June 29th- July 2nd, 2026 | Vol. 12, Issue 26
In this issue:
Toastmasters: Daybreakers Club
��️Thursday, July 2nd | ⏱️ 7:30 am - 9:00 am |�� Louise Slaughter Conference Room (1-9555)
Toastmasters is designed to assist members to improve public speaking and leadership skills in a safe, supportive and fun environment. Daybreakers is our local club and it meets at the Medical Center.
myHub Writing Retreats
��️Wednesday, July 8th | ⏱️ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm |�� TBD
MyHub hosts monthly mini Writing Retreats on the second Wednesday of every month. Retreats are open to all School of Medicine and Dentistry Trainees and are inclusive of all types of writing projects.
Each session will begin with a brief guided free writing exercise, followed by goal setting, and protected time to write. MyHub’s Director of Writing Service and Training Grant Development, Dr. Elaine Smolock, will be available for consultation and review during each session.
Food and drinks will be provided.
myHub Summer Career Ready Boot Camp Second Session
��️Monday July 13th | ⏱️ 11:30am - 1:30pm |�� CEL 2-7534
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.
Registration Closed
Food and snacks will be provided
Unlocking Your Family Story: Genealogy Series
��️Wednesday July 15th | ⏱️ 12:00pm - 1:00pm |�� Rush Rhees Library, Second Floor Special Collections
Begin your genealogy journey by learning the essential foundations of family history/genealogy research. Participants will explore how to ask effective research questions, use pedigree charts and family group sheets, and build a strong starting point for discovering their family story. This interactive session is perfect for beginners and those looking to refresh their research skills.
Contact for Questions: evaughn@nyrgs.org
Graduate Teaching Workshop: Learning Assessment Techniques for GTAS
��️Friday, July 17th | ⏱️ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm |�� Zoom
Open to all URochester graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, this interactive Zoom Teaching Center workshop will define and share strategies for implementing learning assessment techniques (LATs) into your work as a GTA. Additional details and registration information are attached and can also be found at https://www.rochester.edu/college/teaching/graduate/programs.html.
Designing Effective Assessment: Backward Design in Action
��️Monday July 20th | ⏱️ 12:00pm - 2:00pm |�� G-8534 Anderson Room
Explore what makes assessment meaningful and effective within a course. This session will introduce backward design principles and connect them to curriculum development, scaffolding your learning goals, activities, and assessments for greater student success! Food will be provided!
Guest Speaker: Lauren Brooks, Associate Professor, Co-Director of the Biomedical Sciences Program
Lauren Brooks, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Nazareth University with a deep passion for teaching, learning, and student success. Drawing on her background in microbiology, immunology, and clinical laboratory science, she is dedicated to creating engaging learning experiences that help students connect theory to practice. Lauren is committed to helping others discover new ideas, strategies, and approaches to teaching, fostering growth and excellence in the classroom. Her enthusiasm for education and mentorship inspires both students and fellow educators alike.
Teaching Reimagined: Building, Engaging, and Learning Experiences
��️August 10th and, August 11th| ⏱️ Various Times|��TBD
Join us for the myHub Teaching Retreat 2026, a two-day interactive experience designed for graduate students and postdocs who are interested in teaching, mentoring, and academic careers. Whether you're certain about a teaching path or just exploring, this retreat will provide practical tools, strategies, and a supportive community to help you grow as an educator! Food will be provided.
| Mental Health First Aid Training for SMD Faculty, Staff and Trainees! (Full Day or Morning Sessions) |
Become certified in Mental Health First Aid through this 7.5 hour in-person training course. Certification is through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and is active for 3 years.
At a research institution where the demands on PhD students, postdoctoral associates, faculty, and staff are high, mental health literacy is impactful. It helps us become better prepared to support colleagues and trainees, contributes to healthier work environments, and reduces stigma around mental health.
Mental Health First Aid is a training that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges. You'll learn:
✅ Common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges
✅ How to interact with a person in crisis
✅ How to connect a person with help
✅ More about trauma, substance use and self-care
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Breakfast and lunch provided
Room location will be emailed to you
Faculty/staff register by emailing Amber Rivera amber_rivera@urmc.rochester.edu
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory to achieve certification.
Monday, July 27 and Tuesday, July 28, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Breakfast served both mornings
Room location will be emailed to you
| Mental Health First Aid Training for Graduate Students and Postdocs! (Morning Sessions) |
Become certified in Mental Health First Aid through this 7.5 hour in-person training course. Certification is through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and is active for 3 years.
At a research institution where the demands on PhD students, postdoctoral associates, faculty, and staff are high, mental health literacy is impactful. It helps us become better prepared to support colleagues and trainees, contributes to healthier work environments, and reduces stigma around mental health.
Mental Health First Aid is a training that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges. You'll learn:
✅ Common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges
✅ How to interact with a person in crisis
✅ How to connect a person with help
✅ More about trauma, substance use and self-care
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory to achieve certification.
Monday, July 13 and Tuesday, July 14, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Breakfast served both mornings
Room location will be emailed to you
| Post-Doctoral Research Associate Position: School of Nursing |
The University of Rochester School of Nursing seeks a full-time postdoctoral research associate to serve as Project Director for an NIH-funded study designed to develop and pilot test a novel couples-based addiction treatment intervention for heterosexual couples in which both partners have drug use disorders. The study uses formative mixed-methods research, intervention mapping, and stakeholder co-creation to develop a feasible, relationship-centered treatment model.
Under the supervision of Dr. James McMahon, the postdoctoral associate will support study design, implementation, and dissemination. Responsibilities include developing qualitative and quantitative research tools; supporting recruitment, enrollment, and data collection with couples, providers, and administrators; managing Rochester-based field activities; contribute to data management, analysis, and mixed-methods integration; assist with intervention development, adaptation, training materials, and pre-pilot testing; support participant follow-up and retention; and contribute to manuscripts and presentations.
This is a 2-year, full-time position with a negotiable start date. The successful candidate must reside in the Rochester, New York, area for the duration of the postdoctoral appointment.
Qualifications: Doctoral degree in a relevant field required by the time of appointment; strong research training in qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches; excellent organizational and communication skills; and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multi-site research team. Research experience in the areas of substance use disorders, mental health, or vulnerable populations preferred.
Salary Range: $60,000 to $65,000 per annum based on NIH guidelines.
Qualified candidates contact Dr. McMahon by email (james_mcmahon@urmc.rochester.edu) with attached CV.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Classes). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.
| Study Opportunity: Cohesion in Academic Publications |
Attention STEM PhD Students and Postdocs:
Do you want to enhance your writing for publication and gain insights for future articles?
A goal of this study is to help researchers improve cohesion in multimodal academic texts. You may be eligible to participate in the study.
Who can participate: Researchers at any level (graduate students, post-docs, or
faculty/scientists) who have co-authored at least 1 peer-reviewed journal or conference article
within the past 5 years
Study involvement: Completing an online survey and Zoom interviews
Participation Benefits: $100 gift card, Nonjudgmental discussion about cohesive writing and insights into connecting visuals and text
Leadership Development Retreat
��️Thursday, August 6th| ⏱️ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm |��TBD
We are excited to invite you to a Leadership Development Retreat on Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
This retreat is designed specifically for the leaders of graduate student and trainee organizations across the School of Medicine and Dentistry and the School of Arts & Sciences, Hajim School of Engineering. We encourage each organization to send up to four current or emerging leaders to participate.
The Leadership Development Retreat is an opportunity to strengthen your leadership skills while connecting with peers who share similar goals and challenges.
Participants can expect:
- Leadership development workshops focused on effective student organization leadership
- Opportunities to collaborate with, share ideas, and learn from other leaders
- Practical tools and strategies for planning events, engaging members, and sustaining organizational success
- Discussions on navigating common leadership challenges and transitions
- �� A fun afternoon social activity designed to build connections, strengthen collaboration, and celebrate the important work of student organizations
Plus, lunch is on us! ��️ Enjoy a complimentary lunch while networking with fellow student leaders from across the University.
Please save the date and share this opportunity with your executive board and leadership team. For planning purposes, we appreciate your RSVP via the QR code in the attachment, or here. Additional details, including the agenda and registration information, will be shared soon.
We hope your organization will join us for a day of learning, collaboration, and community building.
This week's featured read ��✨: Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do by Claude M. Steele examines the powerful ways stereotypes can influence how we think, perform, and interact with others. Through engaging stories and research-based insights, Steele explores the concept of stereotype threat and its impact on education, professional settings, and everyday life. This timely and thought-provoking book encourages readers to reflect on issues of identity, belonging, and equity while offering practical ideas for fostering more inclusive communities. Stop by the GEPA office to check it out and learn why this influential work continues to shape conversations about diversity, achievement, and social change.
This week’s social media spotlight features medical student Ella Engels, who is helping improve access to sun protection in our community. After talking with families about sun safety, Ella recognized that access to sunscreen can be a challenge for some. As the Center for Community Health and Prevention shared, "Her solution? Making free sunscreen available at various locations throughout the county. Dispensers are now available at Seneca Park Zoo and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester." Way to go, Ella!
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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