PDA Newsletter June 2026

[Danlei Chen]

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🍕 PIZZA HOUR & Election Info Session

Take a break and join fellow postdocs for a relaxed lunchtime Pizza Hour hosted by the PDA! Catch up with colleagues, meet new postdocs, and hear brief updates from PDA officers about upcoming events and opportunities.

When: 12:30pm-1:30pm, Tuesday, June 30th
Where: E25-401 (in person)

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🗳️ MIT PDA Elections 2026–27: Self-Nominations Now Open

Do you have strong opinions on how things should be done? Have you ever thought someone should do something about those things? Would you like to become that someone? Self-nominations for the 2026–27 PDA Executive Board are now open!

To nominate yourself, please complete the self-nomination form<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1H193AmzYxcy65h5FlVu2Gn6DOhcRowv7rGKSz6OqvSY/edit> and provide a brief nomination statement (100–200 words) that will be shared with voters during the election.

Important Dates

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Self-nomination period: June 8–19th, 2026 (closes at midnight EDT on June 19)
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Voting period: July 6–19th, 2026 (closes at midnight EDT on July 19)
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Candidates may run for more than one position; however, a separate nomination form must be submitted for each position.

Eligibility

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Current MIT postdoctoral fellows and associates are eligible to run.
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Candidates for President must have served as a PDA officer for at least 60 days at the time of self-nomination.

For questions, please contact contactpda at mit.edu. We encourage all interested postdocs to apply and look forward to hearing from you!

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🍨 Postdoc Ice Cream Social

Things are heating up in the neighborhood. So, it is time for our annual ice cream social. It is like a regular social, but instead of making awkward small talk about the weather, your mouth will be frozen shut by ice cream. It is a win-win for everyone involved.

When: Tuesday, June 16th, 4:30pm to when we run out of ice cream
Where: Hayden Library Courtyard (it is very pretty if you have not been)
What: FoMu Ice Cream (plant-based, vegan-friendly), crafts, convos about summer plans, hopefully nice weather

If you don't take a cherry, the sprinkles will know.

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 ⚽️ Watch the World Cup with us!

The World Cup is almost here! And this summer we’ll be teaming up with the Thirsty Ear Pub to bring you live screenings of some of the games. More info to follow!

When: Games to be confirmed - keep your eyes on your emails/slack for specific event announcements!
Where: Thirsty Ear Pub, Ashdown House
Bring: MIT ID and 21+ ID (no foreign ID except passports)

For questions/suggestions, please reach out to pda-community at mit.edu<mailto:pda-community at mit.edu>.

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 🎲 Postdoc Board Games Night!

Our monthly event brings together postdocs from across MIT to relax and have some fun together. We gather after work to eat free food and play some games – everything from Jenga to Risk (you decide how intense an evening you’d like). We have a selection of games, but feel free to bring your own games from home to play!

When: 6pm-8pm, Wednesday, June 24th
Where: E25-401
Sign up: https://forms.gle/PhegdJJw7Diwswpr8

For questions, please reach out to pda-community at mit.edu<mailto:pda-community at mit.edu>.

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✨ MIT Postdoc Spotlight Series

Each month, we highlight two exceptional MIT postdocs whose research, leadership, mentorship, and personal journeys are shaping the future of science and our community.

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Yifu Ding

Yifu Ding is an MIT Energy Fellow at the MIT Energy Initiative and MIT Sloan School of Management, where he studies how AI-driven loads, such as data centers, can better support electric grid operations. His research focuses on developing robust models for demand response services, addressing critical challenges related to uncertainty, scalability, and the rapidly growing energy demands of artificial intelligence. Through his self-proposed RACER fellowship, Yifu uses real-world virtual machine datasets to explore how computing resources can be coordinated with energy systems to improve grid reliability and efficiency.
        Beyond his research, Yifu values the collaborative and interdisciplinary environment at MIT, where he works alongside experts in engineering, computer science, economics, and energy systems. He credits his mentors, particularly Professor Thomas Magnanti, for helping him grow as an independent researcher and translate complex real-world challenges into impactful solutions. Looking ahead, Yifu hopes to see his work create meaningful real-world impact while continuing to develop as an independent scholar.

Fun facts: Yifu enjoys walking along the Charles River, is inspired by Dr. Robert Stoner’s What If It Works?, and says that if he weren't a researcher, he would pursue a career in nonprofit science journalism and communication.

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Sauradeep Majumdar

Sauradeep Majumdar is a postdoctoral researcher in the Learning Matter Lab at MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where he uses artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of materials for sustainable energy applications. His work focuses on designing materials for carbon capture and next-generation batteries, helping researchers and industries navigate trillions of possible material combinations to identify the most promising candidates. He is particularly excited about developing frameworks that determine when to use machine learning, classical simulations, or quantum calculations to solve complex scientific problems efficiently.
        Beyond research, Sauradeep is passionate about science communication, mentorship, and building connections across diverse communities. He credits MIT’s collaborative and intellectually vibrant environment, along with the support of his mentors, labmates, family, and friends, for helping him grow into a more confident and independent researcher. Looking ahead, he hopes to establish his own research group as an independent principal investigator while continuing to advance the role of AI in addressing global sustainability challenges.

Fun facts: Sauradeep is the 2020 World Champion in Science Communication and enjoys singing, dancing, storytelling, public speaking, and mimicry. If he weren’t a scientist, he would love to be a full-time science communicator or novelist. Some of his favorite spots include Killian Court, the Charles River Esplanade, and Harvard Square.

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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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 🎓 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 or 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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🌍 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>.
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
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @mitpda<https://www.instagram.com/mitpda/>

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