This Week's Events
SMD NPAW Scavenger Hunt
Maximizing the Research Conference Experience
Thursday, September 21 | 5pm - 6pm | Zoom
Does the thought of attending research conferences fill you with excitement or anxiety? Do you feel that you need help to navigate applying to and attending a research conference?
This session – Maximizing the Research Conference Experience – is designed to answer your questions to support your success at any conference and to ease your anxiety, and ensure that the experience is one that is enjoyable and supports your personal and professional development.
This will be a highly interactive session with graduate school professionals, the AAMC Group on Research, Education, and Training Outreach Committee, who have mentored and supported students attending many types of research conferences. The session facilitators will provide tips on the benefits of attending conferences, including networking with your peers and those individuals who can help you get to the next level, finding funding to attend a conference, submitting an abstract, and many more topics.
Be sure to prepare plenty of questions that will be answered in small interactive breakout groups. This promises to be a fun and informational event to prepare the novice and expert undergraduate/post baccalaureate student to optimize their research conference experience.
The Steadman Awards
University of Rochester Postdocs:
We are excited to share the announcement below and encourage you to apply by 9/1/23 to present your work in a 3-minute oral presentation to a panel of judges and compete for multiple monetary prizes at the Steadman Family Postdoctoral Associate Prize presentation during National Postdoc Appreciation Week on 9/21/23. Applications are welcomed from all UR Postdoctoral Associates and Fellows from all areas and in any discipline at the University.
The Steadman Family Postdoctoral Associate Prize in Interdisciplinary Research provides a monetary award recognizing outstanding Postdoctoral Associates or Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Rochester whose research exemplifies the importance of multiple perspectives and/or cross-disciplinary approaches toward examining high impact questions of society. The competition is open to all UR Postdoctoral Associates and Fellows.
Candidates must be a current postdoctoral associate or postdoctoral fellow at the University of Rochester. Candidates from all areas of the University of Rochester are welcome to apply.
To apply, the following must be submitted by September 1st:
- Current Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- A 500–750-word summary of how your research represents multiple perspectives and/or crosses disciplinary boundaries. Please include what you believe is innovative about your research such as high impact questions of science and humanity and future implication of your research. This summary should be written for a general audience.
Applications will be reviewed by the following criteria:
- The interdisciplinary scope of the research: does the research encompass multiple perspectives and/or disciplines of study?
- Innovative research where research activity and creative thinking is in the service of addressing high impact questions of science and humanity.
Finalists will be selected to participate in a 3-minute oral presentation to a panel of judges at the Steadman Prize presentation during National Postdoc Appreciation Week. Final presentations will be held on Thursday September 21st, 2023 from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm on the River Campus.
Attendance at the final competition is expected if selected as a finalist. Winners will be announced at the award reception immediately following.
There are three awards:
- Steadman Award - $2,000
- Award for Interdisciplinary Research - $750
- Award for Innovative Research - $750
Please direct any questions to kristina.lantzky-eaton@rochester.edu.
The application deadline (9/1/23) has passed.
Upcoming Events
Initiating An Open Scholarship Community at the University of Rochester
How do we improve the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of research? How can open science and scholarship initiatives help? These questions and a growing interest in their answers led to the creation of the Open Scholarship Community Rochester (OSC Rochester) at the University of Rochester, as a new member of the International Network of Open Science & Scholarship Communities.
At our kick-off event on September 25, OSC Rochester is holding two hybrid events to “introduce” itself to the local research community (Zoom link available with registration. In-person location: Humanities Center, Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester). We encourage you to register and participate in both events. Complimentary lunch available to in-person participants.
Use the links below to REGISTER:
From 10 to 11 a.m. (EST) attend Sustainability through Openness to learn how UNESCO is making progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—a universal call to action to improve life around the world—through open science and open scholarship.
From 11:15 a.m. to noon (EST), join an OSC Rochester Roundtable to brainstorm ideas for community activities and events that encourage interaction and collaboration to promote open scholarship practices at Rochester.
Contact us at osc.rochester@gmail.com for questions/comments or to request accommodations.
"Consulting? Myths, Misconceptions, and Opportunities"- An alumni talk with Dr. Bernie Greenspan from Greenspan IP Management
Dr. Bernie Greenspan is an alumnus of the Biophysics PhD program at URMC. He has worked at many well known biotech and pharmaceutical companies, including Battelle, Pfizer, and Prometheus Laboratories. He has leveraged his expertise into a career as an Intellectual Property (IP) consultant and is excited to talk with SMD Entrepreneurs about how he became a consultant and ultimately became a successful consultant. If you are interested in learning more about careers in consulting, please come!
Fall 2023 3MT Competition
Three Minute Thesis, or 3MT® for short, is a spoken word thesis competition.
The 2023 UR 3MT Competition and Reception will take place on Friday October 6, 2023 between 4-5:30pm. (In the past, it has been held in spring semesters in conjunction with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.) Holding the 3MT in October will allow the winner to attend the regional competition in the Spring.
3MT is an opportunity for Rochester doctoral (PhD, EdD, DMA’s, etc) students to present their dissertation research findings to a general audience in THREE MINUTES with only one PowerPoint slide. The goal is for students to engage all their communication skills to make their research vivid and engaging while emphasizing its key point without jargon. Three Minute Thesis is an international event founded at the University of Queensland.
Additional details coming later this month as the agenda is set.
Submit a Proposals for the 2024 NPA Annual Conference
The 2024 NPA Meetings Committee is seeking proposals for (a) 60-minute concurrent sessions, and (b) poster presentations to be included in the 2024 NPA Annual Conference. Proposals will be accepted through Friday, October 20.
All concurrent session and poster proposals will be submitted to the same review committee. A proposal may be submitted for more than one type of session (i.e., both a concurrent session and a poster) as long as it meets the requirements for each.
If submitting a proposal to be considered for multiple session types, you will be asked to rank your order of session type preference since your proposal will be selected for only one. An individual presenter/author may be included in no more than two accepted proposals and may be the primary presenter for only one accepted proposal.
What Can You Be With a PhD?
Registration for What Can You Be With a PhD? is $10 per person and includes admission on both days. Sessions will be recorded (with permission of all panelists), so you can view any you missed later. It’s the best deal in the city, and you get the chance to meet over 2000 of your peers to network with and more than 120 speakers to hear from!
To register, follow the registration link below and use the code "urochester_2023" to check out and pay. Be sure to use your urmc.rochester.edu email address; it's how the event organizers will ensure everyone is registered for the correct school. myHub is a sponsor for this event, which has helped reduce the cost for Rochester trainees to participate for only $10.
If you have questions about registering, please contact myHub at myHub@urmc.rochester.edu.
* This program is eligible for the myHub Involvement Travel Award.
America’s Got Regulatory Science Talent Student Competition
The eleventh annual America’s Got Regulatory Science Talent student competition, scheduled for Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 12:00 pm is now accepting applications. Organized by the UR CTSI, the competition aims to promote student interest in regulatory science. The winning team will meet with the FDA to present their ideas. Students matriculated at the University in any undergraduate or graduate program of study are welcome to submit a 50-word entry and provide a five-minute presentation during the competition. The proposed solution should align with the FDA Focus Areas of Regulatory Science. Visit the America’s Got Regulatory Science Talent page to learn more. Entry forms are due by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
Happening Now
National Cancer Institute F99/K00 Funding Opportunity for Graduate Students
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has just released a funding opportunity targeted at outstanding graduate students in their 3rd and 4th years with demonstrated potential and a commitment to pursuing an independent career in cancer research. The F99/K00 is a transitional award (akin to the K99/R00 awards for senior postdocs) that supports the last 1-2 years of graduate training and then up to 4 years of support in the postdoctoral phase (up to 6 years total). It therefore provides the student with a “portable” transition award, making them even more competitive for the top postdoctoral positions.
The FOA is intended to provide support in the following two phases:
- The initial (F99) phase will provide support for 1-2 years of dissertation research (final experiments, dissertation preparation, and selection of a postdoctoral mentor).
- The second (K00) phase will provide up to 4 years of mentored postdoctoral research career development support, contingent upon successful completion of the dissertation degree requirements and securing a postdoctoral position for further research and career development training leading to research independence.
F99/K00 Eligibility:
- Students in years 3 or 4 of PhD training
- International students ARE eligible
- Current NIH F30/F31 holders ARE eligible
The Ph.D. research does not need to be cancer-focused, however, the K00-phase or post-doctoral work should be cancer-focused. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for postdoctoral positions at institutions other than where their predoctoral research is conducted. The two award phases are intended to be continuous in time.
For more information, please see the NCI F99/K00 website and the full program announcement (RFA-CA-23-042) to familiarize yourself with the program and its requirements. Review the application and eligibility requirements carefully as the application is not structured as a “research proposal” so much as a career development and planning award. The material found under Resources on the website is particularly useful and includes FAQs as well as an F99/K00 Informational Webinar (video) that has useful information regarding key review considerations
Each Institution can only nominate 1 student. The University of Rochester intends to select its institutional designee by October 6, 2023. Applications are due to NIH on November 17, 2023.
Wilmot Cancer Institute will coordinate the internal nomination process. Those wishing to be considered to apply for this award should submit the following materials compiled into a single PDF to Nicole O’Dell (nicole_odell@urmc.rochester.edu) by Friday, September 29, 2023.
- An NIH NRSA (F31) style BioSketch (Please make sure to use the “Fellowship” format that was approved through 01/31/2026)
- The Specific Aims page for the application (The RFA provides specific requirements regarding the Specific Aims page – which is structured differently than most NIH grants…please read this section carefully and follow the structure below.
- A letter of nomination from your sponsor/mentor.
Specific Aims Page Requirements
The Specific Aims page is limited to 1 page. Specific Aims pages that exceed 1 page will not be considered. All applicants must use these two Specific Aims:
Specific Aim 1: The Dissertation Research Project. Provide a detailed description of the research to be completed in the F99 phase.
Specific Aim 2: The Postdoctoral Research Direction. Identify the research direction to be pursued for the K00 phase.
The resources available through MyHUB are also useful in proposal development, including individual writing assistance provided by Elaine_Smolock@URMC.Rochester.edu.
For additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Wilmot Cancer Research Training and Education Office (Nicole_Odell@URMC.Rochester.edu) or Paula_Vertino@URMC.Rochester.edu).
Interested in Making a Difference in SMD? Run to be your GSS Department Representative!
Are you interested in seeing changes at SMD? Looking for leadership experience or to grow your resume? APPLY TO BE YOUR DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE!
Responsibilities:
- Make sure your department is represented at 75% of GSS meetings (9/12 meetings a year).
- Act as a liaison between your department and GSS, so that we can better serve the entire school.
- Help plan or execute one GSS event per year.
- Consideration towards Annual GSS Travel Award.
If you are looking for leadership opportunities, are passionate about the graduate school community and want to enact change at SMD – we want you to join our team!
We hope to have new representatives announced and in attendance for our September meeting (will most likely be mid-month). If you have questions feel free to email us. Thank you!
Mentoring Relationships: Free New Online Course for Science Trainees
At the Science Communication Lab (formerly called iBiology) we are excited to announce the launch of our newest online course, "Build Your Research Community." This course consists of five modules and is completely free of charge. It guides science trainees through the crucial steps of identifying mentors and building and maintaining strong mentoring relationships. For a sneak peek into what this new course has to offer, be sure to check out this trailer. The course is open for enrollment now and is suitable for senior undergraduates, post-baccalaureates, and early-career graduate students. We highly recommend it to any trainee seeking to find their primary research mentor and establish their research home.
While we encourage you to share this course with students who may be interested, you might be thinking that all your program or class could benefit from this course. Well, you're in luck! We are currently recruiting additional sites to participate in a pilot test of the course during this academic year (2023-2024). If you're interested in enrolling your program or course as a cohort, please take a moment to fill out this form with your contact information. If you are thinking now/this fall, don’t worry! We can make that happen.
Fall 2023 – $1000 myHub Involvement Travel Award
- Are you carving time from your schedule for professional development, career exploration, and writing?
- myHub encourages you to set a goal for yourself for the upcoming academic year to gain a new skill, explore career options and/or further develop your writing skills and experiences.
- myHub is excited to announce a new travel award for the Fall 2023 academic year!!! For every myHub sponsored event you attend and checkin during the Fall 2023 academic year, your name will be entered into a drawing for a $1000 professional development travel award that can be used for any professional development and skill building experience outside of your academic research. Drawing for our inaugural travel award will occur around Friday, December 15, 2023. One winner will be chosen.
Questions/Contact Email: myHub@urmc.rochester.edu
Program notes: This program is open only to SMD graduate students and postdocs. Attendees must attend the full session and sign in for their name to be considered for the drawing. All eligible programs will be noted with “Eligible for the myHub Involvement Travel Award” on Handshake, OTE, and myHub email digest. Award must be used before December 1, 2024.
The Next Step Podcast
Hear from SMD graduate school alumni as they share stories from the job hunt, lessons learned along the way, and their top tips for trainees about to hit the job market in our new podcast!
Check out The Next Step on YouTube and YouTube Music.
Latest episodes include:
Creating a Community for Postdocs with the UR PDA
Why You Need to Do Informational Interviews with Cassandra Houser, Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, 2022
UR Writing - Writing Group Interest
We created a brief survey to gather any interest in restarting the biweekly writing group. The goal of this group is to provide peer-based feedback on writing projects. Each week 1-2 trainees will share a piece of writing (<3 pages) with the group, who will provide constructive feedback on the work. This group is open to all graduate-level trainees. Examples of previous writing that has been shared include manuscript excerpts, abstracts, thesis/proposal documents, and more.
Funding, Grant and Travel Award Opportunities
Complete Guide to the H-1B Visa Process
This course is designed for international students planning to work in the U.S. after their graduation. Although there are many immigration paths to stay in the U.S. after your education, H-1B remains one of the most popular options among students and scholars. Learning about the H-1B visa and preparing in advance can provide an edge as you explore your post-graduation employment options.
Health and Wellness
The Body Project
The UHS Health Promotion Office is excited to partner with the Division Adolescent Medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center to offer The Body Project, an evidenced-based body acceptance program offered in a group setting that provides a safe space for all women to confront and challenge unrealistic appearance ideals through group discussion and interactive activities. The program seeks to give participants knowledge in developing a healthier body image and self-esteem. Open to all women who are undergraduate and graduate students. Non-binary students are welcome, but this course focuses more on topics regarding societal ideals of femme-presenting bodies than on topics related to gender identity and expression. This is a 4-week class that will meet beginning October 4th from 4-5 PM in the University Health Service Ralph A. Manchester Room. Giveaways included in participation! Registration is required!
Mindfulness Class: OUTbreath Edition for LGBTQ+ Folks
Following the practices in A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation by Jacoby Ballard, Kyle Trenshaw will facilitate a queer-centered space of shared experience and support in which participants can develop mindfulness skills for stress-reduction and relaxation. All members of the campus community are welcome to join this practice; however, allies will be asked to “step back” in order to make space for queer voices during debriefs and commit to contributing to safety for everyone in attendance. Anyone who attends all four sessions can receive a free copy of the book Queer Dharma, a yoga mat, or a meditation cushion. Offered weekly on Thursdays 5-6:15PM via Zoom from September 21st to October 12th.
Mindful University Project
As we prepare for the fall semester, many instructors are considering how they can help improve students’ mental well-being and prevent burnout. The Mindfulness University Project would like you to know about the services available to both you and your students for cultivating mindfulness, compassion, and resilience in our campus community.
First, the Mindful Professor Training offers faculty and instructors a variety of tools to utilize mindful leadership skills, enhance teaching effectiveness, and learn what actions they can take to support students’ well-being.
We also provide personalized workshops and guest lectures. The “Creating a Mindful Classroom” is a small group or one-on-one training that will help you to integrate mindfulness into the classroom environment. If you are thinking of canceling class, you can also consider the “Relax and Unwind” guest lecture to be presented to your students.
Finally, consider promoting our student-centered meditation services, including free yoga, Buddhist meditations, and mindfulness classes. For your convenience, we have included an image for a PowerPoint or Google slide which can be added easily into a class presentation.
If you are further interested in other ways to engage in mindfulness at the University of Rochester, explore the Mindful University Project website or subscribe to our newsletter, where we notify you of upcoming events and opportunities every month. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact mindfuluniversity@uhs.rochester.edu.
Well-Being for Life and Learning Training
This Fall, the UHS Health Promotion Office is launching an inaugural Well-Being for Life and Learning training program for faculty and staff. This training program will provide faculty and staff participants with simple strategies to create supportive environments in which students can flourish and, in turn, thrive academically. This self-paced training includes a series of required and elective workshops led by campus experts. All workshops will be offered in a hybrid format with virtual and in-person sessions throughout the semester. Once participants finish all components of the training program, they will receive a comprehensive guidebook, a sticker to place on their office door, an icon to place in their email signature, and recognition on the Well-being for Life and Learning website. To receive more information and to register, click the button below.
Mindful Professor Training Program
The Mindful University Project is offering a Mindful Professor Training for teaching faculty and course instructors at the University this Spring. This program is rooted in cutting-edge research and practices and aims to offer participants a variety of tools to access ways to return to calm, be present with themselves and others, utilize mindful leadership skills, enhance teaching effectiveness, as well as learn what actions they can take to support students’ well-being.
The Mindful Professor Training lasts three months, and includes 7 hour-long workshops and 2 one-hour mentorship coaching sessions. Join us this coming Spring! For more information and to register click the button below.
Internship/Postdoc/Employment Opportunities
Jobs are listed on Handshake
The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award
The purpose of the NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students recognized by their institutions for their high potential and strong interest in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers. The award will facilitate the transition of talented graduate students into successful cancer research postdoctoral appointments and provide opportunities for career development activities relevant to their long-term career goals of becoming independent cancer researchers.
ORISE Fellowship Opportunities at 20+ Federal Agencies
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) currently has over 300 opportunities for STEM, policy, and technical research and non-research postdoc fellows at 20+ federal agencies.
Relevant Reads & Podcasts
InsideHigherEd.com Carpe Careers: By Victoria McGovern, September 11, 2023
Even people who try to live a healthy life during grad school often sacrifice sleep to make room for all that needs doing, says Victoria McGovern. What can we do about it?
Accommodations
The University of Rochester is committed to providing inclusive experiences and equal access to programs and services. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, please contact Jen Prosceo. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.
OTE Submission Information
Submissions for the weekly Monday edition of OTE are due by Thursday at 5:00 pm. Please submit materials to myHub@urmc.rochester.edu.
Connect with SMD
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