MIT Postdoctoral Information

Postdocs and the VPR

Professional Development
• Seminars
• Resources

Postdoc Info Guide

Funding and Benefits

Mentoring and Advising

Responsible Conduct of Research

Policies and Procedures

National Organizations

MIT Postdoctoral Association (PDA)

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Professional Development Presentations

Materials are available from previous presentations for postdocs. Seminar themes have broken out into two broad categories:

Career Exploration and Job Searches

How to Brand Yourself for a Job: CVs, Resumes, Cover Letters, Dawna Levenson, MIT Professional Education
Intersection of Science & Business Start-up Companies, Mark Rioult, MIT Technology Licensing Office
The Academic Job Search , Professor Ali Kademhosseini, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology/Harvard Medical School
Effective CVs for Academic Job Search, MIT Global Education & Career Development
Resources: Interviewing for the Academic Job, MIT Global Education & Career Development
Interviewing Essentials, Dr. Frederick J. Schoen, Brigham & Women's Hospital
Job Interview Questions, Dr. Frederick J. Schoen, Brigham & Women's Hospital
Negotiating a Job Offer, Professor Ki Ann Goosens, MIT, Brain & Cognitive Sciences

Being an Effective and Well Balanced Professional

How to Use Networking to Enhance Your Career, Robert Dolan
Bear’s keys to success, Professor Mark Bear, MIT, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Ten Habits of a Successful Postdoc, Professor Cathy Drennan, MIT, Department of Chemistry
Work Life Balance handout, MIT Diversity and Inclusion Lunch
Overloaded Circuits: Why Smart People Underperform, article by Edward M. Hallowell, published in Harvard Business Review, January 2005
Elements of an Effective Oral Presentations, Dr. Lori Breslow, Director of the MIT Teaching and Learning Laboratory
Strategies for Successful Grant Writing, Professor Jagesh Shah, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology
Mentor-Mentee Relationships, Professor Pawan Sinha, MIT, Brain & Cognitive Sciences

Reference Guides

Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty
This is a collection of practical advice and experiences from biomedical investigators, based on courses held in 2002 and 2005 by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers: A Guide for Postdoctoral Scholars, Advisers, Institutions, Funding Organizations, and Disciplinary Societies. This free online publication was produced by National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, and is published by the National Academies Press.

On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research: Third Edition: This free download (plus related video and podcast) describes the ethical foundations of scientific practices and some of the personal and professional issues that researchers encounter; includes hypothetical scenarios and guidance. Produced by the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine and published by the National Academies Press, 2009.

Other Resources

Phds.org: Information for scientists and would-be scientists at all levels. “The goal of the site is help students to prepare for the changing demands of today's job market and to provide a voice for early career scientists.”