Career Story with Deborah Brown, Ph.D.: The Long and Winding Road…Full Circle Adventures in Science and Academia

Monday, April 15, 2024 | 10:00am – 11:30am | CEL Classroom 2-7534

Dr. Brown is a ’01 alum of the Microbiology & Immunology PhD Program and is currently the Manager, Joint Educational Programs @ Trudeau Institute, a not-for-profit biotechnology research center in the Adirondacks. Dr. Brown will share her career experiences at different academic institutions from a medical school, to a research institute to a land-grant university. She will lend insight into navigating the bumps in the road, the importance of mentorship at all levels, and the lessons learned along the way. Event Flier.

This Week

GWIS Spring Travel Award

Application deadline is Wednesday, April 17th at noon.

You must be a graduate student in years 1 through 5 and an active participant in GWIS. Travel will be sponsored on the basis of scientific merit (thus it is key that you describe your past and ongoing research), need (explain why the requested travel is important for your scientific growth), and regular participation at GWIS meetings as evidenced from the meeting registrations and sign-in sheets. To date, 75 GWIS members have received Travel Awards.

There are two steps for completing an application:

Step 1. Submit a completed Application Form (attached document) along with a copy of your C.V. and copies of your peer-reviewed publications to stephanie_scoville@urmc.rochester.edu by noon on April 17th .
Step 2. Request that your Ph.D. mentor and one of your Ph.D. advisory committee members each forward a letter of reference to stephanie_scoville@urmc.rochester.edu by noon on April 17th.

Successful applicants for a GWIS Travel Award can also use funds to attend and participate in virtual meetings.

7th GWIS Meeting w/ Dr. Deepika Polineni

Thursday, April 18th | 3:00pm - 4:00 pm | Adolph Lower Auditorium 1-7619

You are invited to the 7th (and last) meeting of GWIS for 2023 - 2024.
Invited Speaker: Deepika Polineni, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Allergy and Pulmonary Medicine; Director, Cystic Fibrosis Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Event Flier.

TOPIC: “Journey through Academia: Taking the Road Less Travelled”

Dr. Polineni will also be presenting a seminar in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics seminar series on Wednesday, April 17th titled “The Changing Face of Cystic Fibrosis” at 2 pm in K307 (3-6408). Event Flier.

Announcements

Breaking the Silos

Thursday, April 25th | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | FTS Headquarters

SMD Entrepreneurs is hosting a "Breaking the Silos" networking event on April 25, 2024 from 6-9pm downtown at FTS headquarters. They will be providing a charter bus for continuous transportation from the interfaith chapel on River Campus to the event space and back. There will be food and drink provided, space to store your things if students are coming from class, and an opportunity to network with many of Rochester's entrepreneurs and business leaders. It's a great opportunity for trainees to expand their networks and find potential opportunities for employment.

See attached fliers for more information and link/QR code to register. Event flier.

myHub Travel Award

myHub Travel Award Application

Are you interested in teaching?

myHub is interested in maintaining a list of graduate students and postdocs interested in and wanting to gain further experience in teaching. If you have interest in gaining additional teaching experiences, please complete the short survey, online at this link, even if you have completed it before.

Would you be interested in participating in the myHub teaching retreat?

myHub will be holding a two day teaching retreat for trainees in early August 2024. We have recruited former SMD graduate student, Jennifer Newell, Ph.D., who is now a full-time Senior Lecturer of Biochemistry faculty member at the University of Maine, to share her knowledge, passion, and experience in a two-day interactive teaching retreat. Food and resources will be provided throughout the two day event.

Sample of sessions that will be covered....
● Building a Teaching Community
● Student Centered Teaching Practices
● Student Learning Goals and Structuring a Course
● Course Design
● Active learning techniques
● Teaching Techniques around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
● Teaching Postdoctoral Opportunities

Complete Survey Here: redcap.link/buv389u1

Questions, please contact myHub at myHub@urmc.rochester.edu.

Health and Wellness

Calming U

Unleash the potential of mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and self-compassion in this empowering 4-week course. Embrace a calmer, more focused mindset to conquer academic challenges and flourish throughout your college journey. The course is tailored to UR students but is open to all UR community members, including faculty and staff. Calming U Registration Information.

Bonus: By attending all four sessions, you will receive a giveaway of your choosing: The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, a meditation cushion, or a yoga mat.

Two course options are available in March:

Fridays with Debra, 3/22-4/12, from 10:30-11:45 AM via Zoom

Thursdays with Rebecca, 3/28-4/18, from 3-4:15 PM in Genesee 325

The Body Project

4-week evidence-based program to build a healthier body image and increase self-esteem. Open to all women and non-binary undergraduate and graduate students. Provides a safe space for all women to confront and challenge unrealistic appearance ideals. The Body Project starts Wednesday, March 20th from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. at the UHS Health Promotion Office. Register in CCC.

OUTbreath for LGBTQ+ Folks

Following the practices in “A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation” by Jacoby Ballard, Kyle Trenshaw will be facilitating two queer-centered spaces 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” to make space for queer voices during debriefs and commit to contributing to safety for everyone in attendance. Classes will be held via Zoom on Thursdays April 4, 11, 18, and 25th from 8-9:15 PM. Registration is required for access to the Zoom link.

Bonus: By attending all four sessions, you will receive a giveaway of your choosing: Your own copy of “A Queer Dharma”, a meditation cushion, or a yoga mat.

Internship/Postdoc/Employment Opportunities

SMD PhD. Alumnus, Thomas O’Connor ’23 (Genetics) shared a job opportunity for a researcher interested in advanced tissue imaging at Roswell Park in Buffalo. The job specifics, educational requirements, pay, etc. are outlined in the posting here. He would be happy to answer any other questions regarding specifics of the job that you may have at Thomas.O'Connor@RoswellPark.org.

Elizabth Belcher shared a job opportunity for a Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Position @ Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY. They are seeking someone with expertise in Neurobio, Behavior, and/or Biology. For full position details, please visit apply.interfolio.com/143636. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Elizabeth Belcher at BELCHER@hws.edu.

BARDA Fellowship Opportunities in Medical Countermeasures Research & Development

The ORISE Research Participation Program has announced new fellowship opportunities at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Please visit www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/HHS-BARDA-2024-0027 for more information and details.

Social Media Spotlight

This week’s social media spotlight features Marielle Jensen-Battaglia, a PhD candidate in Epidemiology.

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 Mary Beth Kitzel. 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

Tag us or use #URochesterResearch!