Stony Brook University

Archived events 2011-2012

Postdoc BBQ
Friday, September 28, Location TBD - Presented by the Postdoctoral Association

Please come join us in this end of the Summer celebration and meet other postdoctoral fellows in SBU. While the grill is on and food is served you can start networking among your peers. Spouses, partners, and children are welcome! This event is FREE of cost. For more information and to RSVP, email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

2012 Postdoc Research Symposium

In honor of 2012 National Postdoc Appreciation Week, Stony Brook University's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will be holding its first Postdoctoral Research Symposium on Thursday, September 20. The goal is to promote a sense of community by having Postdocs from SBU, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory informally educate each other about the research they are working on. The event is also meant to give Postdocs an opportunity to network with SBU faculty, staff and local employers. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Elizabeth Iorns, the 2012 Kauffman Foundation Emerging Entrepreneur Award winner. For more details and to register, click here

Postdoc Association Meet and Greet
Friday August 24, HSC 3rd Floor Galleria, 4-5:30

Come JOIN US!! Drop by to learn about professional opportunities & events and help build the SBU Postdoctoral community. Meet other fellow postdocs.
Friday, August 24 - 4-5:30 pm Health Sciences Center, 3rd Floor Galleria. Light snacks served. For questions, you can email:

Postdoctoral Associate Zulema Cabail: Maria.Cabail@stonybrook.edu
Postdoctoral Fellow Alex Corrales: Alexandra.CorralesDeEilers@stonybrook.edu
Research Scientist Gretchen Lopez: gylopez@gmail.com

SUMMER 2012 IS FOR GRANT WRITING

JULY 2012

STRATEGIES, TACTICS, AND WRITING TIPS FOR PREPARING INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH GRANT PROPOSALS

3-part workshop offered on July 12, 19 and 26 from 4-5:30 in the Melville Library, E4340 - Participants should plan to attend all three sessions
Speaker: Beth Schachter from Beth Schachter Consulting

Workshop participants will gain a solid understanding of the creative (scientific) and the organizational/administrative aspects of preparing a highly competitive research grant application. They will draft a preliminary scientific plan for their own proposal as well as develop an action plan for completing the project.

AUGUST 2012

CAPITAL IDEAS

Multiseries of workshops geared to different aspects of grant writing. Participants can pick and choose which events to attend.

How to Write a Budget, Tuesday, August 7, 1-2 pm, Melville Library E4340
COEUS, Thursday, August 9, 1-2 pm, Melville Library E4340 CANCELLED
How to Win an American Heart Association Award, August 14, 1-2 pm, Melville Library E4340
How to Win a Humboldt Award, August 16, 1-2 pm, Melville Library E4340
How to Win a NASA Award, August 21, 1-2 pm, Melville Library E4340

For more details and to register for all summer grant writing workshops, click here.

Postdoc Open House, An opportunity to meet SBU Postdocs
Friday, June 29 - Life Sciences Lobby - 4-5:30 pm

meet Feel confused and disconnected? You're not alone. Come join the Postdocs at SBU to learn about opportunities and events and to help build the Postdoc community on campus. Drop by at any time during the Open House and get to know members of the Working Group, who meet monthly to discuss Postdoc issues and to plan events. The Open House is from 4-5:30 pm and light snacks will be served. Friday, June 29 will be held in the lobby of the Life Sciences building. Hope to see you there!!

How to Give a Great Science Seminar, Wednesday, June 27, 1-2 pm, Wang Center, Room 201 Presenter: Professor Michael Hadjiargyrou, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Do you know how to prepare and present a great scientific presentation? Most jobs in academia and industry require candidates to give a seminar describing their science, and given today’s fiercely competitive job market, it is now more important than ever to be able to set yourself apart from the competition. One way to do this is by giving a great and memorable presentation, and the key to a good oral presentation is preparation and delivery. This seminar will highlight the nuts and bolts of both preparing and presenting a great scientific presentation. Workshop is free. Please see google.docs to register. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

apps

Tailor Your App, Friday, June 8 4-5:30 pm, Wang Center Lecture Hall #2

Where you apply can determine how you apply. Learn from a panel of recent PhD hires how they tailored their applications to work at different types of academic and research institutions. Panelists will also discuss what it is like to work at their place of employment. Institutions represented are: Suffolk County Community College, Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Farmingdale State College, University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Please register at google.docs. Questions can be sent to postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Networking Social, Thursday, May 24, 4-7 pm, University Cafe

Stony Brook University Postdocs would like to welcome their colleagues from Cold Spring Harbor and Brookhaven National laboratories to a networking social on May 24, 2012. Free food, drinks and parking for all. Please come join in the springtime merriment and mingle with your fellow Postdocs at SBU. RSVPs a must for all attendees through googledocs. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

The Art of Science Writing

karen Wednesday, April 25, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017. Speaker: Karen McNulty Walsh, Principal Media & Communications Specialist, BNL

Learn from seasoned BNL science writer Karen McNulty Walsh how to capture and hold readers’ attention while effectively communicating the science behind your research. For many scientists the ‘punch line first’ story structure and the use of the active voice directly contradict how they have been trained to write, but knowing how to build a story out of your science and understanding how to communicate why your research is important to both scientific and non-scientific audiences is crucial to your success in securing funding. Please register at googledocs. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu. This workshop will cover:

* How to flip your story upside down and capture attention by giving the punch line first
* Tell your reader/listener what he/she wants to know: what you found, why it matters, why he/she should care
* The importance of defining key messages
* Tips for translating your discoveries into words and images that will resonate with non-scientists
* How using active voice can enliven your story (and show your personal interest in your work)
* Ways to eliminate scientific jargon; define tough terms with analogies, metaphors, and examples
* Specific tips for using different communication channels

Learn to Write a Research Statement

Wednesdays, April 11 & 18, 1-2 pm 4/11, 12:45-2:15 pm 4/18, Humanities 3017: Presenter: Associate Professor Michael Hadjiargyrou, Biomedical Engineering

In this workshop you will learn what elements should go into writing a research statement required as part of most applications to faculty positions. Please register at google.docs. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Bio Careers Virtual Job Fair: April 4-5, 2012

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is a member of Biocareers.com, an online career service that provides an in-depth look at a variety of postgraduate career paths in the sciences. On April 4 & 5 they will be holding an online job fair where job seekers will have the chance to meet with employers from all over the globe in academia, industry and other fields. Starting February 1st you can examine the employer descriptions, download white papers, watch videos, leave a resume and, most importantly, converse with employers during their office hours. Register now for free at http://stonybrook.biocareers.com.

Below is a list of the past events presented by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs during the current academic year. A list of events for previous years can be accessed above.

How to Win a K Award

k award Wednesday, March 21, 12:45-2:15 pm, Humanities 3017. Presenters: Assistant Professor Markus Seeliger, Pharmacological Sciences, Assistant Professor Jonathan Liu, Biomedical Engineering

Learn from established professors how they won their K99/R00 awards, how they responded to criticisms, and ask questions so you too can begin your path to independence. Please register at google.docs. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Life Lessons: Conversations with Faculty

acosta Wednesday, March 14, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017. Speaker: Assistant Professor Maricedes Acosta-Martinez

TOPIC: Mentoring & Effective Career Plans

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs regularly sponsors an informal gathering where faculty members talk with Postdocs about all facets of their life’s journey … from transitioning to a faculty position to learning how to set up a lab to negotiating a career plan to balancing work and family. Come join us so you can ask questions of those who have traveled in your footsteps and moved on to be successful in their careers. Please register at google.docs. For questions, you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Mapping Talents to Trades: Preparing Scientists for Careers in Industry

ribaudo Friday, March 2, 12-3 pm, Wang Center Lecture Hall #2, Presenter: Randall Ribaudo, Co-founder SciPhD.com

Adapting to industry jobs can be challenging for scientists coming from academia. The ability to work in cross-matrixed environments, demonstrate competent tactical and strategic thinking, and to delegate, communicate and understand basic concepts of project management are common prerequisites for jobs in industry. Although these skills are not typically emphasized during academic training, many research activities do map to these competencies, and having an awareness of your skills and an ability to express those skills in business terms provides a significant competitive advantage in landing an industry job and being successful in your career.

This workshop introduces 24 business competencies valued in industry, relates them to Postdoc research experiences and demonstrates how to tie in those competencies to job ads and descriptions. We will also demystify job ads to identify the explicit and implicit information they contain; learn how to use that information in conjunction with smart networking to make you competitive in the job market; discuss industry's perception of academic scientists with regard to their assumed strengths and weaknesses; and talk about leveraging that knowledge along with understanding your own capabilities to advance your career. This workshop is free, but registration is limited. Please register at google.docs. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Learn to Write a Teaching Statement

Wednesdays, February 29 & March 7, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017. Presenter: Associate Professor Gary Halada, Materials Science & Engineering Department

In this workshop you will learn what elements should go into a "teaching philosophy" or "teaching plan" statement required as part of most applications to faculty positions. We will also review what resources are available to you as you develop your teaching philosophy through the Teaching Learning Technology Department at Stony Brook University. Please register at google.docs. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Life Lessons: Conversations with Faculty

hajcak Wednesday, February 22, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017. Speaker: Assistant Professor Greg Hajcak

TOPIC: Networking with Collaborators

Job Search Strategies for Postdocs

Wednesday, February 15, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017. Presenter: Alfreda James, PhD, Career Center

Get Organized! Strategic actions can make the difference between frustration and progress. Learn how to maximize your research connections and personal values as you launch a professional job search. Workshop is free. Please register at google docs. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Interview Skills for Postdocs

Wednesday, February 8, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017. Presenter: Alfreda James, PhD, Career Center

An interview is a conversation, not an inquisition. Learn how to manage questions, anticipate questions, and even talk about salary/relocation issues with a potential employer. Workshop is free. Please register at google docs. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Life Lessons: Conversations with Faculty

seeligers Wednesday, February 1, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017. Speakers: Assistant Professors Jessica and Markus Seeliger

TOPIC: Dual Career Job Search

Density Functional Theory + Dynamical Mean Field Theory (DFT+DMFT): A FIRST PRINCIPLE APPROACH TO MATERIALS WITH STRONGLY CORRELATED ELECTRONS

Monday, January 30 1-2 pm, Wang Center, Room 301 Presenter Dr. Maria Pezzoli Department of Physics & Astronomy

One of the main objectives of materials science is to develop and synthesize new materials. Materials with strongly correlated electrons show a wide range of useful properties and therefore are objects of intense study by material scientists. In order to design a new material with desired properties it is crucial to understand the existing material. Density Functional Theory + Dynamical Mean Field Theory (DFT + DMFT) proves to be a unique tool to study materials with strongly correlated electrons. In fact DFT+DMFT allows one to compute the properties of a material considering the real chemical structure and at the same time treating the electron-electron correlation in an effective way. In this talk I will illustrate the main idea of DFT+DMFT and then I will show an application of this method. In particular I will discuss the properties of a few strongly correlated compounds in relation to high temperature super-conductivity.

Presenting the WOW factor, Next workshop Wednesday, December 21

Want to learn how to prepare and present a great scientific presentation? Most jobs in academia and industry require candidates to give a seminar describing their science, and given today’s fiercely competitive job market, it is now more important than ever to be able to set yourself apart from the competition. One way to do this is by giving a great and memorable presentation, and the key to a good oral presentation is preparation and delivery.

Dr. Thirumalini Vaithianathan, a Postdoc in Neurobiology and Behavior, will be the first to present in this series of monthly workshops designed to help speakers hone their presentation skills. The first ½ hour is dedicated to the speaker’s presentation, while the second ½ hour is given over to Professor Michael Hadjiargyrou who will lead the discussion to critique and constructively suggest improvements that can be made to the slides, to the delivery and to the construct of the content. Come join us and consider being the next speaker to practice presenting the WOW factor.

thiru

Dr. Thirumalini Vaithianathan

Transmission of Visual Information in the Retina, Wednesday, December 21, 1-2 pm, Melville Library E4315 Speaker: Dr. Thirumalini Vaithianathan, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior

The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. It acts like the sensor in a digital camera — images come through the eye’s lens and are focused on the retina. The retina then converts these images to electrical signals and sends them via the optic nerve to the brain. My research goal is to understand how neurons in the retina are specialized to perform this complicated task.

All workshops in this series are free. Please see google.docs to register. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Provost's Postdoctoral Lecture Series

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs sponsors the Provost's Postdoctoral Lecture Series which is an opportunity for Postdocs to showcase their research conducted at either Stony Brook University or Brookhaven National Laboratory to the campus community. Below are the Postdocs who will be presenting this fall 2011. All lectures are open to the public and refreshments are served.

	Dr. Daesang Kim, Wednesday, November 30, 1:15-2:30 pm, Wang Center Room 301 Upscaling Geochemical Reaction Rates Accompanying Acidic CO2-saturated Brine Flow in Sandstone Aquifers
	Dr. Ping Jiang, Wednesday, December 7, 1-2:30 pm, Wang Center Chapel One Stone Three Birds: Studies of Genetic Recombination Converge Enterovirus Evolution with Global Polio Eradication and the Mechanism of Virion Morphogenesis

What to do with a PhD - CLOSED, Thursday September 22, 2:30-4:30 pm, Wang Center Theater Hall 2

To celebrate Postdoc Appreciation Week, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is hosting a panel of SBU alumni to discuss a variety of 'non-traditional' career paths for PhDs, from industry to law to writing. The discussion will be followed by a dinner reception for all attendees at the University Cafe from 4:30-7 pm. REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED. The panel speakers are:

Panelists

Dr. Ece Auffarth, Contract and Licensing Associate, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Dr. Amy Czura, Associate Professor Biology, Suffolk County Community College
Dr. Jonine Figueroa, Principal Investigator, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute
Dr. Thomas Triolo, Senior Counsel, Merck & Co.
Dr. Ingrid Yin, Executive Director, Oppenheimer & Co.
Dr. Kenneth Roberts, Staff Scientist, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University
Dr. Christopher Czura, Vice President Scientific Affairs, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

Moderators

Dr. Katy Flint Ehm, Project Manager, National Postdoctoral Association
Dr. Alfreda James, Career Advisor, Stony Brook University Career Center

Bio Careers Virtual Job Fair: October 5-6, 2011

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is a member of Biocareers.com, an online career service that provides an in-depth look at a variety of postgraduate career paths in the sciences. On October 5 & 6 they will be holding an online job fair where job seekers will have the chance to meet with employers from all over the globe in academia, industry and other fields. Starting August 1st you can examine the employer descriptions, download white papers, watch videos, leave a resume and, most importantly, converse with employers during their office hours. Register now for free at http://stonybrook.biocareers.com.

Communicating Science: Distilling Your Message, 4-session workshop: Tuesdays October 18, 25, November 1, 8, 12:30-2 pm, Melville N4043 Presenter: Christie Nicholson

This commsci four-session workshop will help scientists improve their ability to speak clearly, vividly and conversationally about their work and why it matters. We will practice speaking to different audiences at different levels of complexity, making content comprehensible to non-specialists without “dumbing it down.” As part of the workshop, participants will get a chance to do a video interview with a journalist so they can watch themselves answering questions about their work. Skills learned in this workshop can help scientists communicate more effectively with potential employers, funders, students and colleagues in other disciplines, as well as with public officials, the press and members of the general public. There is a $35 fee for this event, and seating is limited so please register early. To register, please visit SBU's secure registration site. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Christie Nicholson, a science writer and contributing editor to Scientific American Online, has led Distilling Your Message workshops at SBU, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and has received enthusiastic reviews. Christie lectures widely and teaches at the Banff Centre’s Program in Science Communication.

Preparing for the Future: Immigration Issues for Postdocs, Wednesday, October 26, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017 Presenters: Elizabeth A. Barnum, EdD, Visa and Immigration Services, and representatives from Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP

In this workshop we will discuss two common immigration options used on campus for permanent residency applications: National Interest Waivers (self-petitioned as a Postdoc) and Outstanding Researcher (SBU/ RF — petitioned as an employee with a permanent-type employment offer). Learn what you need to do to qualify in either of these categories. Planning your immigration future in relation to the J-1 home country residency requirement waivers will also be discussed. Workshop is free. Please see google.docs to register. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Presenting the WOW Factor: How to Give a Great Science Seminar, Wednesday, November 2, 1-2 pm, Humanities 3017 Presenter: Professor Michael Hadjiargyrou, Department of Biomedical Engineering

NYU Langone Medical Center Job Fair, November 5-6, 2011

The SBU Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in conjunction with the Graduate School has purchased a sponsorship at an upcoming job fair scheduled for November 5-6, 2011 in Manhattan. The event is being hosted by New York University Langone Medical Center and being sponsored by a consortium of NYC regional Partners. All SBU Graduate Students and Postdocs are eligible to register for the 2-day event for free. You can also attend all workshops for free, and lunch is included. You can see a full agenda of workshops, a description of employers who attend and directions to the event at: http://www.whatcanyoubewithaphd.net/. Please use your SBU email address to register.

Etiquette Dinner for Postdocs, Thursday November 17 4-6 pm, Wang Center Chapel

Come enjoy a three-course meal while learning how to navigate a formal place setting, negotiate a waiter’s advance and make casual dinner-time conversation. This is the perfect event to help prepare you for attending business lunches and formal affairs. The customs associated with certain American holidays will also be discussed. There is a $15 fee for this event and seating is limited, but you are welcome to register a guest as well. Please sign up at http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/secct/conference.nsf/postdoc. For questions you can email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Postdocs' Coffee Hour, First Tuesday of every month

LISEF judges needed, February 12 and March 13

"Research Your Future" Career Symposium, March 19

Chalk Talk, April 11

Tips to Win NIH Fellowships, April 25

Networking Social, May 30

Getting Your Academic Career Off to a Good Start, October 19

Recurring Events

Editors Club

Conversational English

Practice public speaking

Provost's Postdoctoral Lecture Series