2015 Events

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-DECEMBER EVENTS-

Postdoc Holiday Party & Toy Drive
When: Thursday, December 17, 2015 | 4:00-6:00pm (HMPA hosted "after party" from 6:00-7:00pm)

Where: NRB, Room 1031, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur (MAP) (HUID or Hospital ID required for access to buidling)
Sponsored by the Harvard Medical Postdoc Association (HMPA) and the HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows
Celebrate the season with the HMPA and the Postdoc office! Join us for food, drink, holiday cheer and raffle prizes. Bring a new toy to win a raffle prize! Get extra raffle tickets for every toy you bring to the raffle. The more toys you bring the better your chances at winning!!

Responsible Conduct of Research: Mentoring
When: Friday, December 11 | 12:30-2:00pm
Facilitators: Sad Sayeed, JD, MD; Rick Born, PhD; Jim Gould, PhD
Description: What qualities make for a “good” mentor?  What qualities make for a “good” trainee?  What are the appropriate expectations we should place on each participant to the relationship?  All of us involved in the academic life sciences community ought to reflect seriously on these questions. 
All HMS postdocs are required to complete 8 contact hours of the RCR course. This course is meant to provide an opportunity to openly and critically reflect with your peers and others about what responsibility and integrity should mean to the professional scientific community. The overall RCR course description can be found here: http://bioethics.hms.harvard.edu/rcr-responsible-conduct-research.

Distilling Your Scientific Message
When: Thursday, December 10 | 10:00am-12:00pm
Speaker: Christine O'Connell, PhD, Associate Director, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, School of Journalism, Stony Brook University
Description: How do you answer this frequent question: “So, what’s your research about”? While your loved ones likely smile and nod, the stakes are high when you need to explain your research to a potential employer, funding agency, or the media.  Scientists have a responsibility to share the meaning and implications of their work and engaging the public encourages sound public decision-making. In addition, the ability to communicate directly and vividly can enhance scientists’ career prospects, helping them secure funding, collaborate across disciplines, compete for positions, and serve as effective teachers. In this highly interactive workshop, participants learn to speak clearly and vividly about their work and why it matters, in terms non-scientists can understand. They practice finding common ground with an audience, speaking at different levels of complexity for different audiences using storytelling, and answering questions about their work.
The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science is dedicated to helping current and future scientists learn to communicate more clearly, vividly and conversationally with the public, including public officials, potential funders and employers, the media, students, family and friends, and colleagues and potential collaborators.

Pathways to Entrepreneurship: Launching from the Bench
When: Thursday, December 10 | 5:00-6:00pm | Refreshments to Follow
Featuring: Allison Williams, Director of Corporate Development, Pronutria Biosciences; MBA Student, HBS 
Description: What are the first steps in a career commercializing scientific innovation?
Join us to meet young entrepreneurs, navigate your career options and explore innovation fellowship opportunities, followed by networking and refreshments.

The Individual Development Plan: Maximizing Your Postdoc Training at HMS
When: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 | 1:00-2:30pm
Featured Speaker: James Gould, PhD, Director, HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows
Workshop Description: The postdoc pursuit of independent investigation relies on getting the most out of their training. This seminar lays out tools and strategies for choosing the right research environment to thrive as a postdoc as well as planning, and executing, a successful postdoc tenure. This workshop will cover what you need know, and do, to efficiently advance in your early research career via an effective use of your individual development plan (IDP).

Acing the Industry Interview
When: Tuesday, December 8 | 2:00-4:00pm
This is part of the "Demystifying Job Search & Career Transitions" Series
Speaker: Lauren Celano, Founder & CEO, Propel Careers
Description: In this seminar, Lauren will provide advice for how to succeed during an interview and will cover different interview formats including phone, skype, in person one-on-one and panel settings. Propel will provide insight on what hiring managers look for when conducting interviews as well as typical interview questions with examples of responses. Propel will discuss how to prepare for skills based questions (i.e. tell me more about your cell culture experience) as well as “soft skills” questions (i.e. tell me how you work in a team, or how you show initiative). Propel will provide insight on why companies use behavioral interviewing and the important role of culture fit and personality fit in an interview. Propel will also provide advice on research that a candidate can do to make sure they have relevant background information on the company and interviewers and advice on what questions to ask during an interview. Propel will provide guidance relevant for scientific, non-scientific, and consulting interviews. Following the talk, time will be allocated for Q&A to address additional topics.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, December 4, 2015 |1:30-4:30pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Influence Without Authority: Getting Things Done When You're Not in Charge
When: Thursday, December 3 | 11:00am-2:00pm
Eligibility: This program will be limited to 35 participants. Quad-based, HMS/HSDM postdoc will be given priority. Harvard and Hospital affiliate postdocs will be placed on a wait list. Please contact the Postdoc Office if you are uncertain of your eligibility.
Speaker: Gwen Acton, PhD, CEO, Vivo Group
Description: Do you need others to get things done, but they don’t report to you? That is an increasingly common situation in the life science and technology industries. The truth is that even when you do have “power”, you are often better off using influence first. The truly effective individual contributors, managers, and executives use influence skills to achieve results, regardless of their positional power within the organization or team structure. The workshop will provide you with key skills for getting things done whether or not you are in charge. You will improve your ability to manage “up”, get agreement from peers, and motivate reports that will enable you to work more effectively in project and cross-functional teams, collaborations, and matrixed organizations. 
This three hour workshop is highly interactive, and involves small-group discussions of case studies from the life science and technology industries, as well as group discussions, short role-playing exercises, and opportunities to gain perspective from and share best practices with other attendees. Participants are given theoretical background and overview of power and influence, as well as practical tools that can be implemented in the work place. Attendees in this workshop will practice identifying types of influence, recognizing the motivations of others, and developing a strategy for influencing others. Participants will receive hard-copy and electronic information, practical tools, tips and techniques to improve their ability to influence.
Bio: Gwen Acton, PhD, is an expert on the intersection of science and business. She is CEO of Vivo Group, a consulting firm that improves productivity and innovation in life science and technology companies through strategic leadership development. Prior to this, she served as Director of Scientific Development at the Whitehead Institute, where she established institute strategy for building long-term relationships with industry. Dr. Acton also ran the operations of the Functional Genomics Program, overseeing operations for a $40 million, 50-person sponsored research program related to the Human Genome Project, while successfully managing alliances with industry sponsors. Dr. Acton received a doctorate in biology from MIT where she worked in a Nobel-Prize winning laboratory. She next served as a faculty member at Harvard University in the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.

The Postdoc Life Cycle: Best Practices for Negotiating Authorship
This workshop is part of "The Postdoc Life Cycle" series.
When: Tuesday, December 1 | 12:30-1:30pm
Featuring: Melissa Brodrick, Ombudsperson, Ombuds Office for HMS/HSDM/HSPH
Elaine Elion, PhD, Professor, Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, HMS
Workshop Description: Tensions rising as you try to determine authorship order with a collaborator? Thought you had first authorship lined up for your manuscript until you found out you’d been bumped? Join us for a practical look at best practices for preventing and de-escalating authorship disputes. You’ll hear from an experienced HMS faculty member and the HMS/HSDM/HSPH Ombudsperson about authorship guidelines, proactive steps to take to avoid authorship conflicts, and skills to use when a challenging authorship negotiation heats up.
Speaker Bio: Melissa: Since 1985, Melissa has served as a mediator, facilitator and trainer in the field of dispute resolution. She has worked in private practice, helping clients to engage in effective communications and problem solving while navigating high impact work and family issues. She has also worked with numerous institutions, health care organizations, Fortune 500 companies, state and federal agencies, and non-profit groups. Melissa has served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Mediation Programs and Practitioners, Director of The Children's Hearings Project and mediator of educational appeals for the Massachusetts Department of Education. She is the recipient of numerous awards in her field and holds an MEd from Harvard University and a BA from Amherst College. Elaine: Elaine Elion is a professor in the department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology where she has studied basic mechanisms of signal transduction and differentiation in budding yeast. She received her A.B. from Mount Holyoke College, PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and was a Helen Hay Whitney postdoc at the Whitehead Institute of MIT. Elaine served on admissions committees for many years, has been an editor at several journals and has done extensive peer review for a variety of journals and funding agencies. She also has experience helping lab members get appropriate recognition on collaborative publications.

-NOVEMBER EVENTS-

The Five Steps to Securing a Non-Academic Position
When: Tuesday, November 24 | 3:00-4:30pm
This is part of the "Demystifying Job Search & Career Transitions" Series
Description: This high level overview of the steps necessary to secure a non-academic position covers networking, resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, and contract negotiation. We begin by dispelling many myths associated with each of these steps, and go on to reinforce strategies and techniques that allow for individual success.
Speaker: Colin White, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, White Consulting, LLC

 

Postdoc Coffee House
When: Thursday, November 19, 2015 | 9:30-11:00am
Stop by the Postdoc Office on the third Thursday of every month to enjoy fresh coffee and donuts and to learn more about the opportunities available for postdocs.

Academic Job Search Series: Acing the Academic Interview
When: Monday, November 16, 2015 | 2:00-4:000pm
Workshop Description: Come hear from our faculty panelists as they discuss: - Interview etiquette and potential pitfalls, - Job talk essentials, - Demystifying the chalk talk, - Following up & negotiations
Workshop Led by: 
Angela DePace, PhD, Assistant Professor of Systems Biology, HMS
Panelists Include: 
Sandeep Robert Datta, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology, HMS
Stephen Liberles, PhD, Associate Professor of Cell Biology, HMS
Johannes Walter, PhD, HHMI Investigator, Professor of BCMP, HMS

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, November 13, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Green Cards, Entrepreneurship and Work Visas: What Do I Need to Know?
When: Thursday, November 12, 2015 | 12:00-2:000pm
Description: The HIO is pleased to announce an informational session for students and scholars entitled Green Cards, Entrepreneurship, and Work Visas: What Do I Need to Know?  This session is intended to help our clients learn what happens after Harvard visa sponsorship ends.  Join local attorney Elizabeth Goss speaking about topics such as H-1Bs, TNs, O-1s, entrepreneurship, green cards and much more during this 2 hour session sponsored by the HMS Office for Postdoctoral Fellows and the HIO.  Q&A will follow.  

Developing an Effective Job Search Strategy
When: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 | 3:00-4:30pm
This is part of the "Demystifying Job Search & Career Transitions" Series
Speaker: Lauren Celano, Founder & CEO, Propel Careers
Description: This workshop will provide advice on how to prepare and conduct an effective job search. This presentation will begin with a focus on questions that every job seeker should ask themselves before they begin their search to ensure a focused search on roles and companies aligned to the job seeker’s values, interests, and skills. The presentation will then provide tips on how to identify and research companies through on-line searching, LinkedIn, conferences, press releases, new sources, networking and other sources. Additional details will be discussed regarding how to create a job search checklist and the value of formally tracking your progress over time to maintain focus and accelerate the search. The presentation will discuss the “hidden job market” as well as how companies and recruitment firms use resume databases and LinkedIn to connect with talent. Lastly, the seminar will cover the importance of tailoring a resume and cover letter for each job; the value of a referral when applying for a job; and job search timeframes including when to start looking and how long you have to make a decision on an offer once you receive one. Following the talk, time will be allocated for Q&A to address additional topics.

-OCTOBER EVENTS-

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, October 30, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Postdoc Movie Night: The PhD Movie 2 w/Introduction by Jorge Cham
When: Thursday, October 29, 2015 | 7:30-9:30pm
Featuring: Jorge Cham, PhD, Creator, PHD Comics
Showing: The PHD Movie 2 looks at themes of competition in research, overcoming writer's block, and finding your voice. Winston is now an integral part of Prof. Smith's Lab. However, the current economic situation has put the lab in peril as research funding levels are at an all-time low. The group must travel to an important academic conference and square off against a rival research group as they compete for results and grant money. Meanwhile, Cecilia's advisor declares he is going on sabbatical, which means she has to finish writing her thesis or be stuck in grad school another year. 

Top 10 Things Scientists Ask About Starting a Career Outside of Academia
When: Thursday, October 28, 2015 | 3:30-4:30pm
This is part of the "Demystifying Job Search & Career Transitions" Series
Speaker: Joanne Kamens, PhD, Executive Director, Addgene
Description: These days, staying in academia is really the “alternative” career for scientists.  The majority of young scientists will not end up in a traditional academic research position.  This presentation will give you some criteria to consider in deciding which non-academic path may be right for you and then will provide concrete tools and resources for preparing for this transition.
Bio: Joanne received her PhD in Genetics from Harvard University, where she studied signaling pathways. She spent 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry at Abbott Research Center and moved into the biotechnology sector as Senior Director of Research Collaborations at RXi Pharmaceuticals. Joanne also has extensive experience with leadership of nonprofit organizations. She founded the Massachusetts chapter of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) and is Director of Mentoring for the Boston chapter of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA).

Academic Job Search Series: Preparing the Academic Package
When: Monday, October 26, 2015 | 2:00-4:00pm
Come hear from our faculty panelists as they discuss:
- Application best practices and potential pitfalls
- What to include in the cover letter, CV, and research proposal
- How to manage the application process
Workshop Led by: 
Sandeep Robert Datta, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology, HMS
Panelists Include: 
Marcia Haigis, PhD, Associate Professor of Cell Biology, HMS
Stephen Liberles, PhD, Associate Professor of Cell Biology, HMS 
Johannes Walter, PhD, HHMI Investigator, Professor, BCMP, HMS

Randox Information and Recruitment Session
When: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 |3:00-4:000pm
Randox is currently expanding and is seeking postdocs in the life sciences and engineering to help grow their company. Please join Mark Campbell, Senior Manager Randox, and Michael Heaney, Director of Services Donegal County Council, to learn more about Randox and about living in Ireland.
Randox Laboratories is an independent, privately owned healthcare diagnostics company. It is the UK’s largest indigenous diagnostics company. Formed in 1982, Randox Teoranta falls under the Randox Laboratories Ltd. umbrella and is a cutting-edge life-science and engineering research and manufacturing centre based in Dungloe, Ireland. Randox employs 750 people in Northern Ireland, with a further 550 across the world. Currently 66 are employed in Randox Teoranta in Donegal with major expansion and investment of €25m to take employment here to 540 by 2020. For more information about Randox, please visit: http://www.randox.com/

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, October 16, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

 

Postdoc Coffee House
When: Thursday, October 15, 2015 | 9:30-11:00am
Stop by the Postdoc Office on the third Thursday of every month to enjoy fresh coffee and donuts and to learn more about the opportunities available for postdocs.

Making the Most of Versatile PhD: An Online Career Development Tool
When: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 | 4:00-5:000pm
Speaker: Laura L Stark, PhD
Director of Career Advising and Programming for Master’s and PhD Students
Office of Career Services, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Description: "What are my options?" If you are considering transitioning to a career field outside the professoriate, you need to do your research, identify interesting careers paths, and learn how to prepare for and navigate the job search in these fields. VersatilePhD.com is an excellent online tool to help you do just that, and Harvard subscribes so you can access all the resources on this site. Come to this workshop and learn how to make the most of VersatilePhD, including tailored career panel discussions, detailed success stories, and sample job search documents that helped PhDs land great jobs outside of academia. Open to GSAS students and alumni, and Harvard post-docs. Co-sponsored by the FAS Office of Career Services and the HMS/HSDM Office of Postdoctoral Fellows.

New Postdoc Orientation
When: Tuesday, October 6, 2015 | 12:30-4:00pm
The HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows organizes orientations every 6 weeks for new postdocs. Upon arrival at HMS/HSDM, all new postdocs will be pre-registered for orientation - you will receive an email confirmation from Eventbrite. The Postdoc orientation is an important opportunity for new postdocs to obtain the necessary resources they need for living and working in and around the HMS/HSDM community. Postdocs learn about the administrative systems at HMS/HSDM and Harvard, research offices and policies, and receive a broad overview and explanation of the many benefits of working at Harvard.

Postdoc Career Clinic: The Art of Behavioral Interviewing
When: Monday, October 5, 2015 | 12:00-1:30pm
Featured Speaker: Bob Dolan, Career Advisor MIT Postdoctoral Scholars
Workshop Description: Learn how to develop and enhance your interviewing skills! While your technical skills will get you the interview, it is your behavioral attributes that will get you the job. This workshop will cover topics such as types of interviews, sample interview questions, appropriate dress, and important tips to think about before, during and after the interview. The intended outcome is to help you prepare and develop a strategy for a successful interview. In addition, sample behavioral and academic interview questions will be provided along with tips on how to answer these tough questions. 

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, October 2, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

 

-SEPTEMBER EVENTS-

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, September 18, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

 

Postdoc Career Clinic: Effective Presentation Skills
When: Monday, September 14, 2015 | 12:00-1:30pm
Featured Speaker: Bob Dolan, Career Advisor MIT Postdoctoral Scholars
Workshop Description: Do you present your work to your lab, at conferences, or to a faculty or industry hiring committee?  If so, this workshop is designed to provide you with tips and strategies for delivering an effective presentation, and one that aligns you with your audience.  The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be.  Discussions will include room set-up, proper dress, room management, and actual professional delivery to your audience.

The Individual Development Plan: Maximizing Your Postdoc Training at HMS
When: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 | 1:00-2:30pm
Featured Speaker: James Gould, PhD, Director, HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows
Workshop Description: The postdoc pursuit of independent investigation relies on getting the most out of their training. This seminar lays out tools and strategies for choosing the right research environment to thrive as a postdoc as well as planning, and executing, a successful postdoc tenure. This workshop will cover what you need know, and do, to efficiently advance in your early research career via an effective use of your individual development plan (IDP).

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, September 4, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

 

-AUGUST EVENTS-

New Postdoc Orientation
When: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 | 12:30-4:00pm
The HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows organizes orientations every 6 weeks for new postdocs. Upon arrival at HMS/HSDM, all new postdocs will be pre-registered for orientation - you will receive an email confirmation from Eventbrite. The Postdoc orientation is an important opportunity for new postdocs to obtain the necessary resources they need for living and working in and around the HMS/HSDM community. Postdocs learn about the administrative systems at HMS/HSDM and Harvard, research offices and policies, and receive a broad overview and explanation of the many benefits of working at Harvard.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, August 21, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

 

*SPECIAL* Outdoor Movie Night
When: Thursday, August 20, 2015 | 7:30pm
Enjoy a movie under the stars on the HMS Quad. There will be FREE fresh popcorn, but bring your own beverages. And don't forget a blanket or lawn chair to lounge on. Come early to get a good seat; you don't want to miss it! This event is open to the entire Harvard community, Hospital Affiliates and their families.
Featured Film: "Big Hero 6"

Postdoc Career Clinic: Career Exploration & Transferable Skills
When: Thursday, August 13, 2015 | 3:00-4:00pm
Featured Speaker: Nina Dudnik, PhD, Founder & CEO, Seeding Labs
Workshop Description: As a scientist, you have spent years honing highly specific and technical skills, but many of these don't seem very applicable to jobs outside of lab. The good news is that all along, you have been developing some very transferable skills - some of which you might not even realize are rare and valuable. We'll talk about what these are, how to express your skills to non-scientists, as well as other very useful skills for any career and how to find opportunities to develop them while you're still in the lab.


Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, August 7, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

-JULY EVENTS-

New Postdoc Orientation
When: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 | 12:30-4:00pm
The HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows organizes orientations every 6 weeks for new postdocs. Upon arrival at HMS/HSDM, all new postdocs will be pre-registered for orientation - you will receive an email confirmation from Eventbrite. The Postdoc orientation is an important opportunity for new postdocs to obtain the necessary resources they need for living and working in and around the HMS/HSDM community. Postdocs learn about the administrative systems at HMS/HSDM and Harvard, research offices and policies, and receive a broad overview and explanation of the many benefits of working at Harvard.

*SPECIAL* Outdoor Movie Night
When: Thursday, July 16, 2015 | 8:30pm
Enjoy a movie under the stars on the HMS Quad. There will be FREE fresh popcorn, but bring your own beverages. And don't forget a blanket or lawn chair to lounge on. Come early to get a good seat; you don't want to miss it! This event is open to the entire Harvard community, Hospital Affiliates and their families.
Featured Film: ~"The Grand Budapest Hotel"~

 

Postdoc Career Clinic: Building Your Professional Brand
When: Monday, July 20, 2015 | 12:00-1:30pm
Featured Speaker: Bob Dolan, Career Advisor MIT Postdoctoral Scholars
Workshop Description: Communication goes beyond verbal skills which are important to the success of any job seeker.  To brand yourself as a professional, you must deliver a consistent message in a Written, Verbal, and Virtual manner. As postdoctoral researchers begin to look for positions in science, both in academia and industry, they must be aware of how their nonverbal communication skills impact their possibility of finding employment opportunities. Learning how to maximize the use of one’s verbal and nonverbal communication skills is a powerful tool to help one achieve professional success, and a critical component for the future.

Effective Manuscript Writing for Postdocs
When: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 | 10:00am-2:30pm
Course Instructor: Leslie Ann Roldan, PhD, Lecturer II, Comparative Media Studies | Executive Director, Cell Decision Process Center, MIT
Workshop Description: At the conclusion of the half day workshop, participants will have a deeper understanding of the processes involved in composing a research paper. Participants may bring examples of their own work (single figure or 250 words of text).
Course Methods: Instruction will consist of three topics, including lectures and hands-on activities that cover aspects of the scientific research article:
 Illustrations and Results: designing illustrations and labeling samples; composing a legend vs. Results paragraph
Discussion: brainstorming ideas regarding impact and limitations; organizing overall and paragraph (opening, closing, body) structure
Introduction and Abstract: building Introduction from end (focus, justification) to opening sentence; determining relevance of information (Introduction vs. Discussion; concision of Abstract)

Getting Started Orientation for J1 International Visitors
When: Tuesday, July 28, 2015 | 12:30-3:00pm
Registration: Only for HMS quad-based postdocs. Contact your department administrator to register.
Session will be held by: Zarrin Foster and Colleen Griffin from the Harvard International Office
Sample Topics Include: Harvard Resources; Transportation; Banking; Safety

Teaching Institute: Theory and Practice for the STEM Professions
When: Monday-Thursday, July 13-16, 2015 | 9:00am - 5:00pm Daily
Eligibility: This program will be limited to 30 participants. You must be a quad-based, HMS/HSDM postdoc, graduate student, or faculty to apply. Please contact the Postdoc Office if you are uncertain of your eligibility. Women and minorities underrepresented in STEM professions are STRONGLY encouraged to apply.
Workshop Description: This four-day Institute on college teaching is designed to equip postdoctoral fellows in the STEM professions with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare them to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in higher education institutions. The Teaching Institute will prepare participants to teach courses effectively at the post-secondary level. The curriculum integrates a discussion of theory and current research related to teaching in higher education with actual practice. Participants are actively engaged in designing and delivering multiple lessons using best pedagogical practices, including theory and application in their particular discipline. Participants work collaboratively throughout the Institute to discuss readings, provide peer feedback, reflect on their experiences and course content, and build a teaching toolkit through hands-on experiences. All course activities and materials are incorporated into a resource book that participants can use throughout their teaching careers.

Preparing Your Non-Academic Resume: An Interactive Workshop
When: Wednesday, July 1, 2015 | 12:00-2:00pm
Featured Speakers: Colin White, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, White Consulting, LLC
Anthony Collmann, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, White Consulting, LLC
Workshop Description: This in-depth workshop takes our audience through a series of interactive exercises that leaves each individual with a clear understanding of what is necessary to strongly position your non-academic resume, as well as various techniques to both appreciate and showcase your transferable skills. Members of the audience work together in small groups to complete a variety of exercises ranging from how to write a strong professional summary through formatting and submission of the final document. The aim of this workshop is to provide our audience with an appreciation of how to develop and tailor a strong non-academic resume that will overcome challenges frequently associated with having a lack of corporate experience. Please come prepared to take part in all the exercises, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Career Discussion Hour
When: Tuesday, June 30, 2015 | 3:00-4:00pm
Join us to learn about a career in venture capital management......
Featured Speaker: Stacie Weninger, PhD, Executive Director, Fidelity Biosciences Research Initiative
Speaker Bio: Stacie Weninger is the Executive Director of the Fidelity Biosciences Research Initiative. Prior to this position, she was the Senior Director of Science Programs for the Fidelity Foundations. In 2005, Dr. Weninger served as the Project Manager and Senior Analyst for the Task Force on Women in Science at Harvard University. From 2001-2005, Dr. Weninger was a Senior Scientist at Cell Press for the journal Neuron. Before joining Cell Press, Dr. Weninger was a postdoctoral research fellow at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School with Dr. Bruce Yankner. She was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute predoctoral fellow in the Program in Neuroscience at Harvard University. While a graduate student and postdoctoral research fellow, Dr. Weninger was actively involved in undergraduate teaching, winning six teaching awards. Dr. Weninger received a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard University, and a B.S. degree in chemistry with highest honors from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Rugen Therapeutics, Inc., and a member of the Board of Directors for Aratome LLC, Inscopix Inc., and Annexon Inc.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, June 26, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

The Academic Job Search Series: Academic Teaching Careers
When: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 | 2:00-4:00pm
Faculty Panelists:
Rich Gurney, PhD, Associate Professor of Chemistry & Physics, Simmons College
Vanja Klepac-Ceraj, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College
Celeste Peterson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Genetics, Suffolk University
Workshop Description: Come hear from our faculty panelists as they discuss:
- Identifying opportunities to build your teaching credentials.
- What to include in the cover letter, CV, and teaching statement.
- How to manage the job search, application, and interview process.

Professional Correspondence for Scientists: Making the 'Write' Impression
When: Friday, June 19, 2015 | 12:00-1:30pm
Course Instructor: Kathy L. Brenner, Senior Lecturer, Boston University/CELOP & Writing Consultant, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Workshop Description: Scientists are not usually trained to efficiently and effectively communicate with colleagues and potential employers. However, research as well as your career can not progress without gaining familiarity with the best practices in professional correspondence for scientists. Join us as Kathy Brenner describes proper email etiquette along with crafting cover letters for manuscript submissions and job applications.

Postdoc Coffee House
When: Thursday, June 18, 2015 | 9:30-11:00am
Where: Postdoc Office, Gordon Hall, Room 006
Stop by the Postdoc Office on the third Thursday of every month to enjoy fresh coffee and donuts and to learn more about the opportunities available for postdocs.

The Individual Development Plan: Maximizing Your Postdoc Training at HMS
When: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 | 1:00-2:30pm
Featured Speaker: James Gould, PhD, Director, HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows
Workshop Description: The postdoc pursuit of independent investigation relies on getting the most out of their training. This seminar lays out tools and strategies for choosing the right research environment to thrive as a postdoc as well as planning, and executing, a successful postdoc tenure. This workshop will cover what you need know, and do, to efficiently advance in your early research career via an effective use of your individual development plan (IDP).

 

Getting Started Orientation for J1 International Visitors
When: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 | 12:30-3:00pm*A pizza lunch will be provided.
Registration: Only for HMS quad-based postdocs. Contact your department administrator to register.
Session will be held by: Zarrin Foster and Colleen Griffin from the Harvard International Office
Sample Topics Include: Harvard Resources; Transportation; Banking; Safety

The Postdoc Life Cycle: Negotiating a Job Offer 
When: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 | 12:00-2:00pm
Featured Speaker: Heather Duffy, PhD, Creative Innovation Consulting
Workshop Description: Have you ever wondered why some new faculty get the biggest space, the most resources and many other perks? Are you trying to figure out how you can get what you need to survive? The answer is in having excellent negotiation skills. As scientists we generally prefer to get our work done and not worry about acquiring more money, space or resources. On the other hand, when the time comes to get a job, a new office, more lab space or any other type of support we know that we need to ask for them, but how? In today's tough market how do we ask for what we need to be successful? If we ask for too little we won't have enough to do our work but if we ask for too much we may limit our opportunities. This presentation will review the psychology of asking and go through techniques that successful negotiators utilize when the stakes are high. In addition tips on how to bargain for your start up package and how to make sure you get the resources that you need. will be covered. Finally a step by step primer to getting ready to negotiate will be reviewed with check lists to make sure you don't forget a thing!
Learning Objectives: Understanding the psychology of negotiation, Setting up a negotiation strategy that fits your personality, Developing your negotiation plan

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, June 12, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

 

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: PubMed: Effectively Searching Biomedical Literature (Afternoon)
When: Tuesday, June 9, 2015 | 1:00-3:00pm
Course Instructor: David Osterbur, PhD, Director of Public & Access Services, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: This tutorial concentrates on advanced aspects of searching biomedical literature and learning how to refine your search to get the most precision, or how to do a broad but comprehensive search to find as much as possible on your topic; using PubMed, the National Library of Medicine interface to MEDLINE. Topics covered include search field qualification and selection; MeSH database, Journals database; saving searches with Cubby; creating alerts with BioMail.

 

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: PubMed: Effectively Searching Biomedical Literature (Morning)
When: Tuesday, June 9, 2015 | 10:00am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: David Osterbur, PhD, Director of Public & Access Services, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: This tutorial concentrates on advanced aspects of searching biomedical literature and learning how to refine your search to get the most precision, or how to do a broad but comprehensive search to find as much as possible on your topic; using PubMed, the National Library of Medicine interface to MEDLINE. Topics covered include search field qualification and selection; MeSH database, Journals database; saving searches with Cubby; creating alerts with BioMail.


Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Navigating and Using NCBI BLAST & Gene Expression Omnibus (Afternoon)
When: Thursday, June 4, 2015 | 1:00-3:00pm
Course Instructor: David Osterbur, PhD, Director of Public & Access Services, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: Learn how to use BLAST as an experimental tool. We will cover the use of filters as BLAST tools and contrast them with the use of PHI-BLAST. We will learn about substitution matrices and how the PSSM relates to PSI-BLAST. We will discuss how to avoid doing a BLAST search and still obtain the relevant information and Blast Variations for structure/function search  The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) is a public repository that archives and freely distributes microarray, next-generation sequencing, and other forms of high-throughput functional genomic data. Learn how to navigate the GEO interface to retrieve data to inform your experiments.  This workshop will acquaint attendees with NCBI blast tool for comparing nucleotide or protein sequences to sequence databases and calculates the statistical significance of matches. Attendees will also learn how to query and download experiments that are MIAME-compliant.

 

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Navigating and Using NCBI BLAST & Gene Expression Omnibus (Morning)
When: Thursday, June 4, 2015 | 10:00am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: David Osterbur, PhD, Director of Public & Access Services, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: Learn how to use BLAST as an experimental tool. We will cover the use of filters as BLAST tools and contrast them with the use of PHI-BLAST. We will learn about substitution matrices and how the PSSM relates to PSI-BLAST. We will discuss how to avoid doing a BLAST search and still obtain the relevant information and Blast Variations for structure/function search  The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) is a public repository that archives and freely distributes microarray, next-generation sequencing, and other forms of high-throughput functional genomic data. Learn how to navigate the GEO interface to retrieve data to inform your experiments.  This workshop will acquaint attendees with NCBI blast tool for comparing nucleotide or protein sequences to sequence databases and calculates the statistical significance of matches. Attendees will also learn how to query and download experiments that are MIAME-compliant.

New Postdoc Orientation
When: Tuesday, June 2, 2015 | 12:30-4:00pm
The HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows organizes orientations every 6 weeks for new postdocs. Upon arrival at HMS/HSDM, all new postdocs will be pre-registered for orientation - you will receive an email confirmation from Eventbrite. The Postdoc orientation is an important opportunity for new postdocs to obtain the necessary resources they need for living and working in and around the HMS/HSDM community. Postdocs learn about the administrative systems at HMS/HSDM and Harvard, research offices and policies, and receive a broad overview and explanation of the many benefits of working at Harvard.

Career Discussion Hour: Scientific Editing/Publishing

When: Monday, June 1, 2015 | 2:00-3:00pm
Join us to learn about a career as a scientific editor/publisher...
Featured Speaker: Sudhakaran Prabakaran, PhD, Associate Editor, Science Signaling, AAAS

How to Publish in High Impact Journals: Tips & Tricks from a Science Editor
When: Monday, June 1, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Sudhakaran Prabakaran, PhD, Associate Editor, Science Signaling, AAAS
Workshop Description: Learning the art of getting your results published is as important as doing the science itself. It is vital to always think like a reviewer, both when you are designing your experiments and writing your manuscripts. This talk will discuss the history and scope of the Science family of journals, describe the review process and, more importantly, give practical tips for getting your results published in a high impact journals, including Science and its family of journals.

 

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, May 29, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

 

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Genome analysis using UCSC & Ensembl browsers (Afternoon)
When: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 | 2:00-4:00pm
Course Instructor: Paul Bain, PhD, Reference & Education Librarian, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: Students will learn how to quickly locate gene information, genomic features, regulatory information and variation data in both browsers as well as how to download sequence and track information using the UCSC and Ensembl genome browsers. The following topics will be covered with hands-on tutorial. A) Find and explore genes and navigate genomic regions.  B) Find and display annotations and data tracks.  C) Export data from the browser.  D) Mine and retrieve data in bulk with the UCSC Table Browser and Ensembl’s BioMart. 

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Genome analysis using UCSC & Ensembl browsers (Morning)
When: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 | 10:00am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: Paul Bain, PhD, Reference & Education Librarian, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: Students will learn how to quickly locate gene information, genomic features, regulatory information and variation data in both browsers as well as how to download sequence and track information using the UCSC and Ensembl genome browsers. The following topics will be covered with hands-on tutorial. A) Find and explore genes and navigate genomic regions.  B) Find and display annotations and data tracks.  C) Export data from the browser.  D) Mine and retrieve data in bulk with the UCSC Table Browser and Ensembl’s BioMart. 

Postdoc Coffee House
When: Thursday, May 21, 2015 | 9:30-11:00am
Stop by the Postdoc Office on the third Thursday of every month to enjoy fresh coffee and donuts and to learn more about the opportunities available for postdocs.

Harvard Catalyst Medical Research Officer (MRO) Information Session
When: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 | 12:00-1:30pm
Workshop Description: Learn about the value MROs can bring to your research. Available at each of the four Harvard Catalyst Clinical Research Centers (BWH, BCH, MGH, BIDMC), an MRO assists basic science and clinical researchers with planning, implementing, and conducting both institutional and cross-institutional research. The MRO can also help identify clinical research collaborators, and assist with obtaining medical oversight for procedures that require an institutionally-credentialed provider. This session will include current investigators utilizing the MRO services, as well as, a portion of the time spent on career-related questions.

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: MetaCore "omics" analysis (Afternoon)
When: Monday, May 18, 2015 | 1:00-3:00pm
Course Instructor: David Osterbur, PhD, Director of Public & Access Services, Countway Library, HMSWorkshop Description: The ability to generate massive amounts of data with "omics" analysis begs the need for a tool to analyze and prioritize the biological relevance of this information. GeneGo provides a solution for using "omics" gene lists to generate and prioritize hypotheses with MetaCore. This tutorial highlights how to work with different types of data (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and interaction data) beginning with how to upload gene lists and expression data (if available). Here we demonstrate data manager capabilities including how to upload, batch upload, store, share and check data properties and signal distribution. We then focus on how MetaCore uses your gene list to extract functional relevance by determining the most enriched processes across several ontologies. This entails a detailed lesson on how to prioritize your hypothesis using the statistically significance enrichment histograms and associate highly interactive GeneGo Maps and pre-built networks. We further emphasize the role of expression data in your analysis and the ability to visually predict experimental results, associated disease and possible drug targets. Lastly we highlight the benefits of using MetaCore workflows to compare data sets and work with experiment intersections.

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: MetaCore "omics" analysis (Morning)
When: Monday, May 18, 2015 | 10:00am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: David Osterbur, PhD, Director of Public & Access Services, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description:The ability to generate massive amounts of data with "omics" analysis begs the need for a tool to analyze and prioritize the biological relevance of this information. GeneGo provides a solution for using "omics" gene lists to generate and prioritize hypotheses with MetaCore. This tutorial highlights how to work with different types of data (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and interaction data) beginning with how to upload gene lists and expression data (if available). Here we demonstrate data manager capabilities including how to upload, batch upload, store, share and check data properties and signal distribution. We then focus on how MetaCore uses your gene list to extract functional relevance by determining the most enriched processes across several ontologies. This entails a detailed lesson on how to prioritize your hypothesis using the statistically significance enrichment histograms and associate highly interactive GeneGo Maps and pre-built networks. We further emphasize the role of expression data in your analysis and the ability to visually predict experimental results, associated disease and possible drug targets. Lastly we highlight the benefits of using MetaCore workflows to compare data sets and work with experiment intersections.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, May 15, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Cultural Aspects of Writing
When: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 | 12:00-1:30pm
Course Instructor: Kathy L. Brenner, Senior Lecturer, Boston University/CELOP & Writing Consultant, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Workshop Description:Writing is cultural - so come join a workshop that will focus on the contrastive rhetoric that will provide explanations for why you write the way you do when dealing with a new language, a new culture, and new expectations. Targeting a specific discourse community (postdoctoral fellows) and a particular writing genre (journal publication), we will look at common writing problems for non-native speakers of English. Aspects such as strength of claim and lexical nuance will be discussed in more depth. Using a PLOS ONE research article, we will touch upon the writing processes of content, context, and form, looking more closely at how language and structure are used to produce selected components from the introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. NOTE: Though this workshop is designed for non-native speakers of English, it is relevant to everyone and all are welcome to attend.

 

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Introduction to ChIP-Seq and data analysis using Galaxy (Afternoon)
When: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 | 1:00-4:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: This three hour workshop is focused on analysis of ChIP-seq data using Galaxy. It is aimed at researchers who are using, or planning to use ChIP-Seq methods as part of their research. The course will focus on hands-on training in using standard data analysis methods including loading data into galaxy, Quality control and manipulation, Bowtie mapping, Peak Calling using MACS, Annotation and functional enrichment of peaks.

 

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Introduction to ChIP-Seq and data analysis using Galaxy (Morning)
When: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 | 9:00am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: This three hour workshop is focused on analysis of ChIP-seq data using Galaxy. It is aimed at researchers who are using, or planning to use ChIP-Seq methods as part of their research. The course will focus on hands-on training in using standard data analysis methods including loading data into galaxy, Quality control and manipulation, Bowtie mapping, Peak Calling using MACS, Annotation and functional enrichment of peaks.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, May 1, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: mRNA-Seq analysis using JMP Genomics software (Afternoon)
When: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 | 1:00-4:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: Next-Generation sequencing is quickly becoming the platform of choice for genomic analysis. JMP Genomics has incorporated a number of functions for working with mRNA-seq data. This workshop will focus aligning reads to reference sequences and generating sequence read counts. Also learn how to import mRNA-seq data, Filter, Normalize and ANOVA analysis using JMP genomics software. This workshop will acquaint attendees with common steps when working with mRNA-seq data on the Orchestra cluster and JMP Genomics software.

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: mRNA-Seq analysis using JMP Genomics software (Morning)
When: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 | 9:00am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: Next-Generation sequencing is quickly becoming the platform of choice for genomic analysis. JMP Genomics has incorporated a number of functions for working with mRNA-seq data. This workshop will focus aligning reads to reference sequences and generating sequence read counts. Also learn how to import mRNA-seq data, Filter, Normalize and ANOVA analysis using JMP genomics software. This workshop will acquaint attendees with common steps when working with mRNA-seq data on the Orchestra cluster and JMP Genomics software.

Postdoc Wine and Cheese Social
When: Thursday, April 23, 2015 | 6:00-9:00pm
Workshop Description: This event is hosted and organized by the Harvard Medical Postdoc Association.
This is the perfect opportunity to meet new people and to enjoy good food and a good moment together. Please bring a bottle of wine, a piece of cheese or something that goes well with it (e.g. grapes, nuts …) And it would be great if you can organize yourself with your fellow postdocs so that we have a nice variety of products and enough to enjoy the night! We will provide softs and bread.

Career Discussion Hour
When: Thursday, April 23, 2015 | 3:00-4:00pm
Where: Ware Room, Countway Library
Join us to learn about a career in Program Management & Training Affairs..
Featured Speaker: Lu-Ann Pozzi, PhD, Fellows’ Program Manager, Office of Fellowship Training, BCH

Consulting Career Paths in Life Sciences
When: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | 6:00-8:00pm
Featured Consultants from:
CLEARVIEW HCP, CMC CONSULTING, L.E.K. CONSULTING, PUTNAM ASSOCIATES, SIMON-KUCHER & PARTNERS
Workshop Description: This event is co-hosted by the Harvard Medical Postdoc Association and the Harvard Graduate Consulting Club.
The panel focuses on career opportunities in the healthcare and life science consulting industries. The panel discussion will be followed by a networking reception.

Imaging Solutions for Scientific Communication: Figures for Journals

When: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Beth Beighlie, Digital Imaging Coordinator, Information Technology, HMS
Workshop Description: Efficiency & reliability: easily prepare figures for scientific journals with familiar tools & a foolproof workflow that eliminates any chance of rejection for guideline violations. RIS skills training is based on the unique ways that researchers use proprietary scientific applications, Microsoft Office and a variety graphics programs to create, acquire and edit images that are included in grant applications, journal articles and presentations to the scientific community.

 

HMS Postdoc Forum
When: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 | 5:15-6:15pm
Featured Speaker:
Larry Tartaglia, PhD, Research Fellow in Medicine, BIDMC
"A multidimensional approach to an HIV vaccine.”
Workshop Description: This event is hosted and organized by the Harvard Medical Postdoc Association.
The HMS Postdoc Forum is a postdoc-driven event series to promote interdisciplinary scienitific discussion. Come for a chance to hear about some cool research, discuss science over pizza and beer, and meet other postdocs from around Longwood. Postdocs will have the opportunity to: engage in stimulating interdisciplinary scientific discussions; initiate new collaborations; and network with their colleagues across different departments.

New Postdoc Orientation
When: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 | 12:30-4:00pm
The HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows organizes orientations every 6 weeks for new postdocs. Upon arrival at HMS/HSDM, all new postdocs will be pre-registered for orientation - you will receive an email confirmation from Eventbrite. The Postdoc orientation is an important opportunity for new postdocs to obtain the necessary resources they need for living and working in and around the HMS/HSDM community. Postdocs learn about the administrative systems at HMS/HSDM and Harvard, research offices and policies, and receive a broad overview and explanation of the many benefits of working at Harvard.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, April 17, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Science in Singapore Info Session
When: Friday, April 17, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speakers:
Tara Huber, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Assistant Director, Research Admin, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR
Swaine Chen, MD, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR
Workshop Description:
In this information session, participants will learn about graduate, postdoc, and faculty opportunities at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS). They will also be introduced to the other 17 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia and centers of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Participants will hear from GIS senior scientists about the research landscape as well as the decision making process of starting their careers in Singapore.

The Individual Development Plan with Cynthia Fuhrmann: Strategically Navigate Your Scientific Career
When: Thursday, April 16, 2015 | 12:00-1:30pm
Featured Speaker: Cynthia Fuhrmann, PhD, Assistant Dean of Career & Professional Development, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Workshop Description: Navigating toward your future can be daunting.  Regardless of the career path(s) you are pursuing, today’s scientist faces a competitive job market that rewards productivity in the lab, stellar communication skills, a strong professional network, and professional confidence.  Creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP) is one way to help you strategically work toward these goals, advocate for yourself, and take advantage of lucky opportunities that might come along.  This workshop is designed to prepare scientists for creating their IDP, with practical strategies for evaluating career options, setting achievable goals, engaging mentors, and adapting to change as your plan progresses.   Taught by myIDP co-author Cynthia Fuhrmann, this interactive workshop will propel you toward the next step along your career trajectory.

Postdoc Coffee House
When: Thursday, April 16, 2015 | 9:30-11:00am
Stop by the Postdoc Office on the third Thursday of every month to enjoy fresh coffee and donuts and to learn more about the opportunities available for postdocs.

Social Intelligence for Scientists: Getting and Keeping Ahead by Understanding Others
When: Monday, April 13, 2015 | 2:00-4:00pm
Featured Speaker: Sabrina Woods, Associate Director Career Services, Northeastern University and Holistic Career Coach & Linkedin Trainer
Workshop Description:The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a powerful personality assessment tool to help individuals enhance social intelligence in work and in life. Through this tool individuals can gain self-awareness including a better understanding of their unique strengths and potential areas of growth, as well as how personality differences can impact the way we work. In this highly engaging and eye-opening workshop you will: Learn what your Myers-Briggs type is and what that means for you especially related to your work, Gain heightened awareness of your own work style and preferred ways of working with others, Increase understanding about how you prefer to receive information and make decisions, Recognize normal personality differences and develop flexibility during workplace interactions to work more effectively with coworkers and supervisors., Understand how personality type impacts communication, collaboration and conflict, Learn how to get your own work-related needs met by adapting your style to different situations and circumstances. During the session you will confirm your preferences to determine your 4-letter MBTI type and learn more about the tool through exercises and case studies.

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Standard NGS data processing and workflow analysis (Afternoon)
When: Monday, April 13, 2015 | 1:00-4:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: The Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies have the potential to dramatically accelerate biomedical research by enabling comprehensive analysis of genomes and transcriptomes to become inexpensive, routine, and widespread tools. This workshop will focus on methods for base-calling and variant-calling, for aligning reads to reference sequences (e.g. genomes), and for de novo assembly of short reads into longer sequences. The following tools will be covered on Orchestra (HMS shared research cluster); quality reports of FASTQ files, trimming and filtering of reads, alignment and coverage objects such as SAM/BAM files using bowtie/bwa, calling SNPs with Samtools, and De novo Assembly using Velvet. This workshop will acquaint attendees with common steps when working with NGS data on a high throughput environment

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Standard NGS data processing and workflow analysis (Morning)
When: Monday, April 13, 2015 | 9:00am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: The Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies have the potential to dramatically accelerate biomedical research by enabling comprehensive analysis of genomes and transcriptomes to become inexpensive, routine, and widespread tools. This workshop will focus on methods for base-calling and variant-calling, for aligning reads to reference sequences (e.g. genomes), and for de novo assembly of short reads into longer sequences. The following tools will be covered on Orchestra (HMS shared research cluster); quality reports of FASTQ files, trimming and filtering of reads, alignment and coverage objects such as SAM/BAM files using bowtie/bwa, calling SNPs with Samtools, and De novo Assembly using Velvet. This workshop will acquaint attendees with common steps when working with NGS data on a high throughput environment

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Microarray data analysis using R/Bioconductor (Afternoon)
When: Friday, April 10, 2015 | 1:00-4:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: This workshop is a general introduction to microarrays and how to carry out stepwise analysis to generate statistically significant differentially expressed genes using Affymetrix and Illumina microarray technology platforms. Following an introduction, the workshop starts with the installation of R and Bioconductor packages. Different ways of analyzing data for Affymetrix and Illumina technology will be covered. For Affymetrix data analysis, R coding skills are not required since all the analysis will be performed using OneChannelGUI (R/Bioconductor package), a graphical interface, designed for life scientists who are not familiar with R language. Simple R code will be introduced for Illumina data analysis. At the conclusion of the workshop attendees will be able to carry out the following: Quality control, Normalization, Statistical analysis and Differential expression of microarray data.

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Microarray data analysis using R/Bioconductor (Morning)
When: Friday, April 10, 2015 | 9:00am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: This workshop is a general introduction to microarrays and how to carry out stepwise analysis to generate statistically significant differentially expressed genes using Affymetrix and Illumina microarray technology platforms. Following an introduction, the workshop starts with the installation of R and Bioconductor packages. Different ways of analyzing data for Affymetrix and Illumina technology will be covered. For Affymetrix data analysis, R coding skills are not required since all the analysis will be performed using OneChannelGUI (R/Bioconductor package), a graphical interface, designed for life scientists who are not familiar with R language. Simple R code will be introduced for Illumina data analysis. At the conclusion of the workshop attendees will be able to carry out the following: Quality control, Normalization, Statistical analysis and Differential expression of microarray data.

 

How to Find a Job in Tough Times: Secrets of a Successful Job Search
When: Tuesday, April 7, 2015 | 10:00am-2:30pm
Featured Speaker: Sarah Cardozo Duncan, Career Strategist
Workshop Description: Through a series of exercises and discussion, attendees will move through the creation of a value proposition, learn how to communicate their career story and understand how to develop a marketing plan. Additionally, there will be an introduction on how to develop networks and a deeper look at the process of an informational interview. Attendees will also acquire networking skills and gain an understanding of how to approach the market to obtain their next position. Utilizing the techniques of active discussion, role playing, critique of personal materials and practice sessions, participants will have a set of personally-tailored tools to ensure success. These tools are immediately useful in the career development process and can be utilized today and in the future- wherever participants happen to be in their career. 

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, April 3, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Where: Postdoc Office, Gordon Hall, Room 006
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Solutions for Scientific Communication: The Scientific Poster Process
When: Thursday, April 2, 2015 | 1:00-2:30pm
Featured Speakers:
Beth Beighlie, Digital Imaging Coordinator, Information Technology, HMS
Jim Gould, PhD, Director, Office for Postdoctoral Fellows, HMS
Workshop Description: This workshop will cover the poster making process from conception to presentation and beyond. Join us to learn more about: - Best practices and common pitfalls of poster design and execution. - How to manage the poster process from layout to presentation. - Tips, tricks, and advice on effectively communicating your research.

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Introduction to Unix (Afternoon)
When: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 | 2:30-4:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: This workshop an introduction to UNIX and covers the basic concepts of the UNIX operating system. Attendees will be exposed to hands-on experience and by the end of the course one should be able to confidently use the command line interface on either a local or remote Unix system. They should be able also be to navigate around the Unix file system from the command line and use a number of basic Unix commands.

Applied Bioinformatics for Postdocs: Introduction to Unix (Morning)
When: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 | 10:30am-12:00pm
Course Instructor: Reddy Gali, PhD, Bioinformatics Educator, CBMI, Catalyst, Countway Library, HMS
Workshop Description: This workshop an introduction to UNIX and covers the basic concepts of the UNIX operating system. Attendees will be exposed to hands-on experience and by the end of the course one should be able to confidently use the command line interface on either a local or remote Unix system. They should be able also be to navigate around the Unix file system from the command line and use a number of basic Unix commands.

Career Discussion Hour
When: Monday, March 30, 2015 | 3:00-4:00pm
Where: Goldenson 122
Join us to learn about a career in biotech research...
Featured Speaker: Nicolas Preitner, PhD, Senior Scientist, New Venture Labs at Moderna Therapeutics
Speaker Bio:Nicolas Preitner is currently Senior Scientist at Moderna Therapeutics (Cambridge, MA), a biotech company pioneering the use of mRNA as a drug. At Moderna, Nicolas is part of the New Venture Labs, a division of the company exploring future applications for mRNA therapeutics. Before joining Moderna in July 2014, Nicolas Preitner was a postdoc in the laboratory of John Flanagan at Harvard Medical School, where he worked on RNA-based mechanisms in nervous system development. He completed his PhD at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where he studied the molecular neurobiology of circadian behaviors. 

Beyond the Bench: Careers on the Business Side of BioPharma
When: Thursday, March 26, 2015 | 3:30-5:00pm
Featured Speakers: Carlos Loya, PhD in Neuroscience, Engagement Manager, Campbell Alliance
Nitasha Manchanda, PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Independent Consultant - Commercial Strategy for Biopharma and Start-ups
Shaila Rahman, PhD in Virology, Associate, Flagship Ventures
Workshop Description: Do you love science, but wish to contribute to the scientific enterprise outside of the lab? Consider the many exciting possibilities on the business side of the biopharma industry. Learn from biomedical science PhDs about how you might take your science beyond the bench into consulting, venture capital, and more!

The Postdoc Life Cycle: Exit Strategies that Won’t Kill Your Career
When: Thursday, March 26, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Melissa Brodrick, Ombudsperson, Ombuds Office for HMS/HSDM/HSPH
Workshop Description: Don’t get along with your boss in a big way? Know that your lab or clinic wasn’t the best fit for you? This workshop will help you consider best practices for transitioning as gracefully as possible out of a difficult work situation. Topics for discussion include how to maintain a cordial and productive relationship with your mentor while seeking letters of recommendation and help with networking, how to protect your authorship on a not-yet-submitted manuscript and how to leverage the support of other allies in your efforts to move on when you don’t have your mentor’s support.

Postdoc Leadership Workshop: Leadership and Management Skills Training for Postdocs
When: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 | 8:00am-5:30pm
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Leadership skills are essential for today's challenging scientific environment. Our goal is to support scientists in acquiring and developing these skills to productively deal with challenges related to interpersonal aspects of doing science. This workshop addresses relevant topics to develop and sharpen your competence portfolio. Topics Include: • Developing key communication skills, • Initiating and maintaining collaborations and dealing with group dynamics, • Effective self organization: setting goals and priorities,

Data Management in the Digital Age: Exploring Electronic Laboratory Notebook Solutions
When: Monday, March 23, 2015 | 2:00-3:30pm
Featured Speakers:
Mason Miranda,IT Manager for Research, HMS IT Client Services Group
John Bachman, Graduate Student, HMS Systems Biology
Jessica Polka, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, HMS Systems Biololgy
Kristina Holton, HMS IT Research Computing
Workshop Description: In this presentation on Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs), we will introduce students, postdocs, PIs and others to how ELNs can help in management and sharing of laboratory data.  Developers, users and other experts on ELNs will present three different systems, spanning from a free wiki-based platform to an enterprise commercial platform. Along the way, we will discuss the pros and cons of each system.  The workshop will provide an opportunity to learn why ELNs in general might be the future of lab records, learn about specific benefits and potential drawbacks of a few systems, and make a better-informed choice about ELNs for your own lab or as a PI in the future.  To help interested researchers or labs test and implement ELNs, following the workshop, HMS IT will offer support to a small group of researchers for pilot tests of one or more of the platforms presented and discussed.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, March 20, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

PhDs at Google: Google[x] and Beyond
When: Thursday, March 19, 2015 | 4:00-5:00pm
Workshop Description: Join Mauricio Carneiro, PhD 2010 OEB, of Google[x], for an overview of cutting edge projects currently being pursued by Google's "moonshot" division. Presenters will also discuss Google's research philosophy and the work being done by PhDs across all areas of Google.

Postdoc Coffee House
When: Thursday, March 19, 2015 | 9:30-11:00am
Where: Postdoc Office, Gordon Hall, Room 006
Stop by the Postdoc Office on the third Thursday of every month to enjoy fresh coffee and donuts and to learn more about the opportunities available for postdocs.

The Postdoc Life Cycle: Negotiation and Teamwork Skills for Academic Science
When: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Heather Duffy, PhD, Creative Innovation Consulting
Workshop Description: Have you ever wondered why some new faculty get the biggest space, the most resources and many other perks? Are you trying to figure out how you can get what you need to survive? The answer is in having excellent negotiation skills. As scientists we generally prefer to get our work done and not worry about acquiring more money, space or resources. On the other hand, when the time comes to get a job, a new office, more lab space or any other type of support we know that we need to ask for them, but how? In today's tough market how do we ask for what we need to be successful? If we ask for too little we won't have enough to do our work but if we ask for too much we may limit our opportunities. This presentation will review the psychology of asking and go through techniques that successful negotiators utilize when the stakes are high. In addition tips on how to bargain for your start up package and how to make sure you get the resources that you need. will be covered. Finally a step by step primer to getting ready to negotiate will be reviewed with check lists to make sure you don't forget a thing! Learning Objectives: Understanding the psychology of negotiation, Setting up a negotiation strategy that fits your personality, Developing your negotiation plan

Pathways to Entrepreneurship: Sangeeta Bhatia, MD, PhD
When: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 | 5:00-7:00pm
Featured Speaker:Sangeeta Bhatia, MD, PhD, John J. and Dorothy Wilson Professor of Health Sciences and Technology & Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT
Director, Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies, Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Workshop Description: Exciting opportunities bridge academia and entrepreneurship; hear alumni discuss their individual journeys from training to careers in industry. Speakers will offer unique perspectives on how a solid educational and research foundation can act as a springboard to making global impact in the public sector. 

The Science of Communication with Peter Fiske
When: Monday, March 16, 2015 | 2:00-4:00pm
Featured Speaker: Peter Fiske, PhD
Workshop Description: In this workshop, participants will examine real-world situations and develop effective communication techniques. Topics include:
-Learning to interpret communication from the listener’s perspective.
-Understanding why people respond well to some forms of communication and negatively to other forms.
-Knowing how to “sell” your science and becoming an advocate for your abilities and your work.
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The Individual Development Plan: Maximizing Your Postdoc Training at HMS
When: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | 1:00-2:30pm
Featured Speaker: James Gould, PhD, Director, HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows
Workshop Description: The postdoc pursuit of independent investigation relies on getting the most out of their training. This seminar lays out tools and strategies for choosing the right research environment to thrive as a postdoc as well as planning, and executing, a successful postdoc tenure. This workshop will cover what you need know, and do, to efficiently advance in your early research career via an effective use of your individual development plan (IDP).

New Postdoc Orientation
When: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 | 12:30-4:00pm
The HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows organizes orientations every 6 weeks for new postdocs. The Postdoc orientation is an important opportunity for new postdocs to obtain the necessary resources they need for living and working in and around the HMS/HSDM community. Postdocs learn about the administrative systems at HMS/HSDM and Harvard, research offices and policies, and receive a broad overview and explanation of the many benefits of working at Harvard.

Professional Development for Life Scientists: Making the Most of Your Postdoc
When: Monday, March 9, 2015 | 3:00-4:30pm
Featured Speaker: James Gould, PhD, Director, HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows
Workshop Description: The postdoc pursuit of independent investigation relies on getting the most out of their training. This seminar lays out tools and strategies for choosing the right research environment to thrive as a postdoc as well as planning, and executing, a successful postdoc tenure. Designed for current and future postdocs, the session will cover what you need know, and do, to efficiently advance in your early research career.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, March 6, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Elements of Teaching: How to Begin Preparing for a Post-Secondary Teaching Career in STEM
NEW DATE: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 | 12:00-11:30am
Featured Speaker: Jennifer Herman, PhD, Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching, Simmons College
Workshop Description: In this interactive workshop, participants will: -Reflect on previous teaching experiences and discuss career goals., -Analyze knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to secure a faculty position., -Identify areas for growth and create action plan to address gaps., -Learn about a variety of professional development opportunities to help them meet their teaching career preparation goals

Postdoc Movie Night
When: Thursday, February 26, 2015 | 6:00pm
Featured Film: ~"The Theory of Everything"~

2015 Harvard Benefits: An Information Session for Faculty and Postdocs
When: Thursday, February 26, 2015 | 4:00-5:00pm
Featured Speakers:
Deborah A. Hawkes, Associate Director for Faculty and Staff Services from the Harvard Human Resources-Benefits Office
Lisa Hoppie, Senior Benefits Consultant from the Harvard Human Resources-Benefits Office
Workshop Description:In response to requests for additional information regarding the recent benefits changes we are holding an informational session for faculty and postdocs on Thursday, February 26, from 4-5pm in the Armenise Amphitheater.

The Postdoc Life Cycle: Negotiating Your Way to Nirvana
When: Thursday, February 26, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Melissa Brodrick, Ombudsperson, Ombuds Office for HMS/HSDM/HSPH
Workshop Description: Effective negotiation skills will help you to both land the job offer you covet and to be successful once you arrive. This workshop will give you a chance to consider what you bring to informal and formal negotiations that may help or hinder you. We’ll discuss negotiation styles, elements of principled negotiations and how to prepare for a successful job negotiation.

The Scientist's Conundrum: CV, Resume or Something In-Between?
When: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 | 3:30-5:00pm
Featured Speaker: Laura Stark, PhD, Director of Career Advising & Programming for Master's and PhD Students, Office for Career Services, Harvard University
Workshop Description: Every scientist needs a CV, whether you are planning to pursue a post-doctoral research position, a faculty position, or a position outside academia. Using sample documents that helped scientists land positions in academia and beyond, we will discuss how to optimize the presentation of your relevant skills and experiences in an aesthetically pleasing style that is most appropriate for different types of PhD-level positions.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, February 20, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Postdoc Coffee House
When: Thursday, February 19, 2015 | 9:30-11:00am
Where: Postdoc Office, Gordon Hall, Room 006
Stop by the Postdoc Office on the third Thursday of every month to enjoy fresh coffee and donuts and to learn more about the opportunities available for postdocs.

The Postdoc Life Cycle: Challenges of Scientific Work/Life Balance
NEW DATE: Wednesday, Febraury 18, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Heather Duffy, PhD, Creative Innovation Consulting
Workshop Description: Feeling overwhelmed? Ever wonder how successful scientists manage everything on their plates? Many work/life seminars discuss the importance of having balance between your professional and personal life, very few give tips on how to actually achieve this. If you are having a hard time getting your work done and still spending quality time away from work this seminar will give you practical ways to change your habits to accomplish both. From a discussion of what makes the balance so difficult to steps that successful scientists take to stay sane, this seminar will walk you through things you can do every day to become more efficient at work and at home. Learning Objectives: Self assessment tools to understand how you really want to spend your time, Identifying how and why you get distracted and how to avoid it, Identifying what you do that is a waste of your time and how to get someone else to do it for you, Why organizing time at home is as important as organizing your time at work

Career Discussion Hour
When: Thursday, February 12, 2015 | 3:00-4:00pm
Where: Minot Room, Countway Library
Join us to learn about a career in core facility management...
Featured Speakers: Jennifer Waters, PhD, Director, Nikon Imaging Center, HMS; Talley Lambert, PhD, Advanced Microscopy Postdoctoral Fellow, Nikon Imaging Center, HMSJennifer Waters' Bio: Jennifer Waters received her B.S. in Biology from SUNY Albany in 1992 and her Ph.D. in Biology from UNC Chapel Hill in 1998. She taught courses in light microscopy and directed a core facility at Wake Forest University before beginning at Harvard Medical School in 2001. Dr. Waters was on the faculty of the Analytical and Quantitative Light Microscopy course at the Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, MA) from 2003 to 2010 and is a founding instructor in the Quantitative Imaging: From Cells to Molecules course at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (Cold Spring Harbor, NY) which started in 2011.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, February 6, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Where: Postdoc Office, Gordon Hall, Room 006
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/). Please email your materials to james_gould@hms.harvard.edu ahead of your scheduled meeting.
Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. Appointment times are every thirty minutes: 12:00pm; 12:30pm; 1:00pm; 1:30pm; 2:00pm; 2:30pm.

New Postdoc Orientation
NEW DATE: Thursday, February 5, 2015 | 12:40-4:00pm
The HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows organizes orientations every 6 weeks for new postdocs. The Postdoc orientation is an important opportunity for new postdocs to obtain the necessary resources they need for living and working in and around the HMS/HSDM community. Postdocs learn about the administrative systems at HMS/HSDM and Harvard, research offices and policies, and receive a broad overview and explanation of the many benefits of working at Harvard.

Effective Manuscript Writing for Postdocs: Introduction and Impact
When: Monday, February 2, 2015 | 11:00am-12:30pm
Featured Speaker: Leslie Ann Roldan, PhD, Lecturer II and Executive Director, Cell Decision Process Center, MIT
Course Objective: At the conclusion of the workshop series, participants will have a deeper understanding of the processes involved in composing a research paper. Participants may bring examples of their own work (single figure or 250 words of text).
Course Methods:  Instruction will consist of three 1.5-hr sessions. Sessions include lectures and hands-on activities that cover aspects of the scientific research article:
Session 1 - Illustrations and Results: designing illustrations and labeling samples; composing a legend vs. Results paragraph
Session 2 - Discussion: brainstorming ideas regarding impact and limitations; organizing overall and paragraph (opening, closing, body) structure
Session 3 - Introduction and Abstract: building Introduction from end (focus, justification) to opening sentence; determining relevance of information (Introduction vs. Discussion; concision of Abstract)

Conversation Tables for Non-native English Speakers
When: Thursday, January 29, 2015 | 11:00am-1:00pm
Presented by the Harvard Bridge Program
Workshop Description: Join us for this relaxed and social activity, designed to help non-native English speakers strengthen the way they speak about their research! Following a luncheon, small groups of postdocs will speak about their work for 3-5 minutes and then receive feedback from a native English speaker, as well as fellow postdocs.

Effective Manuscript Writing for Postdocs: Discussion and Impact
When: Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | 11:00am-12:30pm
Featured Speaker: Leslie Ann Roldan, PhD, Lecturer II and Executive Director, Cell Decision Process Center, MIT
Course Objective: At the conclusion of the workshop series, participants will have a deeper understanding of the processes involved in composing a research paper. Participants may bring examples of their own work (single figure or 250 words of text).
Course Methods: Instruction will consist of three 1.5-hr sessions. Sessions include lectures and hands-on activities that cover aspects of the scientific research article:
Session 1 - Illustrations and Results: designing illustrations and labeling samples; composing a legend vs. Results paragraph
Session 2 - Discussion: brainstorming ideas regarding impact and limitations; organizing overall and paragraph (opening, closing, body) structure
Session 3 - Introduction and Abstract: building Introduction from end (focus, justification) to opening sentence; determining relevance of information (Introduction vs. Discussion; concision of Abstract)

The Postdoc Life Cycle: Conflict Resolution Skills for the Successful Mentee
When: Monday, January 26, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Melissa Brodrick, Ombudsperson, Ombuds Office for HMS/HSDM/HSPH
Workshop Description: Want a mentor who will help you to succeed?  This highly interactive and relevant workshop is designed to provide you with practical skills in working effectively with your mentors.  By considering proactive and preventive steps that build supportive and collaborative relationships and strategies for dealing with conflicts that can arise, you will engage in exercises and case study discussions that will provide opportunities to strengthen the skills needed for your most important career relationships.

Postdoc Office Hours
When: Friday, January 23, 2015 | 12:00-3:00pm (30 min. appts.)
Make an appointment with the Director of the Postdoc Office for a 30 minute session of career coaching, networking & job search advice, interview assistance, or critique of your application materials. Postdoc Office Hours will be held every other Friday. It is helpful to visit myIDP on Science Careers website (http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/).

Leveraging the Harvard innovation lab as a Medical or Scientific Entrepreneur
When: Thursday, January 22, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Alice Ly, PhD, Assistant Director, Health and Sciences, Harvard Innovation Lab
Workshop Description: Please join us and learn how you can leverage the Harvard innovation lab to explore entrepreneurship, to evaluate your venture ideas and its potential. Alice Ly, Ph.D., i-lab’s Assistant Director for Health and Sciences, will highlight early steps to take and what the i-lab offers in terms of expert access, skill-based workshops, upcoming programs and provide examples of how the ilab can support the development and growth of innovative ideas and ventures. Additionally, she will provide information how to apply to the President’s and Deans’ Challenges (combined prize pool of $390,000) and the i-lab’s Venture Incubation Program.
Speaker Bio: Alice Ly, Ph.D. oversees Health and Sciences entrepreneurship at the Harvard innovation lab.  In additional to advising i-lab ventures, Alice manages programming, expert resources, cross-university collaborations and the Deans’ Health and Life Sciences Challenge. Prior to the i-lab, Alice served as the Associate Director for Postdoctoral Affairs at Yale University. She completed her Ph.D. in Developmental Neurobiology at Yale University and her B.S. in Biological Sciences at University of California, Irvine.

Effective Manuscript Writing for Postdocs: Illustrations & Results
When: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 | 11:00am-12:30pm
Featured Speaker: Leslie Ann Roldan, PhD, Lecturer II and Executive Director, Cell Decision Process Center, MIT
Course Objective: At the conclusion of the workshop series, participants will have a deeper understanding of the processes involved in composing a research paper. Participants may bring examples of their own work (single figure or 250 words of text).
Course Methods: Instruction will consist of three 1.5-hr sessions. Sessions include lectures and hands-on activities that cover aspects of the scientific research article:
Session 1 - Illustrations and Results: designing illustrations and labeling samples; composing a legend vs. Results paragraph
Session 2 - Discussion: brainstorming ideas regarding impact and limitations; organizing overall and paragraph (opening, closing, body) structure
Session 3 - Introduction and Abstract: building Introduction from end (focus, justification) to opening sentence; determining relevance of information (Introduction vs. Discussion; concision of Abstract)

Career Discussion Hour
When: Thursday, January 20, 2015 | 3:00-4:00pm
Join us to learn about a career in academic advising and professional development programming...
Featured Speaker: Laura Stark, PhD, Director, Career Advising and Programming for Master’s and PhD Students
Speaker Bio: Laura holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Yale University and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania, studying developmental neural mechanisms of learning and memory in sea slugs and zebra finches. Apart from her scientific accomplishments, her experiences as a graduate student (some happy, many miserable) prepared her well to counsel graduate students and Ph.D.s through the challenges of graduate study and into careers, both within and outside academia. In addition to career counseling, Laura coordinates the GSAS team’s extensive line-up of career workshops, special programs, and work groups for graduate students. For professional development, Laura enjoys free-lance writing and presenting workshops at professional meetings on career issues for PhDs. She also runs a small birthday party and face painting business, inspired by her two young boys, Alex and Ben.

Experimental Design for Postdocs
When: Friday, January 16, 2015 | 10:00am-2:00pm
Featured Speaker: David Glass, MD, Executive Director, Muscle Diseases, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research and Lecturer, Department of Cell Biology, HMS
Workshop Description: Before generating publication quality data, researchers must focus on proper experimental design. In this half-day course, postdocs will be reintroduced to the concepts of asking when, how, and whether hypotheses or questions should be used to frame experiments, and how these frameworks may perturb experimental design and interpretation. Based on elements from Glass' book and Cell Biology Course entitled "Experimental Design for Biologists".
This half-day course will cover the following topics:
I. Experimental Frameworks
II. System Validation
III. Experimental Controls
IV. Data Gathering, Interpretation & Model Building

Take Control of Your Career
When: Thursday, January 15, 2015 | 3:00-5:00pm
Featured Speaker: Laura Stark, PhD, Director of Career Advising and Programming for Master’s and PhD Students, Office of Career Services, Harvard University
Workshop Description: Sometimes, climbing the academic ladder feels like you’re climbing into the clouds. You know what’s up there, but you can’t really see it. Do you know you want to keep climbing this ladder? What are your other options? How can you even get started? Come learn how to take on some of these big career questions. In this workshop, engage in interactive career self-assessment exercises to better understand your skills, interests, and values. Then, we will discuss a variety of careers of interest to biomedical science PhDs along with ways to explore them. Leave with a plan to discover, explore, and pursue career options based on your unique self-assessment…and maybe even identify your dream job!

Postdoc Coffee House
When: Thursday, January 15, 2015 | 9:30-11:00am
Stop by the Postdoc Office on the third Thursday of every month to enjoy fresh coffee and donuts and to learn more about the opportunities available for postdocs.
SPECIAL THIS MONTH: Network with people from the HSPH Bioinformatics Group, HMS Research Computing, and Research Imaging Solutions and find out more about resources available to postdocs.

The Postdoc Life Cycle: What to Expect as a Postdoc
When: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 | 12:00-1:00pm
Featured Speaker: Heather Duffy, PhD, Creative Innovation Consulting
Workshop Description: As a postdoc things can look pretty overwhelming! Everyone else seems so busy and sure of themselves. You know you have a lot to do but how do you get started? This presentation lets you know what to expect during the first months to a year of your postdoc and then how to get the most out of your postdoc so you are a strong job candidate.  We will discuss efficient work flow and work life balance so that you get all your work done without going crazy! Finally this seminar will give you the Professor's view of what a successful postdoc looks like to us and how we know who will succeed and who is less likely to move on in science. The types of questions answered will include everything from "What if I hate my lab choice" to "How do I deal with different lab personalities" to insure success in your post doc experience and how to move on smoothly to a faculty or other successful position.
Learning Objectives - Setting a postdoc career plan, Identifying the right mentoring style for you, How to pick career mentors, What job committees look for in a postdoc