Volume 22, Number 42

HST Community Notices

SHRIYA SRINIVASAN NAMED AMONG 35 INNOVATORS UNDER 35 BY MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

Shriya Srinivasan, an HST MEMP PhD 2020 graduate, has been named to  the prestigious 35 Innovators Under 35 list for 2021 by MIT Technology Review. This list is MIT Technology Review's yearly opportunity to take a look at not just where technology is now, but where it’s going and who’s taking it there. More than 500 people are nominated every year, and from this group the editors pick the most promising 100 to move on to the semifinalist round. Their work is then evaluated by our panel of judges who have expertise in such areas as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, software, energy, and materials. With the insight gained from these rankings, the editors pick the final list of 35.

Shriya is part of the Humanitarians group, described as: "Their creative approaches to innovation are making the world a more equitable place."

More information about Shriya and her work can be found here.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: WAYS TO ENGAGE

What type of mentor are you?

Each week the TWiHST newsletter includes an item (reading, video, podcast, etc.) about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in STEM, academia, research, or medicine. Members of the community are encouraged to submit suggestions here. An archive of previous TWiHST DEI: Ways to Engage posts can be found here.

MIT & HARVARD COVID-19 RESOURCES

Find a full list here: https://hst.mit.edu/covid-19-resources

Course & Academic Resources

THE ENGINE BLUEPRINT PROGRAM SEEKING APPLICANTS

Turning Tough Tech breakthroughs into Tough Tech startups.

About Blueprint:
Blueprint is a nonresident program for graduate students, postdocs, research scientists, and their teams, to explore the commercial opportunities of their breakthroughs and startup projects.

The program helps the next generation of Tough Tech leaders navigate the commercialization process through tailored programming concerning technology risk mitigation and experimentation planning, market discovery and selection, IP, team building, storytelling, and other topics.

Blueprint provides participants access to The Engine team, Tough Tech founders, investors, policymakers, and representatives from major corporations.

Applications due: Wednesday, August 11, 2021. Program begins Friday, September 10, 2021.

Apply here.

BIOPHARMA INTERNSHIP CLASS OFFERED THIS FALL

Fall 2021 7.930/20.930: Research Experience in Biopharma 

Have you wondered how research works in the biotech & pharma industry? Try it out as a class, without taking time completely away from your thesis! Even if you think working in industry doesn't interest you, the insights from this experience will be valuable to you in any career path. 

from past subject evaluations:

          "A truly fantastic opportunity" 

          "The internship experience was invaluable."

          "Most helpful class I took in grad school"

Mentored project experiences will be remote or in-person

No industry experience necessary or expected

7th ed., 7.930/20.930: Research Experience in Biopharma 

We match MIT PhD students with industry mentors to conduct research at a local biotech or pharma company. Host companies include Novartis, Pfizer, and Amgen. Students work on mentored projects 10 hours/week and attend weekly lectures (Mondays at 1) covering both science and business in the pharma industry. Feedback from students and mentors has been overwhelmingly positive. 

Open to students in any relevant programs (not just 7 and 20), so tell your labmates!

You must have passed all qualifying exams and thesis proposal.

International students would need to use OPT, which can take 3 months to process.

If you're interested, please pre-register by June 17 and submit this quick interest form

Instructors are Prof. Amy Keating (keating [at] mit.edu (keating[at]mit[dot]edu)) and Dr. Sean Clarke (saclarke [at] mit.edu (saclarke[at]mit[dot]edu)). Contact us at reb_instructors [at] mit.edu (reb_instructors[at]mit[dot]edu) with any questions.

GRAD TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP CLASSES FOR FALL 2021

"Amplify Your Technical Education to Build a Better World!”

Our Graduate Program in Engineering Leadership is offering a Graduate Certificate in Technical Leadership. A summary of the interim certificate requirements is linked and attached

Leadership education develops skills applicable across career paths, from leading research labs to leading project teams in engineering. Enroll in one or both of our Graduate Courses for Fall 2021, which qualify towards our Certificate in Technical Leadership. This certificate is designed to provide important skills that MIT graduate students can draw from to "make a positive difference" in their chosen careers. Grounded in research but experimental and engaging in delivery, these highly valued classes will provide enduring benefits for our graduate students – and future coworkers. *PhD candidates can also explore the option of using these class to satisfy the requirements for your doctoral minor.

GradEL Courses for Fall 2021 (**Open to all grad students!):

6.928J Leading Creative Teams (Same subject as 15.674 [J], 16.990 [J])

It takes a team to deliver impactful technical achievements and this class equips students with foundational skills for leading problem-solving teams and one’s own professional development.

M/W, 2:30-4pm • Units: G3-0-6 • 37-212

Instructor: David Nino (dnino [at] mit.edu (dnino[at]mit[dot]edu))

6.927 Negotiation & Influence Skills for Technical Leaders

Expand your natural tendencies and learn experientially both the theory and practice of interpersonal negotiation, influence and overcoming difficult relationship situations.

T, 1-3pm • Units: G2-0-4 • 66-144

Instructor: David Nino (dnino [at] mit.edu (dnino[at]mit[dot]edu))

***For more information, visit our website. 

*If you are interested in earning our certificate, please email Lisa Stagnone (lstag [at] mit.edu (lstag[at]mit[dot]edu)) and David Niño (dnino [at] mit.edu (dnino[at]mit[dot]edu))

HENRY STEWART TALKS (HSTALKS) RESOURCE

The HSTalks Biomedical & Life Sciences Collection is an online multimedia resource containing nearly 3,000 specially commissioned lectures by world leading scientists.

Program directors, faculty, teaching staff, researchers, post- docs, and students use the collection in many ways including in blended, distance and flipped classroom education.

MIT has full access to this resource. Browse the collection here.

MIT COMMUNITY WELLNESS VIRTUAL CLASSES AND RESOURCES

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 virtual wellness programs that fit your needs.

View all classes here.

Don’t see what you are looking for? Email wellness [at] med.mit.edu (wellness[at]med[dot]mit[dot]edu) with any questions about wellness programs at MIT.

Don't forget: MIT Medical's COVID-19 hotline can be reached at 617-253-4865, and the 24-hour general helpline is 617-253-1311.

MIT WRITING AND COMMUNICATION CENTER (WCC)

The Writing and Communication Center offers free one-on-one professional advice from communication experts 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. You can learn more about the WCC consultations at http://cmsw.mit.edu/writing-and-communication-center and register with the online scheduler to make appointments through https://mit.mywconline.com. Please note that the WCC hours are offered Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm, and fill up fast.

Some faculty already require their students to consult with the WCC’s communication experts on their papers, technical reports, and presentations — doing so is a good way not only to improve the quality of their students’ work but also to help students grow as academic writers and communicators. 

The WCC has decades of experience preparing thousands of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral scholars and faculty, for positions in research, academia, and industry. We provide expertise in scientific and engineering writing as well as humanities and social science writing across various genres, including journal articles, scientific posters, dissertations, oral presentations, and slide design.

UPCOMING EVENTS FROM THE TEACHING + LEARNING LAB (TLL)

Information about upcoming workshops for graduate students and postdocs can be found here.

Applications are now open for the fall 2021 session of the Teaching + Learning Lab’s Kaufman Teaching Certificate Program. Anyone interested in improving their teaching practice is encouraged to apply!

Submit your applications hereApplications will close at 12:00 noon ET on Monday, August 16. Please note that the program is planned to help in person this semester.

This engaging and interactive workshop series is intended for graduate students and postdocs interested in careers in the academy or looking to develop skills to support their teaching at MIT. Upon completion of all remote workshops, associated homework assignments, and two microteaching sessions, participants will receive a certificate and letter of completion from Vice Chancellor Ian Waitz.

The fall 2021 application includes the following two short answer questions (with a 1500 character limit). 

  • Describe your teaching responsibilities in the next two semesters. (If applicable)
  • In addition to learning about teaching practices in general, what are two specific goals that motivate you to apply for this program?

You may wish to draft answers before beginning your application.

Please check out websites for frequently asked questions, if you have a problem with the application, please contact Dan Nocivelli at book [at] mit.edu (book[at]mit[dot]edu).

Finally, if you are looking for a shorter, more focused programs or for a more flexible pathway to a certificate, or just want to practice your teaching skills we suggest checking out Grad Teaching Development Tracks. The Microteaching Track will be held in September, with applications opening at noon on August 9.

If you have 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.

Conferences, Lectures & Seminars

KI ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM: ENGINEERING THE NEXT WAVE OF IMMUNOTHERAPY

The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research invites you to our 19th Annual Summer Symposium: Engineering the Next Wave of Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment, our thinking of tumor biology and clinical practice. Following the groundbreaking successes of checkpoint blockade therapy and CAR T cell therapy, culminating in multiple FDA-approved treatments and the awarding of the 2018  Nobel Prize in Medicine to Jim Allison and Tasuku Honjo, the field is currently at a critical juncture.  

While checkpoint blockade therapy has demonstrated that the immune system can be harnessed to fight cancer,  the next generation of treatments will require us to understand what causes resistance in non-responders, how this can be overcome, and how these issues are best addressed clinically. Discussing these questions will be at the core of this symposium as we move towards our ultimate goal to increase the number of patients benefiting from immunotherapy

Speakers:

  • Targeting T Cells (Rafi Ahmed, Michael Dougan, Chris Love)
  • Thinking Beyond T Cells (Yasmine Belkaid, Juan Mendoza, Stefani Spranger, Lauren Zasadil)
  • Engineering Clinical Translation (Chris Garcia, Juliana Idoyaga, Crystal Mackall)

Panel Discussion: 

  • Clinical Translation: A Real Life Perspective (Daniel Chen, Michael Dougan, Kimberly Shafer-Weaver - Moderators: Steven Silverstein, Jane Wilkinson)

Thank you to our Sponsors: Agilent Technologies, Inc., Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc., Repertoire Immune Medicines, Ribon Therapeutics, Skyhawk Therapeutics

2021 VHA INNOVATION EXPERIENCE (iEX) VIRTUAL SERIES

Breaking Boundaries: Forging a Healthier Future for all Veterans

The 2021 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Innovation Experience (iEX) Virtual Series provides Veterans and the public a unique opportunity to experience and celebrate how VHA innovation, collaboration, and technology are breaking boundaries, forging the future of Veteran health care, and most importantly, changing and saving Veteran lives.

iEX is an annual conference designed to celebrate, collaborate and promote the culture of innovation within the VHA, and across industry, academia and Veteran service organizations.  This year the conference will take place virtually October 27-28.

This year’s event promises to be even more exciting and engaging in the sharing of best practices, networking, and discovering new ideas that are making a real difference in Veteran lives. Through expert panels, a new pitch competition, and hallmark conference sessions, the virtual series will allow participants to interact with some of the Nation’s premier innovators and thought leaders from government, industry, and academia who are transforming how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) thinks about, delivers, and connects innovation to solving Veterans toughest challenges.

Register here.

FALLING WALLS LAB COMPETITION - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the German Consulate in Boston, the German Center for Research and Innovation in New York, and Euraxess are delighted to host a hybrid/virtual Falling Walls Lab Boston on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 6 pm.

Falling Walls Lab is a platform for candidates from all academic disciplines who would like to present their research work, business model, innovative project or transformative idea in front of their peers and a distinguished jury from academia and business.

The call for applications is now open. Undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, young professionals, entrepreneurs and faculty members are invited to apply. Falling Walls Lab Boston offers an amazing opportunity to pitch ground-breaking ideas and win a spot in the global final in Berlin, Germany. At the final stage, you will have the opportunity to represent your organization in front of a global audience and to compete for attractive cash and research prizes. 

Applications can be submitted online until August 22. For more information go to: Boston | Falling Walls (falling-walls.com)

To help spread the news of the Falling Walls Lab Boston, we would greatly appreciate it if you could forward our call for applications to emerging researchers and professionals within your institution’s network.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact science [at] bost.diplo.de (science[at]bost[dot]diplo[dot]de) or the Falling Walls Foundation (lab [at] falling-walls.com (lab[at]falling-walls[dot]com)).

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.

MEDTECH BOSTON INFORMATION SOURCE & CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Boston has long been known as a medical mecca of scientific discovery. Boston’s healthcare professionals and administrators are adopting practices from other high-risk and service industries. The ‘big data’ movement is thriving, fundamentally changing our healthcare delivery systems. Digital health investments are higher than ever before. Medical hackathons and un-conferences are now an every-weekend occurrence. And both redesign and innovation promise to change medicine as we know it. It’s all happening right here, right now. But the problem is that many of us don’t know it. Despite Boston’s innovative energy and a solid medical infrastructure, many medical providers and health care entrepreneurs remain in the dark about the opportunities, events and work happening in and around the city of Boston – and across the country. That’s where we come in.

At Medtech Boston, we highlight exciting medical innovation work in and around the city of Boston. We aim to start a discussion about the most exciting and controversial new healthcare offerings, igniting a new reputation for Boston as a city with first-class medical research and patient care, but also as a city full of passionate people who use new technology to think big thoughts about medicine’s most pressing problems.

More organizational information and event postings from Medtech Boston is available here.

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.

Brainmap website: https://www.martinos.org/education/brainmap/

To sign up for the mailing list, please go to: https://mail.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/brainmap

Student Opportunities

NUCLEATE WANTS YOU!

Are you a graduate student (PhD/MBA/MD/JD) interested in building life science start-ups?

Are you passionate about therapeutics, synthetic biology, or sustainability?

Join the Nucleate leadership team!

Apply now!

Who We Are
Nucleate is a student-run entrepreneurship program that facilitates the formation of new life science ventures. We tackle some of the biggest challenges in human health and sustainability. 

What We’ve Done
Over three years, Nucleate counts 25 alumni companies. They’ve raised over $16M in funding to develop technologies from protein sequencing (Glyphic) to drug design (Manifold Bio) to RNA synthesis (EnPlusOne) and more! 

Join Us
We are recruiting leadership team members with a passion for life science entrepreneurship. We identify early-stage technologies, build new teams, and support their success along with our network of founders, investors, and industry experts. 

If that sounds exciting, apply here before August 31st. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis. To learn more, visit our website.

FLIPPING FAILURE - PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITY RESOURCE

Flipping Failure is a collection of video stories told by MIT students about their path towards resilience when faced with challenge at MIT.

The goal of this community initiative is to provide visibility to stories of academic challenge and resilience so that we can begin shifting the conversation around struggle from something to be ashamed of to something that is human. Struggling is not only part of the human experience, but it is often the result of tackling difficult challenges and learning experiences. We hope that watching peers talk about their challenges and hearing about the productive and healthy strategies they used to cope will help other students discover their own path towards resilience and self-acceptance.

Thanks to Our Partners:
Community Wellness, FAIL!, MindHandHeart, MITell, Office of Graduate Education GradSupport, Student Support Services (S3)

If you are interested in learning more about Flipping Failure or would like to contribute your story, please contact flippingfailure [at] mit.edu (flippingfailure[at]mit[dot]edu).
The content on this site was assembled and is maintained by MIT’s Teaching and Learning Lab.

iREFS WEEKLY OFFICE HOURS (CONFIDENTIAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT SESSIONS)

What is iREFS?
MIT iREFS is a student group that offers confidential peer-to-peer support to fellow graduate students. 

What do we do?
Our mission is to ensure graduate student wellness, especially in times of uncertainty, stress, and conflict. We provide confidential, peer-to-peer conflict support and coaching. We also provide informed referrals to MIT resources and offices. Further, we organize conflict management workshops for the MIT graduate student community on active listening and difficult conversations.

MIT iREFS will be holding weekly office hours (confidential conflict management sessions). 

During these office hours, an iREFS will be available on a zoom call. Please feel free to join the call if you are looking to talk to a fellow grad student regarding an issue that is a cause of concern/stress for you. We are here to provide a listening ear, inform you about key student resources that you could benefit from, and help brainstorm ways to come out of such challenging situations.

All sessions are confidential and no calls are recorded. As an alternative, you can always email us at irefs-contact [at] mit.edu (irefs-contact[at]mit[dot]edu) or sign up with our Google Form to schedule a meeting at a time that is convenient for you.

Subscribe to our Mailing List:
You can subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates about our events!

Want to follow iREFS on social media?
– Join our Facebook group today!
– Follow us on Instagram

MIT INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT NETWORK MAILING LIST

The International Support Network has setup a mailing list to build community and provide support to the international students at MIT. All MIT community members are welcome to join!

The International Support Network is a peer support network for international students and scholars as well as allies. We have been actively monitoring proposed policy changes that relate to remote appointments, housing, international travel as well as visa status for international students. After our July open letter​, we have been following up with ISO on related issues. Given the rapidly changing current situation, we acknowledge the heightened concern among the international community at MIT. With that in mind, we created our mailing list​ where we share information about policy updates (both MIT and federal), provide support, and hold future town halls to hear out community members.​

Sign up for the mailing list to hear about those updates and other resources!

Stay safe and take care everyone!​

Feel free to direct any questions to: international-support-admin [at] mit.edu (international-support-admin[at]mit[dot]edu)

ASK MIT. GET ANSWERS.

ask.mit.edu is intended for MIT students to ask questions about student support at MIT. Ask your question here and a member of Student Support and Wellbeing team will get back to you within one business day.

MITAC OPPORTUNITIES - VIRTUAL TOURS, EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, ETC.

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

View our list of Virtual Tours and Performances
Due to current COVID-19 concerns, all tickets are available for purchase online only.

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

iGrad
OGE also offers the free iGrad Financial Literacy platform (offered in collaboration with the MIT Federal Credit Union). Customized for MIT with videos, articles, games,  job board, searchable scholarship database, and interactive modules on a wide range of topics, including emergency-funding, credit card management, identity protection, spending-smarts, etc. it is a great financial literacy tool for students and the MIT community in general. More information can be found at https://iGrad.com/schools/MIT.

OGE’s Website Financial Literacy and Fellowship section updates
Newly updated Financial Literacy section to our website found here. Also, we’ve added a new Financial Concerns section that includes information on identity theft, food insecurity and transitioning out of school (great for graduation season) found here.

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 GRADUATE ASSISTANCE INFORMATION NETWORK (GAIN)

MIT Graduate Assistance Information Network (GAIN) is a free 24/7 network of professionals who provide life management resources and referrals to help make life easier for MIT Graduate Students and families.

MIT GAIN services, which are available at no cost to you and your family, include:

  • Legal consultation
  • Financial consultation
  • Child care resources and personalized research and referrals
  • Elder care resources and personalized research and referrals
  • Relocation guidance
  • School/summer camp selection for children in grades K–12
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Career assessment
  • Resources for other life concerns, such as moving services, home repair and cleaning services, pet care, fitness programs & trainers, and more.

Take advantage of these additional MIT Work-Life programs and resources:

Find more information here.

MIT SPOUSES & PARTNERS CONNECT

Open to all significant others of MIT students, postdocs, and staff who have relocated to the Boston area

Visit: http://spouses.mit.edu

Best Ways to Learn About Our Events:

MIT LANGUAGE CONVERSATION EXCHANGE

Open to all members of the MIT community

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

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.

  • Visit our website: http://lce.mit.edu
  • Search and contact native speakers of languages you want to practice for one-on-one conversation held at your convenience
    Watch this video to learn how our website works
  • Join our new Slack Space: https://bit.ly/lce-slack
  • Join or create channels for the languages you are interested in
  • Practice your writing skills while meeting other people at MIT who share your language interests
  • Participate in our virtual events: https://bit.ly/LCECAFE
  • Conversation cafes held on Zoom
  • Breakout rooms with small groups of people for language exchange
    Held on the 2nd Friday and 4th Tuesday of the month at 2pm, Register in advance

Get in touch with the LCE

Email us at lce [at] mit.edu (lce[at]mit[dot]edu)

Follow us on Facebook @MITLCE

PEER 2 PEER STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE

Need Someone To Listen?

Whether you’re having a bad day or just want someone to talk to, Peer2Peer’s community of MIT students is here for you.

Log in and chat anonymously about whatever’s on your mind with someone who really understands.

peer2peer.mit.edu

COMMUNITY SERVICE WEEKLY BULLETIN

At the heart of the MIT mission statement is a call to serve the nation and the world—and this charge is embodied by the MIT Public Service Center. Every year, we send thousands of students into communities locally, across the nation, and around the globe to apply their skills and knowledge for the betterment of humankind. In the Institute's best traditions of hands-on experience, entrepreneurial spirit, and creative problem solving, these students donate their time, create new technologies, form communities and companies—and ultimately change lives everywhere they go.

As part of MIT's Division of Student Life, we provide a central point of communication and support for the outreach and humanitarian efforts of the MIT community. We engage students, alumni, staff, faculty, and others in life-changing initiatives and social entrepreneurship ventures that provide needed resources to individuals and communities.

Sign up for the weekly Community Service Bulletin of Events and Programs here.

News and upcoming events are posted on the homepage.

Professional Opportunities

RESEARCH SCIENTIST POSITIONS – ESVELT LAB – MIT SCULPTING EVOLUTION GROUP

The Sculpting Evolution Group at MIT seeks multiple research scientists to supervise and assist projects focused on advancing biotechnology safely. Ideal candidates will be committed to glimpsing the best possibilities of the future and making them real.

On a practical level, we’re looking for people who:

  • Enjoy hands-on work with diverse experimental systems, laboratory, and computational techniques,
  • Love continually learning, developing, applying, and teaching new methods and techniques,
  • Are happy to be asked for help, to lend a hand when it’s possible, and to say no when it’s not,
  • Have strong written and oral communication skills,
  • Do their best to contribute to a supportive team atmosphere with explicit proactive communication,
  • Are enthusiastic about mentorship and committed to building an outstanding research team.

Broader views are also important. Particularly strong candidates might be those who:

  • Aim to ensure that biotechnology benefits as many morally relevant beings as possible,
  • Recognize the importance of mitigating catastrophic risks,
  • Care more about long-term impact than conventional metrics,
  • Gladly seize upon a small chance of achieving a tremendously impactful outcome.

Our group retains a focus on understanding and controlling evolution, including but not limited to our PRANCE system for high-throughput robotic directed evolution, and we've recently added machine learningand in silico directed evolution to our repertoire. However, we now place a greater emphasis on engineering mammalian systems, not just in developing novel genome editing approaches relevant to ecological engineering and gene drive, but also in strengthening biosecurity and mitigating catastrophic risks for some of the reasons outlined here. Example collaborative projects in biosecurity include SecureDNA and the Nucleic Acid Observatory; we also work on immune-tolerant receptor decoys and other broad-spectrum or rapidly scalable defenses against exponentially spreading agents.  As these projects span an impressively large number of fields, we seek 1) mammalian cell engineering specialists, and 2) generalists with expertise covering multiple key areas.

Position 1: Mammalian Bioengineering

This position is suited to candidates with deep expertise in engineering mammalian cells and/or organisms.

On a day-to-day level, the position will involve designing and performing experiments involving mammalian cells and animals, supervising diverse research projects in the group, training and mentoring new arrivals, helping manage key collaborations, writing publications and grant proposals, and optionally engaging in science communication to general audiences or to policymakers. Given the breadth of research methods that we employ, willingness to learn new skills and techniques is a must.

REQUIRED:

  • PhD in any field of Biology yielding mammalian cell culture expertise;
  • Deep expertise in mammalian biology and/or bioengineering;
  • Experience with standard and many advanced molecular biology techniques;
  • Skilled at troubleshooting experiments involving complex systems;
  • Comfortable with animal models or willing to learn and work closely with veterinarians;
  • Willing to study viruses and other pathogens (replication-incompetent/BSL2+).

PREFERRED:

  • One year of postdoctoral experience.

To apply, go to https://hr.mit.edu/careers and search for job ID#19841.

Position 2: General Laboratory or Computational Research

This position is well-suited to candidates with other kinds of expertise relevant to our laboratory's work, be it in robotics and cloud computing, biochemistry and microbiology, or bioinformatics and ecology.

On a day-to-day level, the position will involve designing and performing experiments, supervising diverse research projects in the group, training and mentoring new arrivals, helping manage key collaborations, writing publications and grant proposals, and optionally engaging in science communication to general audiences or to policymakers. Given the breadth of research methods that we employ, willingness to learn new skills and techniques is a must.

REQUIRED:

  • PhD in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Bioinformatics, MechE, or Computer Science or related field;
  • Skill at troubleshooting experiments involving complex systems;
  • Specialized expertise in multiple fields supporting our broad areas of interest.

Examples of valuable skill sets include but are not limited to:

  • Genome, cell, and organism editing
  • Cell culture, virus propagation, genome editing, flow cytometry, animal husbandry
  • Technology development – catalytic tools for beneficial applications in diverse settings
  • Microbiology, chemical biology, evolutionary biology, robotics, bioinformatics, machine learning

PREFERRED (not strictly required):

  • At least one year of postdoctoral experience;
  • Some level of skill in several of the following areas and willingness to pick up others:
    • Library construction, NGS sample preparation, sequencing, and data analysis
    • Mammalian cell culture and engineering
    • Experience with computational biology algorithms, including bioinformatics, computational structural biology, statistical machine learning, and deep learning
    • High-performance and cloud computing, especially AWS, as well as with Github and Docker
    • Basic familiarity with circuits, hardware, 3D printing, and/or robotics

To apply, go to https://hr.mit.edu/careers and search for job ID#19842.

Please sculpting-admin [at] media.mit.edu (reach out) with any questions.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROFESSOR OPPORTUNITIES - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HEALTH COLLEGES

The University of Florida (UF) has launched an ambitious initiative to hire over 100 faculty in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and ethics in AI to leverage the most advanced computer in higher education, the HiPerGator. As part of this initiative, the six UF Health Colleges will be hiring 16 faculty of diverse backgrounds across disciplines.  Incoming faculty will be a part of the UF Health AI Community and will have priority access to a new AI infrastructure centered around an NVIDIA A100 core, currently ranked as the fasted AI-enabled supercomputers in higher education in the US.

The UF Health Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine - Gainesville, Medicine - Jacksonville, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health & Professions and Veterinary Medicine invites applications for faculty positions at the Assistant, Associate or full Professor rank in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the health sciences. Areas of interest include AI in Decision Support, AI in Diagnostic & Therapeutic Platforms and AI in Determinants of Health. 

We welcome applications from junior and senior researchers, educators, and clinical faculty with a focus and passion for AI methods and applications to real-world health-related challenges. The prospectus is available for review to learn more.  

To review the position description or to apply, please visit the job posting.

THREE POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS - CHAIKOF LAB - HMS

1 - Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Immunity and Tissue Repair: Harvard Medical School
Postdoctoral research fellowship available in the laboratory of Dr. Elliot Chaikof for a candidate with an interest in the role of the innate immune system in tissue repair and regeneration with a particular focus on the development of therapeutic agents for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The candidate is expected to closely interact with an interdisciplinary team of medicinal chemists and GI pathologists to support this drug discovery program. The project will focus on the evaluation of modulators of mucosal immunity and intestinal epithelial repair processes using animal models of colitis and gut organoid assay systems (see Science Advances 2020; 6:eaay8230). PhD in developmental or molecular biology, immunology or related discipline required.

Responsibilities

  • Integrate knowledge from cell and developmental biology, structural biology, transport physiology, molecular biology, and mucosal immunology to determine the contributions of barrier dysfunction to inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Initiate and direct experiments that utilize murine models of colitis and other models of gut barrier dysfunction
  • Apply a variety of in vitro tools, including intestinal organoid assays and conduct molecular and cellular bioassays, flow cytometry, as well as immunohistochemical studies to characterize the mechanism of action of lead compounds.

Requirements

  • Requires a PhD in developmental or molecular biology, immunology or related discipline.
  • Collaborate with members of a multidisciplinary team to efficiently pursue novel strategies that support the discovery of immune modulators for tissue repair and regeneration.
  • Experience in cell and molecular biology, flow cytometry, other complex bioassays, as well as in vivo studies using mouse models.
  • Must be an energetic, out-of-box thinker with positive attitude. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, as is the desire and ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
  • Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts. Demonstrated success as exemplified by peer-reviewed publications, scientific creativity, and independent thought.  

Research Collaborator: Omer Yilmaz, MD, PhD (Biology, MIT) - Submit CV to echaikof [at] bidmc.harvard.edu (echaikof[at]bidmc[dot]harvard[dot]edu).

2 - Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Thrombosis: Harvard Medical School
Postdoctoral research fellowship position available in the laboratory of Dr. Elliot Chaikof for a candidate with an interest in defining the prothrombotic pathways and/or biomarkers of increased thrombotic risk among patients with cancer, particularly those with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The candidate is expected to closely interact with an interdisciplinary team of hematologists, oncologists, and medicinal chemists in support of a related drug discovery program. The project will focus on defining the underlying mechanisms that promote a prothrombotic phenotype using animal models of patient derived tumor organoids and organoid assay systems.  This program is a component project within the NIH CLOT (Consortium Linking Oncology with Thrombosis) Consortium.

Second only to the underlying malignancy, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the leading cause of death in cancer patients. VTE can delay the initiation of cancer treatment and is associated with worse survival. Once VTE occurs, cancer patients have a three- to four-fold higher rate of VTE recurrence compared to patients without cancer. VTE risk is particularly high among patients with pancreatic cancer, but only a subset will develop a VTE. Significantly, the underlying mechanisms that promote a prothrombotic phenotype have not been established nor has the relationship between procoagulant phenotype and tumor subtype based on gene expression signature been defined. PhD in molecular biology, immunology, tumor biology, biomedical engineering or related discipline required.            

Responsibilities

  • Integrate knowledge from tumor biology, molecular genetics, and immunology to determine the molecular mechanisms that promote cancer-associated thrombosis.
  • Initiate and direct experiments that utilize murine models of patient derived tumor organoids.
  • Apply a variety of in vitro tools, including organoid assay systems and conduct molecular and cellular bioassays, flow cytometry, as well as immunohistochemical studies to characterize the relationship between phenotype, tumor subtype, host immune response, and gene expression signature.

Requirements

  • Requires a PhD in molecular biology, immunology, tumor biology, biomedical engineering or related discipline.
  • The candidate is expected to closely interact with a multidisciplinary team to define underlying molecular mechanisms that promote cancer associated thrombosis and related biomarkers of risk.
  • Experience in cell and molecular biology, flow cytometry, other complex bioassays, as well as in vivo studies using mouse models.   
  • Must be an energetic, out-of-box thinker with positive attitude. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, as is the desire and ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
  • Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts. Demonstrated success as exemplified by peer-reviewed publications, scientific creativity, and independent thought.  

Project collaborators: Robert Flaumenhaft, MD, PhD (BIDMC); Jeffrey Zwicker, MD (BIDMC) - Submit CV to echaikof [at] bidmc.harvard.edu (echaikof[at]bidmc[dot]harvard[dot]edu).

3 - Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Glycotherapeutics
Postdoctoral research fellowship available in the laboratory of Dr. Elliot Chaikof for a candidate with demonstrated experience in sialylation and post glycosylation modifications, synthesis of large glycans containing amino sugars, and peptide synthesis. The candidate is expected to carry out multi-step synthesis of oligosaccharides and closely interact with chemists to efficiently pursue glycopeptide therapeutics, as well as to develop novel peptide conjugation strategies to support drug discovery. The project will be focused on the synthesis of glycosulfopeptide mimics (see Nat Comm 2015; 6: 6387 doi:10.1038/ncomms7387; Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020, 62:102–111; www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006497121009812). PhD in organic chemistry, chemical biology or medicinal chemistry required.

Responsibilities

  • Initiates and directs the design, synthesis, purification and characterization of oligosaccharides and glycopeptides. 
  • Facilitates the design of new bioactive compounds by interacting with other chemists. Monitors and evaluates completion of tasks and projects. 

Requirements

  • Requires a PhD in organic chemistry preferably with experience in sialylation and post glycosylation modifications, synthesis of large glycans containing amino sugars, and peptide synthesis
  • Experience in glycopeptide chemistry and solid phase peptide synthesis is desirable.
  • The candidate is expected to carry out multi-step synthesis of oligosaccharides and closely interact with

chemists to efficiently pursue glycopeptide therapeutics, as well as to develop novel peptide conjugation strategies to support drug discovery.

  • Must be an energetic, out-of-box thinker with positive attitude. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, as is the desire and ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
  • Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts. Demonstrated success as exemplified by peer-reviewed publications, scientific creativity, and independent thought. 

Research Collaborator: Richard D. Cummings, PhD (Harvard) - Submit CV to echaikof [at] bidmc.harvard.edu (echaikof[at]bidmc[dot]harvard[dot]edu).

For all three opportunities, interested candidates should contact:

Elliot L. Chaikof, MD, PhD, Johnson and Johnson Professor, Harvard Medical School, echaikof [at] bidmc.harvard.edu (echaikof[at]bidmc[dot]harvard[dot]edu)
Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (https://hst.mit.edu/users/echaikofbidmcharvardedu)
Harvard Stem Cell Institute (hsci.harvard.edu/people/elliot-chaikof-md-phd)
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering  (wyss.harvard.edu/team/associate-faculty/elliot-chaikof/)
Harvard-MIT MD-PhD Program Leadership (hms.harvard.edu/md_phd/administration/index.html)
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

The Chaikof lab is located in the Center for Life Sciences Building in the Longwood medical area, directly adjacent to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital. - CLS 11090, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115.

ELI HEALTH JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Eli enables women to take control of their health across their lives, by providing them with powerful information on their daily hormone profile.

Eli's initial focus is to give women a no-compromise option to own their fertility and contraception decisions. The inconvenience of existing methods and associated side effects should now be a thing of the past.

We're currently developing a device that uses saliva to monitor female reproductive hormones.

We're hiring for technical and product dev roles and looking for people that have experience with developing in-vitro diagnostic devices.

The job postings provide a little more detail on qualifications we're looking for.

MD ANDERSON TRIUMPH POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAM

The MD Anderson Cancer Center CPRIT Research Training Program provides fundamental, interdisciplinary, and innovative training in cancer research at MD Anderson. This program is the continuation of a highly successful and comprehensive training program supported by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. The program includes three tracks: the CPRIT TRIUMPH (Translational Research in Multidisciplinary Programs) post-doctoral, CPRIT Graduate Scholar, and CPRIT Summer Undergraduate Research Programs.

TRIUMPH (Translational Research in Multi-Disciplinary Program) Postdoctoral Fellowship provides training in clinical and translational research. The immediate goal of this program is to recruit talented and productive PhD students from top graduate programs to provide continued training in clinical and/or translational cancer research through didactic course work, clinical rotations, and unique, interdisciplinary mentorships. A long-term goal of this program is to produce translational scientists who can be teamed with suitable physician scientists to PI a translational research laboratory.

This is a three-year training program. First year postdoctoral fellows participate in a series of didactic clinical course work offered at the MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School (GSBS), MD Anderson Cancer Center, or the UTHealth McGovern School of Medicine and strategically matched clinical rotations, while pursuing research in a basic or translational research laboratory. Second and third year fellows are co-mentored by a basic science/translational scientist mentor and a physician/clinical scientist mentor on clinical/translational research projects. The TRIUMPH postdoc will earn a certificate upon successful completion of the program.

Eligibility requirements:

Early-Stage Post-Doctoral Fellows:

  1. PhD or MD/PhD from a top graduate program (U.S. or abroad) in any of the life or natural sciences within the last three years
  2. Dedication to pursue translational cancer research
  3. Junior post-doctoral fellows (less than one and a half years of experience) and graduate students within one year of their anticipated defense date are encouraged to apply
  4. Publications in top tier journals (must have at least one accepted or published first or co-first author paper in a journal with an impact factor >8 at the time of application)
  5. United States citizenship or permanent residency is not required. All foreign fellows must have an active visa for the duration of the fellowship

Established Post-Doctoral Fellows:

  1. PhD or MD/PhD from a top graduate program (U.S. or abroad) in any of the life or natural sciences
  2. Dedication to pursue translational cancer research
  3. Must have no more than 3 years of post-doctoral experience by the time one starts our program if accepted
  4. Has two or more first or co-first author papers in journals with an impact factor of >8. At least one publication should stem from previous post-doctoral work
  5. United States citizenship or permanent residency is not required. All foreign fellows must have an active visa for the duration of the fellowship

A Completed Application will include:

  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. PDF reprints of all first authored publications
  3. Three letters of recommendation (letters should be written on official letterhead and contain original signatures. They should be submitted by email from the referee's institutional/organizational email account to bmjames [at] mdanderson.org (bmjames[at]mdanderson[dot]org)
  4. A two-page essay describing your goals and dedication toward a career in clinical and translational cancer research (single-spaced, 12 pt. Arial or Times New Roman font)

Deadlines: Sep 30, 2021 (cycle 3, 2021), Dec 31, 2021 (cycle 4, 2021)

For additional information and to view bios and testimonials from our TRIUMPH alumni and current fellows, please visit our website.

2022-23 HARVARD HEALTHTECH FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION OPEN

In 2022-23, Harvard HealthTech is excited to invite two teams (four Fellows per team) to join the HealthTech Fellowship. Through a rigorous 10-month experience, Fellows will undergo training in healthcare innovation by immersing themselves in clinical settings to identify unmet healthcare needs, then designing and testing innovative solutions with guidance from mentors in the medtech, healthcare, and innovation sectors.

Gain first-hand perspective on what is and isn't working in our healthcare system, and develop a deep understanding of how to introduce products and services to address those challenges alongside a team of innovators. Learn more about the 2022-23 Harvard HealthTech Fellowship.

Applications are now open and due by Thursday, September 9, 2021.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AT THE HARRIS ORTHOPAEDICS LABORATORY AT MGH

PI: Ebru Oral, PhD (HST PhD Alum)

Harris Orthopaedics Laboratory is focused on the development of polymeric and hybrid materials for applications in orthopaedics. The scope of the work at the laboratory generally includes material formulation and testing of mechanical and drug delivery devices in orthopaedic applications, preclinical orthopaedic rodent models for safety and efficacy testing, microbiological testing, and model development for bacterial infections and in vitro co-cultures. Current federally funded projects focus on different delivery devices for pain and infection management as well as understanding the relationship between in-vitro and in-vivo infections. New projects include diagnostic strategies for bacterial infections, bacterial targeting of devices and strategies for bacteria-sensitive devices.

Students will have exposure to our uniquely translational research environment. Radiation cross-linked and antioxidant-stabilized ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene devices developed in our laboratory have become the state-of-the-art devices in total joint replacement are used in patients globally. Our team members also view our projects from this translational lens.

If you are interested, please feel free to contact the PI at eoral [at] mgh.harvard.edu (eoral[at]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu) and visit the lab for more information.”

POST GRADUATE OPPORTUNITY AT ORBIMED ADVISORS

Position: Hedge Fund Biotechnology Associate

Company Description:
OrbiMed Advisors is a leading investment firm dedicated exclusively to the healthcare sector, with approximately $19 billion in assets under management. OrbiMed invests globally across the spectrum of healthcare companies, from venture capital start-ups to large multinational companies. OrbiMed's team of more than 80 employees manages a series of private equity funds, public equity funds, royalty/debt funds and other investment vehicles. OrbiMed maintains its headquarters in New York City, with additional offices in San Francisco, Shanghai, Mumbai and Herzliya.

Position Objective:
The Hedge Fund Biotechnology Associate will support senior research analysts and portfolio managers.  The Associate will play an integral supporting role in the generation of new investment ideas in the biotech sector and management of current portfolio positions. Specific activities will include performing due diligence on drugs in development, maintaining market and company models and maintaining proprietary firm databases. The position provides an exceptional opportunity for individuals with scientific backgrounds interested in gaining experience in investing.

Major Responsibilities:

  • Perform scientific due diligence on key product candidates in clinical development.
  • Build and maintain company financial models and detailed market models for products/diseases.
  • Gather information using various data sources, including scientific literature, medical conferences and paid consultants to the firm.
  • Conduct due diligence calls with physicians and other consultants.
  • Attend company management meetings and investment/medical conferences.
  • Generate investment ideas in the small cap biotechnology universe.

Qualifications and Experience:

  • PhD in Molecular Biology or related discipline from a top program.
  • Interest in drug development and the biotechnology industry.
  • Motivated to learn the investing business.
  • Organized, detailed-oriented personality with the ability to multi-task in an entrepreneurial environment.
  • Impeccable integrity, work ethic and commitment.
  • 0-2 years of experience.

Compensation:

  • Compensation will be competitive for the industry

Contact Information

Send cover letter and resumes to Resumes [at] OrbiMed.com (Resumes[at]OrbiMed[dot]com)

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW - CANCER CELL BIOLOGY, IMMUNOONCOLOGY, CELLULAR IMAGING, CHEMISTRY

The Ralph Weissleder Lab in the Center for Systems Biology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions. Several positions are available in cancer cell biology, immunooncology, cellular imaging and chemistry. Ideal candidates should have a strong academic background, US training and prior publications. The Center has a diverse faculty and offers a lively and supportive environment in which to perform interdisciplinary science.

Responsibilities: We seek creative thinkers who take risks in defining and addressing important problems, and who use quantitative experimental, computational and/or theoretical approaches in their work. Research fellows are encouraged to write their own grants, following the training period, to launch their independent research.

Requirements: A PhD, or MD/PhD and permanent residency is required. To apply, please send your CV, a summary of your most significant research accomplishments (300 words) and the email addresses of three references to: Serena Sullivan (Sullivan.Serena [at] mgh.harvard.edu (Sullivan[dot]Serena[at]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu)).

ROWLAND FELLOWS PROGRAM - HARVARD

The Rowland Institute at Harvard is seeking applications for Rowland Fellowships that commence in the 2022 calendar year. We seek the best young experimentalists in all fields of science and engineering. The Rowland Fellowship provides an opportunity to establish an independent program in the rich intellectual environment at Harvard and surrounding area. Candidates will have newly awarded doctorates or up to three years postdoctoral experience.

Dr. Edwin Land founded the Rowland Institute in order to foster high-risk, creative research. In 2002, the Rowland Institute became part of Harvard with the mission of advancing the careers of experimental scientists and engineers at an early career stage. In the tradition of Dr. Land, we are particularly interested in young scholars with the potential to establish a ground-breaking research program in their chosen field.

The Rowland Fellowship provides an excellent opportunity to pursue new research ideas. The pursuit of new ideas is facilitated by a flexible and agile environment. The Fellowship provides laboratory space, funding for equipment, personnel (to include postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate students), and general operations. Staff scientists and engineers work with the Rowland Fellows to design and fabricate new experimental set-ups. Additional shared facilities are also available through Harvard.

The term of the Fellowship is for up to five years, with a flexible start date, generally between July and September. The stipend for Rowland Fellows will start at $74,500 per year and up, depending on the candidate’s experience.

To Apply

Applicants to the Rowland Fellowship program must apply through this link. The link will direct you to a website where you can submit your application materials.

Besides answering some questions, you will be asked to upload a three-page research proposal (Statement of Research), a curriculum vitae (CV), and list three referees (to whom separate emails will be sent outlining instructions to upload their letters of recommendation).

The deadline for 2022 Rowland Fellow applications is Friday, August 20, 2021.

A short list of 10 to 15 candidates will be interviewed online in mid-September.

Finalists will be expected to give a brief presentation on both past and proposed work in a symposium style series of talks by candidates at the end of September/early October. The day following the symposium, candidates will interview all day. Due to the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the COVID pandemic, a decision will be made closer the time as to whether the symposium and interviews will be in person or virtual. If in person, we strongly encourage candidates to be fully vaccinated. https://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/

When your application is completed and submitted, instructions will automatically be sent to these referees about submitting their letter of recommendation. Your application does not have to be completed and submitted in one sitting and you can log back in at a later time to make additions.

Once completed and submitted, you cannot revise your materials. If you do need to submit a revised version after submittal but before the deadline, please email rf [at] rowland.harvard.edu (rf[at]rowland[dot]harvard[dot]edu) and we will reactivate your account so you can submit the revised version.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW OPENING AT HARVARD OPTHAMOLOGY

Postdoctoral Fellow Opening at Harvard Ophthalmology in Statistical and Machine Learning Modeling for Eye Diseases

Job Description:
A postdoctoral position is available in Harvard Ophthalmology AI Lab (https://ophai.hms.harvard.edu) under the supervision of Dr. Mengyu Wang (https://ophai.hms.harvard.edu/team/dr-wang/) at Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School. The start date is flexible, with a preference for candidates capable of starting in September 2021. The initial appointment will be for one year with the possibility of extension. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Salary for the postdoctoral fellow will follow the NIH guideline commensurate with years of postdoctoral research experience.

In the course of this interdisciplinary project, you will collaborate with a team of world-class scientists and clinicians with backgrounds in visual psychophysics, engineering, biostatistics, computer science, and ophthalmology. You will work on developing statistical and machine learning models to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of common eye diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy. You will have access to abundant resources for education, career development and research both from the Harvard hospital campus and Harvard University campus.

The successful applicant will:

  • possess or be on track to complete a PhD or MD with background in mathematics, computational science, computer science, statistics, machine learning, computer vision, image processing, biomedical engineering, visual science and ophthalmology or a related field. Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
  • have strong programming skills (C++, Python, R, MATLAB, etc.) and in-depth understanding of statistics and machine learning. Experience with Linux clusters is a plus.
  • have a strong and productive publication record.
  • have a strong work ethic and time management skills along with the ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team as required.

Your application should include:

  • curriculum vitae
  • statement of past research accomplishments, career goal and how this position will help you achieve your goals
  • two representative publications
  • contact information for three references

The application should be sent to Mengyu Wang via email (mengyu_wang at meei.harvard.edu) with subject "Postdoctoral Application in Harvard Ophthalmology AI Lab”.

FACULTY POSITION AT THE CENTER FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY, MGH RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The Center for Systems Biology (CSB) and Department of Pathology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Research Institute and Harvard Medical School (HMS), in Boston are seeking an outstanding scientist for a faculty position. The Department of Pathology (Chair: David Louis) is one of the premier Pathology departments in the US and has a vibrant research program. The CSB (Director: Ralph Weissleder) is one of the five interdisciplinary thematic Centers at the MGH and is located in the Simches Research Building on the MGH campus.

Areas of interest include computational pathology and machine learning with a strong focus on analysis and modeling of cellular and molecular-scale measurements of single cells in tissue, including highly multiplexed protein measurements, single cell genetic studies, imaging mass cytometry, 3D imaging at single cell resolution, as well as mathematical and engineering approaches directed toward understanding of tissue organization and disease progression. Our goals are to decipher how human biology functions in health and disease, and to apply newly learned knowledge to develop new diagnostics, biomarkers and therapies.  

The applicant should have a strong research plan, which should synergize with ongoing basic, applied and translational research efforts at CSB and Pathology at MGH Research Institute. The successful candidates will be expected to build and maintain an internationally recognized, extramurally funded research program.  The candidate should enjoy working collaboratively with other scientists.

The search is for candidate(s) to be hired at the Instructor or Assistant Professor level at HMS. Applicants should have a PhD and/or MD or equivalent degree. Competitive candidates have an exceptional track record in basic or translational research, a history of independent funding and the potential to develop an outstanding, visionary and independent research program that supports the ultimate goal of multiplexed tissue analysis to prevent and cure human diseases.

Interested candidates are invited to submit application materials electronically via https://csb.mgh.harvard.edu/information/careers. Each application must include one PDF file with: i) a cover letter; ii) a curriculum vitae and iii) a research plan including a statement of impact. Applicants should provide three or more references who will be contacted automatically to upload reference letters. Only completed applications will be reviewed. Under-represented minorities and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please address administrative questions to  Serena Sullivan (Sullivan.Serena [at] mgh.harvard.edu (Sullivan[dot]Serena[at]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu)), CSB, Simches Research Center, 185 Cambridge Street, Suite 5.210, Boston, MA 02114. Responses received by September 1, 2021 will be given priority.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER AT THE INTERSECTION OF VIROLOGY AND FLUID PHYSICS

We are looking for a highly motivated individual as a postdoctoral researcher on a collaborative project at the interface of Fluids and Health driven by the Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory at MIT, Cambridge, MA and the Mühlberger Laboratory at the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) at Boston University, Boston, MA. The Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory at MIT, directed by Prof. Bourouiba, has a strong research focus on fluid dynamics and modeling of infectious disease transmission and medical applications at various scales. Dr. Mühlberger’s laboratory at the NEIDL has a strong research focus on viral replication strategies and pathogenesis mechanism of highly pathogenic viruses, including filoviruses, henipaviruses, and more recently, SARS-CoV-2.

The project will focus on the study of currently poorly understood mechanisms of respiratory virus transmission through the lens of fluid- and bio-physics and will be part of an interdisciplinary effort to tackle important knowledge gaps in our understanding of the various phases of host-to-host transmission that are the root of pandemics for a range of viral diseases. Viruses of interest include SARS-CoV-2 and Nipah virus among others. Following applicable background checks and training, this position will require work in the Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) facility at the NEIDL. The individual will be co-mentored by Profs. Bourouiba and Mühlberger and be part of an integrated collaborative interdisciplinary team of virologists, biologists and physical and engineering scientists in their two labs and collaborating labs of Profs. Heldt and Gray at the Institute of Medical Engineering and Sciences of MIT. Specialized training in BSL-4 cell culture infection studies and fluid- and bio-physics concepts will also be provided by the collaborating laboratories.

A PhD in virology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, or other engineering or physical science disciplines is required. Experience in biophysics and modeling, microfabrication and microfluidics is strongly desired. The candidate should have experience in molecular biology and BSL-2 virology with a focus on RNA viruses.

The work to be performed includes SARS-CoV-2 and Nipah virus cell culture infection studies, microscopy and spectroscopy analyses, designing and prototyping devices at various scales using additive/subtractive/molding techniques, functionally testing devices for use in the virological studies, and quantitative analyses of the obtained results, with interfacing with the modelling team members.

Further requirements include the ability to work independently and as part of a team in a multidisciplinary setting, the desire to meet and exceed expectations, a proven commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work, the ability to independently manage time, write, and prioritize deadlines. The candidate is also expected to maintain a safe work environment, prepare regular written reports and presentations, and engage in team and sponsor meetings.

Apply by sending the application package by email to bgadmin [at] mit.edu (bgadmin[at]mit[dot]edu) with the subject line including the following [Fluids and Viruses: Postdoctoral Position]  and attaching a cover letter explaining interest in the job and research vision, CV, a research statement highlighting fit, and three publications considered by the applicant to be representative of their strength and most important contributions and explaining how they showcase their fit and potential for growth and contribution for this position.

Applications will be reviewed on a first come basis until the position is filled.

POST DOCTORAL FELLOW: KIDNEY STEM CELL BIOLOGY, MICROPHYSICOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND  REGENERATION      

Description:
Opportunity to work at interface of biomedical engineering and kidney stem cell biology and pathophysiology. The work includes development of approaches to regeneration,  injury mitigation and repair. The lab has pioneered development of kidney organoids from human stem cells and applied the technology to measurement of physiological function of epithelial cells as well as models of genetic and non-genetic diseases of kidney and lung. There are many collaborative projects with other biomedical engineering and biophysicist laboratories.  

Responsibilties:
We seek creative individuals, with backgrounds that can vary, who are interested in using basic techniques of stem cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics and engineering to tackle important problems in kidney disease. Knowledge of physiological system approaches are desirable but not mandatory. Should have good writing skills.

Requirements: 
A PhD or MD/PhD or MD and US citizenship or permanent residency. Please email CV, a brief cover letter describing your experience and long term goals

To apply please contact Joseph Bonventre MD PhD at jbonventre [at] bwh.harvard.edu (jbonventre[at]bwh[dot]harvard[dot]edu)

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN DIGITAL PHENOTYPING OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STATES (MGH)

The Depression Clinical Research Program (DCRP) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School is seeking a creative and computationally skilled postdoctoral fellow to develop next generation digital phenotyping methods that dynamically map psychological states such as depression, stress and perceived happiness, and cognitive function.  The fellow will work at the intersection of basic and translational digital phenotyping methods that seek to identify states of health and illness in older adults and how mind/body and mindfulness therapies may modify behavioral phenotypes. 

The successful candidate will have outstanding programming skills and a doctoral degree in psychology, neuroscience, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, computer science, applied math, or related field. Prior research experience in digital phenotyping is not required. Candidates with a strong background in machine learning, Python, and R statistical computing are encouraged to apply. Creativity, initiative, proven ability to publish, teamwork, self-direction, and excellent oral and written communication skills are key.

The fellow will have the opportunity to benefit from ongoing NIH funded clinical trials of behavioral interventions that, in addition to validated clinical measurements, receive multiple digital data streams.  These include passive and active smartphone sensing through the high throughput Beiwe platform developed by Dr. Jukka-Pekka Onnela’s laboratory at the Harvard School of Public Health, which is a collaborating group on this research.  Other data streams will include custom designed App software delivering psychotherapy and monitoring usage, and wearable devices.  The fellow will receive mentorship from the PI and other DCRP investigators toward the goal of publication of first-authored manuscripts early in the fellowship.  It is expected that this will enable the fellow to apply for independent NIH funding during the fellowship, building on the Principal Investigator’s and DCRP’s successful track record.

The position is full-time for 2 years (with funding extensible for an additional 2 years based on productivity and interest) with benefits. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, and additional funding for conferences and training seminars. The Massachusetts General Hospital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and underrepresented minorities in science are encouraged to apply.  Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, the contact information of two references, and a cover letter describing their research background, interests, and professional goals by email to Dr. Felipe Jain (felipe.jain [at] mgh.harvard.edu).

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW IN MEDICAL IMAGE ANALYSIS AND MACHINE LEARNING

Open position: The Department of Radiology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School invite applicants for a full-time position at the postdoctoral research fellow level.

Topic: The funded project involves developing and using medical image analysis and deep learning algorithms to quantify normal brain development and to detect early signs of abnormalities in brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs).

Candidate qualifications: The successful candidate will be in the final year of PhD or have a PhD degree in the Data Science, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science/Engineering, Applied Maths, Computational Neuroscience, or related fields. Experience in machine learning and medical image analysis is preferred.

Timeframe: The starting date can be as early as June 1st, 2021. The position will be open until filled. The period is 2 years given satisfactory progress evaluated at the end of the first year. Continuous stay beyond 2 years is possible based on performance and funding, and we will encourage and help the fellow to apply for his/her own funding for further career development.

Team: The new member will be working closely with

  • P. Ellen Grant, MD, Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, specializing in neuroradiology, neuroscience, and pediatric neurodevelopmental, Founding Director of the Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging Developmental Science Center (FNNDSC, https://www.fnndsc.org) that has ~10 faculty, ~10 postdoc fellows, and ~20 research scientists or assistants,  and
  • Yangming Ou, PhD, Assistant Professor of Radiology working on medical image analysis and machine learning, faculty member of FNNDSC, and Director of affiliated Image, Informatics, and Intelligence (I3) Lab (https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/i3-lab).

Members of the team (postdoc fellows, PhD students, and research assistants) work on MRI analysis and machine learning for abnormality detection, early screening of disorders, outcome prediction, treatment evaluation, and neuroimaging biomarkers for typical and atypical brain development in children and beyond.

To apply: Please send your CV to Dr. Yangming Ou at yangming.ou [at] childrens.harvard.edu (yangming[dot]ou[at]childrens[dot]harvard[dot]edu).

Disclaimer: Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School is an equal employer. Applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law. Under-represented groups in STEM are especially encouraged to apply.

EMBARK - GLADSTONE'S PRESIDENTIAL POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM

Embark, the Gladstone Institutes Presidential Postdoctoral Program, aims to increase the representation of underrepresented minoritized groups within the sciences and at Gladstone. This program was launched in 2020 as part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

People are the most important part of our organization and are at the center of everything we do. At Gladstone, we know it takes a diverse group of empowered individuals to effectively use science to overcome disease.

We believe that when we bring together people with diverse approaches and ideas to tackle scientific challenges in creative ways, we create tremendous opportunities for discovering new treatments and cures for disease.

Eligibility

  • Must have completed degree requirements for a PhD or MD/PhD prior to the start of the program.
  • Be a part of a group that has been traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, as defined by the NIH, or have demonstrated support for underrepresented groups through their teaching, service, and research.
  • Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident.

Program Details

  • Scientific Research and Environment
    Gladstone provides a dynamic and collaborative research environment, with emphasis on rigorous scientific training, personalized attention and mentoring, supplemented by close interactions with our colleagues at nearby universities, such as UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley, and Stanford.
  • Career and Professional Development
    Gladstone’s postdoctoral program is built to prepare you for a transition into an independent career, providing training in technical, professional, and leadership skills. Through courses offered at Gladstone, you’ll be able to expand your skills in data science, leadership and management, scientific and grant writing, and communication, in addition to receiving individual career counseling and guidance. Gladstone also hosts a number of events and programs for trainees to explore career opportunities in academics, industry, or nonprofits. Learn more about Gladstone’s postdoc program.
  • Community Building
    Gladstone is home to many community groups that provide opportunities for leadership, collaboration, mentorship, and science education outreach to the local community.

    The Gladstone Postdoc Advisory Committee (GPAC) aims to provide support that maximizes the professional and scientific development of postdocs at Gladstone.

    Outside of the postdoc committee, Gladstone has a number of community groups that connect individuals across labs and teams. Examples include the LGBTQ+ community group, the Women’s Initiative, and Elevated Voices, our community group dedicated to creating an inclusive culture in which people of color are empowered to contribute, learn, and lead.
  • Mentoring
    Mentoring is a central part of Gladstone’s mission and essential to our culture. You’ll receive personalized mentorship and will be able to develop your own skills as a mentor. In addition to Gladstone’s mentoring programs, participants in the Embark program will be able to join monthly social, professional, and career development activities with the UCSF IRACDA (Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award program. All postdocs also have access to personalized career advising sessions with Gladstone’s Postdoc Office.

    You can also grow your skills as a mentor by signing up to be a PUMAS mentor. Gladstone’s PUMAS (Promoting Underrepresented Minorities Advancing in the Sciences) summer internship program aims to provide historically underrepresented community college students with lab experience before they transfer to a 4-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. As an Embark participant, you can sign up to mentor a PUMAS intern in your lab over the summer and expand your skills as a scientific and professional mentor.
  • Salary and Benefits
    Participants will receive a postdoctoral salary based on years of experience, Gladstone’s full benefits package, and a stipend of $10,000 per year for the period of the program.

Find more information on the program, application procedure and the selection process here.

NIH FUNDED POSTDOC TRAINING FOR UNDERREPRESENTED AND MINORITY PHD STUDENTS

NIH Funded Postdoc Training in Informatics, Genomics, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Biomedical Data Science at Boston Children's Hospital

The Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) at Boston Children’s Hospital is now accepting applications for an NIH Funded Postdoc Training opportunity. The program has been committed to recruiting and retaining postdoctoral trainees who are URiM. We have maintained our commitment to diversity through prioritizing applications from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds.

LABSHARES NEWTON

We are excited to announce the launch of LabShares Newton, the first collaborative laboratory and biotech incubator in Newton, Massachusetts. LabShares provides a fully equipped laboratory, office space, and shared services to entrepreneurial biotechs without the hassle, lag time, and high upfront costs associated with building and managing their own labs. 

Through participation in the LabShares community, members receive a wide range of benefits and services. LabShares is conveniently located in a light-filled, modern office park near the Charles River -- just 15 minutes from Kendall Square with free parking, a gym, and a Fooda cafeteria.

LabShares is near capacity for its current space and has begun an expansion to double in size. We expect to open our newly renovated second floor in early 2019 and are accepting reservations now.

Check out the links below for more information. If you would like to schedule a tour contact Hannah Schram (jenna [at] labshares.com (hannah[at]labshares[dot]com), 857-222-5817).

LabShares Website

LabShares Upcoming Events

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

Clinical and Translational Research Course for PhD Students
Two-week intensive introductory course to demonstrate the role of PhD scientists in clinical and translational research, provide an overview and examples of how basic science and clinical observations lead to translational research, and increase awareness and access to Ph.D. role models, research resources, and potential career opportunities at the NIH. https://cc.nih.gov/training/phdcourse/index.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."

Career & Financial Guidance Programs

NEW PFIZER CAREER R&D ROTATIONAL PROGRAM

Pfizer Pilots a Groundbreaking Career Program in Cambridge

The Breakthrough R&D Rotational Program is designed to support the improvement of Black and Latinx representation in the life sciences

Find more information here.

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.

MIT'S IGRAD FINANCIAL LITERACY & CAREER RESOURCES PORTAL

The OGE sponsors MIT's iGrad financial literacy portal, with resources to help with financial support.

The iGrad Financial Literacy platform (offered for free to the entire MIT community in collaboration with the MIT Federal Credit Union) is customized for MIT with videos, articles, games,  job board, searchable scholarship database, and interactive modules on a wide range of topics, including emergency-funding, credit card management, identity protection, spending smarts, etc. it is a great financial literacy tool for students and the MIT community in general.

More information can be found at oge.mit.edu/finances     

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.

CAPD OFFERS THE VERSATILE PHD RESOURCE TOOL

MIT Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD) is pleased to announce MIT’s subscription to The Versatile PhD, a web-based resource for PhDs considering careers beyond academia. Our subscription, generously supported by OGE, can be accessed by students and alumni via CAPD’s webpage and student CareerBridge accounts. Once students register, they can simply log in to the site directly (www.versatilephd.com)

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