MIT Postdoc Orientation MIT Postdoctoral Association PDA Human

MIT Postdoc Orientation MIT Postdoctoral Association (PDA), Human Resources, and the Office of the Vice President for Research

What is a postdoc? “An individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue their chosen career path” - NPA, NIH, and NSF definition 3

First meeting with PI https: //postdocs. mit. edu/site s/postdocs/files/uploads/mit _post_toolkit_checklist. pdf 4

Postdoc Training Checklist https: //postdocs. mit. edu/site s/postdocs/files/uploads/mit _post_toolkit_checklist. pdf 5

Associates vs. Fellows • • • Associates Funded through MIT Costs faculty > $100 k Salary and benefit pool Income taxes are withheld All MIT employee benefits Fellows Funded by outside agency Costs faculty varying amounts No benefit pool Taxes not withheld Eligible for some benefits through VPR resources 6

Health Benefits for Fellows Coverage Tier Associates Individual Incl. Spouse Inc. Dependent Family $2, 568 $6, 192 $5, 292 $8, 160 Fellows (Affiliate) $4, 764 $8, 196 $5, 832 $9, 264 Difference ($2, 196) ($2, 004) ($540) ($1, 104) Discuss with the “Key Administrative Contact” in your department: http: //postdocs. mit. edu/postdocs-and-office-vpr/key-administrativecontacts-postdocs 7

Negotiating your salary Discuss with your PI. https: //www. sciencemag. org/careers/2019/04/think-you-can-t-negotiateyour-job-offer-or-postdoc-position-think-again https: //www. sciencemag. org/careers/2019/04/think-youhttps: //www. nature. com/naturejobs/science/articles/10. 1038/nj 7658 -441 a can-t-negotiate-your-job-offer-or-postdoc-position-think- 8

https: //postdocs. mit. edu/ 1. Prof. Maria Zuber Vice President for Research 2. Ann Skoczenski, Ph. D Director of Postdoctoral Services 3. Prof. William Green Faculty-Postdoctoral Advisory Committee 4. Key administrative contacts (departmental) 9

https: //postdocs. mit. edu/ about/information-newpostdocs 10

Common Stressor: First Authorship • Journal-specific guidelines • E. g. PNAS: limited to those who have contributed substantially to the work • Talk to your PI about it 11

MIT Postdoctoral Association (PDA) 1, 500 postdocs in over 50 departments, labs, and centers 12

www. Pda. mit. edu President pda-president @mit. edu Vice President pda-vp@@mit. edu Recording Sec. pda-vp@@mit. edu Treasurer pda-treasurer@mit. edu 13

PDA Advocacy Chair of Advocacy Committee pda-advocacy@mit. edu • Pay Years of Experience 0 1 2 3 Dec. 1, 2016 $47, 484 $47, 844 $48, 216 $50, 316 Jul. 1, 2018 $48, 432 $48, 804 $49, 188 $51, 324 Dec. 1, 2018 $50, 004 $50, 376 $50, 760 $52, 896 • Free Charlie card • Bike commuter benefits 14

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Career Services Chair of Advocacy Committee pda-advocacy@mit. edu https: //postdocs. mit. edu/careerdevelopment/career-services-andresources 16

Writing and Communication Centre Engineering Com. Lab 1 -hr appointment with professional wordsmith https: //mit. mywconline. c om/index. php? logout=Y ES 17

PDA Advocacy Chair of Advocacy Committee pda-advocacy@mit. edu • Infinite Connection Alumni Committee Chair pda-alumni@mit. edu 18

Professional Development Committee pda-professional@mit. edu Small group mentoring - Entrepreneurship (check out Venture Mentoring Services) - Professorship (check out Teaching and Learning Lab) - Consulting (consulting club) - Patent Law (IAP course) - Industry - Etc Watch your email! 19

PDA Community and Sports Weekly soccer/volleyball/basketball All abilities and experiences welcome! Games are usually followed by a trip to the pub. Facebook group https: //pda. mit. edu/events/sports-events/ pda-community@mit. edu pda-sports@mit. edu 20

Sports at MIT • Z-Centre & Alumni Centre $150 discount for postdoc associates • departmental sports • Club Sports 21

Music at MIT • Practice Space • Groups • Concerts (many free!) The MIT Laptop Ensemble Thursday, November 21 st, 8 pm Indigenous to the Net: A Concert of Collaborative Electronic Music 22

Fundrai$ing 1. The MIT PDA Vendor Fair 2. Scientific Power. Point Karaoke ~25% of the PDA’s yearly budget pda-fundraising@mit. edu 23

Stay Connected, Be Involved MIT Postdoc Listserv (announcements and a weekly PDA newsletter) postdocs. mit. edu/join-postdoc-mailing-list MIT Postdoc Forum mailman. mit. edu/mailman/listinfo/postdocforum MIT PDA Bulletin Board at the Stata Center Twitter | @MITPDA Facebook | MIT Postdocs PDA elections are in August, but it’s never too late to be involved! 24

Groups for Everyone! • qt. Ph. Ds @ MIT: LGBTQ+ postdocs • Parents: link • Spouses and Partners: link • International postdocs: • international postdoc survival guide • International Scholars Office (tax/visa help!) • Religious groups of all types 25

Housing Resources • Housing Resources and Tips: http: //postdocs. mit. edu/home/campusservices-resources-and-tips/housing On-campus Housing • intended for MIT undergraduate and graduate students. Postdocs may only apply for on-campus housing via fall and spring waiting lists. • http: //studentlife. mit. edu/housing/graduate-family-housing/gethousing/housing-visitors Off-campus Housing • https: //www. mitoffcampus. com/ • Or https: //www. harvardhousingoffcampus. com/ (same website) 26

Life Resources MIT Work-Life Center (Work/life balance, childcare/parenting, senior care, etc) Community Wellness at MIT Need someone to talk to? Need legal or financial advice? Searching for daycare or a good night’s sleep? Looking for a counselor to assist with a personal or family challenge? Call My. Life Services. You’ll consult with Master’s and Ph. D. -level professionals who offer guidance, share resources, and provide referrals. All consultations are confidential and provided at no cost. 844 -405 -LIFE (844 -405 -5433) (TTY) 866 -892 -7162 27

Misc. MIT • MIT Tours (admissions-oriented, tourist) • Student-led Harvard Tours • MIT Facts 28

Discounts 29

IAP: Independent Activities Period Free courses in January http: //student. mit. edu/iap/nct oc. html 30

Want more? PING: Postdoc Initiative Grant Create your own initiative at MIT 31

Good luck! 32