this WEEK in HST

MEMP PHD THESIS DEFENSE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements will be updated regularly. 

Time-resolved High-pressure Freezing with Ligand Stimulation to Capture Nanoscale Cellular Dynamics
Ami Thakrar
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 2:30pm
For more information on Ami's thesis defense, please see the full announcement on the HST website. 

Engineering Mini Livers to Grow on Demand: A Synthetic Biology Approach to Cell Therapy Scale Up
Amy Stoddard
Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 11:00am
For more information on Amy's thesis defense, please see the full announcement on the HST website. 

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - HELP PLAN THE IMES RETREAT!

This year, IMES is kicking off an annual scientific retreat to showcase the incredible work being done across the institute and to foster community among IMES.

WHEN: September 2025

WHERE: TBD

In order to make this event as valuable as possible for the IMES student community, we need your input! 

• What types of professional & scientific events would be valuable for you?
• What is the best format for you to show off your research to the greater IMES community?
• What kinds of social events would be the most enjoyable way to meet & network with the broader IMES community?
• Anything else you'd like to see at the retreat?

If you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for the upcoming retreat, or would like to get involved in the planning process, we would love to hear from you! 

Please reach out to jallbrit [at] mit.edu (jallbrit[at]mit[dot]edu) and eboblitt [at] broadinstitute.org (eboblitt[at]broadinstitute[dot]org) to get involved.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: HST MD STUDENT EMILY RENCSOK FEATURED IN HMS NEWS

This article was written by Mike Campbell and originally published by HMS News on April 24, 2025: 

Determined To Improve Quality of Life, Patient by Patient and Systemwide 

Graduating MD/PhD student Emily Rencsok journeys through bioengineering, epidemiology, rehabilitation

When Emily Rencsok was a teenager, she saw the transformative effect a double knee replacement had on her grandmother.

“It was night and day,” Rencsok remembered. “She was having trouble walking and was in a lot of pain, and within a couple days, she was up and walking around.”

The daughter of a preschool special-education teacher and an electric motor repairman, Rencsok didn’t know anyone in science or medicine — but her grandmother’s experience got her interested in bioengineering.

“I wanted to design devices so people could walk better or do tissue engineering so people could have better cartilage repair,” she said.

She started down a path that eventually led to the MD/PhD program in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST). Thanks to the influence of mentors and chance experiences, Rencsok found a home in epidemiology, earning her PhD from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2023. When she graduates with her MD in May, she’ll head into physical medicine and rehabilitation training.

She hopes to combine direct patient care with her expertise in public health, statistics, and the social factors that influence disease to build public trust and form a more equitable and accessible health system.

Read the full article on HMS News here to learn more about Emily's clinical education journey, her time at HST, and her post-graduation plans. 

MIT GLOBAL SUPPORT RESOURCES: REGISTERING YOUR TRAVEL

Per the current travel risk policy, you are required to register your MIT-related travel data with the MIT Travel Registry. By registering, the Institute is better able to locate and contact you if you are traveling in an area where health, safety, or security are threatened.

Who should register?

All MIT students, faculty, staff, and affiliates are required to register travel through the MIT Travel Registry if your travel is MIT-related.

MIT-related travel includes travel that:

• Is funded entirely or in part by MIT sources.
• Is organized primarily by MIT (e.g., MIT selects the participants).
• Is conducted at the behest of MIT or in furtherance of MIT objectives.
• Is related to scholarly activities (whether paid for by MIT or not).
• Requires the use of MIT equipment, supplies, or personnel.

In addition to registering, non-MIT students and non-MIT travelers participating in trips led or organized by MIT must also sign a liability release form (for non-MIT travelers). Those forms should be returned to the MIT program or class organizing the trip.

Although not required, the MIT community is also encouraged to register personal travel for increased safety measures.

The MIT Travel Registry is also available through the MIT Atlas App. 

For more information, visit the MIT Global Support Resources website.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD - HST!

Are you traveling for any of the following reasons?

• Conference/workshop
• Giving a talk
• Visiting your alma mater

Can you help promote HST by talking to prospective students?

Contact Laurie Ward (laurie [at] mit.edu (l)aurie [at] mit.edu (aurie[at]mit[dot]edu)) for talking points and promotional materials to distribute.
A link to an HST Programs Slide to include in your presentations can be found here.

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL LIFE SCIENCE COURSE OPPORTUNITIES INFORMATIONAL SESSION

Prof. Satish Tadikonda is a Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit at Harvard Business school. He will be teaching two life science courses this fall: Entrepreneurship in Life Sciences (Course #1777) and Life Sciences Venture Creation (Course #6756). 

Join us for this info session to learn more about these offered courses!

Wednesday, May 14 from 5:30-6:30pm in TMEC 448

RSVP HERE

We look forward to seeing you there! 

MIT BOOTCAMPS ON INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

MIT Bootcamps are immersive educational experiences focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. They are collaborating with the NIH/NIDA to put on a program focused on substance use disorder (SUD), called SUD Ventures.

There is an opportunity for students, and others, to be participants of the program. Additionally, there are a number of webinars coming up regarding this topic.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact MIT Bootcamps director Hanna Adeyema at hadeyema [at] mit.edu (hadeyema[at]mit[dot]edu) to discuss potential collaborations.

MIT COMMUNITY WELLNESS CLASSES AND RESOURCES

MIT Health Community Wellness serves all members of the MIT community, regardless of insurance coverage.

Our programs and resources give you the health and wellness tools you need to thrive at MIT.

This year, the MIT community is adapting to new ways of taking care of ourselves and others. If you’d like to connect with your community, stay active, sleep better, relieve stress, and more, Community Wellness at MIT Medical can help you find wellness programs that fit your needs.

View all Community Wellness classes here.

MIT WRITING AND COMMUNICATION CENTER (WCC)

The Writing and Communication Center offers free one-on-one professional advice from communication specialists with advanced degrees and publishing experience. The WCC can help you further develop your oral communication skills and learn about all types of academic and professional writing.

WCC Individual Consultations
During these consultations, you can work on your written or oral projects with WCC instructors who can guide you at all stages of your communication process.

WCC has prepared a series of workshops on style, literature review writing, and other topics. You can register for our offerings through this link.

For more information on WCC programs, check the WCC website.

UPCOMING EVENTS FROM THE TEACHING + LEARNING LAB (TLL)

Our Mission
The Teaching + Learning Lab (TLL) partners with MIT educators, staff, and administrators to create a reflective educational environment where students are academically challenged, actively engaged, and personally supported.

Find information on upcoming TLL programs, speakers, workshops, etc. here.

Upcoming Grad Teaching Tracks
Grad Teaching Development Tracks are sets of short, interactive workshops intended for graduate students interested in improving their teaching skills while teaching at MIT or applying for faculty positions in the future.

Find more information on the Teaching Tracks here.

For any questions about programs and resources available to graduate students through the TLL, contact Ben Hansberry, Assistant Director for Graduate Student Teaching (bhansber [at] mit.edu (bhansber[at]mit[dot]edu))

Subscribe here to the TLL Newsletter.

HARVARD CATALYST COURSES AND EVENTS

Harvard Catalyst works with Harvard University’s schools and affiliate academic healthcare centers to build and grow an environment focused on team science – where discoveries are rapidly and efficiently translated to improve human health. We catalyze research across all clinical and translational domains by providing investigators with opportunities such as pilot funding, free resources such as biostatistics consultations, training and mentoring programs, and numerous courses. To facilitate communication, collaboration, and data collection, our informatics team develops a range of open-source tools available to the community within Harvard University and beyond.

Information on courses and training through Harvard Catalyst can be found here.
A calendar of Harvard Catalyst events can be found here.
Subscribe to the Harvard Catalyst Newsletter here.

HARVARD INNOVATION LABS CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Information about the Harvard i-lab and it's upcoming events and activities can be found here.

HARVARD-MIT CENTER FOR REGULATORY SCIENCE - REGULATORY SCIENCE FORUM

Please join the Harvard-MIT Center for Regulatory Science for the next Regulatory Science Forum: 

When Quality Matters Most: Digital Health Tools in an Age of Urgency

Tuesday, May 6 from 12-1pm on Zoom

Presented by: 
Jennifer Goldsack, MChem, MA, MBA, OLY
Founder and CEO of the Digital Medicine Society

Jennifer C. Goldsack is the founder and CEO of the Digital Medicine Society (DiME), a non-profit dedicated to advancing digital medicine to optimize human health. Her work focuses on practical approaches to the safe, effective, and equitable use of digital technologies to improve health, healthcare, and health research. 

Jennifer serves on the boards of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) and Sage Bionetworks. She is a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health, serves on the World Economic Forum's Digital Health Action Collaborative, and is an Executive Committee Member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS). 

RSVP HERE

We hope to see you there! 

MEDICAL PRODUCT PATENTS 101

Join HMCRS and Morrison & Foerster for a session on intellectual property considerations and their implications for medical products!

Join us for Medical Product Patents 101, a clear and engaging overview on different types of Intellectual Property (IP), the importance of proper IP ownership, and IP considerations for medical products including drugs and devices.

Thursday, May 8  from 12-1:30pm at the Warren Alpert Building 536 Conference Room, Harvard Medical School (200 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115)

Topics will include:

• Intellectual Property (IP) essentials
• Trade secrets vs. patents
• Patentability vs. Freedom to Operate
• Most common IP mistakes for startups
• What aspects of medical products can you patent?
• Patent vs. regulatory exclusivity
• Getting additional patent term for medical products – PTA and PTE

Perfect for newcomers or those seeking to refresh their knowledge of intellectual property - don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of this critical field!

Lunch will be provided!

RSVP HERE

If you have any logistical questions, you can email us at hits_regsci [at] hms.harvard.edu (hits_regsci[at]hms[dot]harvard[dot]edu) 

TEACHING + LEARNING LAB (TLL) MAY SPEAKER SERIES

Please join us for the final talk of the spring semester! 

Building a Better Learning Experience: Using Student Data to Enhance Active Learning for Neurodivergent Students

This talk will present findings from research about optimizing active learning to better serve neurodivergent STEM learners. Attendees will leave with concrete takeaways, including a general and a specific teaching tip that they can integrate into their courses to foster a more supportive learning environment for all students. Attendees will also receive additional resources to support future pedagogical decision-making.

Wednesday, May 14 at 2pm on Zoom

Presented by: Mariel Pfeifer, PhD., Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Mississippi

Mariel is dedicated to promoting access to STEM fields for students and faculty with disabilities. Mariel earned her Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Georgia, where she received both an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and an ARCS Foundation award. As a trained biology education researcher and cell biologist, she aims to leverage her expertise in research, teaching, and mentoring to help eliminate barriers in STEM education.

REGISTER HERE

All are welcome to attend! 

2025 SKIN INFLAMMATION IN HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE CONFERENCE

You are cordially invited to attend the 2025 Skin Inflammation in Human Health and Disease Conference, to be held Wednesday, June 25 to Friday, June 27 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. 

Speakers include national and international leaders in translational human skin disease research.  

We are currently accepting abstracts for a poster session and short oral presentations during the meeting (Deadline to submit is Friday, May 30). The course is approved for CME credit through Harvard Medical School.

We are pleased to offer free registration for medical and graduate students, residents, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, and faculty of the BWH and MGH Departments of Dermatology.

To register for free attendance, please email skininflammation [at] bwh.harvard.edu (skininflammation[at]bwh[dot]harvard[dot]edu) instead of using the registration link.

For attendance with CME, credit, please register through the official registration site here.  

For more information, please visit the link here. 

We hope to see you there! 

AEROSPACE MEDICINE ASSOCIATION (ASMA) POSTER SYMPOSIUM

We are excited to announce the inaugural 2025 Harvard/MIT Aerospace Medicine Association (AsMA) Poster Symposium!

Thursday, May 8 from 4-6pm at MIT (specific location TBD)

There will be opening and closing talks from leaders in the spaceflight biology field and opportunities for networking/mingling! 

Snacks, refreshment, and light dinner options will be provided. 

Please fill out the form here to submit an abstract for a poster presentation or to RSVP for attending without presenting.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS:

Abstracts will be accepted on a rolling basis until April 28, 11:59pm ET. 

Note: Abstracts will not be rejected unless grossly irrelevant to the symposium topic of space biology. This can be broadly interpreted as you wish - acceptable topics include but are not limited to: space medicine and physiology, plant biology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, spaceflight-analogs, behavioral health, etc.

Eligibility: Researchers in all career stages (undergrad, graduate, post-doc, faculty, etc.) are all eligible to submit an abstract and/or attend this symposium. We particularly welcome student researchers to submit an abstract. You do not have to be affiliated with Harvard or MIT to submit or to attend. Previous submission or presentation at another conference will not prevent you from presenting at our symposium.

Questions? Feel free to reach out to amsro-exec [at] mit.edu (amsro-exec[at]mit[dot]edu) for more information. We look forward to hearing about your research!

MIT CLUB OF BOSTON BIOSUMMIT 2025: AI IN HEALTHCARE AND BIOTECH

Please join us online for an engaging conference exploring the impact of AI in healthcare and biotech! 

Join industry leaders, innovators, and experts at the MITCOB BioSummit to discuss groundbreaking AI applications in pharma, biotech, and healthcare. 

Saturday, May 10 from 9am-1pm 

Program Agenda

Admission is free for MIT Students and Postdocs! 

RSVP HERE

If you have further questions, please contact us at %20biosummit-registration [at] mitcob.org (biosummit-registration[at]mitcob[dot]org). 

HSI LUNCH SEMINAR SERIES

New sessions of the HSI Lunch Seminar Series will be advertised here when available. 

AMGEN SPRING 2025 SEMINAR SERIES

Every academic semester, Amgen EOP invite students from universities across the Greater Boston area and beyond to attend seminars hosted by Amgen staff. These sessions provide insights into the biotech industry and potential career opportunities. This semester, our seminar topics will cover a range of areas, including drug discovery, combination products, digital technologies, and regulatory affairs.  

The program will run on Wednesdays from April 2 to May 7, and will feature two virtual back-to-back lectures from 3-5pm. 

The schedule for this semester is as follows: 

April 2: 
Life of a Drug (3-4pm)
Target Identification & Validation (4-5pm)

April 9: 
Drug Discovery at Amgen: A Multi-Modality Approach (3-4pm)
Process Development from Clinical to Approval (4-5pm)

April 16:
Process Characterization (3-4pm)
Combination Product Development (4-5pm)

April 23: 
Raw Material Selection and Control for Manufacturing Pharmaceuticals (3-4pm)
Product and Process Modeling (4-5pm)

April 30:
TBD (3-4pm)
The FDA Drug Approval Process - Role of Regulatory Affairs (4-5pm)

May 7: 
Careers in Biotech and Opportunities at Amgen (3-4pm)
Career Panel (4-5pm)

JOIN HERE

If you have further questions, please contact harvardbiotechclub [at] gmail.com (harvardbiotechclub[at]gmail[dot]com). 

AAPS NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

The AAPS National Biotechnology Conference (NBC) is a premier event that brings together biotech leaders, scientists, and innovators to explore cutting-edge research, industry trends, and business opportunities in biopharmaceutical science. 

The conference will take place from May 4-7, 2025 in the Boston Seaport District

To learn more about the program, the schedule of events, and the price of registration, please visit the NBC website here. 

HUMAN CELL ATLAS GENERAL MEETING 2025

The 2025 HCA General Meeting will include updates on the release of the first draft of the Human Cell Atlas, including atlas assembly for specific tissues. Plenary and working groups will discuss how to implement and integrate AI and spatial genomics technologies into single-cell atlases, advance equity and diversity, demonstrate the value of healthy atlases by addressing specific diseases, and expand the Human Cell Atlas beyond the first draft. 

Monday, June 9 - Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at SingHealth Academy, Singapore

This event features a number of distinguished speakers and researchers from around the globe, including the following members of the MIT and HMS communities: 

• Kristin Ardlie, Broad Institute at MIT
• Soumya Raychaudhuri, Broad Institute at MIT, Harvard Medical School, & Brigham & Women's Hospital
• Gary Reynolds Broad Institute at MIT & Massachusetts General Hospital
• Alexandra-Chloé Villani, Broad Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

For more information on registration, ticket prices, and the full program agenda, please visit the HCA website. 

Please contact meetings [at] humancellatlas.org (Subject: Questions%20about%20HCA%20Events) (meetings[at]humancellatlas[dot]org) if you have questions about this or other HCA meetings.

CSB SPRING SPEAKER SERIES

CSB Seminar Series is a student-organized, interdisciplinary seminar on computational and systems biology featuring student and postdoc speakers. The CSB Seminar Series is resuming this spring, featuring 6 seminar talks to take place through February to May.  

Please visit the CSB website to learn more about their events and to sign up for their email list. 

UPCOMING INSTITUTE COMMUNITY & EQUITY OFFICE (ICEO) EVENTS

A calendar of upcoming events is available here.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP BOSTON - EVENTS

The Medical Development Group Boston (MDG Boston) is a community of individuals professionally committed to the Medical Device and other Medical Technology Industry segments united by the belief that innovation and advances in technology lead to substantial improvements in health care.

MDG's Mission is to contribute to the continuing development of medical devices and other medical technologies by enhancing the professional development of its members, fostering and supporting entrepreneurial thinking, serving as a forum for exploration of new business opportunities, and promoting best practices in enterprise management.

MDG pursues this mission through the organization of educational programs and forums: the facilitation of cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration; the creation of venues for networking and information sharing for current and aspiring professionals, clinicians, and entrepreneurs; and the development of alliances with complementary organizations.

We would love for you to attend and spread the word in your community!

For more information on our upcoming events, visit our website.

BRAINMAP SEMINARS

Future topics will be similar to the previous Brainmap season, with some talks on Optogenetics, MR-PET, BOLD physiology, ultra-high field MRI, multimodal integration, contrast agents, and many more exciting topics! Unless otherwise noted, seminars (webinars) are held on Wednesdays at noon.

Find out about Brainmap here. Sign up here for our mailing list, in order to receive notices about our upcoming seminars.

NEIL AND ANNA RASMUSSEN FELLOWSHIPS - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics (CMIT), a joint initiative of the Department of Biological Engineering and the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, is accepting applications for two Neil and Anna Rasmussen Fellowships for academic year 2025-2026. Please see the description, eligibility requirements, and application materials listed below. 

All application materials should be submitted to Katya Moniz (kmoniz [at] mit.edu) no later than 5PM on May 8, 2025.

Neil and Anna Rasmussen Fellowship Award Details

Two 9-month fellowships for AY 2025-2026 (fall and spring terms) will be awarded, one to a graduate student in Biological Engineering (BE), and one to a graduate student in the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES).

Fellowships will be awarded to students who are conducting innovative, high-level microbiome research at MIT and who are deemed to have the greatest potential for impact on the field as future researchers, leaders, and advocates. Applicants will be evaluated for their research, academic performance, and strength as communicators.

Eligibility Requirements

• Only doctoral students are eligible to apply
• Applicants must be enrolled in BE or IMES, or be working primarily in the research group of a PI who is in either BE or IMES
• Students who have previously received a Neil and Anna Rasmussen Fellowship are not eligible to apply
• Preference will be given to students who have passed their qualifying exams
• Preference will be given to students whose research has relevance to human health
• Fellowships are open to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens

Fellowship requirements
Fellows will give a public talk at MIT, hosted by CMIT, about their work in the Fall semester of their award year. In addition, Fellows are expected to engage in the CMIT community by attending CMIT research meetings (not to exceed once per month) and/or occasional events.

Application Materials

Students should submit the following as a single pdf by 5PM on May 8, 2025:

• A brief personal statement (maximum one page) outlining their motivation/ interest in the microbiome, goals, and any other information they deem relevant to the application
• An up-to-date CV
• A research statement (maximum two pages) describing their project’s aims, approach, and potential for impact
• Their grade report (an unofficial report is acceptable)

In addition, the student’s research advisor should submit a letter of recommendation directly to Katya Moniz, by 5PM on May 8.

If you have any further questions, please contact Katya Moniz at kmoniz [at] mit.edu. 

GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL 2025 ACOUSTICS BBQ

This May, the GSC is hosting its annual Acoustic BBQ and we want you! 

On stage at the Stata amphitheater (outside Stata on the Hockfield Court side), bands will show off their skills under the summer sun. We’ll bring the food and host the venue, but we need YOU to sign up and show off those musical chops!

For those who just want to enjoy the experience and take in the tunes, we’re excited to see you there! Mark your calendars to make sure you don’t miss it!

Wednesday, May 14 from 5-8pm at the Stata amphitheater

For those who want to take the stage, both groups and solo acts are welcome! If you have a band, a group of friends ready to get up on stage, or even just latent musical talent that’s ready to impress, we want to see it! Please sign up using this form so we can set up the shindig. If you have the skills but not the equipment, that’s ok! We’ll be renting equipment, and you can indicate in the form what you would need.

Bands must be at least 50% MIT graduate students. Also, you do not need to be a formal band or experienced performer to participate. We’ll have compensation for all performers, as thanks for helping make a great event!

 If you have any questions, please let us know at gsc-ac-chairs [at] mit.edu (gsc-ac-chairs[at]mit[dot]edu)

We hope to see you on stage at the 2025 GSC Acoustic BBQ!

KAVANAUGH FELLOWSHIPS FOR POSTDOCS AND SENIOR PHD STUDENTS

The Kavanaugh Translational Fellowship Program (administered by DMSE) is recruiting a new cohort of Fellows.

This unique 1-year fellowship is designed to enable senior students and postdocs to take their exciting ideas in materials, manufacturing, devices, and systems toward commercialization. This program is supported by the generosity of Bart Kavanaugh and Betty Saks who are passionate about hard-tech entrepreneurship and materials innovation in the United States, and we seek applicants who share the same urgency and passion for hard-tech innovation.

This year, we seek to appoint up to 2 Kavanaugh Fellows.Eligible candidates must be postdocs or senior graduate students who have completed all degree requirements besides the dissertation, and whose graduation is within one year from the Fellowship start date.

The proposal should be limited to 2 pages not counting the cover page. Visit their website through the link above for templates and specific guidelines on what to include in the proposal. 

Note, that the Kavanaugh program seeks projects in advanced stages of research with clear commercial applications that would benefit from idea refinement and dedicated business plan development.

Applications are due on May 13, 2025

The finalists will be notified by May 20, 2025 and will be expected to present their plans to the selection committee in person on May 29, 2025.

The Fellowship can start as early as June 1, 2025.

All applications and questions must be submitted via email to dmsedh [at] mit.edu (dmsedh[at]mit[dot]edu) (CC chiggins [at] mit.edu (chiggins[at]mit[dot]edu)) and include the subject “LastName - Kavanaugh Translational Fellowship Application”. 

We look forward to receiving your best ideas in materials hard-tech innovation!

STEM OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY - STEM SCHOLARS @ RAGON

Passing along information about a new STEM tutoring and mentorship program at the Ragon Institute! The STEM Scholars program serves high school students in Cambridge, in collaboration with the Cambridge Housing Authority. Mentors will be paired individually with a student for weekly tutoring and mentorship sessions through the fall and early winter (October - late January). If you’re interested in learning more, please sign up at this link!

EXCITING MINDHANDHEART COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Mini Grants
Looking to spread some kindness at MIT? MindHandHeart's RAK Mini Grants are now open for applications! Whether it’s for your coworkers, lab group, or house, you can receive up to $250 for your small kindness project—any time of the year! Apply today, and let’s make our community a little brighter.

TOASTMASTERS CLUBS OF MIT

Do you know anyone looking to improve communication skills: speaking and listening? Visit a Toastmasters Club. The members of Toastmasters Clubs of MIT are happy to help students practice.

"Toastmasters is a fantastic way to improve your presentation skills! I personally learned a great deal from the MIT club and highly recommend it." -- Gwen Acton, MIT PhD

Clubs are currently meeting online and in person! 

The Original Toastmasters @ MIT, Friday at 12 noon to 1 PM, via Zoom

Tuesday Evening Toastmasters, 6:30 to 8:00 PM on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month

Humor & Drama Toastmasters, 1st Saturday of the month 10 AM to noon, via Zoom

GRADUATE COMMUNITY FELLOWS POSITIONS

Grad students, interested in improving graduate life & community at MIT while earning a partial stipend? Apply to become a Graduate Community Fellow!

When would I start? Start dates are flexible and based on the Fellow and the hiring organization. If you’re looking for a job starting this semester, over IAP, or next semester, these openings may be a great fit for you!

What would I do? Graduate Community Fellows work on projects and assignments that enhance the graduate community at MIT in targeted, impactful ways. Each Fellow reports to a staff member in the OGE or a partner organization. See specifics below.

What are the requirements? Must meet minimal eligibility requirements and agree to the terms of appointment. Appointment periods for Fellow positions vary. All positions serve 10 hours per week, and receive compensation of $700 per month.

International students with full-time RA/TA appointments should note that there are eligibility restrictions.

Available positions are listed at the current Fellow positions page.

How do I apply? Once you’ve reviewed position details, download the application to apply. Applications for all positions are reviewed on a rolling basis. We hope to hear from you!

Questions? Contact Jessica Landry, jlandry [at] mit.edu (jlandry[at]mit[dot]edu).

MITAC OPPORTUNITIES

Welcome! The MIT Activities Committee offers discounted tickets to the MIT community for local arts and culture, sporting events, and family activities.

Visit MITAC​ ~ Your Ticket to Fun for movies, museums, sports, theatre, music, family, seasonal & special events since 1984!

• Online Website: https://mitac.mit.edu/
• On campus: The MITAC Stata Center ticket office is open Tues-Fri 12-4pm.

Feel free to stop by and visit!  

We look forward to seeing everyone!

Members of the MIT community: subscribe here (at the bottom of the page) to our mailing list/newsletter to receive the latest updates delivered right to your inbox!

OFFICE OF GRADUATE EDUCATION - FELLOWSHIP WORKSHOPS & FINANCIAL LITERACY RESOURCES

Fellowship Newsletter
Our Fellowship Newsletter is a monthly/bimonthly occurrence that includes upcoming opportunities and events, tips on applying to fellowships, announcements, and generally an avenue for us to relay fellowship related information. 

Interested in receiving the newsletter? Please sign up for our mailing list by clicking here. Future Graduate Fellowship Bulletins will be sent right to your email inbox.

Some financial literacy resources:

OGE website’s Financial Wellbeing section: https://oge.mit.edu/finances-employment/financial-wellbeing/

OGE website’s fellowships section: https://oge.mit.edu/finances/fellowships/ including Fellowships Tips: https://oge.mit.edu/finances/fellowships/fellowship-tips/

Please reach out to the OGE at grad-ed [at] mit.edu (grad-ed[at]mit[dot]edu) with questions about our workshops or our financial literacy resources.

If there are further questions about fellowships, the OGE Fellowship section can be found here, especially the Fellowships Tips content here.  

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE NEWSLETTER

Read current and past issues of the ISO Newsletter here. For non-students, you can also subscribe to receive published copies by email.

MIT GRAD DIVERSITY & ICEO NEWSLETTERS

The Office of Graduate Education (OGE)’s GradDiversity seeks to support the success of underrepresented and under-served graduate students at MIT. This takes place through a series of programs designed to strengthen recruitment, enhance community, and ignite development in academic, leadership, and professional skills.

Together with the Institute Community and Equity Office and our faculty, students, and staff from across the Institute, we are committed to fostering a more inclusive and caring climate that intellectually engages and values all members of our MIT community.

Sign up for the GradDiversity Newsletter here.

Sign up for the ICEO Newsletter here.

MIT SPOUSES & PARTNERS CONNECT AND MIT LANGUAGE CONVERSATION EXCHANGE

We connect people across MIT for conversation, cultural exchange, and friendship.

MIT Spouses & Partners Connect - open to significant others of MIT students, postdocs, and staff

KERBEROS and ID CARDS for SPOUSES & PARTNERS
MIT students and employees may sponsor a guest Kerberos account for their spouse or partner to establish their digital identity in MIT's systems. Once registered, the spouse or partner may activate their digital MIT ID and obtain a physical card if needed. 

Get started at https://ist.mit.edu/id. Please read the instructions carefully as there are different processes for those who live in an MIT residence and for those who live off campus.

For more information about where you can use your MIT ID card, see this page.

EVENTS FOR NEWCOMERS
The best way to stay up to date on all of our events and activities is to subscribe to our email newsletter!

Private Consult with MS&PC Staff
Facilitated by Program Manager, Jennifer Recklet Tassi, this private appointment via Zoom or in-person is a time to ask questions, voice concerns, and reimagine your life here in Boston. We can spend the time talking about whatever is on your mind - from job search and career development to navigating a new city to figuring out how to make your experience in Boston productive and meaningful.

Appointments will be available at various times during the week.

Book a 30-minute private Zoom or in-person appointment here: https://mspc.youcanbook.me/

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How to find a conversation partner at MIT so you can practice a language you are learning or want to improve with a native speaker.

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BECOMING SCIENTIST FOUNDERS WORKSHOP SERIES AT MIT

Working alongside the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and other ecosystem partners, Christine Hsieh and David Lagares, both PhDs-turned-serial entrepreneurs and MIT alums, are building a cohort of entrepreneurial researchers to meet their unique needs alongside their demanding research responsibilities. 

The aim is to train researchers specifically in the mindset and skill set shifts necessary for a potential future transition to being a startup founder. A second aim is to develop a robust community of entrepreneurial researchers who lean into each other and participate in more researcher-entrepreneur programs being built at MIT and beyond.

The current planned program is as follows: 

1 half-day Workshop on Tuesday, May 13 from 10am - 2pm (with lunch) where students will learn the following takeaways: 

• The necessary researcher-entrepreneur identity; founder skills and mindset shifts
• Testing market paths while continuing R&D, science fit vs. market fit, intro to MIT GenAl Orbit tool and other resources
• Considering IP and licensing; Financially resourcing R&D along the path to market
• Relationship and network building to get from lab to market
• Personalized navigation plans, next steps, remote follow on workbook sessions

The half-day workshop will be followed by various ~1 hour remote summer sessions, including: 

• Group work on Mapping Relationships & Networks workbook (June)
• Group work on Resource Paths workbook (July/TBD)
• Market Contact + Orbit GenAl working session (early Aug/TBD)
• Microsoft for Startups by Researchers
• Beyond the Science: Persuading and Pitching Your Stories 

In early Fall, there will also be a check-in social, where we will reconvene as a group, share progress/status, ask questions and exchange help, and provide an update on more researcher-entrepreneurship programs!

The target audience currently includes any researchers interested in entrepreneurship regardless of technology commercial readiness. 

Spots are limited as we expect to provide personalized support for each researcher. 

Please register your interest as soon as you can with Christine at xtineh [at] mit.edu (xtineh[at]mit[dot]edu).

PHD AND POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS IN HOST-MICROBIOME RESEARCH - ZOMORRODI LAB AT MGH AND HMS

The Zomorrodi Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School is seeking highly motivated PhD and Postdoctoral candidates excited about studying host-microbiome interactions in chronic human diseases.

About us:
Our lab integrates innovative computational and experimental approaches to investigate the intricate interactions between the human host and microbiome, with a focus on metabolism and nutrition. We develop Genome-Scale Models (GEMs) of metabolism, build machine learning (ML) tools, and leverage 3D gut organoid models to understand the mechanisms by which microbiomes contribute to disease progression and therapeutic response. We also explore the applications of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and
Large Language Models (LLMs) in medicine and biomedicine. The overarching goal of our research is to advance precision medicine by uncovering mechanisms driving chronic disease pathogenesis and harnessing AI to streamline clinical decision-making and improve patient care.

For more information about our lab, please our website. 

Open positions:

PhD position in computational systems biology: A PhD candidate will focus on computational analysis of host-microbiome metabolic crosstalk in Celiac Disease (CeD) using genome-scale models. This role involves large-scale computational modeling of microbiomes and host intestinal epithelial and immune cells, multi-omics data integration, and downstream statistical and ML analysis for biomarker discovery.

Required qualifications: (i) Must be admitted to a relevant PhD program at Harvard or another Boston-area university (MIT, Boston University, etc.), (ii) Undergraduate or master’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Computational Biology, Computer/Data Science, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Chemical/Biomedical/Biological/Electrical Engineering) OR
strong programming skills with a solid background in computational analysis. 

Postdoctoral Position in experimental microbiome research: The postdoctoral researcher will investigate host-microbiome interactions in Celiac Disease (CeD) using patient-derived 3D gut organoid models and microbial isolates. This position involves: working with human cell lines, patient-derived tissues, and microbial cultures, investigating interactions between intestinal epithelial cells, immune cells, and gut microbes, and employing next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multi-omics approaches. The postdoc will collaborate closely with co-investigators on the project.

Required qualifications: (i) PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Cell Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, Bioengineering, Biochemistry) with a strong publication record, (ii) Experience with human cell culture, microbial culture, or next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques (preferred but not strictly required), (iii) Ability to quickly learn new experimental techniques, (iv) Strong verbal and written communication skills, (v) Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic research environment and a rapidly evolving field.

Application process: Interested candidates should contact Dr. Zomorrodi at azomorrodi [at] mgh.harvard.edu (azomorrodi[at]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu), providing a CV and a brief description of their interests. Use “PhD [or Postdoc, whichever is relevant] position in the Zomorrodi Lab” as the email subject. Applications are reviewed until the positions are filled. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Research environment:
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is a teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks among the top hospitals in the U.S. Our lab is based in Boston, Massachusetts, in close proximity to world-class institutions, including MIT, The Broad Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health. This dynamic research environment fosters strong collaborations, intellectual exchange, and access to cutting-edge technologies. 

The Zomorrodi Lab is committed to diversity and equality and encourages applications from underrepresented minorities.

RESEARCH POSITION OPENINGS - DUPONT LAB AT BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

We are seeking highly motivated researchers for the following projects:

Robotic Cardiac Catheters 

We are developing robotic catheters for heart valve repair and for treatment of arrythmias. Robotics offers the advantage of reducing the learning curve for complex beating-heart procedures and, ultimately, provides a platform for introducing automation. Important components of these projects can include: (1) user-based and autonomous control, (2) integration of therapeutic devices, and (3) testing in anatomical and animal models. Experience in robotics, control and prototyping is preferred.

Transcatheter Heart Valve Repair and Replacement Devices

Transcatheter procedures avoid the trauma and risks of open-heart surgery by delivering devices that are intended to replicate surgical repair and replacement. We are creating novel devices and tools for both valve repair and replacement. These projects require innovative design and creative problem-solving skills along with expertise in prototyping and experimental evaluation.

Cutting tools for Transcatheter Valve Modification

While current transcatheter valve interventions deploy devices that push, pull and approximate tissue to restore valve function, a complete surgical repair often involves cutting and removing valve tissue. As a first step toward providing this capability, this project involves developing catheter-delivered energy-based cutting tools for valve repair and replacement.

Qualified applicants should respond by email to Professor Pierre Dupont
(Pierre.Dupont [at] childrens.harvard.edu) with a description of their qualifications, academic background and availability.

More information on our lab can be found on our website. 

PURETECH HEALTH JOB OPPORTUNITY

PureTech Health is currently searching for candidates to fill an entrepreneurial role in our Innovation team.  This role will spearhead starting subsidiary companies from scratch, building them and spinning them out. 

The Director of Innovation & Venture Creation at PureTech Health is an entrepreneurial role that will spearhead starting subsidiary companies (“Founded Entities”) from scratch, building them and spinning them out. The role entails leading searches for and performing the subsequent diligence on opportunities that could be the basis of a new company.  The Director will also have an opportunity to gain hands on experience building and operating companies and will play a key role in subsequent third-party financing efforts as part of the spinout process.  The Director will work directly with senior executives who have a track record of creating and operating companies and will build a skill set commensurate with a C-level startup executive. There is a clear path for advancement for the role at PureTech. Alternatively, alumni who have held the position have gone on to be C-level executives at biotech companies, including at PureTech’s Founded Entities and partners at venture capital firms. This is a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial-minded individual to learn how to create and grow cutting edge companies from a blank sheet of paper.

The position will be a core member of the PureTech Innovation team and will interact with key internal and external stakeholders (e.g., C-level executives, Board members, etc.). This includes:

• Leading ideation and searching for next generation therapeutic approaches consistent with PureTech’ s innovation approach
• Identifying and evaluating external innovation opportunities, including interpreting scientific publications, synthesizing data and identifying key questions for diligence
• Surveying and analyzing scientific landscapes and emerging technologies around specific therapeutic areas
• Leading due diligence in collaboration with PureTech team members on a cross-functional basis
• Establishing relationships and interacting with key opinion leaders and leading academic scientists as part of the pipeline building process
• Having a hands-on role and helping to lead multiple facets of company building
• Playing a key role in obtaining outside capital
• Preparing compelling communication materials, including presentations, for key internal and external stakeholders

 QUALIFICATIONS:

• A PhD in a life science related discipline or MD is required from a top tier institution.
• Experience in management consulting at a manager level with a focus on life science companies
• Extremely driven and passionate about life sciences entrepreneurship
• Has scientific creativity and the ability to deploy out of the box thinking
• Embraces ambiguity and can systematically discern patterns in large fact sets
• A self-starter who embraces undertaking new tasks for the first time
• Has the ability to learn a new therapeutic and scientific area quickly
• Is a natural leader but is also willing to be a team player
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Applicants who are interested in this position can apply here. 

If you have further questions or would like more information, please contact Meegan Stephenson at meegan.stephenson [at] puretechhealth.com (meegan[dot]stephenson[at]puretechhealth[dot]com). 

ADI BIOELECTRONIC PLATFORMS RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

The Deep-Tech Architecture (DTA) group seeking a motivated, experienced Bioelectronic Platforms Research Intern to support our Innovation Center and Corporate Incubation Labs (Analog Garage) located at ADI’s Boston office. The Analog Garage mission is to empower ADI by pioneering breakthrough technologies. The DTA group is applying world-class circuit and device design, and nano-scale fabrication to develop long-term solutions to big societal problems. You will join the team which is leveraging proven and mature semiconductor technologies to solve challenging problems in biology and human health.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Conduct research in new areas of Biological Sciences relevant to Analog Devices technologies, identify pain-points, propose candidate solutions.
• Develop integrated circuit concepts, evaluate them with simulation and/or experiment.
• Present findings of your research and proposed solution to DTA leadership team.
• Support our test and lab staff with evaluation of new biochip devices developed by the team.

Qualifications

• Masters or PhD candidate in Electrical engineering.
• Mixed-signal IC design and simulation experience.
• Previous experience working with test and lab equipment for evaluation of IC devices.
• Strong hands-on technical skills, but also maintains a research orientation.

Preferred qualifications: Background in molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, or a related discipline with previous wet-lab experience would be considered an asset.

Students who are interested can apply here.

If you have further questions, please contact Zoran.Zvonar [at] analog.com (Zoran[dot]Zvonar[at]analog[dot]com).

ADI ADVANCED ALGORITHMS RESEARCH INTERNSHIP: HEALTH OF PLANET APPLICATIONS

We are looking for interns to work with us to create, implement and test advanced algorithms to convert bits into insights for our health of planet programs in the areas of clean molecules and electrification.  

What You’ll Do

• Innovate: Create novel algorithms specialized for applications relevant to Analog Devices.
• Develop: Develop software simulations and analyze the performance of algorithms.
• Analyze: Model and simulate systems, implement and verify algorithms on real data and hardware.
• Collaborate: Work alongside a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers.
• Communicate: Document and present your research.   

Qualifications: Candidates must be pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or a related field. Only candidates graduating in 2025 or 2026 will be considered, with the possibility of a return offer upon completion of the internship.  Candidates should have experience in one or more of the following areas: signal processing; machine learning and artificial intelligence; graph, network and distributed algorithms; circuit modeling and numerical simulation; power networks and DERMS; software engineering; optimization; and statistical modeling and simulation.   

Why Join Us?: Our systems power the world! ADI is a leader in the development of energy chips and  by working with us, you’ll have the ability to enable the adoption of green energy and electrification; and to deploy your work with wide reach into the energy ecosystem. You’ll be part of a dynamic work environment and a team that values diversity of thought and experience. 

Students who are interested can apply here. 

If you have further questions, please contact Zoran.Zvonar [at] analog.com (Zoran[dot]Zvonar[at]analog[dot]com).

ADI AUTONOMY & INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

Transform Autonomy with Innovative Algorithms and Hardware. We are looking for interns to work with us to develop, implement and test advanced methods in the autonomy and intelligence areas, with a focus on Robotics and Machine Design. 

What You’ll Do:

• Innovate: Create novel robotics algorithms specialized for applications relevant to Analog Devices
• Develop: Design robotic components (mechanical or electronic) using CAD tools
• Collaborate: Work alongside a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers to deploy robotics algorithms on hardware and collecting data from experiments
• Communicate: Document and present your research.

Qualifications: Candidates must be pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. Only candidates graduating in 2025 or 2026 will be considered, with the possibility of a return offer upon completion of the internship. Candidates should have a strong background in one or more of the following areas: mechanical engineering, robotics, machine design, computer vision, signal processing, communication systems, machine learning, algorithm development, or software development.

Why Join Us?: ADI is a leader in robotic sensing and edge computing. From IMUs to Time-of-Flight cameras, our sensors help robots see the world. Join us to bring intelligence at the edge and help bring forth the next generation of robots. You’ll be part of a dynamic work environment and a team that values diversity of thought and experience. 

Students who are interested can apply here. 

If you have further questions, please contact Zoran.Zvonar [at] analog.com (Zoran[dot]Zvonar[at]analog[dot]com).

ADI ROBOT LEARNING INTERNSHIP

The Dexterous AI Group (DAG) is looking for Robot Learning Engineer Intern to develop core AI technologies for Analog Devices’ future AI robotics with generality and dexterity, beyond the reach of traditional algorithms and system innovations. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Contribute the development of advanced learning algorithms for general and dexterous robot using the state-of-the-art techniques.
• Create sandbox simulations, deployable implementations, and evaluation frameworks for algorithm performance and robustness.
• Contribute to data requirements, data collection setup and procedure, and data curation.
• Stay abreast of the latest developments in machine learning and robotics from reputable groups. 

Qualifications: Must be currently pursuing a PhD degree in a relevant area. Must have a strong background in machine learning and robotics, and experience in: Planning and control algorithms (e.g., A*, MPC); Optimization techniques (e.g., linear/nonlinear optimization); Training deep learning models with PyTorch; Reinforcement Learning and Imitation Learning; Familiarity with mapping techniques using LiDAR/ToF, mono/stereo vision (e.g., 2D/3D occupancy grid mapping, structure from motion). 

Preferred: familiarity with foundation models and large language models; robotics toolkits (e.g., ROS/ROS2, Gazebo, Isaac); robotic systems and mechanical design. 

Students who are interested can apply here.

If you have further questions, please contact Zoran.Zvonar [at] analog.com (Zoran[dot]Zvonar[at]analog[dot]com).

ADI INNOVATION LAB - HEALTHCARE ALGORITHMS RESEARCH INTERN

The ADI Algorithmic Solutions Group is seeking highly motivated interns to advance healthcare solutions with state-of-the-art algorithms in a multidisciplinary environment. 

What You’ll Do: 

• Innovate: Create novel algorithms specialized for healthcare applications.
• Analyze: Develop software simulations and analyze the performance of algorithms.
• Experiment: Participate in the design and collection of novel biosensing datasets.
• Collaborate: Work alongside a multidisciplinary team of research scientists and engineers.
• Communicate: Document and present your research activities. 

Qualifications: Candidates should be pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Medical Engineering, Medical Physics, or related areas. Only candidates graduating in 2025 or 2026 will be considered, with the possibility of a return offer upon completion of the internship. Applicants should have a robust understanding of human physiology and expertise in one or more of the following areas: signal processing, machine learning, algorithm development, ASIC circuit design, FPGA prototyping, or software development. 

Why join Us? ADI leads in high-performance sensors integrated into healthcare and wellness products. By joining ADI, you’ll have the opportunity to work at the intersection of healthcare and technology, combine advanced hardware and sophisticated algorithms to bring intelligence to the edge, and create solutions that have a profound impact on human health. Enjoy a dynamic work environment, be part of a team that values diversity of thought and experience and take your career to the next level. 

Students who are interested can apply here.

RAND'S TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY POLICY CENTER

Interested in working on Technology and Security Policy?

Technology and Security Policy Fellowship

The RAND Technology and Security Policy Fellowship develops new generations of policy analysts and implementors at the intersection of technology and security issues. Fellows perform in-depth, independent research relating to one or more of the research areas of the Technology and Security Policy Center. Fellows receive mentorship from RAND policy experts for their independent research. Additionally, fellows may work on RAND client-sponsored research, up to an average of one day per week.

Candidates are welcome from all experience levels, from undergraduate students to mid-career professionals. Fellowship durations will typically start at one year with the possibility of up to two additional years. Fellowships can be full- or part-time. Fellows must be based in the United States or United Kingdom, working remotely or at one of RAND's U.S. or U.K. offices.

Current students and recent graduates are welcome to apply. Selection decisions are made on a rolling basis, with applicants being notified at least once per quarter.

To learn more about the TASP fellowship program email: TASP_fellowship_inquiries [at] rand.org (TASP_fellowship_inquiries[at]rand[dot]org) 

POSTDOC POSITION OPENING IN CAPASSO LAB - HARVARD SEAS

The Capasso group at Harvard SEAS has an opening for postdoctoral position related to biophotonics+metasurface/biosensing research. The postdoc will make contributions towards building a metalens optical system to image bacteria, including integration with small-pixel sensors, potentially an easy-to-use manual focus system, an integrated light source, and an image capture and transfer system.The candidate will join the group of Prof. Federico Capasso and collaborate with a team at the Harvard Medical School, led by Prof. Johan Paulsson, focused on bacterial detection identification (ID) and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), leveraging on this optical system, including interfacing with a microfluidic system.

In addition to the basic instrument, the postdoc will develop more advanced metalens imaging modalities for bacteria, with the purpose of making the AST not only faster and more robust, but also potentially achieving some basic level of species ID. This will include the development of a compact form of quantitative phase microscopy by encoding polarization-dependent optical functions onto a single metasurface to perform full-Stokes image polarimetry.

Proficiency in laboratory optics and photonics with particular emphasis on imaging systems such as microscopy is preferred. Previous experience in nanophotonics and clean room fabrication would be beneficial but is not strictly required. History of work in polarization and optical polarimetry desirable. Interviews are currently on-going for this position: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/14008

NIH HEAL PAIN COHORT PROGRAM: NOW RECRUITING POST-DOCTORAL TRAINEES

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is excited to announce the launch of a new post-doctoral training program called the HEAL Initiative Partnerships to Advance INterdisciplinary (PAIN) Training Program in Clinical Pain Research. The HEAL PAIN Cohort Program, via the T90/R90 mechanism, provides interdisciplinary training to postdoctoral scholars pursuing careers in pain and addiction research. By integrating a broad range of scientific disciplines and fostering a collaborative research environment, the program equips trainees with the skills needed to advance pain science, develop innovative treatments, and translate research findings into clinical practice. This program will emphasize mentorship, career development, and hands-on research experience. The program will help ensure postdoctoral trainees are well-prepared to contribute to the HEAL Initiative's mission of improving pain management.

The Positively Uniting Researchers of Pain to Opine, Synthesize, and Engage (PURPOSE) network will help facilitate a national cohort experience among the postdoctoral trainees at the funded T90/R90 centers, as well as organize an annual meeting that all trainees will be required to attend. Learn more and join the PURPOSE network at https://painresearchers.com/.

For more information and to apply, please reach out to the center(s) of interest directly below. If you are interested in multiple centers, you may email PainCohortPrograms [at] painresearchers.com (PainCohortPrograms[at]painresearchers[dot]com) and your information will be forwarded to all centers.

The University of Utah Program to Provide Pain Research Knowledge (UP3RK) mission is to impart the science knowledge, skills, and core competencies needed by post-graduate, interdisciplinary Scholars to address the nation’s scientific needs in clinical pain research. UP3RK trains Scholars through mentorship, interdisciplinary research skill development and concentrated training in our four focus areas (nonpharmacologic pain treatments, effective interventions for pain and substance use disorders; implementation science, research within vulnerable, diverse, and underserved populations). We train UP3RK Scholars within an innovative, multi-level mentor model to prepare clinical pain investigators for successful, independent, research careers.

Contact PI: Dr. Julie Fritz, julie.fritz [at] hsc.utah.edu (julie[dot]fritz[at]hsc[dot]utah[dot]edu)

The MGB IMPACT (Interdisciplinary Mentorship Program Advising Clinical Trainees) Program in Clinical Pain Research is based in Boston. The program offers training to postdoctoral fellows, with the long-term goal of expanding the number, diversity, and collaborative network of clinical pain researchers, advancing our understanding of pain and our ability to effectively manage pain without opioid medications. MGB IMPACT focuses on team science, providing interdisciplinary mentorship and training in clinical pain research by bringing together a diverse group of mentors from an array of backgrounds, including Psychology, Neurology, Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Women's Health, Epidemiology and others. MGB IMPACT operates collaboratively with other T90/R90 programs around the country to promote innovative solutions for pain management and improve patient care by providing high-quality training to future leaders in clinical pain research.

Contact PI: Dr. Robert Edwards, rredwards [at] partners.org (rredwards[at]partners[dot]org)

The Stanford PAIN cohort is dedicated to interdisciplinary research training in maternal and childhood pain and bioinformatics. We will train participants from across the national cohort in pediatric and maternal health and pain, equipping a new generation of clinical pain researchers to apply a lifespan lens to identify primary and secondary prevention strategies to address the pain epidemic. Core faculty research leaders will help match trainees to mentors within the Stanford PAIN cohort content areas of: (1) bioinformatics, (2) pain across the lifespan, specifically child and maternal pain, (3) nonpharmacological (behavioral) interventions for pain, (4) prevention of the transition from acute to chronic pain and (5) advancing health equity in the field of pain.

Contact PI: Dr. Laura Simons, lesimons [at] stanford.edu (lesimons[at]stanford[dot]edu)

The University of Michigan Pain T90/R90 program is looking for postdoctoral scholars interested in a career in pain science. We have a broad range of mentors that can help guide scholars in nearly any type of clinical or translational pain science. A focus of this program will be the career development of the scholars, who generally will be expected to write a NIH career development award (K award) during this postdoc.

Contact PI: Dr. Daniel Clauw, dclauw [at] med.umich.edu (dclauw[at]med[dot]umich[dot]edu)

The University of Florida Partnerships Across Interdisciplinary Networks: Training through Engineering, Epidemiology & Addiction Medicine or UF PAIN TEAM is located in Gainesville, North Central Florida. The program offers postdoctoral training to fellows interested in pursuing clinical pain research within collaborative interdisciplinary teams across the UF Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE). During the first year of the program, fellows will identify and partner with other fellow(s) in the program and along with mentors will develop a team science project extending their individual research projects. Our long-term goal is to increase the number of pain researchers able to perform complex team science research, advancing our understanding of pain and therapeutic options. Our mentors span interdisciplinary backgrounds including Neuroscience, Engineering, Psychology, Epidemiology, Addiction Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Anesthesiology, and others. The UF PAIN TEAM will also work collaboratively with other T90/R90 programs around the country to increase our future clinical pain workforce and their ability to work within large interdisciplinary teams.

Contact PI: Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, cryeni [at] ufl.edu (cryeni[at]ufl[dot]edu)

At Washington University in St. Louis we have developed a new postdoctoral training program: the Promoting Excellence through Pain and Addiction Research Enhancement (PREPARE) T90/R90 Training Program. A defining feature of the PREPARE Program will be an emphasis on social determinants of health (SDOH) as they relate to chronic pain and substance use disorders clinical research. SDOH define the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and the inequities in power, money, and resources that are often responsible for disparities in pain and substance use outcomes across the U.S. Our overall goal is to develop outstanding independent investigators capable of sustaining productive clinical research careers addressing the biopsychosocial (emphasis on social) mechanisms underlying chronic pain and substance use disorder development, and/or designing clinical interventions to relieve pain and ameliorate substance use.

Contact PI: Dr. Burel Goodin, burel [at] wustl.edu (burel[at]wustl[dot]edu)

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education offers an extensive range of clinical research training opportunities to prepare the next generation of clinician-scientists. Brief descriptions of the programs are provided below. As world’s largest biomedical research agency, the NIH encourages future clinician-scientists and medical researchers to consider adding an NIH experience to their portfolio.

Graduate Medical Education
NIH currently sponsor 17 medical specialty or subspecialty programs which have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). We also jointly sponsor clinical training programs with extramural training partners, to include Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, and the National Capital Consortium. In addition, we sponsor numerous "one of kind" translational medicine fellowship training programs. https://cc.nih.gov/training/gme/programs1.html

Clinical Elective Programs
Short term—4 to 12 week—clinically oriented elective rotations for senior medical and dental students; unique mentored specialty/subspecialty clinical research rotations are also available for combined program students (i.e., MD/PhD, DO/PhD). https://cc.nih.gov/training/students/clinical_electives.html

Postdoctoral Research Training Awards
Provides the opportunity for recent doctoral degree recipients to enhance their research skills in the resource-rich National Institutes of Health (NIH) environment, which consists of more than 1200 laboratories/research projects. https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/postdoc_irp

Graduate Partnerships Program
This program is designed to bring PhD graduate students to the NIH Intramural Research Program for dissertation research. https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/gpp

IIE EU - U.S.  EDUCATION COOPERATION FOR RESEARCHERS

For information on EU – U.S. cooperation in doctoral and postdoctoral education opportunities for U.S. researchers and organizations. Visit IIE online at www.iie.org. Please contact the programs directly for additional information or with any questions you may have.

A quote from a recent Fulbright U.S. student, "My advice to Fulbrighters of the future is that which was given to me. Go at it with an open mind; your experience will not be anything like you predicted and will mark you indelibly, but it will be great."

HBC INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE SPEAKER SERIES

The International Initiative of GSAS Harvard Biotech Club invites you to the next installment of this speaker series: 

Build Your Path: From Academia to Business and Management

Thursday, May 15 from 5:30-7pm in TMEC 227 or Online (Zoom)

Presented by: Susie Wang, PhD, Senior Director if the Eli Lily Accelerated R&D Leadership Development Program

Susie has crafted a dynamic career that bridges science and strategy as a scientist at Sonata Therapeutics to venture capital. In thus keynote, she will share her personal journey, lessons learned, and practical advice on leveraging an academic background to thrive in the business and management side of the biomedical and biotech sectors. 

RSVP HERE

Please join us for this special session to gain insights into a unique perspective on navigating career pivots and building a successful path beyond the lab. 

GSAS HARVARD BIOTECH CLUB CAREER 101 SERIES

Information on upcoming sessions of the Career 101 Series will be posted here when available. 

GRIFFIN GSAS HARVARD BIOTECH EVENTS

Interested in staying up to date and being the first to hear about our events?? 

Sign up to our mailing list here

Get more information on the club here at our website 

Follow us on social media!

Twitter: @thebiotechclub

Facebook: GSAS Harvard Biotech Club

CAPD FACULTY JOB SEARCH GUIDE

CAPD has launched the Faculty Job Search Guide! This completes our online PhD career support program (Kerberos login required), which brings together industry and academic job search resources and examples for easy access. The whole set of resources, the Faculty Job Search Guide, the PhD Career Document Library, and our PhD Resumes for Industry Jobs, is there whenever our students are ready. You can also find links on the CAPD PhD page.

MCKINSEY AND COMPANY RECRUITING NEWS

Starting in January, we will begin recruiting for those interested in our full-time Associate role who graduate between December 2024 – Summer 2025. Advanced Professional Degree (APD) candidates are postdocs or working toward the following degrees: PhD, MD (including medical interns, residents and fellows), JD, PharmD, Nursing, and non-MBA Masters. Non-MBA Master candidates must have at least four years in between the completion of their undergraduate degree and graduate degree to be qualified as having an APD.

Over 80% of our consultants have advanced degrees in fields outside of business, and as our firm continues to grow and evolve, we are looking for more people like you – experts in their fields – to join our community. We hope you will consider starting your journey with us, so you can be at your best at McKinsey!

Make sure to bookmark our website ahead of the new year.

As always, feel free to reach out to our APD_Recruiting_Team [at] McKinsey.com (APD recruiting team) with questions!

What’s on the horizon…
We will be hosting virtual sessions each month. These sessions will help you learn about the world of consulting, how your degree will be valuable, what life is like at McKinsey, and how we help our clients solve the most complex problems.

We can’t forget to mention Insight & Diversity Connect! Planning is underway for these two flagship programs. Find information on our website.

Connecting on campus Our recruiting team or consultants may be visiting a campus near you. Whether virtually or in-person, we are excited to learn more about YOU and what makes you interested in McKinsey!

Fill out our Connect with APD form!

This will give you access to all things APD recruiting in the coming months.
Make sure you’re on our list.

MIT ALUMNI ADVISORS HUB - ADVISING OPPORTUNITY FOR MIT STUDENTS

The MIT Alumni Advisors Hub is an online platform that students can use to ask for advice when they need it—from MIT alumni around the world. Students can get advice on their job and internship search, conduct a mock interview or informational interview, explore career paths and future entrepreneurial pursuits, and navigating life at MIT.

Sign up to gain access to a community of alumni who are eager to share their advice at https://alumniadvisors.mit.edu/.

Find an advisor today!

UPCOMING MIT CAREER FAIRS

MIT has a diverse range of career fairs, only a few of which are run by Career Advising & Professional Development. Others are managed by student organizations or academic departments. MIT students are also welcome at some fairs hosted by companies, professional organizations, and other universities.

To get the most of your career fair experience, see our Tips for Career Fair Success. You can also view the CAPD events calendar for career fair workshops.

Find out more about career fairs at MIT.

GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER EVENTS - WEBSITE & CALENDAR

For those who are looking for other resources, recordings of career related workshops and sessions for grad students available here: http://capd.mit.edu

The CAPD Event calendar can be found here. 

Sign up for the Graduate Student Career Advising mailing list here.

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