May 18 - May 22, 2026 | Vol. 12, Issue 20
In this issue:
Interactive Teaching in Action: Hands-On Modeling for Smaller Classrooms
��️Monday, May 18th | ⏱️ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm |�� Louise Slaughter (1-9555)
Experience practical, ready-to-use teaching strategies through live demonstrations designed for smaller classrooms, with approaches that can easily scale to larger courses. This session will feature interactive, branching activities inspired by “choose your own adventure” formats, helping you engage learners and adapt in real time!
NIH Career Symposium
��️May 18th - May 22nd | ⏱️ Various Times |�� Virtual
The NIH Career Symposium starts next Monday! This is a great opportunity for current graduate students and postdocs to explore biomedical careers and network with professionals across multiple sectors. Register here!
What to expect:
- 10 panels featuring biomedical professionals in a broad range of careers
- Panelists working in industry, academia, non-profits, government, and clinical settings
- Roles including bench research, faculty, project management, teaching, tech transfer, VC, science communication, science policy, patent law, regulatory affairs, science/medical writing, and more
- Opportunities to network with NIH alumni and other professionals
- Over 150 networking speakers in every career we could think of for biomedical PhDs - something for everyone!
- Workshops to help you prepare for the job search
- Talks focused on navigating a changing job market (Hello, 2026!), the academic faculty search, career transitions, and job searching internationally
- Skills blitzes focused on job documents, interviews, networking, and LinkedIn
- Information and recruiting sessions for those interested in conducting postdoc research at NIH
- A talk on Research Opportunities at the NIH
- Sessions hosted by individual NIH institutes give you a chance to talk with training staff, PIs, and current fellows
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Check out the full agenda and speaker’s list.
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For questions related to the event, please reach out to nihcareersymposium@od.nih.gov.
myHub Qualifying Exam Preparation Workshop
��️Wednesday, May 20nd | ⏱️ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm |�� Learning Lab 2-7534
This 2-day workshop will focus on best practices for preparing a qualifying exam. We will cover how to write the document as well as how to prepare for the oral component of the exam. Lunch will be provided!
*Part 2 was canceled*
Wed, May 20 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
How to start preparing for your Qual – Nuts and Bolts of what you need to know!
•Hypothesis building
•Structuring Specific Aims
Building the research strategy and how to defend your ideas
•Discuss writing the: Foundational Knowledge, Prelim Data, & Experimental Approach
•Focus on expected outcomes and how to demonstrate critical thinking skills
Language Center: The Unexpected Conversation
��️Wednesday, May 20nd | ⏱️12:00 pm - 1:00 pm |�� Douglass 305
This week - The unexpected conversation!
Tailored for international graduate students, this weekly Conversation Hour is designed to refine your academic English and navigate the nuances of U.S. academic culture. At the end of each session, participants will fell more confident engaging in different conversational modes in academic settings from classes to conferences.
URMC/ University Central Florida Postdoc Internship: Session 11
��️Thursday, May 21st | ⏱️ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm |�� Virtual
EARLIER Program with Tamara Gabrus & Jordan Rich
�� Topic: Large Complex Proposal Submissions lnkd.in/gSNYVikz
URMC/ University Central Florida Postdoc Internship: Session 12
��️Thursday, May 28th | ⏱️ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm |�� Virtual
Program Wrap-Up Led by: Kim Smith, Associate Vice President for Research Administration, Chief Operating Officer for UCF Research Foundation
• Non-Traditional Research Pathways – Inspiration for Career Journey
myHub Level Up Your LinkedIn: Build a Profile that Tells Your Story
��️Wednesday, June 3rd | ⏱️ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm |�� Virtual
This program is open to all graduate students and postdocs from the School of Arts and Sciences, Hajim School of Engineering, and the School of Medicine and Dentistry
Want to take your LinkedIn profile to the next level? Join Eric Vaughn from the myHub team in the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry GEPA office for a hands-on workshop designed to help you expand, rethink, and reimagine your LinkedIn profile. Learn how to utilize LinkedIn as your electronic CV, a strategic networking tool, and a platform to showcase your skills, experiences, and professional brand. Don’t miss this interactive workshop over Zoom!
About the workshop:
•Effectively showcase your research, experiences, involvement, and transferable skills.
•Develop strategies for building meaningful connections and expanding your professional network.
•Increase your visibility to collaborators, peers, and recruiters.
•Have a compatible and credible profile in today’s competitive landscape.
Music, Brain Fog, and RNA Parasites...Only at Seeds for Collaboration!
��️Thursday, June 4th | ⏱️ 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm |�� Le Chase Assembly Room (G-9576)
Join fellow faculty and postdocs on Thursday, June 4 for drinks, snacks, and five-minute "seed" talks by: David Greenberg, Evans Lam Professor of Music & Medicine; Michelle Janelsins-Benton, Joan and Gary Morrow Endowed Distinguished Professor of Supportive Care in Cancer; and Andrew Varble, assistant professor of Microbiology & Immunology. 4:30 to 6 p.m., LeChase Assembly Room, G-9576. Add to calendar.
Find your balance this summer with our energizing yoga classes, running from May 18 through August 30. Join us every Monday and Thursday at 6 PM in the Leibner-Cooper Room at the Goergen Athletic Center. Please note: from May 6 for approximately two and a half weeks, classes will meet in the Aerobics Studio during a temporary relocation.
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, our sessions offer a welcoming space to stretch, strengthen, and unwind. Yoga mats and a variety of props are provided, so just bring yourself! Classes are open to all full-time students and R-Club members. Faculty and staff are also welcome to join by becoming R-Club members through the Goergen Athletic Center.
These sessions are brought to you by Health Promotion, the Goergen Athletic Center, and Yoga Vibe 585. No registration required.
| myHub Career Ready Boot Camp Summer Sessions |
��️Monday June 8th -Monday August 17th | ⏱️ 11:30am - 1:30pm |�� See Description
Take charge of your professional future with our interactive program designed to guide you through every step of career exploration and development. Whether you're a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow, this experience-based program will empower you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take the next big leap in your career. This will include asynchronous, group, and individual appointments. At the end of the session, students will receive a certificate of completion, a digital badge for LinkedIn, and access to career exploration funding.
What You’ll Gain:
- Self-Discovery & Goal Setting
- Career Materials That Share Your Story
- Strategic Networking & LinkedIn Mastery
- Informational Interviewing Like a Pro
- Hands-On Career Exploration
Deadline to Register Ends: June 1st, 2026
In-Person Meeting Dates
• June 8th (11:30am - 1:30pm) - First in-person session: Goal Setting & CV/Resumes - Location - SRB 1402 Welk Conference Room (Saunders Research Building)
• July 13th (11:30am - 1:30pm) - Second session: LinkedIn, Networking, and Informational Interviewing - Location - CEL 2-7534
• August 17th (11:30am - 1:30pm) -Third session: Budgeting & Wrap-up - Location - 1-9555 (Louise Slaughter Room)
Food and snacks will be provided
| Grant & Research Development Seminars for Postdocs |
The Office of Research at the University of Central Florida (UCF) presents the Spring 2026 Research Administration and Development Seminar Series in collaboration with the URMC Surgery Research Office. Join us to gain the strategic skills and institutional insights essential for leading a successful research enterprise. These sessions are designed to provide trainees an overview of roles in Research Development (RD) and Research Administration (RA) offices in a University. RSVP individually for the seminars below.
This week’s social media spotlight features Dr. Isabelle Linares, on successfully defending her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester.
In a post celebrating her achievement, Hani Awad wrote, “Today, her thesis was selected for the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences at the University of Rochester.”
Dr. Linares’ work focused on developing a human tendon-on-a-chip platform to better understand inflammation and tendon repair, and her accomplishments include multiple research publications, national presentations, and prestigious honors such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Beyond the lab, she has also served as a mentor and leader within the university community.
Way to go, Dr. Linares!
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 the Office of Disability Resources. 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.
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