September 14th - September 18th, 2026 | Vol. 12, Issue 37
In this issue:I
How to Get Your Work Published - an Editor's Perspective
��️Thursday, September 17th | ⏱️ 1:00pm - 2:00pm |�� KRMB Conference Room G.9654
Join us for a a special invited talk on Thursday in our conference room. This promises to be a great introduction into scientific publishing for all graduate students! Hope to see you there
LGBTQ Leadership Lecture ft. Hollywood Actor Peter Paige
��️Wednesday, September 23rd | ⏱️ 6:00pm - 8:00pm |�� Feldman Ballroom
The Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center is excited to announce Hollywood actor, screenwriter, and director Peter Paige as this semester's Lorri L. Jean and Darrel Cummings LGBTQ Leadership Lecture speaker. Come listen to Paige talk about his work on shows such as Queer As Folk, The Fosters, and The Thing About Harry while enjoying a delicious meal catered by Salena's Mexican Restaurant. This event is open to the Rochester community.
This event is sponsored by the Ostrow-Newkirk LGBTQ Fund.
Food Provided (Catered by Salena's Mexican Restaurant )
myHub Career Story & Networking Lunch with Eric Schott, Ph.D.:
Biotech Unfiltered: Startups, Science & Entrepreneurship
��️Friday September 25th | ⏱️ 10:00am - 12:30pm |�� CEL 2-7544
Join Eric Schott, Ph.D., URochester SMD alumnus and Co-Founder & COO of sōlaria biō, for a candid look inside the world of biotech. Career Story Time 10:00 - 11:30am!
What You’ll Learn:
�� Academia → Industry: Eric’s career journey
�� Startup Life: Building and growing a biotech company
�� Career Insights: Entrepreneurship, networking & opportunities
�� The Real Talk: Challenges, risks & rewards of biotech careers
Networking Lunch with Eric Schott Ph.D.
Time: 11:30am–12:30pm
Enjoy lunch while hearing Eric’s perspective on life in biotech, building a career beyond academia, and finding opportunities in the startup world.
Connect 1:1 with Eric Schott
1:00pm - 4:00pm | SMD GEPA Conference Room (G.9557)
Meet 1:1 with Eric for personalized career insights on biotech, entrepreneurship, and industry.
30-minute slots | Limited spots | First come, first served!
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.
International Coffee Day Invite
��️Thursday, October 1st | ⏱️ 10:00am - 12:00pm |�� 305 Douglass Commons
The Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center invites all students, faculty, and staff to join us in celebrating International Coffee Day! Stop by 305 Douglass Commons between 10am to noon to sample coffees and snacks from around the world, learn about international coffee recipes, and enjoy fellowship with the University community.
Please RSVP by Monday, September 28th so that we can assure there's enough refreshments for all attendees.
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
| Wellness Focus Through URochester Health Promotion |
Healing from Within: A Mind-Body Approach to Chronic Pain: Tuesdays October 6th October 20th, October 27th, and November 3rd from 5-6:15 PM via Zoom. Those who complete all 4-weeks receive a copy of the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook and an exclusive, free Pain Reprocessing Therapy Coaching session.
Relax & Renew Retreat: An immersive retreat experience focused on rest, reflection, and nervous system regulation through mindfulness, gentle movement, and intentional rest. This retreat will be held on Sunday, October 25th from 9 AM – 1 PM at the Interfaith Chapel.
Join the Exclusive Premium Access to the Sol App: The Mindful University Project has teamed up with the Sol App, the #1 mental health and spirituality app, to offer free premium access to the entire University of Rochester community! Sol offers guided meditations, affirmations, breathwork, and spiritual wisdom to support your well-being.
Calming U: 4 Week Mindfulness Classes: A supportive, mindfulness series designed to help you manage stress, build emotional awareness, and cultivate skills you can carry into daily life.
Wednesdays, October 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th 4-5:15 PM with Sean in Douglass Commons, Room 407
Mondays, October 26th, November 2nd, 9th, and 16th 9:30-10:45 AM with Whitney in Douglass Commons, Room 407
Fridays, October 30th, November 6th, 13th, and 20th 11 AM – 12:15 PM with Debra on Zoom
Walk & Unwind: Mindful outdoor walks on the River Campus and Eastman.
Tuesdays from 5:15-6 PM:
September 22nd (meet at Wilson Commons Front Porch)
September 29th (meet at Eastman Living Center)
October 27th (meet at Wilson Commons Front Porch)
November 3rd (meet at Wilson Commons Front Porch)
| Mental Health First Aid Training September 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.
| 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.
Gilliam Fellows Applications Are LIVE!
HHMI Gilliam Fellows Program (2027 Competition) Overview
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellows Program is a prestigious fellowship that supports outstanding PhD students in the biological and biomedical sciences while also strengthening mentorship and inclusive research environments. The program funds both the student and advisor partnership, recognizing that excellent science depends on strong mentoring and supportive research cultures. [hhmi.org]
Deadline: October 27, 2026 at 11:59PM
Program Goals
The program is designed to:
- Support talented doctoral students conducting biological or biomedical research.
- Develop future scientific leaders.
- Foster excellence and inclusion within academic research environments.
- Enhance mentoring practices through formal advisor training. [hhmi.org]
HHMI supports research across a broad range of biological and biomedical sciences, including biochemistry, bioengineering, biophysics, cancer biology, cell biology, chemical biology, computational biology, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, plant biology, structural biology, and systems biology. HHMI-supported scientists investigate living systems at every scale, from molecules and cells to organisms and populations
| Share You Research. Make an Impact. |
Meliora Weekend Student Poster Session
��️Saturday, October 3rd | ⏱️ 9:00am - 10:00am |�� Flaum Atrium
Looking for an opportunity to showcase your research and connect with the University of Rochester community?
SMD students and trainees are invited to participate in the Student Poster Session during Meliora Weekend!
Share your work, practice communicating your research to a broader audience, and connect with members of the URochester community. Breakfast will be provided as a thank you to participants!
Interested in presenting?
We hope to see SMD well represented at Meliora Weekend!
| Queerky Science on thee Fringe |
Quantum Computing Mythbusting with Rubi X. Cube
��️Friday, September 25th | ⏱️ 8:00pm - 9:00pm |�� Allen Main Stage, Rochester Fringe Festival
Et al. is a knowledge-share series that brings pioneering scholars into unconventional spaces making higher education across every discipline (the sciences, the arts, the humanities, the movement) more accessible, human and queer. Our regular nights happen at Flora Bar in Rochester, but this month we're taking the show to the Rochester Fringe Festival! The show is an hour of quantum computing mythbusting with Rubi X. Cube, a quantum software engineer at MIT, performing in drag, alongside three dancers working with quantum-inspired choreography. It's visual, it's queerky, ASL interpreted and there are prizes to win! Grab your tickets and see you there!
| myHub Career Development Retreat |
Annual Career Development Retreat
��️Monday, October 12th | ⏱️ 9:00am - 4:00pm |�� Kellie Anderson Seminar Room (Bloch Alumni & Advancement Center)
Featuring Lauren Celano
Founder & CEO, Propel Careers
Explore career pathways, build essential skills, and gain practical strategies to navigate your next step in the life sciences. Food will be provided.
Event Highlights:
Beyond the Bench: The Business of Running a Lab
Learn what it takes to successfully lead a lab beyond the science.
�� Developing a Career Search Strategy
Build a focused, effective job search aligned with your skills, interests, and goals.
�� The Job Talk: How to Prepare an Effective Talk
Learn how to showcase your research, tell your story, and make an impact in academic and industry job talks.
�� The State of the Industry Job Market
Get an inside look at the evolving life sciences job market and strategies for finding and pursuing opportunities.
Chalk Talk Interest Form!
If you have an upcoming faculty interview or are considering applying for faculty positions in the future and would like to gain practice and receive feedback from a live audience, consider signing up for a Practice Chalk Talk!
Prep and coaching support will be available beforehand to help you feel prepared and make the most of your practice experience
| America's Got Regulatory Science Talent Competition |
The fourteenth annual America’s Got Regulatory Science Talent student competition, scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2026 at 12:00 pm is now accepting applications. Organized by the UR CTSI, the competition aims to promote student interest in regulatory science. 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 4, 2026.
| CTSI Pilot Studies Program in Translational Science |
This program funds pilot projects in translational science through multiple awards that address fundamental challenges and barriers common to translational science research, which generates scientific and operational innovations to overcome longstanding challenges in the translational research pipeline. CTSI will fund projects that focus on generalizability, dissemination, and implementation of solutions, making research faster, more efficient, and more impactful. Please note that a pre-submission consultation is mandatory and due by October 19, 2026.
The awards available this cycle are:
| 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
| Upcoming Teaching Topics With Zachary Murphy, Ph.D. |
We am excited to share that Zachary Murphy, Ph.D., from St. John Fisher University, has agreed to return to Rochester SMD to lead a series of sessions on teaching and learning!
We would love your input in selecting the topics! Please complete the brief survey below and select up to three topics that you would be most interested in learning more about or participating in. Based on your feedback, we will select the top two or three topics for upcoming sessions.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We look forward to bringing Dr. Murphy back to SMD!
This week's featured read ��✨: Scientific Writing and Communication: Papers, Proposals, and Presentations by Angelika H. Hofmann is a practical guide to communicating scientific research clearly and effectively. The book provides guidance on writing research papers, review articles, grant proposals, and research statements, along with tips for preparing presentations and posters. With helpful examples, exercises, and revision checklists, this resource is great for students and researchers looking to strengthen their scientific writing and communication skills.
Stop by the GEPA office to check it out!
This week’s social media spotlight features Katya McDonald, an Immunology PhD Candidate, who recently celebrated the publication of her co-first research article in Nature Communications Medicine! Her research explored the role of CD4 T cells and checkpoint proteins in chronic S. aureus bone infections, with findings that may help advance new approaches to diagnostics and therapeutics.
Katya also had the opportunity to present this work at the AAI Annual Meeting in Boston, an experience she described as a longtime goal in her journey as an immunologist.
Congratulations, Katya, on this exciting 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.
Connect with SMD
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