September 28th - October 2nd, 2026 | Vol. 12, Issue 39
In this issue:
1st GWIS Meeting
��️Monday, September 28th | ⏱️ 3:00pm - 4:00pm |�� SMD Large Auditorium 2-6424
Mary C. Mullins, PhD, Professor, Department of Cell & Developmental
Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA
“An Unlikely Scientist: Grit, Risk, and the Road to Academia”
Host: Dr. Marlies Rossmann (co-sponsored by the Department of Biology)
Hoffman Lecture
��️Wednesday, September 30th | ⏱️ 11:00am - 3:00pm |�� Ryan Case Methods Room
What will it take to move from surviving breast cancer to curing it? The School of Medicine & Dentistry welcomes renowned oncologist Larry Norton, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, for the 2026 Marvin J. Hoffman, MD Lectureship. Dr. Norton will share insights from decades of groundbreaking research and clinical innovation in breast cancer, exploring the advances that have transformed survival and the discoveries still needed to achieve cure. Food will be provided.
Spill the TEA - Topic: Imposter Syndrome
��️Thursday, October 1st | ⏱️ 3:00pm |�� Natapow Room (1-9545)
Please join us for the next session of Spill the T.E.A. (Talking, Experience, and Advice), which is a peer mentoring group presented by MyHub Learner Life and Wellness! This group is for grad students and post docs from any SMD department, and we will be meeting over steaming cups of tea to discuss career goals, share exciting news, and get advice on various topics. Peer mentoring groups are composed of folks at similar career stages and are important for networking, support, confidence, and much more. Light refreshments will be provided.
In this session, we will be discussing Imposter Syndrome: what it is, how it affects us, and how to cope.
Future Faculty Workshop Series: NCFDD RESOURCES
��️Thursday, October 8th | ⏱️ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm |�� Zoom
UR has maintained an institutional membership of NCFDD for several years, first through the OEE(OEI) office, then by AS&E and now we in the provost’s office will be managing it centrally.
The University of Rochester is an institutional member of the NCFDD, an independent professional development and mentoring organization. This membership grants you access to various resources, many at no cost to you. Many URochester graduate students and post-docs already take advantage of NCFDD tools, such as the 14-day writing challenge program, mentor-mapping, and webinars on time-management, semester planning, and managing stress by shifting self-talk. Join us Thursday October 8, 11:00 am (ET), to learn more about NCFDD resources for graduate students and post-docs.
Future Faculty Workshop Series: Understanding the Faculty Role Part 1
��️Friday, October 23rd | ⏱️ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm |�� Hybrid, In person: 109 - Fantone Lecture Hall, Robert Goergen Hall
Considering a career in academia but unsure where to start? This workshop explores academic career paths, faculty roles, and how hiring decisions are made. Whether you’re just beginning or actively applying, you’ll gain clear answers and practical advice to confidently navigate the faculty journey.
myHub Career Ready Boot Camp: Build, Brand, and Break Through - CV & Resumes
��️ Monday, October 5th | ⏱️ 12:00 pm -1:30 pm | ��CEL 2-7520
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. Food will be provided.
Registration is closed.
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
Building a Toolkit of Inclusive Teaching Practices
��️Monday, October 26th | ⏱️ 1:00pm - 3:00pm |�� 1W-501 Fiaretti Classroom, School of Nursing
Small changes in teaching can make a big impact on student learning, engagement, and belonging. Lea will share practical strategies and activities to support diverse learners and foster a more inclusive classroom. Food will be provided!
Participants will gain:
- Practical, easy-to-implement strategies
- Adaptable activities and teaching tools
- Ideas to increase engagement and belonging
- Approaches applicable across courses and disciplines
Lea Vacca Michel (she/her/hers) - Professor, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Director of Access and Belonging Initiatives for the College of Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, Senior Research Scientist, Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, Rochester Regional Health
| Health Promotion Wellness Events! |
CARE Resource Center: Support Starts Here
Whether you’re worried about yourself, a student, a colleague, or someone in your community, the CARE Resource Center helps connect you to the right University of Rochester resources quickly, clearly, and confidentially. Search by concern, explore support options, or make a referral when someone may need extra care.
Healing from Within
Are you looking for a new approach to manage chronic pain? Health Promotion’s Mindful University Project invites University of Rochester students, faculty, and staff to participate in Healing from Within, a groundbreaking program that incorporates evidence-based, mind-body approaches to addressing chronic pain. Beginning on October 6th, the program integrates Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Emotional Awareness & Expression Therapy (EAET), and mindfulness-based techniques to help individuals address the root causes of persistent pain and reclaim a sense of safety and well-being in their bodies. Register to reserve your spot!
Behind the Buzz: Alcohol Education Seminar
Take a peek behind the buzz of alcohol. Join Health Promotion to learn about AOD polices, heavy drinking and harm reduction on October 16th, November 13th, and December 11th from 10:30-11:30am. Register on CCC.
Translation is Key: Auerbach Receives Holloway Translational Science Lectureship Award
David S. Auerbach, PhD, is the recipient of the Robert G. Holloway CTSI Translational Science Lectureship Award for 2026. Auerbach focuses on how his research should translate to clinical practice and credits his success with the mentorship and support he received at URochester Medicine during his early career. Auerbach will provide the keynote address at Translational Science Day on Oct. 28, 2026.
| Mental Health First Aid Training Sept. & Oct. 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.
Looking to connect with the Jewish community while in grad school? Join us to meet peers, enjoy social gatherings, celebrate holidays, and more. Please email michael@rochesterhillel.org to get connected!
| 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.
| 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.
This week's featured read ��✨: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by Jeremy M. Boss and Susan H. Eckert is a practical guide to navigating a career in academic science. The book provides guidance on finding an academic position, establishing and managing a research laboratory, securing funding, publishing research, teaching and mentoring, and navigating academic service and promotion and tenure. With practical advice and resources for managing the many responsibilities of an academic career, this book is a helpful resource for graduate students and postdocs considering or preparing for a career in academia.
Stop by the GEPA office to check it out!
This week’s social media spotlight features Ann Rossi Bilodeau, an alumna of the PhD Pharmacology Program, who is presenting an upcoming webinar as part of the Corning Scientific Seminar Series! Check out her program “Setting Up a New Lab from Scratch: A Practical Guide for New PIs and Lab Managers”
Congratulations, Ann!
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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