PDA Newsletter September 2025

[Danlei Chen]

[cid:4e090d9b-7954-4947-a070-9080f640fef5]
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🍕 PIZZA HOUR with the PDA!

Happy new semester! To celebrate, we are trying out turning our traditional coffee and pastry hour to PIZZA hour! And who doesn’t want to hang out with pizza in their hands? Come connect with fellow postdocs, hear updates from PDA officers, and enjoy deliciously free pizza from the PDA! Register<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGPdgh08l-lNgvuh3530YjRFrGet1k1msP7YvHrNsvBB-_HA/viewform?usp=header> to help us get a headcount for pizza.

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

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🌟 Postdoc Appreciation Resource Fair

In celebration of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, Vice President for Research Ian Waitz invites all postdoctoral scholars, faculty, postdoctoral administrators, and deans to join us for this resource fair and reception. The event will feature MIT Offices that support and enhance the postdoc experience, refreshments, raffle prizes, and faculty mentoring award presentations. Don’t forget to RSVP!

When: September 17th, 2–3:30 PM
Where: Walker Memorial, Building 50
Registration required: See email from the Office of the Vice President for Research for RSVP and details

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🌐 Visa info session: U.S. Immigration Options and Updates for International Postdocs and Graduate Students

The MIT PDA is excited to host Jim Arkell<https://dunnlaw.com/attorneys/category/of-counsel/profile/jim-arkell> of the Arkell Immigration Team of Dunn Law Firm, LLP. The Arkell Immigration Team has decades of experience in filing successful applications for U.S. permanent residence (green cards) and will discuss U.S. immigration and employment options for international postdocs and graduate students.

Date: Sep 30, 2025, 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Time: 12:00 Noon - 1:00PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Link:   Zoom<https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83573155531> (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83573155531)

This seminar will focus on immigration questions outside the postdoctoral appointment. For questions relating to visa specifically related to your appointment at MIT please contact the International Scholars Office<https://ischo.mit.edu/>.If you have any questions regarding this event, please feel free to email pda-advocacy at mit.edu.

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💼 MIT 2025 Fall Career Fair

The fair offers diverse opportunities to learn about career paths, jobs, and internships that align with your values and interests. All MIT students (undergraduate and graduate), postdocs, and recent alumni are welcome to participate.
Registration for the fair in Handshake<https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/5a659f69-eaff-49da-b01f-dae5f0567d17/student_preview?lor=2&utm_source=mass_mailer&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1814969&utm_campaign=uni_targeted_emails> will remain open to candidates throughout the event on September 19, 2025. For the most up-to-date fair information, resources, and support, please visit the MIT Fall Career Fair Candidate website<https://capd.mit.edu/fcf-candidate-info/>.
When: September 19th, 9:30-4pm
Where: Johnson Athletics Center
Registration: Log in to your Handshake<https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/5a659f69-eaff-49da-b01f-dae5f0567d17/student_preview?lor=2&utm_source=mass_mailer&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1814969&utm_campaign=uni_targeted_emails> account to register

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🎲 September 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: September 22nd, 6-8pm
        Where: 68-181
        What: Board games + pizza
        RSVP: https://forms.gle/JUgsNifssoQtyKCm9

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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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🖼️ Night at the (Harvard Art) Museum!

Mark your calendars - on the 25th September, the Community Building team will be taking a group of MIT postdocs to explore the wonders of the Harvard Art Museum at night. From 5pm onwards, join us for an evening of art, fun, food, and more!

Keep your eyes peeled for the sign up form (coming soon)!

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🌟 Paths after PhD: Meeting with postdocs
Join us for a special event celebrating the diverse journeys of MIT’s postdoctoral community. Organized by the Outreach and Belonging Committee, this gathering will bring together postdocs, graduate students, and faculty for an open conversation about career paths after the PhD.
The event will feature:

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Stories from postdocs about their unique career trajectories and experiences at MIT.
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Networking opportunities to connect with fellow postdocs, graduate students, and faculty.
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Light refreshments and community building in a welcoming space.

Stay tuned for the date and location. Come celebrate our postdoctoral community, gain insights into life after the PhD, and be part of the conversation!
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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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