this WEEK in HST

WELCOME TO NEW HST BABY

Ben (HST MEMP PhD '18) and Katy Mead welcomed Oliver on June 10^th.
Congratulations to the whole family!

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.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: WEEKLY INSIGHT

Eliminating Bias from Medical School Admissions

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: Weekly Insight posts can be found here.

MIT & HARVARD COVID-19 RESOURCES

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

SOME GRADUATE COURSES TO CONSIDER

HST Graduate Courses of interest. (links to MIT course listing/schedule)

• HST.140 Molecular Medicine 
• HST.508 Quantitative Genomics 
• HST.518 Human Systems Engineering 
• HST.522 Biomaterials: Tissue Interactions
• HST.525 Tumor Microenvironment and Immuno-Oncology: A Systems Biology Approach
• HST.535 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
• HST.565 Medical Imaging Sciences and Applications 
• HST.583 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Data Acquisition and Analysis
• HST.590 Biomedical Engineering Seminar Series: Ethics in Healthcare & Biomedical Engineering (required “ethics” section)
• HST.714 Acoustics, Production and Perception of Speech
• HST.920 Principles and Practice of Drug Development  (course website)
• HST.953 Collaborative Data Science in Medicine 

Non-HST Courses

EC.090 Re-create Experiments from History: Inform the Future from the Past

A complete list of HST courses can be found here:  http://student.mit.edu/catalog/mHSTa.html

Full Subject Listings here: http://student.mit.edu/catalog/index.cgi

HST.590 LECTURE SCHEDULE

HST.590: Topics in Biomedical and Research Ethics - Fall 2022
Meets E25-117 Thursdays 4:30–6:30pm

Schedule of Lectures and Course Events:

• September 8, 2022
  Semester Introduction
• September 15, 2022
  Reading day
  Use this time to complete speaker selected readings
• September 22, 2022
  Follow the Funding: Conflicts of Interest in Medicine
  Alex Rich, Clinical informaticist and expert researcher on conflicts of interest and the opioid crisis
  Paul Thacker, Journalist & lead investigator for the US Senate on financial links between pharma & physicians
• September 29, 2022
  Follow the Funding: Who Pays for AI and who benefits from it in healthcare?
  Ron Vianu, Founder & CEO of Covera Health
  Ethics in Publication:
  Ivan Oransky, Co-Founder of Retraction Watch
• October 6, 2022
  Data & Algorithms:
  Sara Gerke, Law professor & researcher on the ethics of big data and AI in healthcare
  Follow the Funding: Conflicts of Interest in Medicine
  Jerome Kassirer, Former Editor-in-Chief of NEJM and Author of On The Take: How Medicine’s Complicity with Big
  Business Can Endanger Your Health
• October 13, 2022
  Follow the Funding: The Driving Forces of Healthcare Innovation
  John Abramson (both hours), Author of Sickening: How Big Pharma Broke American Healthcare and How We Can Repair It
• October 20, 2022
  Data & Algorithms: Bias in Big Datasets in Healthcare
  Speaker Panel - Hosted by Leo Celi
  Panelists: Leo Celi, Judy Gichoya, Hope Watson
• November 3, 2022
  Ethics & The Opioid Crisis:
  Andrew Kolodny, Medical Director of Opioid Policy Research at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management
  Ethics at the intersection of healthcare & climate:
  Marie Dunn & Caitlin Rublee, Clinical & Healthcare experts on the impact of climate change on health and health equity
• November 10, 2022
  Ethics & Personal Information in the Digital Health Age:
  Eric Perakslis, Chief Science & Digital Officer at the Duke Clinical Research Institute
  Historical Perspectives & DEI:
  David Jones
• November 17, 2022
  Ethics & Women's Health:
  TBD

FALL 2022 - 4-DAY CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION COURSE ON CRITICAL ISSUES IN TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT: ANGIOGENESIS, METASTASIS AND IMMUNOLOGY

The 37^th annual offering of our annual 4-day continuing medical education course on “Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis and Immunology”is scheduled for October 24-27, 2022. Because of COVID-19, our course will be offered online this year.

We are very fortunate to have a stellar faculty again this year: https://steelelabs.mgh.harvard.edu/tumorcourse

Register for the course, "Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis and Immunology", directed by Ludwig Harvard’s Rakesh Jain taking place from October 24-27, 2022. Contact Ms. Elizabeth Garzon EGARZON [at] mgh.harvard.edu (EGARZON[at]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu) for more information.

MIT BIOPHARMA INTERNSHIP CLASS OFFERED THIS FALL

Fall 2022 Research Experience in Biopharma 7.930 / 20.930

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

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

We match MIT PhD students with industry mentors to conduct research at a local biotech or pharma company. Recent host companies have included 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 PhD 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.

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

MIT COMMUNITY WELLNESS 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 wellness programs that fit your needs.

Have you registered for your favorite class yet?

Wellness Classes begin September 1 - sign up today!

View all Community Wellness 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 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.

You can learn more about the WCC consultations at http://cmsw.mit.edu/writing-and-communication-center and register with the scheduler to make in-person and virtual 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.

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.

MIT BIOTECH GROUP 2022 FALL KICK-OFF

From Pills to Cures: Reimagining medicine with CRISPR and gene editing

• Thursday, September 8, 2022
• 6-7pm
• Stata Center 32-155

Refreshments and networking with MBG members to follow!

RSVP Here

You're invited to join the MIT Biotech Group for our annual Fall Kick-off, featuring Dr. Samarth Kulkarni, CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics. Learn about MIT's premiere connection to the biotech industry and how you can get involved. The event will feature an introduction to the student-run group and how you can apply to join as an Associate.

Dr. Samarth Kulkarni has served as the CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics since 2017. He has significant expertise in strategy and operations in biotech and a wide range of related cutting-edge therapeutic technologies. He joined CRISPR in 2015 in the early stages of the company as Chief Business Officer and was then appointed to President and Chief Business Officer before becoming CEO. In this talk, Samarth will recount the evolution of CRISPR from its early days, through the clinical stage, and towards commercialization of a new class of curative medicines. 

Visit biotech.mit.edu to learn more about the MIT Biotech Group. Feel free to contact biotech [at] mit.edu (biotech[at]mit[dot]edu) with any questions.

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

SIDNEY PACIFIC ORIENTATION DANCE PARTY

We hope you are doing well and we wish all new residents a warm welcome! SidPac is hosting an orientation dance party on September 2 from 9pm-Midnight! Come and kickstart the new year by making new friends over a fun night of party, music, drinks and dancing! We will be having snacks and a variety of sodas and juices. Psst... Alcohol is provided! There will also be a DJ to liven up the night! We hope to see you there!

Location: Sidney Pacific Courtyard - Bring your MIT ID and valid government ID

ASHDOWN ORIENTATION

Ashdown's officers have worked hard to plan several exciting orientation events occurring over the next few weeks! We hope to see you there!

Here is a list of our orientation events:

• Ashdown Speed Friending (September 4th 6 - 9 PM, Hulsizer + Front Courtyard)
• Ashdown Puzzle Hunt [Please come a few minutes early to form teams!] (September 5th 7:30 - 9:30 PM, Hulsizer)
• Ashdown Dance Party (September 10th 9 - 11 PM, Hulsizer + Front Courtyard)
• Ashdown Brunch (September 11th 12 - 2 PM, Hulsizer + Front Courtyard)
• Ashdown Karaoke [Ashdown residents only] (September 16th 7 - 9 PM, Hulsizer)
• Ashdown Crosswords and Croissants (September 18th 10 AM - 12 PM, Hulsizer)​​

Find more information and register here. Please indicate your availability for each of the events and note down any dietary restrictions that you may have at the bottom of this form. Please note that *both new and current* students are encouraged to attend!

Please email the Ashdown House Executive Committee (AHEC) at ahec-five [at] mit.edu (ahec-five[at]mit[dot]edu) with any questions or concerns. We hope you have a wonderful orientation!

MIT SANDBOX INFO SESSIONS - APPLICATIONS OPEN SEPTEMBER 1

MIT Sandbox applications for new teams open on September 1^st– join an info session to learn more!

Did you know that MIT Sandbox provides funding and mentorship to help you explore your innovative idea as an entrepreneur?  Join us for the information session where you will learn more about the program and how Sandbox provides up to $25K in seed funding, mentorship, and training to support your entrepreneurial journey!

• Not a competition
• Open to all MIT undergraduate and graduate students from all schools
• Focused on student-driven entrepreneurship
• Supports students at all stages of the start-up process - from idea to launch
• Applications open on September 1st. – deadline September 12th.

Interested? Have questions and want to know more?

Register for a virtual info session

• August 30th info session, 4-5pm 
• Sept 8th info session, 12-1pm

Visit Sandbox website: https://sandbox.mit.edu/

MIT OPEN DATA PRIZE: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

To highlight the value of open data at MIT, and to encourage the next generation of researchers, the MIT School of Science and the MIT Libraries present

The MIT Prize for Open Data

Winners receive $2,500 and an invitation to present their project at an “Open Data at MIT” event during Open Access Week in October.

We’re seeking nominations for projects by MIT researchers that: 

• created new open data
• creatively used existing open data
• built technologies that advance use or dissemination of open data 
• contained novel theorizing about open data, e.g., with respect to social and ethical responsibility

Eligibility: Nominees must be conducting research at MIT, with preference for trainees (e.g., research technicians, undergraduate or graduate students, post-doctoral researchers). Self-nominations are encouraged.

Nominations due Friday, September 16, at 5pm

Submit at libraries.mit.edu/opendata

Co-sponsored by MIT School of Science and MIT Libraries

2023 KOCH INSTITUTE IMAGE AWARDS - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Do you have a beautiful biomedical image to share? The 2023 Image Awards competition is now open! 

All MIT students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate. Submissions should be sent along with accompanying information form(s) to kigalleries [at] mit.edu (kigalleries[at]mit[dot]edu) by end of day on October 14. Each contributor may submit up to five high-resolution images taken as part of original MIT research. Winning images will appear in the 13th annual Image Awards exhibition, opening in March 2023 with lightning talks by image creators.

Details and information form are available at https://ki.mit.edu/image-awards. We can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on!

INAUGURAL NUCLEATE SUMMIT 2022 - BOSTON

Are you an academic trainee (postdoc/PhD/MBA/MD/JD) interested in building life science startups? Are you passionate about therapeutics, diagnostics, medtech, or synthetic biology?

Register NOW for the Nucleate Summit!

About the Summit
The Nucleate Summit will be hosted in Boston, Massachusetts on August 29-30th, unifying the world’s largest biotech student community [registration + info here].

The two-day celebration will harness the potential of the Nucleate network from around the world, comprising hundreds of volunteers, founders, and investors. The Leadership Summit (Day 1) includes shared experiences that will strengthen bonds among Nucleate leadership, alumni, special guests, and sponsors. The Community Summit (Day 2) includes premier networking opportunities, inspirational speakers, and the Activator Pitch Showcase, featuring recent winners from the 9 Nucleate regions. Please read the descriptions of each ticket type and select the one that best fits your academic status, affiliation to Nucleate, and travel plans.

Attendance to the summit is completely free for all current academic trainees.

About Nucleate
Nucleate is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders, with chapters spanning 9 regions and participation from over 70 academic institutions. Nucleate identifies future biotech entrepreneurs, removes barriers, and helps founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.xyz to learn more, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Strong Track Record
Over four years, Nucleate has formed and supported 107 companies through our Activator program. Our alumni have gone on to raise over $160M in funding to develop technologies like protein sequencing (Glyphic), drug design (Manifold Bio), microbial fertilizer (Ivu Biologics) and biomanufacturing (Foray Biosciences). This year’s cohort has already raised $9M in capital - join us in August to learn more and network directly with our teams and community!

OPEN POSITIONS: MIT SEED ACADEMY

SEED is Back On Campus this FALL!

The MIT Saturday Engineering and Enrichment (SEED) Academy is back on campus for FALL 2022! Calling all passionate undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals to empower middle and high school students with the skills and confidence to become future scientists and engineers!

Fall 2022 SEED Exploratory Courses

• Academic Mentoring
• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Science (python)
• Data Visualization (python)
• Engineering Design
• Academic Mentoring

Attention Applicants
We are currently planning to administer the program in-person, which would require COVID vaccinations (and boosters) for all students and staff who participate and the ability to transition to virtual instruction if necessary. We will update applicants on evolving program policies, structure and requirements.

The Fall 2022 SEED semester will take place on the following 8 Saturdays:

Sep. 17, Sep. 24, Oct. 8, Oct. 15, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, Nov. 12, and Nov. 19, with class sizes between 15-20 students.

Positions available include:

• Project Course and Academic Mentoring Instructors ($30/hr, ~10-12 hours per week)
• The minimum educational requirement for instructors is a Bachelor’s degree.
• Seeking instructors to design and teach engaging courses in a STEM and Academic Mentoring respectively.
• Teaching Assistants ($15/hr, ~8-10 hours per week)
• The minimum educational requirement for Online Facilitators is the completion of one year of college coursework.
• Program Facilitator ($16/hr, ~10-12 hours per week)
• The minimum educational requirement for a Program Facilitator is the completion of one year of college coursework. College students who have reached upper class status preferred.

For questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with staffapp [at] mit.edu (staffapp[at]mit[dot]edu)

About SEED Academy
Since the program’s launch in 2003, we have engaged youth from diverse backgrounds in the joy and excitement of discovery, making, and project-based learning. SEED Academy scholars are competitively selected and academically promising middle and high school students from public schools in Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence, MA. Most are also from backgrounds underrepresented in science and engineering. In addition, all 100+ SEED families and scholars are deeply committed to our multi-year program and they are very eager to be in a community with others who love STEM and love to learn.

Find more information and teaching staff application instructions here. Applications are still open.

Sponsored by the MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs

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: web.mit.edu/mitac
• 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.

iGrad
OGE 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 SPOUSES & PARTNERS CONNECT AND MIT LANGUAGE CONVERSATION EXCHANGE

MIT Spouses & Partners Connect is wrapping up its 50^th anniversary year – check out our anniversary publication to learn more about how our program has grown over the decades!

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

The best way to stay up to date on all of our events and activities is to subscribe to our email newsletter which will be delivered every other Friday during the summer months!

ON-GOING OFFERINGS

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/

2^nd Annual Ice Cream Tour - August 31st still available

This is a great opportunity to meet new and old friends, because in addition to visiting a local ice cream shop, we socialize and play games. We usually spend 1.5-2 hours in a local park together, so please plan accordingly. Find the dates and register here.

Conversation Group - Fridays

If you would like to feel more comfortable conversing in English and work on your fluency via cultural dialogues about life in the US, customs, and current events, then this is for you! Meet other MS&PC members, exchange ideas, and have fun in a friendly environment! All levels of English are welcome. Please contact ecgatmit [at] gmail.com (ecgatmit[at]gmail[dot]com) if you are interested in attending the meeting.  Open to members of the MIT community, which includes enrolled students, staff, visiting scientists and scholars, faculty, their spouses and partners.

For dates, times, and locations, please email ecgatmit [at] gmail.com (ecgatmit[at]gmail[dot]com)

BEST WAYS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR EVENTS

Subscribe to our email updates: http://spouses.mit.edu/join/subscribe

Join our private Facebook Group

Follow us on Instagram @mspconnect

Visit our events calendar at spouses.mit.edu/event-calendar

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 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

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lce.mit.edu/subscribe

• Stay informed about upcoming small group meetings & events

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE LCE

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

Follow us on Facebook @MITLCE

Visit our calendar

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.

SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS OPEN - GERBER LAB - HMS/BWH

Post-doctoral Fellow, Deep Learning for the Microbiome at Harvard Medical School
Post-doctoral positions available (with flexible start dates) to develop novel deep learning approaches to further understanding of the microbiome--the trillions of microbes living on and within us. This fascinating, complex and dynamic ecosystem is crucial for human health, and when disrupted may contribute to a variety of diseases including infections, arthritis, allergies, cancer, heart and bowel disorders. Over the past decade, sequencing and other high-throughput methods have provided data about the microbiome at unprecedented scale.

We are looking for talented and highly motivated post-docs with strong mathematical backgrounds (computer science, computational biology, statistics, mathematics, ecology, physics, etc.) who want to develop and apply novel deep learning methods that will further understanding of the microbiome.  Applications include forecasting microbial population dynamics in the gut for rational design of therapies, predicting the impact of the microbiome on the onset or progression of human diseases, predicting interactions with the host immune system, elucidating host-microbial metabolic interactions, and discovering functions of uncharacterized microbial metabolites and proteins. From the machine learning perspective, areas of interest include:

• Fully-differentiable interpretable probabilistic models based on relaxations and variational inference
• Deep Bayesian, dynamical systems and other structured models
• Neural topic models
• Deep learning models using sequence information

The position could be a good fit for either someone with a strong machine learning background who wants to get domain-specific research experience, OR someone with a strong mathematical background who wants to get more machine learning experience.

Applicants should have a high level of interest in:

• Applying new deep learning technologies to biomedical problems.
• Advancing knowledge of the microbiome and its role in human health and disease.
• Having your work make an impact on healthcare outcomes.
• Working on an interdisciplinary team and collaborating with computational, wet lab and clinical scientists.

The candidate is expected to engage with the broader machine learning and computational biology communities by presenting work at top conferences, as well as publishing applications of new methods in high impact journals. Although some experience modeling biological or other complex systems is required, microbiome specific knowledge is not required.

About the lab: the Gerber Lab (http://gerber.bwh.harvard.edu) develops novel statistical machine learning models and high-throughput experimental systems to understand the role of the microbiota in human diseases, and applies these findings to develop new diagnostic tests and therapies. A particular focus of the Gerber Lab is understanding dynamic behaviors of host-microbial ecosystems. Our work in this area includes Bayesian statistical machine learning methods for discovering temporal patterns in microbiome data, inferring dynamical systems models from microbiome time-series data, or predicting host status from microbiome time-series data with human interpretable rules. We have applied these methods to a number of clinically relevant questions including understanding dynamic effects of antibiotics, infections and dietary changes on the microbiome, and designing bacteriotherapies for C. difficile infection and food allergy. We also apply our methods to synthetic biology problems, to engineer consortia of bacteria for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Environment:  the Gerber Lab is located in the Division of Computational Pathology (http://comp-path.bwh.harvard.edu), which Dr. Gerber heads, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and the Massachusetts Host-Microbiome Center (http://metagenomics.partners.org), which Dr. Gerber co-directs. BWH, an HMS affiliated teaching hospital is adjacent to the HMS main quad and is the second largest non-university recipient of NIH research funding. The broad mandate of the BWH Division of Computational Pathology is to develop and apply advanced computational methods for furthering the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. The Division is situated within the BWH Department of Pathology, which houses over 40+ established investigators, 50+ postdoctoral research fellows, and 100+ research support staff. In addition, BWH is part of the greater Longwood Medical Area in Boston, a rich, stimulating environment conducive to intellectual development and research collaborations, which includes HMS, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston Children’s Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Qualifications:

• PhD in computer science, computational biology, ecology, mathematics, physics, statistics, or other quantitative discipline.
• Excellent publication track record.
• Strong mathematical background with track record developing novel models and methods.
• Solid programming skills in Python, with PyTorch experience desirable.
• Experience modeling biological or other complex systems required; microbiome experience desirable, but not required.
• Superior communication skills and ability to work on multidisciplinary teams.

Email single PDF including cover letter, CV, unofficial transcripts, brief research statement and list of at least three references to Dr. Georg Gerber (ggerber [at] bwh.harvard.edu (ggerber[at]bwh[dot]harvard[dot]edu)). In your CV, indicate whether you are a U.S. citizen/permanent resident or visa holder (and list visa type).

Research Scientist, Machine Learning for Microbiome at Harvard Medical School
The Microbiome AI/Deep Learning Lab in the Massachusetts Host-Microbiome Center and Division of Computational Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School is seeking a scientist with experience in machine learning. You will develop, deploy, and apply machine learning approaches, with a special emphasis on deep learning, to a variety of microbiology data sources. Applications will include forecasting microbial population dynamics in the gut, predicting impact of the microbiome on host phenotype, tracking infections in human populations, elucidating microbial metabolism, and discovering functions of uncharacterized microbial metabolites and proteins. An important component of the position will also include engagement with the broader research community to identify new application areas.

Applicants should have a high level of interest in:

• Applying new deep learning technologies to biomedical problems.
• Advancing knowledge of the microbiome and its role in human health and disease.
• Having your work make a direct impact on healthcare outcomes.
• Working on an interdisciplinary team and collaborating with computational, wet lab and clinical scientists.
• Engaging with the broader research community to advance applications of AI/deep learning for the microbiome.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in Computational Biology, Computer Science, Physics, Statistics, Quantitative Microbial Genetics, Quantitative Ecology, or related quantitative discipline, with demonstrated experience in machine learning.
• Strong publication track record.
• Programming experience in Python.
• Experience with Unix, shell scripting, and high-performance computing environments (e.g., SLURM/LSF).
• Experience with bioinformatics methods and pipelines for next generation sequencing data analysis.
• Experience with organizing and managing large multi-omics datasets.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with PyTorch.
• Experience with microbiology/microbiome applications and metabolic modeling tools.

Email single PDF including cover letter, CV, and list of at least three references to Dr. Georg Gerber (ggerber [at] bwh.harvard.edu (ggerber[at]bwh[dot]harvard[dot]edu)). In your CV, indicate whether you are a U.S. citizen/permanent resident or visa holder (and list visa type).

About the environment: The Microbiome AI/Deep Learning Lab is a newly established initiative within the Massachusetts Host-Microbiome Center (MHMC) and the Division of Computational Pathology (DCP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH)/Harvard Medical School (HMS). With recent funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the Lab is building a state-of-the-art compute cluster with extensive GPU and CPU nodes, with the objective of making advanced deep learning technologies broadly available to microbiome researchers. The MHMC is a research and core facility that has worked with 100+ groups in the US and internationally to promote understanding of host-microbiome interactions in health and disease, emphasizing a focus on function to define causative effects of the microbiota and to harness this knowledge in developing new therapies, diagnostics and further commercial applications. The DCP is a research division with a broad mandate to develop and apply advanced computational methods for furthering the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. BWH is an HMS affiliated teaching hospital, adjacent to the HMS main quad, and the second largest non-university recipient of NIH research funding.

GEORGE CHURCH LAB POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW POSITION AVAIALBLE

We have a Post-Doctoral Fellow opportunity within the group at the Wyss Institute to work on engineered cell-based therapeutics. Ideal candidates should have a background in either immunology, cancer biology, synthetic biology, or genetic engineering.

As a Northpond Labs funded project, this is a unique and fully-funded opportunity for those interested in working on research with translational and commercial potential.

Interested individuals may apply directly or contact the lab at church_lab_admin [at] hms.harvard.edu (church_lab_admin[at]hms[dot]harvard[dot]edu) with any questions

MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER - RECRUITING POSTDOCS - APPLY NOW

Postdoctoral training opportunities are available in Biological, Biomedical Sciences, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is actively recruiting talented researchers to join us for the next phase of their career. MSK is a top-ranked cancer center that consistently produces innovative research aimed at preventing, controlling, and ultimately curing cancer among other diseases. We write to actively invite your graduating or recently graduated PhD students as well as postdocs seeking more experience to apply to be a part of MSK. We’d greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word amongst your students.

At MSK, postdoctoral trainees are embedded in a scientifically invigorating environment in the heart of NYC, an exciting hub for biomedical research. Postdocs would join a vibrant community of nearly 500 others pursuing a fertile range of scientific topics, all the while developing their skills and professional potential among a diverse mix of talented colleagues.

MSK provides postdoctoral researchers with a highly competitive salary and benefits package with yearly increases; full medical, dental, and vision coverage for themselves and any eligible dependents; low-cost housing options, affordable childcare, and minimum of 12 week paid parental leave.

To learn more about the diverse laboratory specialties in SKI and in Memorial Hospital and to peruse currently open positions, please visit our Postdoctoral Opportunities page HERE and the Career portal HERE, where candidates can also upload their CV to be contacted about future opportunities.

PRINCIPAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHER POSITION AT GENENTECH INFECTIOUS DISEASES

The Department of Infectious Diseases at Genentech is seeking a highly motivated Principal Scientific Researcher to participate in discovery research and drug development in the area of host-microbe interactions. The candidate will help drive our efforts in understanding dysregulated host pathways in infectious disease, including (but not limited to) sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, and COVID-19. This is a laboratory-based position that requires hands-on experience in immunology, microbiology, and cell biology. The successful candidate will be a member of a dynamic and highly motivated team committed to discovering novel therapies in infectious disease.

Qualifications

• PhD in Immunology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, or related field

• Track record of independent research and creativity, as demonstrated by high impact publications

• Excellent communication skills and experience working in a highly collaborative environment

• Familiarity with immune cell culture and/or in vivo models, multicolor flow cytometry, cellular immunological assays, single cell genomics, and gene perturbation technologies (CRISPR ko/i/a)

Preferred Expertise

• Strong background in cellular immunology and experience studying gene function in primary immune cells, particularly myeloid cells

• Previous experience in modeling and studying interactions between immune and non-immune cells (endothelial, epithelial cells, or fibroblasts) is desirable

• Background in systems immunology and experience with computational analysis of -omic datasets is a plus

Find a link to the job posting here.

POST-DOCTORAL POSITION – CAROLINA CANCER NANOTECHNOLOGY T32 TRAINING PROGRAM

The Carolina Cancer Nanotechnology Training Program is an NIH funded 24-36-month mentored training program offered at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with focus area of research on cancer nanotechnology. Join an elite group of scientists and innovators using multidisciplinary concepts and skills to improve cancer diagnosis and therapy based on tools and discoveries made in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

All applicants must be either US citizens or permanent residents.

Strong emphasis on cancer biology and clinical medicine in addition to nanotechnology. Program focus areas include: drug delivery, polymers, chemo- and immunotherapy, RNA vaccines, computational chemistry, PK/PD, and translational research. Curriculum of seminars and workshops developed to broaden understanding of all areas of cancer nanotechnology. Physical and material scientists, pharmaceutical scientists, biomedical engineers, and clinician scientists all strongly encouraged to apply.

Apply Now!

Educational Requirements:
Trainee will have completed highly relevant doctoral training in medical, pharmacy, chemistry, biomedical sciences, or related area and was awarded PhD, MD, or MD/PhD.

Please refer to the program website  for additional details. Any questions or inquiries can be directed to Amy Fry at amy_fry [at] unc.edu (amy_fry[at]unc[dot]edu).

POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITY - RAKESH JAIN LAB - MGH

Tumor Microenvironment, Vascular Biology, Matrix Biology, Immunology, Molecular  & Cellular Biology, Metabolism, Intravital Microscopy and Biomedical Engineering

The JAIN LAB (https://steelelabs.mgh.harvard.edu/rakesh_jain/pi_bio) in the STEELE LABORATORIES OF TUMOR BIOLOGY (https://steelelabs.mgh.harvard.edu) at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions. Multiple positions are available in tumor microenvironment, vascular biology, matrix biology, immunology, molecular/cellular biology, metabolism, intravital microscopy and biomedical engineering. Ideal candidates should have a strong academic background, peer-reviewed publications, strong English language proficiency and writing skills. Candidates with a strong background in single-cell-sequencing, bioinformatics, Python, and R statistical computing are also encouraged to apply.

The Steele Labs have a diverse faculty and offer a lively and supportive environment in which to perform cutting-edge interdisciplinary research. Our research goals are (i) to understand how the abnormal tumor microenvironment confers resistance to various cancer treatments (e.g., molecular therapeutics, nanotherapeutics, radiation and immunotherapy), (ii) to develop and test new strategies to overcome this resistance, and (iii) to translate these strategies from bench to bedside through multi-disciplinary clinical trials. This tight integration between bench and bedside and application of engineering/physical science principles to oncology is a hallmark of our research.

Responsibilities: We seek creative thinkers who take risks in defining and addressing important problems, and who use quantitative molecular, genetic, cellular, and computational approaches in their work. Research fellows are encouraged to apply for post-doctoral fellowships and to write their own transition grants to launch their independent research careers following their training period. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience with additional funding for conferences and training seminars.

Requirements: A PhD or MD/PhD is required. To apply, please send your CV, a career statement, a summary of your most significant research accomplishments (300 words) and the contact information of three references to: Steele Labs Recruiting jobs [at] steele.mgh.harvard.edu (jobs[at]steele[dot]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu).

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW - BRYAN RANGER LAB - BOSTON COLLEGE

The postdoctoral fellow will work with Prof. Bryan Ranger and his collaborators (including faculty in the Computer Science Department and School of Nursing at Boston College) on projects involving machine learning (ML) for medical image and biomedical signal analysis. Background and expertise in developing original methods for recognition in images or videos is essential. Candidates with experience in software development (AI-enabled) on mobile hardware platforms for computer vision applications are particularly well-suited for this position. Collaborative opportunities to apply ML techniques to other types of data, such as clinical biomarkers and social determinants of health, may also be available if there is interest.

Prof. Ranger’s research group will have a particular focus on developing technologies that will address challenges in settings with limited resources. Though not required for the position, experience with human-centered design and a demonstrated interest in global health is a plus. While the fellow will spend most of their time conducting research and working on manuscripts, there may be opportunities for teaching, mentoring and grant writing. The fellow will also get an opportunity to develop interdisciplinary research skills by collaborating with clinicians and researchers from other disciplines.

Since the Engineering department started a new undergraduate human-centered engineering program in 2021, the post doctoral research fellow may also get opportunity to develop leadership skills through initiating departmental activities and mentoring students in the program.

The fellow will have a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or any other relevant field by the start date. This is a 1-year appointment with the possibility for renewal. The successful candidate will be required to adhere to Boston College’s Covid-19 policies.

Applicants should submit a cover letter that includes a description of research interests, a curriculum vitae (CV), and the contact information of two references (who will only be contacted if the candidate is shortlisted for an interview). For further information or questions, please contact Bryan Ranger at bryan.ranger [at] bc.edu (bryan[dot]ranger[at]bc[dot]edu).

Dr. Ranger is an HST MEMP Alum.

HWANG-WEISSLEDER LAB T32 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW POSITION

The Hwang Lab (Laboratory for Spatial and Systems Oncology) in the Center for Systems Biology, Center for Cancer Research, and Department of Radiation Oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, https://csb.mgh.harvard.edu/investigator/william_hwang is seeking an outstanding T32 postdoctoral fellow interested in cancer biology/neuroscience. We seek applications from candidates with a PhD, MD, or MD-PhD degrees who are US residents. Experimental, computational, and hybrid experimental-computational candidates are all encouraged to apply.

Research in the Hwang Laboratory is focused on studying tumor-stroma interactions in gastrointestinal malignancies at unprecedented resolution through the development and application of techniques in single-cell and spatial biology, multiplexed imaging, and functional genetic screens to patient-derived specimens, organoids, and mouse models to elucidate mechanisms of:

1. Therapeutic resistance mediated by genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic factors including cell state plasticity
2. Treatment-mediated remodeling of the spatial microarchitecture of tumors and underlying cancer cell-stromal interactions
3. Tumor-nerve crosstalk, which plays a critical role in the pathophysiology and morbidity of many malignancies but remains understudied. 

The T32 postdoctoral fellow would have a primary appointment with Dr. Hwang, who prioritizes mentorship and career development for trainees. The fellow would also be co-mentored by Dr. Ralph Weissleder, Director of the Center for Systems Biology and PI of the T32 training grant. Joint interests between the Hwang and Weissleder labs include developing highly translatable biomarkers to track tumor remodeling and guide adaptive therapeutic approaches, including integration of liquid and tissue biopsies with the goal of unlocking latent in situ information from less morbid and more convenient liquid biopsies.

Interested candidates are invited to submit application materials consisting of i) a cover letter indicating research background/interests/plan including a statement of impact, ii) a curriculum vitae and iii) three references to Serena Sullivan at Sullivan.Serena [at] mgh.harvard.edu (Sullivan[dot]Serena[at]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu) and Dr. Hwang at whwang1 [at] mgh.harvard.edu (whwang1[at]mgh[dot]harvard[dot]edu).  

Additional information: https://csb.mgh.harvard.edu/information/careers

POST-DOC POSITION - MIT MECHE

Position title: Post-doctoral Researcher
Position start date: September 1st
Project: Rapid detection of airborne pathogens
Faculty Supervisor: Domitilla Del Vecchio, Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT

Project description: This project aims to design a fieldable device to perform near real time detection of indoor airborne pathogens. Currently, there are no devices available to detect airborne pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, in indoor environments in near real-time and on-site. Timely action informed by early detection can reduce the spread of infection in a number of settings, such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and office buildings, thereby also reducing the costs of healthcare, absenteeism, and loss of productivity. In the past two years, we devised and characterized a fieldable process for rapid detection of SARS-CoV2, which can detect levels of pathogens in the low range of what is expected in closed spaces, such as schools, nursing homes, and hospitals, within one hour of operation. The detection process is composed of several steps, each requiring different technical expertise, including electrostatics, mechanical design, microfluidic and microchannel fluid flow, and biochemical analysis. The project team currently includes several students/researchers with complementary expertise. In the next year, we seek to create a fieldable device by integrating and automating the steps composing the process such that we can conduct in-field tests in hospitals, schools, and office buildings. The ultimate objective is to produce (a) an easy-to-operate product prototype and (b) sufficient data to demonstrate the value of the technology. With (a) and (b), our goal is to raise seed funds to commercialize the technology.

Position Overview: The post-doc will co-lead the team with a senior mechanical engineering student. He or she will be responsible for (i) specific technical tasks, (ii) market-related tasks, and for (iii) planning and executing field tests along with the mechanical engineering student. The technical aspects include optimizing the performance and form factor of a capillary electrophoresis system; designing and fabricating microfluidic devices, incorporating semipermeable membranes, which automatically transfer fluids among the stations of our sensor system; coordinating with other team members, with potentially different backgrounds, the integration of the different process’ steps. Market-related tasks include interviewing potential customers in different segments, engaging with government and state authorities, and performing market analysis with the assistance of a marketing specialist to identify the most promising business models. In-field tests will take place in hospitals and in office buildings in the Boston area. Planning of these tests will require coordination with the site entities, which include nurses, hospital epidemiologists, and building managers. This will be in collaboration with a mechanical engineering student who already created plans with the interested entities. The post-doc will also be expected to work with the mechanical engineering student in assisting the PI with fund raising. This position is for one year, with the potential extension to (a) either a second year within the academic setting if academic funding is available or to (b) an extra-academic setting if we are able to raise seed funds for a startup.

Qualifications: PhD degree in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or closely related fields is required. Expertise is required in fluids transport phenomena including electrokinetics (electrophoresis and electroosmosis). Expertise with nucleic acid amplification and detection techniques such as RT-qPCR is also required. Previous experience is desirable with one of the followings: engineering of capillary electrophoresis systems, engineering of electrolytic cells, engineering and fabricating microfluidic devices incorporating semipermable membranes. A general interest in entrepreneurship is highly desirable.

Contact: If you are interested, please contact Domitilla Del Vecchio at ddv [at] mit.edu (ddv[at]mit[dot]edu).

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION(S) AVAILABLE IN THE BOYER LAB AT MIT

The Boyer lab in the Departments of Biology and Biological Engineering has an open position(s) for a Postdoctoral Associate to investigate the mechanistic basis of cell fate decisions during cardiac development, regeneration and disease.  We are a multi-disciplinary and highly collaborative team that uses both experimental (molecular, cellular, genetic, single cell omics and image-based approaches) and computational approaches to probe complex systems. Open projects investigate the mechanisms by which organelle and cell-cell crosstalk drive cardiomyocyte maturation. We ultimately aim to identify regulatory networks that can be used to improve the therapeutic outcomes for patients with disease, cardiotoxicity, or age induced heart failure.  We also take lessons from these mechanistic studies to improve tissue engineering approaches for modeling human cardiac development and disease using hiPSCs (human induced pluripotent stem cells). The ideal candidate should have experience in cell culture, mouse models, and/or bioinformatics as well as a demonstrated track record of innovation and strong communication skills. We offer an outstanding training and exciting intellectual environment, excellent resources, and career support.  Our lab and MIT are dedicated to building a diverse community and encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

Interested candidates should send their CV and a short letter of interest to lboyer[at]mit.edu.

OPEN POSITIONS AT EARLY-STAGE BIOTECH (ARDA THERAPEUTICS)

Arda Therapeutics is a seed-stage biotech taking aim at chronic diseases and aging by eliminating the pathological cells that drive these conditions. Our approach starts by using single-cell data to identify pathological cells and surface markers to target them. We then design therapies to eliminate these - and only these - cells.

Arda is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and backed by Andreessen Horowitz, GV, The Longevity Fund, Village Global, Axial, NJF and others. Our team combines expertise in pathological cell clearance with a rare blend of computational and drug development know-how, and we are hiring for experimental and computational roles. Check out open positions here.

MULTIPLE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING AND MACHINE LEARNING - MGH

Organization: Massachusetts General Hospital, Cardiovascular Research Center
Location: Boston, MA
Deadline: till the positions are filled

Description:
The projects involve the development of novel signal processing algorithms and hardware to improve health care delivery in:

(1) the Intensive Care Unit 

(2) smart-phone based diagnostics 

The interested individual(s) will function as part of a multi-disciplinary team of life scientists, engineers and clinicians.  

Environment:
The mission of the laboratory is to develop advanced computational approaches to study the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias from the myocyte to the whole organ level. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is a major research center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Collectively, these institutions represent one of the largest aggregations of biomedical researchers in the world. Opportunities exist for scientific interaction and collaboration with an extensive program of seminars, symposia and other organized meetings focused on a large array of topics. These seminars are weekly and include local, national, and international speakers on topics of general relevance for cardiovascular science and medicine. The Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) has an internationally recognized research program in cardiovascular, vascular, and pulmonary disease and development. The CVRC is home to over 100 researchers, in two locations - the Charlestown Navy Yard and the new Richard B. Simches Research Building. The MGH Division of Cardiology and the CVRC have a proven track record in training leaders in the fields of applied cardiac electrophysiology, pulmonary and vascular biology.

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should have a PhD in biomedical engineering or other relevant areas of biomedical sciences. She/he should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, be independent, self-motivated, and should have solid knowledge of machine learning and signal processing, and significant programming experience in MATLAB and Python. 

Contact:
Antonis A. Armoundas, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital/Cardiovascular Research Center
149 13^th Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

TEL: 617-726-0930, FAX: 617-726-5806

Email: aarmoundas [at] partners.org (aarmoundas[at]partners[dot]org)

POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA NEUROMODULATION RESEARCH CENTER

The Neuromodulation Research Center (NMRC) is accepting applications for multiple postdoctoral associates. Under the direction of Dr. Jerrold Vitek, the NMRC brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts from neurology, neurosurgery, neuroscience, radiology, and engineering to advance neuromodulation therapies for movement disorders. Our group is part of the Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research. In the heart of Minnesota’s ‘Medical Alley,’ our NIH funded team fosters inventive, translational research aimed at training the next generation of researchers and clinicians while providing Minnesotans with world-class care. We seek outstanding scientists interested in working in an NIH funded research program studying motor systems neurophysiology, the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD), mechanisms of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in preclinical animal models of PD, and new DBS approaches. These postdoc positions offer opportunities for multidisciplinary research, training in neuroengineering and neurophysiology, and career development. The projects associated with the available positions are described below.

Basal ganglia cortical coupling and connectivity changes in Parkinson’s disease and deep brain stimulation (Job # 346366)
The major goal of this study is to assess the effect of directional DBS in the internal segment of the pallidum (GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) on parkinsonian motor signs and associated changes in neuronal activity in the basal ganglia-thalamocortical motor circuit. This project is focused on the analysis of large-scale neuronal populations, characterization of circuit connectivity in PD, optimization of directional DBS, and development of closed-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS) approaches by using the MPTP non-human primate model of PD.

Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying parkinsonian motor signs (Job #346513)
The goal of this study is to identify the specific neurophysiological changes that occur within and across key nodal points of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical motor circuit with the onset of PD and how these evolve as motor signs become increasingly more severe.

Optimizing coordinated reset deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease (Job #346515)
Coordinated reset deep brain stimulation (CR DBS) is a novel DBS approach that has the potential to treat parkinsonian motor symptoms with significantly less stimulation compared to traditional DBS. Utilizing the MPTP nonhuman primate model of Parkinson’s disease, this project is to optimize critical CR parameters, compare CR DBS in different targets, and understand the mechanism underlying its therapeutic effects. Specifically, this study investigates the changes in neuronal activity across multiple cortical regions, STN and GP that are associated with the therapeutic effect of CR-DBS using different cycle rates and delivered into STN or GPi.

Neuronal activity in MC and SMA during STN and GPi DBS  (Job #346514)
In this study, neuronal activity and connectivity changes across motor, premotor and prefrontal cortical areas are correlated with the development of parkinsonian motor signs, their amelioration during DBS and L-dopa therapy, and to changes in the planning, initiation and execution of movement.

The qualifications required for these positions are:

• PhD in biomedical engineering, neuroscience or related engineering/science field
• Experience conducting neurophysiology experiments in the human and/or animal models
• Signal processing and data analysis
• Programming in MATLAB
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with others
• Strong record of presenting research results through publications and conference abstracts

For more information please email Wyatt Doepke (doep0013 [at] umn.edu (doep0013[at]umn[dot]edu)) with your CV.

SALK FELLOW POSITION AT THE SALK INSTITUTE

The Salk Institute is currently accepting applications for a Fellows position from a variety of disciplines, from biology, physics and mathematics to engineering, statistics and computer science.   

The Salk Fellows Program is a path for exceptionally talented early-stage career scientists to embark on fully independent research programs as an alternative to traditional postdoctoral studies. We seek bold leaders who are passionate in exploring new frontiers in science and pursuing innovative solutions to fundamental questions in biology. Candidates or recent PhD or MD graduates, ideally no more than one year from graduation with two at the most, with demonstrated excellence in research and leadership ability are appointed as Principal Investigators for an initial term of three years with the possibility for an extension of one to two additional years for a maximum of five years. Salk Fellow appointees are eligible for consideration for promotion to Assistant Professor.

Salk fellows are interdisciplinary scientists who integrate diverse approaches (e.g. computer science, mathematics, imaging, computational biology, physics, machine learning, molecular modeling, synthetic biology or engineering) to address fundamental biological questions. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, all aspects of health and disease (e.g. human, plant and global health/disease), adaptation and evolution, host-pathogen interactions, neurobiology, physiology, translational medicine and genomics, biophysics and bioengineering. 

Prospective Fellows’ proposed research should not be simply an extension of their graduate work but should pursue bold and uncharted frontiers. The work should be exciting, combining originality and risk, two factors that often lower the chances of obtaining support through traditional channels but can lead to truly groundbreaking discoveries.

Candidates must complete an application online through Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/102486 and include a current curriculum vitae, research statement, and three recommendation letters from scientists who are distinguished leaders in their fields, including one from their research advisor.  Selected referees should be able to comment in depth on candidates’ accomplishments and potential and describe the impact of their proposed research programs on their fields. Research advisors should explain how candidates’ research is distinct from previous work conducted in their labs. Referees should also address candidates’ readiness to start and operate an independent lab and their potential to benefit from an accelerated path to an independent research career.

Applications with all required materials will be accepted until the position is filled.

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."

GSAS HARVARD BIOTECH CLUB INCUBATOR SEEKING COMPANY APPLICATIONS

The Harvard Biotech Incubator is seeking company applications for the Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 academic year!

Whether the state of your project is a great idea based on solid science or a pre-existing company, The Incubator can accelerate the translation of your technology into a commercializable product or venture-backed start-up!

Benefits of The Incubator:

Within this year-long program, a team of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, business students and other members of the Harvard/MIT community will work directly on developing your company. Guided by a panel of academic and industry advisors, The Incubator will…

• Brainstorm all potential product-related applications.
• Perform due diligence/market analysis.
• Gain insight from key opinion leaders.
• Develop investor pitch decks.
• Create integrative business plans to help guide your company.

Throughout our program, you will have unparalleled access to our panel of advisors and team of Harvard/MIT affiliates as we work together to realize the full commercialization potential of your business.

Company Requirements:

• Affiliated with Harvard/MIT.
• Early-stage company (e.g., pre-IND) OR well-developed science-backed idea.
• Technology or therapeutic target with multiple potential applications/indications.
• Applications are not restricted to healthcare. Biotechnology applications beyond the realm of healthcare are also encouraged to apply.

Apply Here

Get further information at The Incubator website here

For questions and inquiries, please contact hbincubator [at] gmail.com (hbincubator[at]gmail[dot]com)

Advisors

• Dr. Fred Mermelstein, Entrepreneur in Residence at Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI).
• Dr. Carl Novina, Associate Professor at DFCI and serial entrepreneur.
• Dr. Robert Distel, Special Advisor for Technology Development at DFCI.
• Dr. Kelly Griskis, Research Analyst, Tekla Capital Management.
• Dr. Yije Ma, Director of Global Business Development and Corporate Gene Therapy Strategy Lead, CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Dr. Pushkal Garg, Chief Medical Officer, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.

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'S NEW FACULTY JOB SEARCH SERIES

Join us for CAPD’s New Faculty Job Search Series and prepare yourself to strategize, anticipate, and effectively execute a faculty job search. These workshops will help you understand the conventions and expectations for required documents (CVs, cover letters, diversity statements, teaching statements, and research statements); revise, polish, and perfect your application materials; develop interview skills; and be ready to negotiate salary, benefits, research provisions, and more. These workshops are open to MIT Graduate Students and Postdocs, and you may register for all the workshops or just the few that you need.

You’ll find the latest updates on upcoming workshops in your CAPD Newsletters or you can always check the CAPD Events page. Sign up for our newsletters and automated emails by updating your uConnect profile and preferences.

Have questions? Contact us.

Upcoming Workshops:

September

• “Refining the Academic Cover Letter for Faculty Job Applications: Hands-On Workshop” 
  • Tuesday, September 20, 12:00-1:30 PM ET
    Description: Academic cover letters for faculty job applications are a little bit different than your typical industry cover letter. Join us to learn more about this specific document, what it should include, and how you can use it to make an impact. In this workshop, we will go over the document and its typical format, discuss strategies to highlight your skills and accomplishments, and review some examples and address individual questions. To make the most of this workshop, please consider bringing your own academic cover letter draft to share and gather feedback from the group.
    
    Registration Coming Soon

October

• “Faculty Job Search Essentials: Interviewing and Negotiating Offers”
  • Wednesday, October 12, 3:00-4:30 PM ET
    Description: This workshop will help you prepare for the faculty interview process. Learn what to expect for both first-round screening interviews (phone or video), and second-round in-depth interviews (campus visits or virtual). Get advice on the different components of the interview process, including presentations you may be asked to prepare (research talk, chalk talk, teaching demo), and meetings with faculty and students. We will also cover what to consider when assessing and negotiating faculty offers.
    
    Registration Coming Soon

Events Coming Soon:

• “Path of Professorship”
  • Friday, November 18-Sunday, November 20

• “Essentials: Finding a Postdoc”

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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