
https://ischo.mit.edu/news/update-international-travel-guidance
Legal Considerations – Office of the General Counsel:
https://ogc.mit.edu/system/files?file=documents/guid_internat_trav_law_enforc_search_leav_enter_mar-2025.pdf&check_logged_in=1
On-Campus Guidance for Interactions with Immigration and Law Enforcement:
https://ogc.mit.edu/system/files/documents/guid_immigr_law_enforc_on_campus_mar-2025_2.pdf
Loaner Laptops for International Travel – IScho:
https://ist.mit.edu/secure-devices-travel

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📢 Reach out to us through slack, email, and instagram!
💬 Join the Slack channel: mit-postdocs.slack.com<https://mit-postdocs.slack.com/>
📧 Email the PDA: contactpda at mit.edu<mailto:contactpda at mit.edu>
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @mitpda<https://www.instagram.com/mitpda/>

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