August 31st - September 4th, 2026 | Vol. 12, Issue 35
In this issue:
LGBTQ Life Meet and Greet
Join the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center on Wednesday, September 2nd for our first event of the semester! Come enjoy sushi and mocktails, community, and giveaways. Learn what LGBTQ Life is planning for the rest of the semester, and get to know your fellow students, faculty, and staff.
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd
Time: 4:30 – 6:30 PM (come and go as you please)
Location: Feldman Ballroom, River Campus
RSVP by 9/1!
myHub Writing Retreat
��️Wednesday September 9th | ⏱️ 12:00pm - 2:00pm |�� TBD
MyHub will host 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.
Fall [F]ellowship Club 2026
��️Thursday September 10th | ⏱️ 11:00am - 10:30pm |�� 1-7619 Adolph (Lower) Auditorium
Moderator:
Elaine Smolock, PhD; Director of Writing Services & Training Grant Development Elaine_Smolock@urmc.rochester.edu
Independent Work | Check in with Dr. Smolock on ‘Office Hours’ weeks | Sign up docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a6r6CpCCp2ikauAPxAbC_F0tBXtWbiFeoEFXLgJc0_A/edit?usp=sharing
F-repository with examples shared with permission from student/postdoc/sponsor:
rochester.box.com/s/angf2wy6f90m6zefji2v2cx2ta1ib4vv
Dates, Times, and Location:
Thursdays | Sept 10 – Dec, 3 | In-Person Sessions start Sept 10
Time | 11:00a - 1:00p
Locations:
Thursday, September 10, 2026, 1-7619 Adolph (Lower) Auditorium
Thursday, September 17, 2026, G-9554
Thursday, September 24, 2026, SRB 1404
Thursday, October 1, 2026, G-9554
Thursday, October 8, 2026, SRB 1404
Thursday, October 15, 2026, G-9554
Thursday, October 22, 2026, G-8534 Anderson Room
Thursday, October 29, 2026, G-9554
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 1-9545 Natapow Room
Thursday, November 12, 2026, G-9554
Thursday, November 19, 2026, 1-9576 Ryan Case Method Room
Thursday, November 26, 2026, NO MEETING HOLIDAY
Thursday, December 3, 2026, G-9554
In-person Meeting Format:
11:00a - 12:30p Didactic Session and Example Review
12:30p – 1:00p Workshop, Questions, and Active Writing Session
Expectations:
- Come prepared to learn and ask questions.
- Bring drafts to In-person meetings for review.
- All sessions are modular, and you may attend when relevant or time permits. However, you are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions to build community and strengthen your grant writing knowledge/skills.
- Review any necessary links and resources to help prepare.
- Office Hours weeks are designated for trainee drop-in and for the moderators to read and review drafts – please send drafts as early in advance as possible.
Steadman Family Awards
��️Friday, September 25th | ⏱️ 3:00pm - 4:30pm |�� Hawkins-Carlson Room of Rush Rhees Library (River Campus)
The SAS|Hajim Graduate Education & Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) office is excited to announce the Steadman Family Postdoctoral Associate Prize in Interdisciplinary Research call for applications. All postdoctoral Associates and Fellows are welcome to apply for the competition which 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.
Career Story with Ryan Dawes, Ph.D.
Join Neuroscience Graduate Program alumnus Ryan Dawes, Ph.D., for two engaging sessions exploring career opportunities beyond the bench and the intersection of science, strategy, and biotech business development.
��️Thursday, October 15th | ⏱️ 1:00pm - 2:30pm |�� CEL 2-7536
Hear Dr. Dawes share his career journey from neuroscience research and drug discovery to business development and external innovation.
Interactive Session & Networking Lunch
Interactive Session: ��️Friday, October 16th| ⏱️ 10:00am - 12:00pm |�� 1W – 502 Collins & Wilson
Take part in an interactive, case-based session on biotech search and evaluation, followed by a networking lunch.
Networking Lunch: ��️Friday, October 16th| ⏱️ 12:00pm - 1:30pm |�� 1W – 502 Collins & Wilson
NIH Fellowship Mock Study Section
��️Thursday November 12th | ⏱️ 12:00pm - 2:00pm |�� 1-7619 Adolph (Lower) Auditorium
myHub will host an NIH Fellowship Mock Study Section to help trainees understand what happens to a fellowship application after it is submitted, reviewed, and processed.
University of Rochester Faculty will review fellowship applications and demonstrate the process by which an application is discussed and scored.
Food will be provided
| Mental Health First Aid Training Fall Sessions! |
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Since 2008, more than 3 million people in the U.S. have been trained by certified instructors to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. More information about Mental Health First Aid is available at the National Council for Wellbeing, and also in the slides below.
Training is available for everyone - SMD graduate students, postdocs, staff, and faculty can all attend Mental Health First Aid training conveniently on-site. MHFA Certified Instructor Amber Rivera, Director of Learner Life and Wellness, offers the training several times per year. Contact Amber (amber_rivera@urmc.rochester.edu) for more information or to register for an upcoming training session.
The Annual
| Childcare Grant for PhD Students |
Full-time PhD students with a child or children aged newborn through six years old may apply for URochester’s childcare grant for PhD students. More information can be found here. The application portal is open through Friday, September 25, for the fall 2026 grant. Email childcaregrant@rochester.edu with questions.
| 7th Annual Cancer Research Symposium |
7th Annual Post-Doctoral Cancer Research Symposium
��️Friday, November 13th | ⏱️ 8:00am - 6:30pm |�� Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Annual Roswell Park Postdoctoral Symposium highlights groundbreaking research by postdoctoral scholars at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and beyond. Join us for an exciting day of Postdoctoral presentations followed by a networking dinner and awards ceremony!
| LGBTQ Life September Events! |
FREE Tickets to the Rochester Red Wings Pride Night!
We’re excited to offer FREE TICKETS to URochester students for Pride Night at the Rochester Red Wings (Rochester’s local minor-league baseball team). Shuttles will be available to and from the game. We only have a limited number of tickets, available on a first-come first-served basis – so sign up to reserve yours soon!
Date: Wednesday, September 9th
Time: Shuttles leave Rush Rhees at 5:00 PM; game starts at 6:05 PM
Location: ESL Stadium
RSVP by 9/4!
| MyHub Career Ready Boot Camp Fall Cohort Sign Up |
An Interactive, Experience-Based Journey to Help You Achieve Your Career Goals
Fall 2026 Cohort
Take charge of your professional future with our 15-week 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. Food/Snacks will be provided!
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
Program Starts Monday, September 21st, 2026 from 12pm -1:30pm
In-Person Meeting Dates with Time (12:00pm - 1:30pm)
• September 21st – IDPs & Goal Setting - Location CEL 2-7520
• October 5th- CV & Resumes - Location CEL 2-7520
• October 19th -Networking - Location Louise Slaughter Room (1-9555)
• November 2nd –LinkedIn - Location CEL 2-7520
• November 16th- Informational Interviewing - Location CEL 2-7520
• November 30th- Budgeting - Location CEL 2-7545
• December 14th– Wrap-up Lunch and Q&A - Location CEL 2-7520
This week's featured read ��✨: Perfect Phrases for Employee Development Plans by Anne Bruce offers practical guidance for creating effective employee development plans. The book provides useful phrases, examples, and strategies to help managers communicate clearly about employee goals, professional growth, performance, and development. Whether you're creating development plans or looking for ways to support and encourage growth in the workplace, this resource offers practical language and ideas to make the process more effective.
Stop by the GEPA office to check it out!
This week’s social media spotlight features Zachary Boodoo, an Immunology Ph.D. Candidate, recently shared that he received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (F31) from the National Institute on Aging for his project, “Impact of platelet-monocyte interactions on HIV-associated vascular disease.” He expressed that he is “grateful for the recognition of our work investigating HIV-associated comorbidities” as he enters the final stages of his Ph.D. career. He also shared his appreciation for the support of his mentor, Dr. Meera Singh, throughout the grant writing and review process, as well as for those who provided recommendations and support.
Congratulations, Zachary, on this outstanding achievement! ��
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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