this WEEK in HST

2024 HST FALL DINNER

This year, the annual HST Fall Dinner took place on Thursday, November 14th at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, MA. The evening opened with a reception followed by a formal dinner and concluded with a keynote presentation. 

The keynote speaker was Alex Shalek Director of IMES, Director of the Health Innovation Hub, J.W. Kieckhefer Professor in IMES, Extramural Member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, a member of the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, and an Institute member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

We were joined by over 150 members of the HST community including students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to the organizers for making the evening a huge success! 

MIT GLOBAL SUPPORT RESOURCES: REGISTERING YOUR TRAVEL

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

Who should register?

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

MIT-related travel includes travel that:

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

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

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

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

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

HELP SPREAD THE WORD - HST!

Are you traveling for any of the following reasons?

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

Can you help promote HST by talking to prospective students?

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

VISUALIZE YOUR RESEARCH WITH COMIC ARTISTS 

This upcoming spring, the Comparative Media Studies department with be running CMS.306 Making Comics and Sequential Art and for the final project, students will have the option of designing an engaging visual explanation of scientific research. 

This is a wonderful opportunity to have your work portrayed and explained as sequential art in a comic!

If you are interested, contact Jason Wiser at jwiser [at] mit.edu (jwiser[at]mit[dot]edu) no later than December 15th with the subject line "MIT Research Comic". Please include a short description of your research and information for the best person to contact with further questions. 

SPRING 2025 COURSE OPPORTUNITY: 8.S198 - HISTORY AND DANGERS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

This spring, the department of Physics is offering a 9-credit course which will be open to all students. 

8.S198: History and Dangers of Nuclear Weapons
Instructor: Professor William Barletta

This course will provide students with a perspective on how and why the dangers of nuclear weapons have grown in the past twenty years after a long period of actions by nuclear weapons states to step back from the brink of catastrophe. Since their creation, nuclear weapons have extinguished more than 150,000 human lives in mere minutes. Many more have perished from acute radiation poisoning. Hundreds of thousands of cancer deaths have resulted from dispersing radio-toxins throughout the atmosphere by atmospheric testing. The present worldwide efforts to rebuild and expand nuclear weapons arsenals is an enterprise costing more than $2 Trillion. If you are a citizen or permanent resident of a nuclear weapons state, these efforts are conducted in your name. On the positive side, many more nations are committed to preventing the further proliferation of nuclear weapons. 

Besides the core team of lecturers, we will have a few guest lecturers—specialists in the technologies, military use, and the politics of controlling nuclear weapons.

If you have further questions about the course, please reach out to Michal Holland at holland3 [at] mit.edu (holland3[at]mit[dot]edu). 

IAP 2025 COURSE OPPORTUNITY: NEW EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC AND PLANETARY SCIENCES (EAPS) SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES

The department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science (EAPS) at MIT has added two new special topics courses for the IAP 2025 term. 

12.S590: Special Seminar in Geophysics – GeoSciences and the Energy Transition Challenge

Instructors: R.C.M.W. Franssen, E.J.M. Willemse & Ben Holtzman (MIT)
Schedule: January 13-17, 2025; 9:00am-12:00pm
Level: G (Undergraduates welcome!)
Units: Units arranged

The ‘Geosciences and the Energy Transition Challenge‘ course provides the participants with a broad understanding of technical, economic, and societal issues relevant to energy resource developments such as carbon storage (CCS), shallow and very deep geothermal, and hydrocarbon extraction, in the context of designing a range of various production/use scenarios ranging from carbon-free, -neutral and -negative. Emphasis is on practical work and involves the assessment of a single site in a densely populated area in NW Europe as a case study for the development and planning of a geothermal project (shallow for district heating, or deep for large scale power generation, as end-member cases), a carbon sequestration store, or a hydrocarbon field. The participants analyze hands-on technical and basic economic evaluations, risks and uncertainties, scenario analysis, dilemmas and stakeholder expectations, as well as wider socio-economic challenges related to developing an industrial scale subsurface energy resource. These case study projects are placed in the context of the Paris Climate goals to get an appreciation of the scope of the challenges that lie ahead.

This week-long course is set up for teamwork and is designed using a problem-based learning approach. The participants will interpret some basic technical data, create production- and cashflow profiles, take on technical and non-technical challenges, and think about the feasibility and risks of subsurface energy projects. Four lecture sessions (3 hour each) will cover the basics of subsurface resource development, practical team-work modules (4 afternoons), and class discussions of interim results. No prior subsurface experience is required. The fifth day is reserved for group presentations and discussion.

12.594: Special Seminar in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science – Auditory Perception of Natural Data, Part I (Direct Sonification of Oscillatory Signals) 

Instructor: Ben Holtzman 
Schedule: January 6-10, 2025; 2:00-5:00pm
Level: G (Undergraduates welcome!)
Units: Units arranged

Most of the wave-like phenomena in nature are far outside of the range of our direct perception, above and below, in spatial and temporal scales. Data representing such processes comes from sensors with often sparse, incomplete information. Usually, as scientists, we look at these signals and then design processing schemes to make inferences. However, our visual perception is not necessarily optimized for extracting meaning from waves. Often, we can gain significant, complementary or deeper insight by listening to it. So why don’t we? Sonification is the process of turning data of any kind into an audible representation. Any oscillatory signal can be frequency-shifted into our audible range and played as a sound. Our auditory perception has better temporal resolution than our visual perception, and is particularly attuned to interpretation of dynamics, including cause and effect, forcing and response. Combining visual and auditory representations of data can help us understand complex spatial-temporal interactions among events. 

In this short, project-based course, we will first provide methods for sonification of oscillatory data (in python), and discuss simple to increasingly complex implementations (filtering, time compression/expansion), and spatialized audio for listening to multiple sensors simultaneously. We will also discuss when these methods break down (for non-oscillatory, non-stationary data). During the first two class sessions, we will explain and illustrate these methods with some of our current work on the wide range of length and time scales of earthquakes in a range of settings (including volcanoes, geothermal heat mines, tectonic faults, and the laboratory). Most of the class (days 3-5) will be for student projects. Please bring ideas for your own datasets to sonify, from your research or otherwise, from any domain. I can also provide datasets. At the end of the week, everyone will present their sounds and explain the phenomenon and research questions, method of sensing that it, and questions generated in the process of making and listening. 

If you have further questions, please contact Ann Greaney-Williams at agreaney [at] mit.edu (agreaney[at]mit[dot]edu)

To learn more about the EAPS department, visit their website. 

IAP 2025 COURSE OPPORTUNITY: 15.339 - DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

15.339: Developing Leadership Capabilities (IAP 2025)

Develop leadership skills needed in today’s increasingly decentralized organizations through conceptual discussions, small group exercises, and self-reflection. We emphasize skill-building around key leadership capabilities: sensemaking, relating, visioning, and inventing. Apply leadership concepts to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses and understand better your values and aspirations as a leader.

This is a 3 day in-person course with 2 sections available: 

• Wednesday, January 8th - Friday, January 10th, 9am-5pm
• Tuesday, January 14th - Thursday, January 16th, 9am-5pm

6-unit (P/F) graduate-level course that meets the Sloan leadership requirement. Open to MIT Graduate Students Only.

Instructors: 
Prof. Thomas Malone, Director of MIT Center for Collective Intelligence
Prof. Wanda Orlikowski, Professor of IT and Work & Organization Studies

Deadline to Apply is Friday, December 6th (applications reviewed on a rolling basis). 
Apply Here.

If you have any further questions about the course, contact Chen Liang at bjcliang [at] mit.edu (bjcliang[at]mit[dot]edu). 

MIT RESEARCH MENTORING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR PHDS AND POSTDOCS

Applications are now open for the 2025 Research Mentoring Certificate program for PhD students and postdocs, which will take place in person during IAP. 

A collaboration between the Office of Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD) and the School of Engineering Communication Labs, this certificate program provides an opportunity for PhDs and postdocs to develop their mentoring skills and grow their practice of productive and inclusive research mentoring.

Over the course of the program, students will develop a mentoring philosophy that they can use in their mentoring roles and draw from as they describe their strengths as mentors in applications and interviews. Students will explore key concepts in mentoring pedagogy, including:

• Maintaining effective communication
• Aligning expectations
• Addressing equity and inclusion
• Assessing understanding

Deadline to Apply: Monday, December 2nd

APPLY HERE.

Admitted students will be placed in one of two cohort groups based on their availability. 

IAP Section A: Wednesdays, 1pm-3pm (January 8, 15, 22)

IAP Section B: Thursdays, 10am-12pm (January 9, 16, 23)  

Participants must attend all 3 workshop sessions in order to earn the certificate.

Each session will be led by facilitators trained by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER). All PhDs and postdocs at MIT who are interested in research mentoring are encouraged to apply for the program. 

For more information about the program, visit the MIT Career Office website.

NEW TECHETHICS COLLOQUIUMS

As part of its new Program on the Ethics of Emerging Technologies, the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics is launching the TechEthics Colloquium, to be held on selected Tuesdays, 12.30-1.45 (over a catered lunch) throughout both semesters, in the Safra Center Seminar room (124 Mt. Auburn, Suite 520N). We are now building a mailing list specifically for this colloquium. To let us know that you wish to be on this list, please enter your contact details and dietary requirements through this link.

We are aiming to assemble a group of people interested in the ethics of emerging technologies who are willing to attend reasonably regularly to create a bit of a sense of community around these issues. The primary goal of this colloquium is to discuss academic work around normative issues about technology, work of interest to people with a philosophical background, but the orientation is interdisciplinary. Artificial Intelligence is of special interest for this colloquium, but other technologies too may enter the discussions. The focus is to a large extent on bringing in younger scholars from outside the Boston area, but we will also include local scholars as presenters. The colloquium is co-sponsored by the Safra Center, Embedded EthiCS@Harvard, and the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, and co-convened by Mathias Risse and Jeff Behrends. 

Please note: A paper (work in progress by the speaker) will be pre-circulated, and all participants are expected to read it in advance. Since only those on our mailing list will have access to the paper, please follow the link above to provide your contact info if you'd like to participate.

The program for this first year is as follows:

February 18 - David Danks (UCSD)

March 4 - Will Fleisher (Georgetown)

April 1- Diana Acosta Navas (Loyola Chicago)

April 15 - Duncan Purves (University of Florida)

April 22 - Linda Eggert (Oxford)

MIT BOOTCAMPS ON INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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

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

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

MIT COMMUNITY WELLNESS CLASSES AND RESOURCES

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

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

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

View all Community Wellness classes here.

MIT WRITING AND COMMUNICATION CENTER (WCC)

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

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

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

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

UPCOMING EVENTS FROM THE TEACHING + LEARNING LAB (TLL)

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

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

TLL December Speaker Series

Please join us for the last talk of the semester!

Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum in Engineering: Implications for Educational Practice

When the hidden curriculum is unaddressed or acknowledged in learning and working environments, unintended consequences can occur among learners (e.g., student attrition, low sense of belonging, demotivation towards the profession). In the engineering classroom, research has shown that an unattended hidden curriculum negatively impacts how students perceive the engineering discipline and their fit to the field. With small changes in educational practices, hidden curriculum can be flipped to promote student motivation, performance, and persistence. This talk will provide a brief overview of the hidden curriculum in engineering education and provide simple, practical tips and strategies in engineering education practice.

Wednesday, December 4th at 2 pm on Zoom.

About the Speaker: 

Idalis Villanueva Alarcón, Ph.D., joined the Engineering Education Department in the University of Florida at Gainesville in summer 2020 as an Associate Professor. Prior to this position, she was an Assistant Professor of Engineering Education at Utah State University and before that, she was a Lecturer in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland at College Park. She has a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a postdoctoral degree in Analytical Cell Biology from the National Institutes of Health. Her research interests include hidden curriculum in engineering, mentoring of minoritized students and faculty in science and engineering, and study of motivation and learning pathways in science and engineering education using mixed- and multi-modal tools (biological and physiological). In 2019, she received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) award for her 2017 NSF CAREER project on hidden curriculum in engineering. Most recently, she received the Educator Achievement Award – Higher Education in the 2024 Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Technical Achievement and Recognition (STAR) Awards.

All are welcome! Please register via Zoom.

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

Find more information on the Teaching Tracks here.

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

Subscribe here to the TLL Newsletter.

HARVARD CATALYST COURSES AND EVENTS

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

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

HARVARD INNOVATION LABS CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

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

REVOLUTIONS IN LIFE SCIENCES & ENGINEERING POSTER SESSION

Get ready to showcase your groundbreaking research at the "Revolutions in Life Sciences & Engineering" poster session! This exciting event is part of the upcoming MIT Life Sciences & Health Symposium on December 4, 5-6:30 p.m.

We invite undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs to submit their innovative work in life sciences and engineering for a chance to win cash prizes in the following categories:

• Foundational Discoveries: Recognizing outstanding contributions to basic scientific knowledge.
• Breakthrough Synergies: Highlighting impactful research at the intersection of disciplines.
• Impacting Human Health: Showcasing research with the potential to transform healthcare and improve lives.

Application Submission Deadline: Monday, November 25, 5:00 p.m.
Please include presenter's name, lab and department affiliation, poster title, and a short abstract.
Apply Here.

Why participate?

• Gain recognition. Present your research to leading faculty, researchers, and peers at MIT.
• Win cash prizes. Top posters in each category will receive cash awards.
• Network and collaborate. Connect with fellow researchers and potential mentors.
• Build your CV. Enhance your academic credentials with a prestigious presentation opportunity.

Don't miss this opportunity to share your research and contribute to the vibrant scientific community at MIT!

Please contact Katey Provost at kstew [at] mit.edu (kstew[at]mit[dot]edu) if you have further questions. 

We look forward to seeing your submissions!

HBS HEALTH CARE CONFERENCE

The Health Care Club at Harvard Business School will be hosting their annual Health Care Conference this winter with the theme "At the Tipping Point: Transforming the Care of Prevalent Disease". 

As our understanding of human biology and disease have dramatically improved, we now approach the tipping point of being able to truly impact prevalent diseases. The 22nd annual conference delves into the transformative tools, technologies, and approaches that are allowing us to tackle diseases affecting millions, such as obesity, neurodegeneration, and age-related conditions. 

Highlights Will Include:

• Keynote Speeches & Plenary Sessions: Insightful talks from leading voices at the forefront of healthcare.
• Aging Workshop: A hands-on session exploring new approaches to tackling age-related diseases with industry veterans and academics pioneering our understanding of the field. 
• Panels on topics such as the evolving cardiometabolic landscape, investment in prevalent diseases, neurodegeneration, and the continuously expanding role of digital health.

We are now at the precipice of an unprecedented ability to improve the lives of patients across the globe – be part of that change.

DATE: Sunday, December 8 · 8:30am - 5pm EST
LOCATION: Harvard Business School (Klarman Hall) Boston, MA 02163

For more information and to view the full agenda, visit the HBC website.

To purchase your tickets for the event, visit the link here.

AI, HEALTH EQUITY, AND ETHICS SYMPOSIUM

Hosted by the MIT Priscilla King Grey (PKG) Public Service Center, this thought-provoking event will delve into themes of epistemic humility and diverse perspectives to foster meaningful community involvement and reshape the ways we think, learn, and collaborate—aiming to prevent AI from perpetuating existing disparities in healthcare.

The symposium will feature a keynote by philosopher and bioethicist Dr. Tereza Hendl, a panel discussion, and interactive workshops focusing on AI limitations and bias, equitable innovation, and more! 

Thursday, January 16th from 10am - 3:30pm at MIT E90-1201
Lunch and refreshments will also be provided.

REGISTER HERE.

We hope you’ll join us for this engaging event, designed to inspire collaborative action in the pursuit of equity in AI-driven healthcare. Stay tuned for more details and information.

COMPUTATIONAL & SYSTEMS BIOLOGY (CSB) FALL SEMINAR SERIES

CSB Seminar Series is a student-organized, interdisciplinary seminar on computational and systems biology featuring student and postdoc speakers. The CSB Seminar Series is resuming this fall, featuring 4 trainee talks to take place through November and December. 

Upcoming Seminars: 

Wednesday, December 4th
Towards Automated Model-free Analysis of cryo-EM Volume Ensembles with SIREn

Wednesday, December 11th
Understanding Disease Heterogeneity in Diabetes using Continuous Glucose Monitoring

To ensure you receive reminders, please be sure to join our mailing list if you haven’t already: csb-seminar [at] mit.edu (csb-seminar[at]mit[dot]edu)

HSI LUNCH SEMINAR SERIES

HSI Lunch Seminar Series with Brian Anderson, MD, Coalition for Health AI (CHAI)

Sparking a Data Revolution in Healthcare via FHIR: Conversations with Leaders from Government, Industry, and Innovators

The Coalition for Health AI (CHAI)  - Responsible AI in Health Care

Monday, December 2nd from 11:30am-1pm in MIT 62-350

RSVP at Sloan Groups *Open to All*
Lunch will be provided in person.

Join Zoom Meeting 
Meeting ID: 926 8616 4245
Passcode: 15777

Speaker: 
Brian Anderson, MD
Chief Executive Officer, Coalition for Health AI (CHAI)

Dr. Brian Anderson is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) where he leads a national coalition in the development of technical standards and best practices for MLOps, including governance, testing, evaluation and monitoring in Health AI Assurance Labs.

Moderators: 
Anne Quaadgras, Director, MIT Sloan Health Systems Initiative
Doug Williams, Product Lead, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship

Scale Up Health Series

The Scale Up Health Series explores the concept of "scaling in healthcare", bringing together industry operators who have successfully scaled healthcare solutions with strategic and financial investors to discuss the challenges and opportunities in healthcare scaling.

Future Sessions:
Tuesday February 11, 2025
Part 2 -  Scaling: Ramp Up
Discuss key factors and best practices for successful scaling in healthcare.

Tuesday April 29, 2025
Part 3 - Exiting and Transforming: Level Up
Examine strategies for exiting or transforming scaled healthcare enterprises.

FALL 2024 MIT BIOINFORMATICS SEMINAR SERIES

The Bioinformatics Seminar is co-sponsored by the Department of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Theory of Computation group at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). The seminar series focuses on highlighting areas of research in the field of computational biology. This year, we are hoping to highlight three topics: (1) evolution and computational approaches to modeling and understanding it, (2) generative AI for biology/biomedicine, and (3) algorithms for computational biology/genomics.

Seminar Series Link: https://math.mit.edu/compbiosem/

Hosted by Dr. Bonnie Berger
For more information please contact: Anna Sappington (asapp [at] mit.edu (asapp[at]mit[dot]edu))

UPCOMING INSTITUTE COMMUNITY & EQUITY OFFICE (ICEO) EVENTS

A calendar of upcoming events is available here.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP BOSTON - EVENTS

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

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

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

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

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

BRAINMAP SEMINARS

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

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

MIT MATERIALS FOR HEALTH CLUB SEEKING GRADUATE STUDENT MENTORS

The Materials for Health Club is excited to invite graduate students like you to serve as mentors! We are a newly established group of undergraduates passionate about exploring the intersection of materials science and health. Our club organizes a range of events, including speaker series, lab tours, and a new student conference in the spring celebrating undergraduate and graduate student research in materials and health.

Our members are eager to connect with graduate mentors for guidance on research, career paths, and shared interests. We ask that mentors meet with their mentees just once a month—whether that’s over a cup of coffee or a casual chat! If your research aligns with areas in materials and health—such as neuroscience, cancer, medical imaging, biomedical devices, implantable materials, computational modeling, or injury/regeneration —we’d love to hear from you! By becoming a mentor, you'll play a vital role in inspiring and supporting the next generation of professionals across academia, industry, and healthcare.

If interested, please fill out this form.

2025 HARVARD PREISDENT'S INNOVATION CHALLENGE

The President’s Innovation Challenge celebrates student and alumni innovators from all 13 Harvard schools who are redefining what's possible. Each fall, Harvard students and select alumni and affiliate founders are invited to apply for the chance to win venture funding from the Bertarelli Foundation.

Student Eligibility
Ventures led by at least one fully matriculated, degree-seeking Harvard student, from any Harvard school – including undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical fellows – are eligible to apply for the PIC.

While we encourage collaboration with entrepreneurs, scientists, and industry executives – and welcome team members who are outside of the Harvard community – we require that a Harvard student be a founder, committed leader, and integral part of each venture. The Harvard student founder will be the primary point of contact and will be required to pitch on behalf of their venture.

The Application Deadline is Thursday, December 5th.  
For student applicants, one of the venture’s founders must not graduate from Harvard until May 2025 or later.

Visit the Harvard Innovation Labs website to learn more. 

STEM OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY - STEM SCHOLARS @ RAGON

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

SEEKING A COMPUTATIONALLY INCLINED PhD STUDENT FOR A PROJECT

Join our cutting-edge research team led by Dr. Victor Nauffal, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a member of the Cardiovascular Disease Initiative at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. We are looking for a dedicated PhD student with a solid background in machine learning to contribute to our project aimed at predicting cardiac fibrosis using electrocardiograms (ECGs). You will receive mentorship from both a cardiovascular specialist and a senior machine learning engineer within the Machine Learning for Health (ML4H) Initiative at the Broad Institute. Building on our pioneering work with cardiac MRI data, you will assist in developing and validating an AI model, Fibrosis-AI, which will serve as a digital biomarker for cardiac fibrosis. This project provides the unique opportunity to work with a dataset of 40,000 paired cardiac MRIs and ECGs as well as scholarly productivity in the form of scientific presentations and publications. If you are excited about leveraging machine learning to enhance early detection and intervention strategies for heart disease, we encourage you to apply. Compensation commensurate with a machine learning researcher will be provided for your valuable contributions to this research project. We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.

To learn more about our group, please visit: https://www.broadinstitute.org/ml4h

To express your interest in this research project and to learn more about this opportunity, please email Dr. Victor Nauffal at vnauffal [at] broadinstitute.org (vnauffal[at]broadinstitute[dot]org)

EXCITING MINDHANDHEART COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES

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

TOASTMASTERS CLUBS OF MIT

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

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

Clubs are currently meeting online and in person! 

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

Tuesday Evening Toastmasters, 6:30 to 8:00 PM

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

GRADUATE COMMUNITY FELLOWS POSITIONS

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

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

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

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

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

Available positions are listed at the current Fellow positions page.

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

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

MITAC OPPORTUNITIES

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

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

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

Feel free to stop by and visit!  

We look forward to seeing everyone!

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

OFFICE OF GRADUATE EDUCATION - FELLOWSHIP WORKSHOPS & FINANCIAL LITERACY RESOURCES

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

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

Some financial literacy resources:

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

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

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

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

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE NEWSLETTER

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

MIT GRAD DIVERSITY & ICEO NEWSLETTERS

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

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

Sign up for the GradDiversity Newsletter here.

Sign up for the ICEO Newsletter here.

MIT SPOUSES & PARTNERS CONNECT AND MIT LANGUAGE CONVERSATION EXCHANGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Appointments will be available at various times during the week.

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

BEST WAYS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR EVENTS

• Subscribe to our email updates: http://spouses.mit.edu/join/subscribe
• Join the MITFamilies Slack Space: bit.ly/mitfamiliesslack
• 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

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

FLAGSHIP PIONEERING FELLOWSHIP INFO SESSION

Join the GSAS Harvard Biotech Club for this exciting fellowship information session with Flagship Pioneering. 

Flagship Pioneering is a biotechnology company that invents and builds platform companies that change the world, including Moderna, Generate, and Indigo Agriculture. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble the capital to allow them to take courageous leaps. The Flagship Pioneering Fellowship is a full-time summer Fellowship (June-August) that provides an unparalleled opportunity for creative, entrepreneurial scientists to immerse themselves in Flagship's unique approach to inventing and building disruptive life science startups.

Wednesday, December 4th, from 6-7 pm at TMEC 338
Presented by HBC 

RSVP Here.

Featured Panelists: 

Brad Coleman
Senior Director of the Flagship Pioneering Fellowship

Grigori Guitchounts, PhD
Associate & 2022 AI Fellow 

Olivia Arnold, PhD
Associate & 2023 Flagship Fellow

Paris Pallis, PhD
Associate & 2023 Flagship Fellow

We hope to see you there!

ADI INNOVATION LAB - HEALTHCARE ALGORITHMS RESEARCH INTERN

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

What You’ll Do: 

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

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

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

Students who are interested can apply here.

RAND'S TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY POLICY CENTER

Interested in working on Technology and Security Policy?

Technology and Security Policy Fellowship

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

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

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

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

POSTDOC POSITION OPENING IN CAPASSO LAB - HARVARD SEAS

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

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

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

THE UCSF SANDLER FELLOWS PROGRAM

Nominations are being solicited for appointment as a UCSF Sandler Fellow. UCSF Sandler Fellows are independent group leaders who receive an annual financial award to cover their salary and the costs of their research program. Fellows are encouraged to apply for an NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5). The UCSF Sandler Fellow award is nonrenewable, for a term of five years. See http://fellows.ucsf.edu/ for additional details about the program.

A candidate must be nominated by a mentor/advisor who is able to comment in some depth on the accomplishments and future potential of the candidate. A nomination letter, accompanied by the nominee’s curriculum vitae, should be sent to the address below by 1/10/25. Selected applications will then be chosen to submit two additional letters of recommendation and a brief research plan. All letters should include specific comments about how the candidate’s proposed research program has the potential for high impact in the chosen field and is distinct from existing work in the advisor’s lab, and why the candidate is ready to start an independent lab. Nominees working in any area of modern biomedical sciences will be considered. Although the UCSF Sandler Fellows Program is eager to consider nominations of all exceptional individuals, we are particularly interested in attracting a broad, diverse spectrum of scientists to our campus.

The deadline for nominations is January 10th, 2025.

Nominations should be sent by email to:

Dr. Alan Frankel
Chair, UCSF Sandler Fellows Steering Committee
University of California, San Francisco

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
600 16th Street
San Francisco CA 94158-2280

Email: frankel [at] cgl.ucsf.edu (frankel[at]cgl[dot]ucsf[dot]edu)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY

The mission of the Gillani Lab in Computational Pediatric Cancer Research (https://gillanilab.dana-farber.org/) is to advance pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer care using cutting-edge computational biology approaches. We strive to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the germline genetics and tumor genomics of pediatric cancer, with a focus on pediatric solid tumors, to inform novel approaches to the management of pediatric cancer. We value great science that matters to patients, caring about each other as people and colleagues, and fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration. We are always looking for motivated and dedicated scientists at all levels of training to join us in our mission! Reach out to Riaz Gillani, MD (Principal Investigator) at riaz_gillani [at] dfci.harvard.edu (riaz_gillani[at]dfci[dot]harvard[dot]edu) to learn more.

ST. JUDE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

For students graduating before April 2025 who may be interested in postdoctoral fellowships at St. Jude, they may review stjude.org/postdoc and our open positions: https://talent.stjude.org/postdoc/jobs. 

POST DOCTORAL FELLOW IN DEEP LEARNING FOR MICROBIOME SPATIAL OMICS

The Gerber Lab (http://gerber.bwh.harvard.edu) is a multidisciplinary group at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School that develops novel computational 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 long-standing and continuing focus of the lab is on incorporating principled probabilistic models into machine learning methods. The director of the lab, Dr. Georg Gerber, MD, PhD, MPH, uses his unique expertise, combining deep learning method development, medical microbiology, and human pathology, to leverage cutting-edge technologies to tackle scientifically and clinically important problems.

We are looking for an exceptional researcher who will play a major role in new initiatives in the lab to develop novel deep learning (DL) approaches to further understanding of the spatial organization of the microbiome--the trillions of microbes living on and within us---and its interactions with mammalian cells. The successful candidate will be highly motivated and creative, taking a lead role in developing new deep learning-based methods, analyzing data, and interpreting results. Although experience analyzing data from biological systems is required, microbiome specific knowledge is not.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Computer Science, Computational Biology, or other highly quantitative discipline.
• Outstanding publication track record.
• Strong mathematical background and skills.
• Experience developing DL methods.
• Experience analyzing data from biological systems, including sequencing data.
• Solid programming skills in Python, including PyTorch.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work on multidisciplinary teams.

Environment:  the Gerber Lab is located in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Computational Pathology (http://comp-path.bwh.harvard.edu) at Harvard Medical School (HMS). With a recent grant from the Massachusetts Life Science center, the Division has built the Lab for AI/Deep Learning for the Microbiome, which has a state-of-the-art GPU cluster for model development, training and deployment.

To apply: email a single PDF including cover letter, CV, brief research statement and a list of at least three references to Dr. Georg Gerber (ggerber [at] bwh.harvard.edu (ggerber[at]bwh[dot]harvard[dot]edu)).

POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITY - RAKESH JAIN LAB - MGH STEELE LABORATORIES

TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT, VASCULAR BIOLOGY, MATRIX BIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, MOLECULAR & CELLULAR BIOLOGY, METABOLISM, INTRAVITAL MICROSCOPY and BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

The JAIN LAB  IN THE STEELE LABORATORIES OF TUMOR BIOLOGY 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 SCHOLAR OPPORTUNITY - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY - DIVISION OF PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

Virginia Commonwealth University's Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is expanding its research lab to encompass basic science, clinical research, translational science, and device development. Our lab is dedicated to investigating skin biology, skin conditions such as keloids and hypertrophic scars, burn physiology, and the regeneration of skin and soft tissues.

We are currently seeking a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral scholar to join our dynamic team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting ongoing research initiatives in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. This position will primarily involve laboratory work geared towards advancing these goals, including the utilization of cellular models, sequencing patient and animal samples, and analyzing therapeutic compounds. Additionally, the role will entail conducting small and large animal experiments under appropriate guidance to further basic science and therapeutic developments, with the ultimate objective of translating bench research into clinical applications. Experience in biomedical engineering and/or medical device design is preferred.

For additional details and to submit an application please use this link: https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/jobs/postdoctoral-scholar-department-of-surgery-division-of-plastic-reconstructive-surgery-richmond-virginia-united-states

PASCALL SYSTEMS JOB OPENING

Pascall Systems, a medical device startup by a group of MIT alumni is recruiting interns/part-time positions from PhD candidates with backgrounds in signal processing, machine learning, etc. interested in an industry research stint at an MIT/Harvard medical spin-off/startup.

If you are interested, please read details of the position here https://www.pascallsystems.com/post/we-re-hiring-algorithm-engineer-intern-part-time-full-time and reach out to the CEO directly who was an MIT BCS alum (Tuan Le Mau, PhD, t_lemau [at] mit.edu (t_lemau[at]mit[dot]edu) or tuan [at] pascallsystems.com (tuan[at]pascallsystems[dot]com))

RESEARCH INTERN POSITION - PARADIGM BIOCAPITAL

Research Intern, Paradigm BioCapital
Full-time, in-person; New York, NY

Paradigm BioCapital is a $2.2B AUM biotechnology-focused hedge fund based in New York, NY. We believe that the most appealing investments in biotechnology deliver transformative benefits to patients and redefine the treatment paradigm for physicians. Our investment strategy focuses on identifying such opportunities at the earliest proof of concept where the balance of reward and risk is most attractive. 

Position
Based in our NYC office, this internship is an intensive 10-12 week opportunity to learn and participate in a fast-paced and engaging investing environment. The intern will collaborate with the research team in evaluating potential investments through fundamental analysis of unmet medical need, clinical validation, and company outlook. 

Qualifications

• MD (preferred), PhD in life sciences, or MBA candidate from a top-tier university
  • If MBA, then undergraduate degree in biological sciences or post-graduate work in the biotechnology industry
• High integrity
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Passion for learning and humility in academic pursuits
• Detail-oriented with an eye for inconsistent findings

How to Apply

Please submit the following in PDF format to Vinayak Nikam at vinayak [at] paradigmbiocapital.com:

• Cover letter
  • Discuss any previous experience with biomedical research or the biotechnology industry
  • Highlight any therapeutic areas or technologies of interest.
  • Describe an experience when you worked in a small team of 3-5 people.
• Resume

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."

MIT VOLUNTEER CONSULTING GROUP WINTER 2025 ENGAGEMENT

MIT VCG is a student-led organization with a successful record of solving real business problems. 

Join us for our Winter 2025 MIT VCG engagement! You will have the opportunity to work with a biotechnology company to understand the spatial biology landscape and develop a plan for future development. Our program is open to all PhDs, MDs, JDs and postdocs in the Boston area. 

Applications Due: December 7th at 11:59 PM ET

Interview Dates: December 9th to December 18th

Winter 2025 Engagement: January 6th to February 14th, 2025 (6 weeks)

Apply Here.

FAQs
I have no consulting experience. Can I still participate?
Some experience in consulting case practice is preferred, but not necessary as long as you can demonstrate your interest and willingness to commit to VCG. You will be mentored throughout the 6-week project by a project leader with more experience.

I am not an MIT student. Can I apply?
Absolutely! The program is open to graduate students and postdocs in the Boston area. 

What is the time commitment for this project?
We expect the engagement to be a priority during your time in VCG. A minimum of 15-20 hours per week is expected, but be prepared to contribute more to produce a high-quality project that you can be proud of. Each week you will be required to participate in three meetings: two internal team meetings and one external client meeting.

I will not be available for some period of the 6 weeks. Does that matter?
Preferably you will be available for the duration of the project, but if you will be unavailable for a couple of days, we will consider this on a case-by-case basis. Further, as we will have a few in-person meetings with the client during the engagement, volunteer consultants may need to be able to attend these meetings in the Boston/Cambridge area this summer.

What is the final deliverable?
In the final client meeting, you will present your final recommendation slide deck to senior leadership at the company.

If you have any questions, please contact us at mitvolunteerconsulting [at] gmail.com (mitvolunteerconsulting[at]gmail[dot]com).

GSAS HARVARD BIOTECH CLUB CAREER 101 SERIES

Want to learn more about nonprofit vs for-profit venture capital funds? Or want to learn more about research foundations?

Join us for the next Harvard Biotech Club Career 101 Series featuring:

Stephanie Oestreich, PhD, MPA
Managing Director, Myeloma Investment Fund
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)

Tuesday, January 21st from 4-5 pm at TMEC 209

RSVP Here.

Food and beverages will be provided. Opportunity to network afterward!

GRIFFIN GSAS HARVARD BIOTECH EVENTS

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

Sign up to our mailing list here

Get more information on the club here at our website 

Follow us on social media!

Twitter: @thebiotechclub

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CAPD FACULTY JOB SEARCH GUIDE

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

MCKINSEY AND COMPANY RECRUITING NEWS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fill out our Connect with APD form!

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

MIT ALUMNI ADVISORS HUB - ADVISING OPPORTUNITY FOR MIT STUDENTS

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

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

Find an advisor today!

UPCOMING MIT CAREER FAIRS

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

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

Find out more about career fairs at MIT.

GRADUATE STUDENT CAREER EVENTS - WEBSITE & CALENDAR

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

The CAPD Event calendar can be found here. 

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

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