Rutgers OPA
Weekly Newsletter | April 5, 2018
Meet our Featured Postdoc of the Month
Quick Facts
Department: Graduate School of Applied and Professional
Psychology
Languages: English
Hobbies: Working out, hiking, and film
Dr. Alexander Alperin
Tell us about your research. What motivates you to do the work you do?
Under an IES grant, my project’s goal is the evaluation of the impact of a behavioral coaching approach in helping educational paraprofessionals to implement research-based interventions with students with or who are at risk of developing externalizing behavior disorders. This is the first project that attempts to rigorously investigate the effectiveness of this approach with paraprofessionals and its impact on students with challenging behaviors. What I am most excited about is that through the provision of behavioral coaching I am able to work directly with paraprofessionals and see the positive effect that my work has on them and their students.
Read more.
Would you like to be our featured postdoc of the month?
Rutgers is proud to be home to a vibrant and growing community of over 600 postdocs! Would you like to highlight your research or your career goals on our website?
Contact us opa@oq.rutgers.edu
Things you should know...
Dear Rutgers Postdoc community,
This newsletter includes reading material, upcoming events, and general announcements. Scroll down for more information.
Check also our website for a collection of previous OPA weekly newsletter.
Reading Material
Time to talk about why so many postgrads have poor mental health
An outpouring on Twitter highlights the acute pressures on young scientists -Nature Editorial
*Editorial Article published in Nature
"Poor mental health is an issue for many of our readers. That fact is underscored by the response to a tweet sent by @NatureNews earlier this week, which highlighted that rates of depression and anxiety reported by postgraduate students are six times higher than in the general population (T. M. Evans et al. Nature Biotechnol. 36, 282–284; 2018), and asked what should be done to help. The figures are a shock, but it was the reaction that blew us away: more than 1,200 retweets and around 170 replies." Read more.
How to Land a Community College Job
*Opinion Article published in Inside Higher Ed
"At every step of the application process -- from the cover letter to the first-round interview to the campus visit -- applying for a tenure-track job at a community college is likely to be quite different from applying for a job at a major research institution. What should job seekers keep in mind when applying for community college positions?" Read more.
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Workshops
Grant Writing Skills Workshop Survey | Vote by April 9
The Rutgers' Office of Postdoctoral Affairs wants to hear from you! What topic would you like to be offered as our next grant writing skill workshop? This workshop will be offered during the last week of May 2018.
This anonymous survey will be open until next Monday, April 9th at 3 PM. Make sure to only vote once.The topic with the most number of votes will be announced as our next workshop during the last week of April 2018. Choose only one of the following topics:
- Applying for Postdoctoral Fellowships: How GradFund Can Help
- Tackling the Biosketch for Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications: A writing Intensive Workshop
- Drafting Specific Aims for Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications: A writing Intensive Workshop
Stay tuned to our website and newsletter for the announcement and registration.
Thank you.
The OPA Team.
Rutgers Postdoctoral Association Events
Next week! Join us.
Prepare for Your Next Career Step |Rutgers Postdoctoral Research Symposium | April 13
This year the Rutgers Postdoctoral Association will celebrate its 9th Annual Postdoctoral Symposium!
The event is organized by Rutgers postdoc volunteers, for you!
Take a break from your experiments,
think about your next career step and meet your colleagues!
Everyone is welcome to attend, postdocs and graduate students especially.
The event is free.
The symposium will feature:
- Three career panels: International PhDs in the US: Challenges and Advice, Research Careers and Non-Research Careers.
- Interview and Negotiating Skills for PhDs Workshop
- Research Poster Session (award will be given for the top two posters)
- The Science Art Show (award will be given for the best artwork)
- Keynote address by Dr. Adam Ruben, scientist, writer and comedian
Registration for the Symposium, Poster and Science Art Show submissions are now open. Click here to register. We ask you to please make an effort to attend if you register.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date:
Friday, April 13, 2018
Location:
Great Hall and Main Auditorium
RWJMS Research Tower (Busch Campus)
675 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Contact rutgerspda@gmail.com for more details and questions.
We are looking for volunteers!
Sponsored by Rutgers Postdoctoral Association, Rutgers Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Rutgers AUUP-AFT,Rutgers Global, SAPA, Rutgers iJOBS, I-CORPS, & USA Scientific
Scroll down to see and download flyer!
Rutgers iJOBS Events
iJOBS Networking: BioPharma Networking Group and Alumni with Current Trainees
iJOBS and the Rutgers biomedical science alumni organization is joining forces with the New York and New Jersey BioPharmaNetworking Group to offer an informal and beneficial networking opportunity! There will be many professionals, alumni and current students/postdocs there to socialize and network with. Bio Pharma Networking Group (BPNG) is a not-for-profit, all-inclusive life and health science professionals community that actively promotes the "real power" of networking. They are collaborators, peers and mentors all looking to support each other at ALL career stages and our region in the spirit of innovation and growth.
Register here.
Location:
Rutgers University Medical Science Building
185 South Orange Avenue
Rosemary Gellene Room B515
Newark, NJ 07103
iJOBS offers transportation. Limited spaces are available. Registration is required.
Have questions about this iJOBS event? Contact Rutgers iJOBS Program Directors:
Janet Alder; janet.alder@rutgers.edu
Susan Engelhardt; engels@soe.rutgers.edu
Doreen Badheka; badhekdk@gsbs.rutgers.edu
Tuesday, Apr 10, 2018, 06:00 PM
185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, USA
iJOBS Annual Career Fair | April 12
Brought to you by iJOBS and BioNJ, this Career Fair is a one-day event where employers focused upon life and biomedical sciences provide information about job opportunities with their companies, while visiting with interested and curious pre-doctorate students and post-doctorate fellows. Many companies from the tri-state region will be present. We are asking you to also register through the BioNJ site so that employers will have your resume before you arrive.
1. Click here to Register through BioNJ
2. Log into your BioNJ Talent Services account or create a new account
3. Complete the Registration Form and upload your resume
Register Here.
Location:
Rutgers College Ave Student Center
126 College Avenue
Multipurpose Room
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
iJOBS offers transportation. Limited spaces are available. Registration is required.
Have questions about this iJOBS event? Contact Rutgers iJOBS Program Directors:
Janet Alder; janet.alder@rutgers.edu
Susan Engelhardt; engels@soe.rutgers.edu
Doreen Badheka; badhekdk@gsbs.rutgers.edu
Thursday, Apr 12, 2018, 09:00 AM
126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Other Events
Alliance for Career Advancement Presents: Information Session| Life in the Biomedical Device Industry | April 12
*On behalf of Deboleena Kanjilal, PhD student at Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Newark & The Alliance for Career Advancement (ACA):
"Dear Students and Postdocs,
Please join us in welcoming George O. Okeyo, Ph.D., Product Manager at Nanion Technologies and Rodolfo J. Haedo, MS, Senior VP at Nanion Technologies North America for an information session on life in the Biomedical Device Industry.
Learn different aspects of the industry and how you can transition from bench work to an industry setting. They are also looking for interns so please bring your resume and business cards to the session.
Date & Time: Thursday, April 12 from 5 to 7pm
Location: Medical Science Building
Room C686 (Next to the escalators)
185 S. Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103
Refreshments will be served. To learn more about George and Rodolfo, you can visit the links below:
George O. Okeyo, PhD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-o-okeyo-34284a44/
Rodolfo J. Haedo, MS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfojhaedo/
RSVP Link: Nanion Technologies Information Session
We look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
The ACA Team"
Scroll down to see flyer
INSPIRE Seminar | Active Learning: Engage Diverse Student Populations | Reserve your space for lunch by April 26
*On behalf of Dr. Jennifer Fragale, Rutgers INSPIRE Postdoctoral Fellow, RWJMS:
"This seminar will feature education researcher Dr. Scott Freeman who will be visiting from the University of Washington to discuss his research on the effects of active learning strategies on undergraduate student performance. Dr. Freeman’s work has been published in several top-tier journals including Science and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. There will also be a free lunch to follow and we are arranging private meetings for interested individuals."
Sincerely,
Jennifer Fragale
Postdoctoral Fellow
Aston-Jones Lab
Brain Health Institute
Rutgers University/Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Invitation to the New England Future Faculty Workshop | July 10, 2018
*On behalf of Dr. Natalie Batmanian, Director of the Office for the Promotion of Women in
Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (SciWomen/WiSEM):
"We invite late-stage PhD students and postdoctoral scholars to participate in the New England Future Faculty Workshop for Underrepresented Groups in STEM Fields (NE-FFW) on the Northeastern University campus in Boston, Massachusetts on July 10, 2018.
The NE-FFW is designed specifically for underrepresented groups in STEM fields who are late-stage PhD students and postdoctoral scholars and interested in an academic career.
The NE-FFW is focused on the academic job search. The format of the one-day workshop includes faculty-led interactive discussions and peer-to-peer interactions.
Workshop topics include:
- Finding Your Institutional Fit
- Standing Out in the Interview
- Reviewing CVs
- Developing a Research Statement
- Negotiating the Job Offer, and more.
To learn more about the New England Future Faculty Workshop for Underrepresented Groups in STEM Fields, go to: http://www.northeastern.edu/advance/recruitment/future-faculty-workshop/
To participate in the NE-FFW, there are several steps interested people need to take:
1. Apply online by May 1, 2018.
a. Submit a 300-word statement about why they want to participate
b. Submit a CV
c. Submit a diversity statement (1 page or less)
2. Await notification of acceptance on May 16, 2018
3. Confirm participation in the workshop by paying a $50 registration fee by June 1, 2018
This unique opportunity is one they will not want to miss.
Warm regards,
NE-FWW Planning Committee
Penny Beuning, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University
Charisse Pickron, Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Jan Rinehart, Executive Director ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development, Northeastern University
Erinn Taylor de Barroso, Assistant Director ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development, Northeastern University."
Erinn Taylor de Barroso
Assistant Director
ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development
Northeastern University
Scroll down to see flyer.
Regular OPA Events
Welcome & Information Session | Friday, April 27 | Registration Required
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs offers Welcome and Information Sessions to help orient new and current postdocs. If you are a postdoc who is new to Rutgers, or just curious about the resources that are available to you, we strongly encourage you to register for an upcoming one-hour session.
Next session will be, April 27. Please register today as space is limited.
Time: 9–10 a.m. or 11 a.m.–noon
Where: Office of Postdoctoral Affairs with Dr. Itzamarie Chevere-Torres located at Busch Campus, Nelson Biology Laboratories, Room D354. Registration is required.
For more information about sessions at Newark, contact Dr. Doreen Badheka badhekdk@gsbs.rutgers.edu on Newark Campus: Medical Science Building, Room H645.
Friday, Apr 27, 2018, 09:00 AM
604 Allison Road, Piscataway Township, NJ, United States
Drop-in Coffee Hour | Friday, April 6 (Weather Permitting)
If you are a postdoc interested in learning more about how to make the most of your time at Rutgers, prepare for life after Rutgers, or just want to share some coffee or tea in a safe space, come by and visit.
Location:
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Nelson Biology Laboratories, Room D354.
Registration is not required.
Friday, Apr 6, 2018, 02:00 PM
604 Allison Road, Piscataway Township, NJ, United States
Individual Career Advising Sessions
If you're a postdoc looking for perspective on how to navigate your career path or career transition, contact Itzamarie Chevere-Torres to schedule an appointment.
For Newark postdocs, contact Doreen Badheka to schedule an appointment. Individual career counseling sessions for Newark postdocs will be at the Medical Science Building, Room H645.
Fellowship Advising Sessions for Postdocs
Do you want additional feedback or guidance on your grant or fellowship proposal? Do you want to learn about grants and fellowships to support your postdoctoral training at Rutgers?
Schedule an appointment with Ben Arenger, Senior Fellowship Adviser, for an individual fellowship advising session.
Ben is available every Tuesday at our office by appointment only.
Is your faculty mentor exceptional?
Do you have a faculty mentor who has made a real difference in your life? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us opa@oq.rutgers.edu
Applications for Phase 2 of iJOBS are Now Open!
*On behalf of Dr. Janet Alder:
Brief description of Phase 2: The career panels, site visits and workshops that constitute Phase 1 will continue next Fall and we hope you will participate in them actively. If you are also interested in getting more involved in iJOBS to pursue shadowing and coursework in your area of interest, we have opened Phase 2 applications for grad students, postdocs, and alumni of Rutgers, Princeton, Stevens, Rowan, and NJIT.
Phase 2 applications require at least 12 hours of Phase 1 activities, a personal statement, permission from your PI, and a letter of recommendation from your PI or another faculty member. Grad students must be in good academic standing and have completed the proposition qualifier by Fall 2018 to apply. Postdocs and alumni may apply at any stage
Applications are due by May 4 and admissions decisions will be made by June 4. Phase 2 for 2018 will start in September.
Please scroll down to see the attached application, FAQ and follow instructions carefully.
INSPIRE Postdoctoral Fellowships | Rolling Admission begin April 1st
*On behalf of Dr. Martha Soto and the INSPIRE Biomedical Science Education Postdoctoral Training Program:
Dear Colleagues:
We appreciate your help reaching senior graduate students and beginning postdoctoral fellows who combine excellence in research with a strong interest in education, who may wish to apply for the 2018-2019 INSPIRE Postdoctoral Fellowships, funded by a prestigious IRACDA grant from the NIH to Rutgers-RWJMS. We begin reviewing applications April 1st, on a rolling basis, until we fill our spots for Fall 2018.
INSPIRE Fellows can be supported for up to three years at the NIH stipend level, they receive health insurance, travel funds, and educational supply funds. Fellows spend 70% of their time conducting research at a Rutgers lab, and 30% in educational and career development training. Our program thus addresses two goals: to prepare recent Ph.D. recipients for careers as educators and biomedical scientists, and to increase the interest of undergraduates underrepresented in science in undergraduate research and careers in biomedical sciences.
INSPIRE has a successful record in addressing its two goals:
Placement of Fellows in academic tenure-track positions: 70% of Fellows who received training and exited INSPIRE obtained tenure-track academic positions, 22% at MSIs (institutions with a demonstrated commitment to educating students from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research).
Support of undergraduates at our partner schools: INSPIRE Fellows and associated faculty have expanded educational and biomedical research training opportunities for undergraduates at our three partner institutions, New Jersey City University, NJCU, William Patterson University, WPU and Medgar Evers College – CUNY. Fellows and their mentors have developed and revised courses, offered summer research opportunities, and research collaborations/exchanges between Rutgers and the partner schools. Fellows also mentor undergraduates on how to apply for summer research programs and to graduate school programs.
Application deadline for 2018-2019 INSPIRE Fellowship: Rolling admissions begin April 1st with May 2018 interviews. Application forms and further information are available on our website at: http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/research/postdoc/inspire/apply.html
Eligibility: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents only. Postdoctoral fellows with 0-1 years of postdoctoral training will receive preference.
Please direct questions about the Program or the application process to our wonderful Program Support Coordinator, Dr. Jianping Xu at: jx120@rwjms.rutgers.edu
We thank you for forwarding this message and attached pdf flyer to interested students and postdocs.
Martha Soto, Ph.D., PI and Co-Director
Gary Brewer, Ph.D., Co-PI and Co-Director
INSPIRE* Postdoctoral Training Program
*INSPIRE (IRACDA New Jersey/New York for Science Partnerships in Research and Education)
Website: http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/research/postdoc/inspire/index.html
Scroll down to see flyer.