this WEEK in HST

ALEX SHALEK APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF IMES (HOME OF HST AT MIT)

From MIT School of Engineering Dean Anantha P. Chandrakasan on 7.25.24:

Dear members of the IMES community,

It is with great pleasure that I announce to you today the appointment of Alex K. Shalek as the new Director of the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), effective August 1, 2024.

Alex succeeds Elazer Edelman who has led IMES since April 2018.  

Alex is the J. W. Kieckhefer Professor in IMES and the Department of Chemistry, as well as an Extramural Member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. He is a core member of IMES and holds several leadership positions, including Director of the Health Innovation Hub. In addition to his roles at MIT, Alex is also: an Institute Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; a Member of the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard; an Assistant in Immunology at Mass General Brigham; and, an Instructor in Health Sciences & Technology at Harvard Medical School (HMS).

The Shalek Lab’s research focuses on developing and applying new technologies to understand and engineer human immune responses in tissues. Alex and his team use a cross-disciplinary approach that combines genomics, chemical biology, and nanotechnology to develop platforms to profile and control cells and their interactions. Working with partners around the world, they apply these technologies to dissect human diseases toward understand links between cellular responses and clinical observations to guide preventions and cures.

Alex received a bachelor's degree in chemical physics from Columbia University and his master’s and PhD in chemical physics from Harvard University. He was a postdoctoral scholar at the Broad Institute before joining MIT’s faculty in 2014.  

Throughout his career, Alex has received numerous prestigious awards and honors. These include a NIH New Innovator Award, a Beckman Young Investigator Award, a Searle Scholar Award, a Pew-Stewart Scholar Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Chemistry, and an Avant-Garde (DP1 Pioneer) Award. Alex has also been celebrated for his dedication as a faculty member, educator, and mentor. He was awarded the 2019-2020 Harold E. Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award at MIT and the 2020 HMS Young Mentor Award. 

Alex’s substantial contributions to the scientific community as a researcher and educator have been exemplary. His extensive network across MIT, Harvard, and MGB will be a tremendous asset as Director of IMES. He will undoubtedly be an excellent leader, bringing his innovative approach and collaborative spirit to this new role.  

I am grateful to Elazer Edelman for his incredible leadership and service to the department over the past six years. I’d also like to thank the search advisory committee for their efforts, particularly Jim Collins and Emery Brown, who served as co-chairs, as well as search committee members Daniel Anderson, Sangeeta Bhatia, Lee Gehrke, Marzyeh Ghassemi, Julie Greenberg, Lisa Lehane, Phillip Sharp, and Christopher Voigt.

Please join me in welcoming Alex to his new role as the leader of IMES.  

Sincerely, 

Anantha P. Chandrakasan
MIT Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer
Dean, MIT School of Engineering
Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

NEW MIT REPORTING PROCESS FOR RESEARCH - REMOTE WORK - CONFERENCES IN INDIA

Effective this month, any employee (includes RA/TA/IG) who will be working for MIT in India – including remote work, conferences, and research – will need to notify VPF at least 30 days in advance of travel by completing this pre-travel form.

More details about this new reporting process can be found at this 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.

MIT LIBRARY ORIENTATION SESSION FOR HST

The MIT Libraries has a set-up an orientation session for HST students, RSVP required:  https://libcal-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/calendar/events/hst2024

• Wednesday, August 28, 2024
• 10am - 11:30am
• 14N-132 (DIRC)

MIT Libraries Orientation for HST Students

Come learn how MIT Libraries can make your PhD experience easier! We offer services and resources that will save you time with research and writing. I will show you how to access our digital resources, from databases, books, to article PDFs. Learn about collaborative writing tools, best practices in data management and sharing, and managing citations. Breakfast will be provided.

RSVP/Registration is required. Please email cberman [at] mit.edu (subject: MIT%20Libraries%20Orientation%20for%20HST%20Students) (Claire Berman) with any questions.

18.418/HST.504: TOPICS IN COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

In addition to student research presentations, this course will feature a seminar series with a fantastic lineup of speakers (see below). This year, we've focused on three broad themes when inviting speakers: (1) evolution and computational approaches to modeling/understanding it, (2) generative AI for biology/biomedicine and (3) algorithms for computational biology/genomics. 

Please consider registering for the course, either graded or as a listener. Sessions will be hybrid, with in person and Zoom options. Additionally, sessions with invited speakers will have refreshments. Hope to see you there! 

Speaker Schedule:
Note: all invited speaker talks are held Wednesdays from 11:30am - 1pm

9/4 - Bonnie Berger (MIT)
9/11 - Roshan Rao (EvolutionaryScale)
9/18 - Ben Langmead (JHU)
9/25 - Ard Louis (Oxford)
10/2 - Smita Krishnaswamy (Yale)
10/9 - Sriram Sankararaman (UCLA)
10/16 - Kevin K. Yang (Microsoft Research)
10/23 - Bin Yu (UC Berkeley)
10/30 - Adam Phillippy (NIH)
11/6 - Ava Amini (Microsoft Research)
11/13 -  Michael Desai (Harvard)
11/20 - Jesse Bloom (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center)
11/27 - Aleksandra Walczak (Ecole Normale Supérieure)
12/4 - Tristan Bepler (New York Structural Biology Center)
12/11 - David Van Valen (Caltech)

Course Details:
18.418[J]/HST.504[J] Topics in Computational Molecular Biology
G (Fall): MW 11:30am-1pm (room number and Zoom link TBA)
Instructor: Prof. Bonnie Berger - TA: Anna Sappington

Last year's seminar website: here

Feel free to contact asapp [at] mit.edu (Anna Sappington), the TA for the course, with any questions. 

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.

FALL 2024 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN BIOPHARMA  7.930/20.930/CSB.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 working in industry after graduation doesn’t interest you, the insights from this experience will provide valuable professional development for any career path.

Class is 10 hours a week on a mentored project + weekly hour of guest lectures on industry-relevant and professional development topics (Wednesdays 11a-12p)

• No industry experience necessary or expected
• Open to post-quals PhD students in all relevant programs--BE, Bio, BCS, Chem, ChemE, HST, CSB, DMSE, EECS, Micro, MechE, etc. 
• Projects may include wet lab or computational work.

If you are interested, contact reb_instructors [at] mit.edu (reb_instructors[at]mit[dot]edu) as soon as possible. 

International students must be in a program with a requirement that allows you to use CPT.

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.

Wellness classes include: 

• Active Gentle Yoga
• Iyengar Yoga
• Mind-Body-Breath Yoga
• Qigong Meditation
• Roll+Recover
• Tai Chi
• Yoga For Every Body
• Noon Unwind
• 4:45 Unwind
• Mindfulness Mini-Course
• Sleep 101
• Breastfeeding Class
• Childbirth Preparation
• Infant Soothing Techniques
• Newborn Care

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 or to register for these 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.

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.

ML4H 2024 CALL FOR PARTICIPATION - MACHINE LEARNING FOR HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

ML4H 2024 invites submissions describing innovative research that lies in the broad purview of Machine Learning for Health. Authors are invited to submit work on relevant problems in a variety of health-related disciplines including healthcare, biomedicine, and public health. For full details, refer to the online Call for Participation: https://ahli.cc/ml4h/call-for-papers

This year, ML4H 2024 will accept submissions for two distinct tracks: the Proceedings track for formal archival publications, and the non-archival Findings track. Submissions are due on September 6th, 11:59 PM AoE in the form of anonymized PDF files. All submissions for ML4H 2024 will be managed through the OpenReview system. Similar to last year, we have a full author response period and reviewer discussion period to ensure proper feedback on the work. 

Similar to last year, we have a full author response period and reviewer discussion period to ensure proper feedback on the work. ML4H 2024 will feature three areas:

• Models and Methods: Algorithms, Inference, and Estimation
• Applications and Practice: Investigation, Evaluation, Interpretation, and Deployment
• Impact and Society: Policy, Public Health, Social Outcomes, and Economics.

While we especially encourage submissions relevant to this year’s areas, any submission that falls under the purview of machine learning for health is welcome.

In response to the growing ML4H community, ML4H has transitioned into a standalone symposium rather than a NeurIPS-affiliated workshop. This event represents a continuation of prior ML4H workshops/symposiums (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and will continue to be held in December, co-located with NeurIPS. ML4H 2024 will feature: 

•  Author Mentorship Program
• Career Mentorship Program
• Reviewer Mentorship Program and Top Reviewer Awards
• Paper awards for Best Proceedings paper and Best Findings paper
• Best Newcomer Paper award
• Real-world ML4H demonstrations

Important Dates
Aug 1st: Submission site opens
Sep 6th: Paper submission deadline
Oct 11th: Reviews available; Author response period starts
Oct 18th: Author response period ends
Nov 1st: Decisions released
Nov 8th: Early Career Travel Grant Application
Nov 15th [tentative]: Camera-ready deadline
Dec 15-16th: In-person event

Mentorship Opportunities
This year, we are offering three mentorship programs at ML4H: Author Mentorship, Reviewer Mentorship, and Career Mentorship.

The Author Mentorship Program pairs less experienced authors with senior researchers to provide feedback on their paper submission, with the overall goal of improving submission quality and fostering future collaboration. Deadline: July 5th.

The Reviewer Mentorship Program aims to train junior reviewers, foster new connections and relationships in the ML4H community, and ultimately improve the quality of the review process. Deadline: August 30th.

The Career Mentorship Program focuses advice on career-related topics, from developing a research plan to work-life balance. Deadline: October 15th.

Call for Demonstrations
There is a growing need for the evaluation of the challenges, solutions, and maturity of real-world ML4H tools. The Demo track invites submissions which showcase real-world applications of ML4H technologies, bridging the gap from proof-of-concept to practical utility. Accepted submissions will be non-archival and have the opportunity to present their live demo during the symposium. Check the Call for Demos for more details to come.

Contact Us
Please direct questions to: info [at] ml4h.cc (info[at]ml4h[dot]cc) and follow us on Twitter at @symposiumml4h.

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.

2024-2025 CALL FOR SERC SCHOLARS

Engage with the pressing challenges shaping our digital landscape, from combating deepfakes and misinformation to exploring ethical surveillance and privacy protection. Investigate the societal impact of gamification, address bias in large language models, and grapple with data ownership in the age of artificial intelligence.

As a SERC Scholar, you’ll have the opportunity to be at the forefront of technology’s evolution. Join our community to explore the frameworks of our connected world and advance the social and ethical considerations of computing.

If these topics intrigue you, consider applying to join the 2024-2025 cohort of the SERC (Social and Ethical Responsibilities in Computing) Scholars Program! Applications are now open. 

Join a community of undergraduates, graduate students, PhD candidates, and faculty to help advance the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing cross-cutting initiative on Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing.

What do SERC Scholars do?

• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams with members from across computing, data sciences, humanities, arts, and social sciences, led by a SERC postdoc.
• Develop and pilot new SERC course materials in collaboration with postdocs and faculty.
• Engage with external partners to advance AI in the public interest.
• Conduct research in a new, exciting cross-disciplinary area.

Who is eligible to apply?

This is a full year commitment with the possibility of a summer extension. This opportunity is open to students across the MIT community who are excited to advance our broad mission to incorporate humanities, social science, social responsibility, and policy/civic perspectives into MIT’s teaching, research, and implementation of computing. Being a SERC Scholars are hourly paid positionswith selective and limited yearly enrollment. 

What additional activities will SERC Scholars participate in?

• Regular lunches and talks with the SERC Scholars community.
• Meet-and-greets with pioneering leaders from academia, industry, and the public sectors.
• SERC seminars that occur twice a semester.

Projects

SERC Scholars will have the opportunity to work on 1 of 7 projects, the 2024-25 projects include:

• Deepfakes: Epistemology, Ethics, and Politics
• Data ownership & AI
• Generative AI & democracy
• Gamification
• Surveillance
• Big Data
• How Fair are Generative Models?

For more detailed information on these projects, as well as the bios of the post docs who will be leading the groups, please see our website here.

Each project will meet weekly for approximately one hour. SERC Scholars are required to attend these meetings.

Apply to be a SERC Scholar

Undergraduates

• This is an hourly paid position for 3–5 hours per week for the 2024–2025 academic year.
• Compensation is $15.75 per hour.

Graduate students and PhD candidates

• This an hourly paid position for 6–10 hours per week for the 2024–2025 academic year.
• Compensation is $25 per hour.

How to apply

• Fill out the SERC Scholar application and upload your resume and cover letter, which should be combined into one document.
• Provide a resume that includes relevant coursework and experience.
• Provide a cover letter that includes:
  • Why you’re interested in this experience.
  • What you hope you can gain.
  • What you hope to contribute.
  • Which activities and opportunities you’re most interested in engaging with.
• Rank project participation preference and explain in 100 words or less why you want to work in your preferred project(s). 

Applications close on September 15, 2024, at 11:59pm

For more detailed information, visit the SERC Scholar’s Program site here

ASHDOWN SUMMER CRAFTING EVENT

Come enjoy some crafts and lunch at Ashdown House’s Hulsizer Room on Saturday, August 24 from 12-2PM! We have a collection of exciting crafts, including DIY fabric tie pillows, crochet, embroidery, origami and more! 

This event is open to all graduate students of MIT. Please bring your own plates/utensils/cups. Hope to see you there!

Funded by the GSC funding board and Ashdown House tax.

MIT LIST VISUAL ARTS CENTER STUDENT LENDING ART PROGRAM EXHIBITION AND LOTTERY

• August 27 - September 16, 2024

Featuring over 700 original works of art, the Student Lending Art Program is a beloved MIT tradition where students can borrow artwork from the collection for free.

The exhibition features original works of art, primarily prints and photographs, drawn from the List Center’s Student Lending Collection. This annual exhibition, is free and open to the general public as well as the MIT community. 

Only enrolled undergraduate and graduate MIT students can enter the lottery for a chance to borrow artwork from the collection and must enter the lottery online before September 11.

Winners will be notified on September 14 and will be sent a link to schedule which day to come select an artwork in person. Students do not need to visit the gallery to enter the lottery, but winners will need to be present to select and take home the artwork between September 16-20. 

Key Dates for Students

• Lottery opens Tuesday, August 27, 2024
• Students sign up closed Wednesday, September 11, 2024
• Students will be notified on Saturday, September 14, 2024
• Art distribution week: Monday, September 16–Friday, September 20, 2024

Student Lending Art Program
Since 1977, the Student Lending Art Program Exhibition and Lottery has provided MIT students the enviable opportunity to borrow, appreciate, and live with a museum quality work of original art for the academic year. Works from the collection are distributed through a lottery system. Remaining unclaimed works are available for students to take home on a first come, first serve basis, once the exhibition closes. 

This program is free for all current MIT undergraduate and graduate students. 

Student Lending Collection
The collection is comprised of the Catherine N. Stratton Collection of Graphic Arts, established in 1966, the List Student Loan Collection, established in 1977, and the Ronald A. Kurtz Student Lending Collection, established in 1985. Approximately a dozen or more new works are added to the collection annually to expand the breadth of its offerings.

HARVARD BIOTECH CLUB LEADERSHIP TEAM OPPORTUNITIES

Join the Harvard Biotech Club Leadership Team! 

We're excited to announce open leadership positions in the Harvard Biotech Club for all current Harvard students and affiliates. This is a unique opportunity to be part of initiatives like the Career Fair, The Incubator, Explore, CONNECT, and the 101 Series. Join our Communications team to develop valuable skills and expand your network within the biotech industry. Don't miss out on this chance to contribute to HBC's impactful programs and enhance your professional growth. 

Apply now and become a leader in the vibrant HBC community! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

We currently have openings to join the HBC leadership team for the following initiatives: 

1. Career Fair: The HBC Career Fair is an annual event that provides a platform for students and post-docs to connect with leading employers in the life sciences industry. This event offers unparalleled networking opportunities, allowing attendees to explore job openings, internships, and career paths. Companies from various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and consulting, participate to meet and recruit top talent from the academic community. More information can be found here. 

2. The Incubator: The Incubator is an initiative that supports the development of entrepreneurial ventures in the biotech space. This program provides aspiring entrepreneurs with access to resources, mentorship, and a collaborative environment to nurture and grow their startups. Participants can benefit from workshops, networking events, and guidance from experienced industry professionals, making it a critical stepping stone for those looking to launch successful biotech companies. More information can be found here. 

3. Explore: The Explore program is designed to introduce students and post-docs to the diverse career opportunities available in the biotech industry. Through speaker events, industry panels, and interactive sessions, participants gain insights into various roles such as medical science liaison, regulatory affairs, biotech investing, and more. This initiative aims to broaden the career perspectives of its members by providing firsthand knowledge from experts in the field. More information can be found here. 

4. CONNECT: CONNECT is a mentor-matching program that pairs current HBC leadership members with HBC alumni who have established careers in the biotech industry. This initiative fosters one-on-one mentor-mentee relationships, providing mentees with personalized guidance, career advice, and networking opportunities. Throughout the year, CONNECT hosts networking and social events to strengthen these connections and support career development. 

5. 101 Series: The 101 Series is an educational program that offers students and post-docs a comprehensive overview of different career paths in the life sciences. Each session focuses on a specific career, featuring discussions and insights from professionals in that field. The 2023-24 curriculum includes sessions on patent law, venture capital, investment banking, life sciences consulting, and careers in biotech public investing. This series is a valuable resource for those exploring various career options within the industry. More information can be found here. 

6. Communications Team: Open positions are available in HBC’s Communications team, offering roles that involve marketing, content creation, and public relations. Being part of this team provides valuable skills and extensive networking opportunities, enhancing your career prospects in the biotech industry. Join us to gain experience and connect with industry leaders. 

For more information, visit the Harvard Biotech Club website. If you have any questions, please contact us at harvardbiotechclub [at] gmail.com (harvardbiotechclub[at]gmail[dot]com)

FALL STUDENT INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT SCLERODERMA UNITED

Scleroderma United has opened applications for our Fall 2024 Internship Program. The internship is intentionally project-based and designed to provide aspiring health professionals with valuable hands-on experience in the healthcare/nonprofit sector. Each intern will have the opportunity to complete a meaningful Primary Project, learn about scleroderma, and build key nonprofit, advocacy, and fundraising skills over the course of approximately 10 weeks. Learn more about the available positions at www.sclerounited.us/internship and apply by August 25th (priority deadline) or September 1st (rolling).

Scleroderma United is an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting and empowering people with the rare autoimmune disease scleroderma. Founded in 2019, the organization is a member of the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition and incubated at the Harvard Innovation Labs.

KOCH INSTITUTE IMAGE AWARDS COMPETITION OPENS

The 2025 Image Awards Competition is now OPEN.

Submissions should be sent along with accompanying information from(s) to kigalleries [at] mit.edu (kigalleries[at]mit[dot]edu)  - the deadline for submission is Friday, October 18th, 2024.  

All MIT students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate, and each contributor may submit up to five high-resolution images taken as part of their original MIT research. 

Winning images will appear in the 2025 Image Awards exhibition, opening in March 2025 with lightning talks given by the image creators.

 Details are available at https://ki-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/image-awards.

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.

Some current positions are listed below; find more info on each position 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.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/
• 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.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/finances-employment/financial-wellbeing/

OGE website’s fellowships section: https://oge-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/finances/fellowships/ including Fellowships Tips: https://oge-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/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. 

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NIH COMMON FUND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

NIH Common Fund is seeking your ideas on the intersection of imaging, multimodal data, AI, and healthcare!

The NIH Common Fund wants your ideas! The Common Fund recently issued a request for information  to identify high priority challenges and opportunities in developing trustworthy, cost-effective, accessible, ethical, and sustainable precision medicine AI algorithms that integrate medical images with other patient-related data to support clinical decision making. Community input is requested on: 

• Imaging and related multimodal data integration approaches,
• Developing AI-based clinical decision support tools that leverage clinical imaging and multimodal data integration,
• Demonstrating clinical utility of multimodal algorithms for precision medicine.   

Learn more and submit your ideas here: Request for Information (RFI): Opportunities and Challenges in Enabling and Advancing Precision Medicine Artificial Intelligence (AI) by Integrating Clinical Imaging with Multimodal Data. Responses must be received by 5:00 pm (ET) on September 23, 2024.

The NIH invites broad input, including Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and imaging researchers, healthcare providers, patients, industry representatives, patient advocates, funders, regulators, and representatives of populations that experience health disparities to comment on individualized, image-centric patient care through advanced ML techniques and data integration. Please share this opportunity with your networks.

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).

POSTDOC OPPORTUNITY AT ISHA JAIN LAB AT UCSF/GLADSTONE - WORKING ON OXYGEN/VITAMIN METABOLISM

The Jain Lab at UCSF/Gladstone is looking for motivated, hard-working and curious applicants. At a high level, we study how organisms interact with their environments – how “what we breathe” and “what we eat” affects our metabolism and disease progression. More specifically, we are focused on oxygen and vitamin/cofactor metabolism. We recently discovered that chronic hypoxia (equivalent to living in the mountains of Peru or Nepal) can serve as a therapy for mitochondrial disease. This approach is currently in clinical trials. This work has inspired a broader set of research directions ranging from fundamental biochemistry to animal physiology.

The questions we ask:

1. How do cells and organisms sense oxygen or vitamin levels? Are there novel oxygen sensors and vitamin sensors to be found?

2.How does the body adapt to variations in oxygen levels? Or vitamin levels?

3.When the supply and demand of oxygen or vitamins becomes mismatched, how does this contribute to disease?

4.Can we “turn the oxygen and vitamin dials” into creative new therapies?

5. What is the most practical form of turning these concepts into translatable therapies?

The approach we take: CRISPR screens, metabolomics, classical biochemistry/molecular biology, animal physiology and beyond.

Post-docs will be encouraged to lead independent projects resulting in high impact publications, present at conferences and prepare for long-term careers in academia or industry.

Please email Isha.Jain [at] gladstone.ucsf.edu (Isha[dot]Jain[at]gladstone[dot]ucsf[dot]edu) for more info or to apply. Isha is a graduate of the MEMP PhD program.

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

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB POST DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP OPENINGS

Northwestern University, in collaboration with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), announces several post-doctoral fellowship positions. All positions are two-year, full-time fellowships that provide an opportunity for individuals who have completed a PhD or other terminal degree to gain expertise and experience in health services research broadly, with the goal of preparing for a scholarly career. All openings are funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research; research activities must relate to NIDILRR’s Long Range Plan.

Information about and application requirements are available on the Integrated Program in Health Services and Outcomes Research website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cehs/fellowships/index.html

Contact Allen Heinemann at 312.238.2920 or a-heinemann [at] northwestern.edu (a-heinemann[at]northwestern[dot]edu) for questions about eligibility and program fit. We encourage applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab are affirmative action, equal opportunity employers.

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.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/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.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/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.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/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.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/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."

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.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/.

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.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au

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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