Chicago Area Organizations of Interest to Postdocs

C2ST -- C²ST seeks to be the preeminent regional consortium for science- and technology-related education and policy and a prominent voice nationally.
      Student membership (including postdocs) -- $35 per year
      Science professional membership -- $75 

AWIS -- The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving equity and full participation of women in all areas of science, technology, and engineering.  Includes outreach programs, professional development workshops, and social activities for area women scientists.
     Junior membership (including postdocs) -- $65 for national membership + $5 for Chicago chapter
     Students only (not postdocs) -- $5 for Chicago chapter membership without national membership 

Women in Bio (WIB) Chicago Chapter -- The Chicago Chapter of Women In Bio was established in October 2010 under the auspices of the national organization. WIB-Chicago is dedicated to increasing awareness, fostering career development, and facilitating communication among the diverse set of groups and individuals – especially women – in Illinois committed to biotechnology innovation and commercialization. Student Membership: $50 (includes women enrolled in college, graduate and post-docs)
Interested in learning more?  WIB has a "Metro Meet & Mingle,” a summer networking event held concurrently at three different locations across the Chicago area: Downtown, Deerfield, and Oakbrook, on August 21st, 2013.

Biotechnology Association (UCBA) --  The University of Chicago Biotechnology Association's mission is to provide career education and skill development opportunities to University of Chicago students and post doctoral scholars.

Interested in Entrepreneurship?  
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is excited to announce D4 Foundations, a new course open this fall to an interdisciplinary cohort of students, faculty, and staff at the University of Chicago.
D4 Foundations is an experiential lab course that teaches an entrepreneurial design method to discover pressing needs in complex problem areas that will enable the design of innovative solutions. This quarter, participants will work in interdisciplinary teams to identify latent, unmet needs in the areas of education and healthcare. By the end of the course, participants will have acquired the skills to 1) discover and develop ideas with a strong foundation in user-centered design, and 2) iteratively test and execute on ideas with the intent of making a meaningful impact to various industries.  The class meets on Thursdays, 9/26/13 - 12/12/13, from 5-8pm.

The UChicago Postdoctoral Association - New members are always welcome to join the PDA!  Join to help plan events for postdocs on campus.

Do you know of any other good groups in the area that UC Postdocs would be interested in joining?  Please leave a comment with the information!

Recommendations for doctors for postdocs?

Postdocs - have you found a good primary care doctor or dentist though the UChicago postdoc insurance plan who is located on or near campus that you can recommend to new postdocs?? 

Often new postdocs don't know where to start if they are looking for a new doctor.  Please leave your suggestions in the comments.  You can put the name of the doctor or practice, neighborhood/location of clinic, type of doctor and if you know if they are currently accepting new patients.   Thanks!

NIH proposes critical initiatives to sustain future of U.S. biomedical research

NIH proposes critical initiatives to sustain future of U.S. biomedical research

This includes enhancing training of postdoctoral researchers, exploring increased support for training mechanisms designed to accelerate the development of independent research careers such as the NIH Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00), increase the emphasis on ongoing assessments of the biomedical research workforce, including a proposed follow-up study on clinician scientists, as well as to identify and track more comprehensively all graduate students and postdoctoral researchers supported by NIH to provide a sound basis for assessing workforce needs and planning future training activities. More comprehensive career outcomes data also would help to inform prospective graduate students and postdoctoral researchers contemplating careers in biomedical research. To read the full brief, please see below:

Future biomedical researchers: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2012/od-07.htm

Safety survey reveals lab risks

Scientists may have a false sense of security about the safety of their laboratories, according to early results from the first international survey of researchers’ workplace attitudes and practices. Some 86% of the roughly 2,400 scientists who responded said that they believe their labs are safe places to work. Yet just under half had experienced injuries ranging from animal bites to chemical inhalation, and large fractions noted frequent lone working, unreported injuries and insufficient safety training on specific hazards (see ‘A question of safety’). To read more, please see below:

Safety in the laboratory: http://www.nature.com/news/safety-survey-reveals-lab-risks-1.12121

Dr. Sally Rockey comments on future postdoctoral training strategies

Dr. Sally Rockey comments on future postdoctoral training strategies

….,” as co-chair of the working group on the biomedical research workforce, I’m (Dr. Rockey) excited to share how NIH plans to support this critical component of the biomedical research enterprise, and improve the training experience of graduate students and postdocs alike. We intend to launch a program to support innovative approaches that expand and complement existing research training to include science-related career outcomes, and also encourage the adoption of individual development plans for all trainees. NIH plans to increase the funding of awards that encourage independence like the K99/R00 and early independence awards, and increase the initial postdoctoral researcher stipend. NIH also intends to embark on novel ways of improving the trainee experience, such as looking more closely at, and soliciting community feedback on, postdocs’ access to workplace benefits. To learn more about her thoughts, please see below:

Rockey’s thoughts: http://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/2012/12/07/following-up-on-acd-recommendations/

Bordering on Confusion

Bordering on Confusion. By Beryl Lieff Benderly. Science Careers.   
High-skill immigration reform is more complicated and contentious than it looks, an expert conference shows.

Unequal Access to Resources Depresses Women Scientists' Publication Rates, Study Finds

Unequal Access to Resources Depresses Women Scientists' Publication Rates, Study Finds. Dec 17, 2012 Science Careers Blog. 

"Why do women scientists publish less than their male colleagues?   A study appearing in  PLOS ONE  on 12 December suggests an answer: women get a 'lower level of institutional support' from their universities."