June 22, 2012
This Week in HST
Volume 13, Number 12



HST Community Notices

 

Course Information

Conferences, Lectures & Seminars

Student Opportunities

 

Professional Opportunities

Career Programs

 


HST Community Notices

 

MEMP WINS ORVILLE AND WILBUR WRIGHT GRADUATE AWARD
 
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has selected MEMP student Rachel Ellman to receive the AIAA Foundation Orville and Wilbur Wright Graduate Award.
 
Congratulations to Rachel!
 
For more about this award, see this link.
 
For more about AIAA, see its website.  (6/8/2012)
 
 
 
MEMP STUDENTS RECEIVE ROUND 8 GLOBAL CHALLENGES EXPLORATION GRANT FROM GATES FOUNDATION
 
HST MEMP students Justin Lee, Adam Pan, Vyas Ramanan, Nikhil Vadhavkar, and Andrew Warren, working under Prof. George Barbastathis, have received a "Round 8 Global Challenges Exploration Grant" from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  The team will use the $100,000 grant to create unmanned aerial vehicles that can be deployed by health care workers via cell phones to swiftly deliver vaccines to hard-to-reach locations in developing-world countries.
 
For more information and a beautiful shot of the group, see:  http://www.gatesfoundation.org/global-health/Pages/gce-round8-winners.aspx#image=4.
 
Congratulations, Justin, Adam, Vyas, Nikhil and Andrew, and best wishes on this creative endeavor!  (6/1/2012)
 
 
 
MEMP RECEIVES NASA FELLOWSHIP
 
MEMP Dustin Kendrick, one of our Bioastronautics PhD candidates, has been selected to join the 2012 class of Space Technology Research Fellows.  Forty-eight students will receive graduate student fellowships from NASA's Space Technology Program to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees in relevant space technology disciplines at their respective institutions.
 
 
For a list of fellowship recipients and their respective research institutions and research topics, visit:  http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/early_stage_innovation/grants/2012_class.html.
 
Dustin's research topic is:  The Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit.
 
Congratulations, Dustin! (5/25/2012)
 
 
 
MEMP TEAM RECEIVES LEGATUM SEED GRANT
 
Recipients of 2012 Legatum Seed Grants included two students from HST this year--MEMP team members Stephanie Yaung and George Xu.  Their project is called Quantamerix.
 
Quantamerix is developing more accessible and widespread testing for newborns in China. Worldwide, only one in four newborns are screened for easily treatable disorders that are only detectable at birth with a quantitative test. In contrast to the more than 90% coverage in the developed world, the newborn screening rate is less than 10% in resource-limited settings such as western China. In response to this need, Quantamerix is developing a point-of-care test for doctors to detect diseases in newborns before they go home with their families. Their proprietary technology provides quantitative results without requiring a separate device to read out the result from a test strip. Quantemerix’s low-cost, portable device will enable access to newborn screening, and will help thousands of newborns overcome avoidable disorders.
 
The Legatum Center at MIT awards Seed Grants to assist student teams in developing for-profit enterprises in a low-income country.  With the funding for this summer's projects, the Center will have awarded over 100 Legatum Seed Grants since the program's inception in 2009.  Legatum Seed Grants fund travel, market research, prototype development, pilot testing, and other related expenses that directly advance the project.  During the past four years, grant recipients have traveled to over 30 countries and have worked on a wide range of projects that include renewable energy, health, water, housing, manufacturing, supply chain management, biotechnology, mobile services, and a host of other enterprise solutions to development challenges in low-income countries.  To learn more about the Legatum Center at MIT, visit legatum.mit.edu.
 
Hats off to Stephanie and George!  Keep up the great work! (5/25/2012)
 
 
 
SHBT CO-DIRECTOR WINS MEEI GRANT
 
The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) Curing Kids Fund has awarded a grant to SHBT co-director Bertrand Delgutte to advance research that aims to help the brain locate sound. The 2011/2012 Curing Kids Fund grants were made possible by funds raised from the hospital’s annual Sense-ation! Gala.
 
Dr. Delgutte, Professor of Otology and Laryngology and Health Sciences and Technology at HMS and the MEEI Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Senior Research Scientist in MIT's Research Laboratory of Electronics, received funding for “Restoring Binaural Hearing with Cochlear Implants in Early-Onset Deafness,” through which he will study ways that perceptual training can help the brain to locate sounds in subjects with early-onset deafness. Results will eventually lead to new sound processors and rehabilitation strategies for people with bilateral cochlear implants.
 
Dr. Delgutte is one of five grant recipients.  For more information, visit this website.
 
Congratulations, Bertrand! (5/25/2012)
 
 
 
HST REFS (RESOURCES FOR EASING FRICTION AND STRESS) INVITE CONTACT
 
The HST REFS want to remind you that they are here for you if you are feeling stressed, frustrated, or simply want to talk to someone. The team is made up of five past and present HST students who are formally trained in mediation services, and can provide confidentiality and function independently of MIT. They are here to be your first point of contact for a range of issues including conflicts within lab or matters of a more personal nature. For more information about them, visit:  http://hst.mit.edu/people/students/hst-refs.

Office hours will be held in the REFS room; this is within the HST student lounge (E25-303) on the MIT campus. Any of the REFS are also available for scheduled meetings at a mutually convenient time and location, so please feel free to email them at hst-refs@mit.edu.
 


Course Information

 

MOLECULAR, CELLULAR AND TISSUE BIOMECHANICS

This fall 2012 MIT course has been recently revamped and will be taught by a number of well-known faculty in the field of biomechanics. The course director is Dr. Roger Kamm.

For complete information, see the attached flyer.

 

MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY AND PRECLINICAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

  • 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Friday, September 21, 2012

A one-day workshop on medicinal chemistry and preclinical drug development is being organized by a HMS-based center grant, to be held on September 21, 2012 in Cambridge.  The primary intended audience is academic researchers who are planning or actively pursuing projects in chemical biology and drug discovery, and the overall goal of the workshop is to educate participants about the path from early discovery towards medicinal chemistry and preclinical development.

The workshop is free, but registration is required.  General information and registration are available online at:  http://nerce.med.harvard.edu/MedChem.html .

NERCE will contact registrants by August 31, 2012 to confirm participation.
 


Conferences, Lectures & Seminars

 

AEROSPACE MEDICINE GRAND ROUNDS
  • Tuesday, June 26, 2012
  • 9:00 a.m. EST
  • MIT, Room 37-402
“The Impact of Exponential and Disruptive Technologies in Aerospace Medicine”

Melchor J. Antunano, MD
Director, Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, OK
 
Objectives:
1. Describe emerging technologies that are having an impact in medical prevention, diagnosis and treatment
2. Assess the impact of using emerging medical technologies in the medical certification of aerospace personnel
3. Determine the need to revise aerospace medical certification standards due to emerging medical technologies
 
Broadcast Live from Universities Space Research Association (USRA)
 
 
 
HMS JOINT PROGRAM IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE (JPNM): SEMINAR SERIES IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING AND INTRO TO MOLECULAR IMAGING COURSE
 
The HMS JPNM offers a weekly seminar series from September through May and a course from September through April. Sessions for the course will be held in a new location--the Goldenson Building, HMS Quad, Room 122. Seminars are held in Fred S. Rosen Lecture Hall, HMS Quad, 1st Floor, Modell Center, Armenise Building.

Seminars are held on Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. The course is held on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m.

A schedule of upcoming course lectures can be found here.  The course is organized by Amin I. Kassis, PhD, (amin_kassis@hms.harvard.edu).

A schedule of upcoming seminars can be found here.

Please see both calendars for weekly updates.

S. Ted Treves, MD, Program Director, ted.treves@childrens.harvard.edu.

If you would like to be added to the weekly email distribution list for the lectures, please send an email to:
Jennifer Duane, JPNM Program Administrator, jpnm@childrens.harvard.edu.

 

BRAINMAP SEMINARS

Here is a link to the 2011/2012 Brainmap season.

Future topics will be similar to the previous Brainmap season, with some talks on Optogenetics, MR-PET, BOLD physiology, ultra-high field MRI, multimodal integration, contrast agents, and many more exciting topics!

Unless otherwise noted, seminars are held on Wednesdays at noon in seminar room CNY2204, MGH/Charlestown, Building 149.

To sign up for the mailing list, please go to: https://mail.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/brainma

The Brainmap Seminar Series will continue in September.  All recorded talks will be available on the website shortly.

 


Student Opportunities

 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS IN NEUROTECHNOLOGY

RA positions are available in the Yanik Lab at MIT (www.rle.mit.edu/Yanik) in:

  • development of novel technologies for neurobiology and bioengineering,
  • discovery of genetic pathways and drug candidates targeting neural degeneration/regeneration and directed neuronal differentiation using advanced in vivo and in vitro high-throughput methods, and 
  • translational research using cellular reprogramming, neuronal tissue engineering, and in vivo implantation of somatic and/or induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) derived neurons. 
We use a variety of methods including microfluidics, micromanipulation, robotics, ultrafast optics, advanced microscopy, machine learning, genetics, photochemistry, and biochemistry. 
 
We also work with a variety of organisms and preparations ranging from zebrafish, primary rodent and human brain tissues and cultured brain slices to human embryonic stem cell derived neurons. 
 
Candidates with experience in neuroscience, bioengineering, and/or engineering/ physics/ chemistry disciplines are sought. Good communication skills and willingness to work in a highly multidisciplinary and friendly team with other engineers, bioengineers, biochemists, and neurobiologists are expected. 
 
The positions will be supported through NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, NIH EUREKA Award, NIH Transformative Research Award, NIH Director's New Innovator Award, and Packard Award in Science and Engineering, as well as other prestigious awards. 
 
Please send a brief email describing research experience and CV to yanik@mit.edu. (6/8/2012)
 
 
 
JAPAN SOCIETY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR POSTDOC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
 
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is accepting applications for the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (short-term).  Predoctoral students scheduled to receive the PhD within two years are eligible to apply.  
 
Information is available on the web site below:
 
 
First application deadline:  June 29, 2012
 
Second application deadline:  September 28, 2012
 
 
 
SUMMER TA COURSE DEVELOPMENT POSITION FOR HST.583:  FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING:  DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS
 
A full- or part-time TA position is available for summer 2012 term.  Flexible hours.  
 
Duties include:
  1. assisting with development of fMRI data acquisition and analysis laboratories, problem sets and exams and
  2. assisting in the selection of required reading materials.  
If interested, please contact course director Randy Gollub at rgollub@partners.org.
 
 
 
TA POSITION FOR HST.583:  FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING:  DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS
 
A part-time TA position is available for the Fall 2012 term.  
 
Class meets Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
 
Duties include minimal administrative tasks, attending class regularly, holding review sessions, assisting with development, administration and grading of laboratories, problem sets and exams.  
 
If interested, please contact course director Randy Gollub at rgollub@partners.org.
 
 
 
GRADUATE COMMUNITY FELLOW APPLICATIONS
 
MIT's Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE) has openings for Graduate Community Fellows beginning in the summer of 2012.  
 
Graduate Community Fellows are a cadre of graduate students who work on projects and assignments that enhance MIT graduate community in unique ways. Each fellow reports to a staff member in the ODGE or in a partner organization, and focuses on a specific project.  Fellows receive partial stipend support for the length of their appointment period. 
 
Please see the website for available assignments and an application form:  http://odge.mit.edu/community/gcf/.   Additional positions will become available on June 30
 
 

Professional Opportunities

 

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITION

I am seeking a postdoctoral fellow who would work with me in collaborative research on statistical analysis of neural data. The research topics will be selected based, in part, on the skills and interests of the candidate. 

Currently I am interested especially in developing new methods for analyzing data from multiple spike trains, LFP, fMRI, MEG, and diffusion imaging in order to investigate visual attention, visual perception including face and object recognition, olfactory coding, brain damage due to trauma, movement disorders, and psychiatric disorders. 
 
Candidates should have strong programming skills. Some background in statistics and machine learning is desirable. The appointment would be in Carnegie Mellon's Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, and could include cross-appointment in the Department of Statistics and/or the Machine Learning Department. Salary will be highly competitive.
 
To apply, or to get further information, please contact me and send a CV.
 
 
 
 
SIALIX, INC. SEEKS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INTERN

Sialix, Inc. is seeking a business development intern for the Spring/Summer of 2012.  Sialix is focusing on glycobiology based on the work of Ajit Varki at UCSD.  The company is exploring opportunities in oncology, immunology, bioprocessing and nutraceuticals.  The internship

will focus on business planning and will include researching opportunities from both a scientific and commercial view.
 
The position could be full or part-time based in Kendall Square.  Compensation will be through the Mass Life Sciences Center which currently only funds students in MD, MBA, and other masters programs (not PhD.)  Please contact Jeff Behrens for more info at jbehrens@sialix.com.  (5/18/12)
 
 

Career Programs

 

MANY NEW POSITIONS AND INTERNSHIPS LISTED ON MIT'S CAREERBRIDGE; COUNSELING AVAILABLE DURING THE SUMMER

More than 200 positions--ranging from internships to full-time experienced types--have been posted in the past few weeks, with many related to the HST focus.

See: www.myinterfase.com/mit/student/

To schedule an appointment with a counselor, login to CareerBridge (www.myinterfase.com/mit/student) and select "Make an Appointment" on the left.  You’ll be able to select a Career Appointment (one hour) or Resume/Cover Letter appointment (half an hour). 
 
To find jobs and internships, login to CareerBridge and select Job Search from the top menu.  Make your search as general as possible, as many employers do not specify degree types or graduation dates.  Just enter whether you are looking for Internship or Full Time, and then look through all active postings posted since the last time you looked.
 
If you are looking for an internship, don’t forget the postings available through iNet as well (https://inet-csm.symplicity.com/students/).
 
 
 
PROPEL CAREERS FUTURES IN LIFE SCIENCES (FILS) EVENTS FOR 2012
 
Below is the schedule of events for the 2012 FILS Event Series. These events will occur in Kendall Square, Cambridge.
 
September 11, 2012
Bio-Informatics/Modeling Career Paths
 
October 16, 2012
Commercialization 2 (Reimbursement, Pharmacoeconomics, and Market Access) Career Paths
For more details and to register: http://fils72012.eventbrite.com/ 
 
November 20, 2012
Finance, Legal, Operations Career Paths
For more details and to register: http://fils82012.eventbrite.com/

 

LIVE AND ONLINE WORKSHOPS: MIT GLOBAL EDUCATION & CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Attend career development workshops on campus and from the comfort of your home! Access online workshops on career-related topics (such as resumes, cover letters, interviewing, presentation skills, and networking) and view the GECD event calendar to learn about upcoming workshops and events being held at MIT. Do a general search on CareerBridge under Job Search! Make an appointment to meet with a counselor at the Career Development Center by calling 617-253-4733; you may also sign up for appointments online via CareerBridge. More information at careers.mit.edu.

 

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