August 17, 2012
This Week in HST
Volume 13, Number 16



HST Community Notices

 

Course Information

Conferences, Lectures & Seminars

Student Opportunities

 

Professional Opportunities

Career Programs

 


HST Community Notices

 

HST RESEARCHERS TEAM WITH OTHERS TO WIN GSMA MOBILE HEALTH CHALLENGE

SHBT student Andrew Schwartz and postdoc Ikaro Silva of the Laboratory for Computational Physiology directed by HST professor Roger Mark contributed to the Sana AudioPulse team recently honored as the winner of the GSMA Mobile Health Challenge.  The Sana team, comprised of students from MIT, CSAIL, Harvard, Northeastern and the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, competed against students from universities around the world at the GSMA Health Alliance’s Mobile Health Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, this summer to win the competition.

“The team’s victory is a tribute to the energy and intelligence of volunteers working on a challenging and important clinical problem motivated by the promise to improve health care through innovation,” said Sana program faculty advisor Peter Szolovits, professor of electrical engineering and computer science and health sciences and technology and a CSAIL principal investigator.  Sana is a student organization at MIT that is dedicated to revolutionizing health care delivery for rural underserved populations through mobile platforms.

For more information, see:  http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/sana-audiopulse-wins-mobile-health-challenge.html 

Congratulations to Andrew, Ikaro, Pete et al!

 

SCHOLARSHIP FUND ESTABLISHED TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF DR. SAUMIL MERCHANT

We are sad to report the death of Saumil Nalin Merchant, M.D., the Gudrun Larsen Eliasen and Nels Kristian Eliasen Professor of Otology and Laryngology at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.  Dr. Merchant died on June 27, 2012 at the age of 51 from complications following a heart attack.  A resume of his career and accomplishments written by his colleagues Dr. Joseph B. Nadol and Dr. Michael J. McKenna is attached here.

SHBT students and alumni experienced first-hand Dr. Merchant’s extraordinary dedication to teaching in the SHBT Core course “Clinical Aspects of Hearing and Speech”, which he co-directed (with Dr. Nadol) from 1993 to 2008 and continued to teach until this year.  All who interacted with him as students or colleagues know of his unique depth of expertise in both basic and clinical science and his outstanding qualities as a human being who deeply cared about others.

Dr. Merchant’s colleagues, friends and family are establishing the Saumil Nalin Merchant Scholarship Fund to honor his memory and ensure that outstanding young clinicians and scientists continue to advance the frontiers of research in the many areas that he was interested in.  This will be an endowed fund to benefit fellows of the Harvard Medical School Department of Otolaryngology and/or graduate students of the Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience & Technology.  An application review and selection process will be determined by the Chief of Otolaryngology at Mass. Eye and Ear in consultation with others.  Income from the endowment will be awarded at the discretion of the Chief of Otolaryngology.

Should you wish to donate to this fund, your gift may be made payable to the Saumil Nalin Merchant Scholarship Fund and mailed to:

The Foundation of Massachusetts Eye and Ear
243 Charles Street
Boston, MA  02114 

For multi-year pledges or gifts by credit card or stock, please contact Ms. Robin Popp, Director of Major Gifts at 617-573-3303.  (8/3//2012)

 

KOCH INSTITUTE (KI) IMAGE AWARDS

The KI announces the reopening of the Koch Institute Image Awards.  If you would like to see your work displayed in one of the large backlit frames in the KI lobby where it will capture the attention of MIT community members, campus visitors, and countless others in Kendall Square, you are encouraged to enter this year's contest.  Several images from HST affiliates were selected last year.  

The contest is open to all MIT students, faculty, staff and members of affiliated institutions, and submissions may be any life-science-relevant visuals generated through the contributor's own research.  Submissions will be accepted until October 1, 2012 at 11:59PM.  Ten winning images will be chosen by an expert panel and displayed in the gallery from March 2013 to March 2014.

To submit your images (up to five per contributor per year), simply send your image to kigalleries@mit.edu along with a completed information form (attached).  Please feel free to contact Alexander Fiorentino, Public Outreach Coordinator, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, 617-324-2291, http://ki.mit.edu at the email address above with any questions about the contest.

The KI is looking forward to seeing another round of stunning images from your research!

 

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

 

HST.973/15.124, EVALUATING A BIOMEDICAL BUSINESS CONCEPT

Interested in running a life science start-up? Participating in the 100K?
 
Work with CEOs of real companies in Boston to understand the challenges faced, and strategies to overcome them!
  • Fall 2012
  • Wednesdays 3:00-6:00 PM in MIT Room E25-101
For more information, email: elyssa@mit.edu
 
In this course, inventors/principals of early-stage companies will present their ideas and challenges to the class and provide
background.  Then students will be organized into teams to evaluate each business idea.  The teams will develop and present a series of analyses to answer the question: Is there a viable business proposition here?
 
In order to do this assessment, students may consider:
  • Value proposition of Science or Technology
  • Clinical Validation of Concept
  • Market Environment and Competitive Threats
  • Intellectual Property Strategy
  • Financing and Exit Strategy
  • Regulatory Issues
  • Reimbursement Pathway
  • And much more
Students are expected to prepare multiple presentations.  Initially, teams will present an overview of the specific business concept being analyzed and the issues the team has identified as most critical to this business.  The team will then develop and present in depth analyses of the critical issues.  The final presentation should summarize the conclusions of the team and answer the question:  Is there a viable business proposition here? If the answer is yes, students explain why and indicate their level of enthusiasm.  If the answer is no, is there a modification to the business that could change the answer to yes or enthusiastic yes?
 
In addition to the company and student presentations, guest lecturers will address specific topics in depth.
 
Students should leave this class with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in commercializing biomedical science or technology, ways in which to overcome these challenges, and how to acknowledge when a great biomedical idea is simply not a viable business proposition.
 
 
 
10.807/15.371 INNOVATION TEAMS
 
Here is a technology… now what?  If you aspire to learn how to take a technology past the lab, take 10.807/15.371 this fall!

iTeams (“Innovation Teams”, course 10.807/15.371) is a class offered jointly between the Schools of Engineering and Management. Students choose from a set of breakthrough technologies selected by the Class Faculty from MIT labs on the basis of their excitement and commercial potential.  Working with 3-5 class peers plus an industry “Catalyst”, the i-Team focuses throughout the semester on exploring a commercialization strategy for their technology and developing a final recommendation for the next steps and the best vehicle to bring the project to impact (e.g. startup, license, NGO).

You will come out of the class understanding how to build a go-to-market strategy, how to analyze a market and specify its needs, how to identify practical and economically viable applications, how to produce synergy with peers from other disciplines, the importance of intellectual property, and the iterative nature of the innovation process.  The course is led by Dr. Luis Perez-Breva from the School of Engineering, Dr. Noubar Afeyan from Flagship Ventures and Sloan, and Prof. Fiona Murray from Sloan and the Entrepreneurship Center.

Students in the class are invited to lectures by inventors, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists.  They have the opportunity to network with some of the brightest minds in the MIT entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This is a highly sought-after course so contact us quickly!

For more information and course registration details, check out the iTeams website at http://ecenter.mit.edu/iteams/. If you have more questions, contact the TA, Simmy Willemann, at iTeams-TA@mit.edu.

 
 
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

 
 
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT:  EMERGING BUSINESS TRENDS IN BIOMEDICINE
  • Monday, September 10, 2012
  • 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
  • Joseph P. Martin Conference Center, HMS, 77 Ave. Louis Pasteur, Boston
  • Fee:  $295
On September 10, 2012, Harvard Business School Healthcare Alumni and Pfizer are hosting a joint conference entitled Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Drug Discovery and Development: Emerging Business Trends in Biomedicine.
This event symbolizes a renewed focus on the collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and the academic and life sciences communities for the welfare of patients. We are fortunate to have composed a stellar agenda with world-class leaders from academia, business, and the government, including:
 
Clay Christensen, DBA '92 - Professor, Harvard Business School
Juan Enriquez - Managing Director, Excel Venture Management
Jeffrey Flier, M.D. - Dean, Harvard Medical School
Jose-Carlos Guttierrez-Ramos, Ph.D.  - SVP of R&D, Biotherapeutics, Pfizer
Jonathan Rothberg - Founder/CEO/Chairman, Ion Torrent, Inc.
Vicki Seyfert-Margolis - Senior Advisor, FDA, Office of the Commissioner
Vicki Sato, Ph.D. - Professor, Harvard Business School
Phillip Sharp, Ph.D. - Professor, MIT and Nobel Laureate
Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D. - Founder/Partner, Longwood Fund
Anne Wojcicki - Co-founder, 23andMe
 
For more information and to register, click here.
 
 
 
WARREN ALPERT FOUNDATION PRIZE SYMPOSIUM
 
The Warren Alpert Foundation and Dean Jeffrey S. Flier present:
 
"Therapeutic Targeting of the Proteasome in Disease"
  • 2:30 – 5:30 p.m., Monday, September 24, 2012
  • Joseph B. Martin Conference Center, New Research Building, Harvard Medical School
  • 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston
 
Symposium Program:
 
Opening Remarks
Jeffrey S. Flier, MD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Harvard University
 
Joan S. Brugge, PhD, Louise Foote Pfeiffer Professor of Cell Biology and Chair of the Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School
 
Award Lecture
The following lectures are presented by the recipients of the 2012 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize.  These individuals are honored for their discovery, preclinical and clinical development of bortezomib (Velcade) to FDA approval and front line therapy for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

Alfred L. Goldberg, PhD, Professor of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School:  "Functions of the Proteasome: From Protein Degradation to Drug Development"
 
Julian Adams, PhD, President, Research and Development, Infinity Pharmaceuticals:  "The Discovery and Development of Bortezomib"
 
Kenneth C. Anderson, MD, Kraft Family Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Director of the LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics and Director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute:  "Bench to Bedside Translation of Proteasome Inhibitor Therapy in Multiple Myeloma"
 
Paul G. Richardson, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Clinical Director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute:  "The Clinical Development of Bortezomib in Multiple Myeloma: from Single Agent to Combinations and Beyond; Current and Future Directions"
 
Call for Nominations for the 2013 Prize
The Warren Alpert Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, comprising internationally renowned biomedical scientists and chaired by Dean Jeffrey S. Flier, is requesting nominations for the 2013 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize. Nominations should be made for scientific achievements that have led to the prevention, cure or treatment of human disorders or for research results that constitute a seminal scientific finding that holds great promise of ultimately changing our ability to treat disease. Visit http://www.warrenalpert.org to nominate and view a list of past Warren Alpert Foundation Prize recipients.
 
 
 
INAUGURAL IMMUNOBIOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT SYMPOSIUM AT YALE
 
Yale's Immunobiology Graduate Student Symposium Committee is proud to announce that it will be hosting its inaugural Graduate Student Symposium on Thursday, September 13, 2012. This symposium serves as an opportunity to invite scientists on the cutting edge, to speak about current breakthroughs and the future of their field. This year, the event will feature a panel of leading scientists selected by the student body and spanning the fields of virology, neurobiology, and cancer biology. In addition to graduate students, faculty and post-doctoral fellows from the greater Yale University community are invited to join us for this occasion.
 
The symposium will be held in Harkness Auditorium (333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT) from 12:30 to 6:00 pm, followed by a grand reception in the TAC lobby (300 Cedar St). 
 
Invited Speakers:
  • Jonathan C. Kagan, Assistant Professor at Harvard University Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Shelly Kagan, Clark Professor of Philosophy at Yale University and the former Henry R. Luce Professor of Social Thought and Ethics / Ian Lipkin/ Director of the Center for Infection and Immunity, John Snow Professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and Professor of Neurology and Pathology at College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, Director of the Northeast Biodefense Center
  • Ian Lipkin, Director of the Center for Infection and Immunity, John Snow Professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and Professor of Neurology and Pathology at College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, Director of the Northeast Biodefense Center
  • Diane Mathis, Professor of Microbiology and Immunobiology, and Director of the JDRF Center on Immunological Tolerance in Type-1 Diabetes at Harvard Medical School
  • Ira Mellman, Vice President of Research Oncology at Genentech, Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco
  • Linda R. Watkins, Professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Colorado President’s Teaching Scholar, Director of the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Ph.D. Program
For additional information, please contact Padmini Pillai (padmini.pillai@yale.edu).
 
 
 
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS:  GLOBAL HEALTH & INNOVATION CONFERENCE AT YALE
The Global Health & Innovation Conference is the world's largest global health conference and social entrepreneurship conference.  This must-attend, thought-leading conference annually convenes 2,200 leaders, changemakers, students, and professionals from all fields of global health, international development, and social entrepreneurship.  Register during August to secure the lowest registration rate.
 
Interested in presenting at the conference? Submit an abstract for consideration.  The first abstract deadline is August 31.  The registration rate increases after August 31.
 
The conference's confirmed speakers to date include the following keynote addresses:
  • Jeffrey Sachs, PhD, Director of Earth Institute, Columbia University; Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, Professor of Health Policy and Management, Columbia University; Special Advisor to Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon
  • Sonia Ehrlich Sachs, MD, MPH, Director of Health, Millennium Village Project, Earth Institute, Columbia University
  • More speakers to be announced
For a detailed list of confirmed speakers, see:  http://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2013.
 
 
 
MILLENIUM CAMPUS CONFERENCE 2012
 
On September 14-15, 2012, at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, a mass gathering of 1,000 students and 100 professionals will take place to update the world's youth on the progress of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. 
 
This summit, called the Millennium Campus Conference, is run by students for students who have an interest in international or domestic development work.  The conference strives to provide some of the highest levels of thought on important topics such as social enterprise, gender equality, foreign aid, and technology innovation.  This is also an incredible opportunity to network with other aspiring students, NGO's, and government agencies.
 
Join us and other major keynotes speakers who in the past have included Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, K'naan, John Legend, Scott Harrison, and more.  We are looking for the right kind of attendees: those who have a deep passion or curiosity for doing work that changes lives.
 
 
P.S. Until July 15, a 15% discount code -- MIT10 -- will be running through our registration page.
 
 
 
IEEE-EMBS HEALTHCARE INNOVATION CONFERENCE
 
This fall's IEEE Healthcare Innovation Conference will integrate medicine and healthcare with engineering.  The conference will take place in Houston, Texas from November 7-9, 2012.  
 
The conference organizers are looking for one-page abstracts or four-page papers in research that applies to medicine and technology that might not precisely fit in either medical or engineering journals.
 
For more information, see:  http://healthinnov.embs.org/2012conf/.
 
 
 
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

 

GWAMIT MENTORING PROGRAM OPEN FOR MENTEE APPLICATIONS

Deadline: August 19, 2012

Contact: Xuwen Zhu (xwzhu@mit.edu) and Ricarose Roque (ria@mit.edu)
 
Applications are now open for women graduate students to be mentored by a female faculty/alum in the GWAMIT Mentoring Program.
 
Mentorship can be sought in areas ranging from careers to more personal matters. Grad women mentees are responsible for meeting with their mentor each month for a minimum of one hour and attending a beginning-of-term and end-of-year dinner. Your commitment to the program would last one semester at which point you can choose to continue and/or be rematched.
 
Graduate mentee applications should be submitted through:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtlR1kyb1VqZ2ItTmtOY0JVMkhNRUE6MQ#gid=0   Please sign up by August 19th. Spots may be limited, so sign up soon!
 
And, please forward this announcement to anyone you think would be interested in participating.
 
If you have a recommendation for a faculty/alumni mentor, questions, or would like more info, e-mail Xuwen Zhu (xwzhu@mit.edu) and Ricarose Roque (ria@mit.edu).
 

 

HELP CAMBRIDGE STUDENTS EXCEL ACADEMICALLY!

A new group of MIT graduate students is aiming to help public school students excel academically and we need YOU as a Program Analyst on our team!  

Our afterschool outreach program will connect mathematics and science to real world concepts as we strive to make learning more fun for elementary school students. This fall we will begin working weekly in math with 5th grade students at the Fletcher Maynard Academy.  
 
The Program Analyst will design and conduct surveys and tests to analyze the performance of both the program and the students. A motivated HST student operating in this role will track the impact on the students, as well as play an integral role in creating an ever better program. 
 
Email us at: leon_dim@mit.edu with any questions or to schedule a nice talk over coffee/lunch. 
 
Join our team and help make a noticeable impact on the community! We look forward to hearing from you. (8/3/2012)
 
 
 
TRANSFORM HEALTH PROJECT OPPORTUNITY FOR MEDICAL OR MD/PHD STUDENTS
 
We are looking for a high-performing third or fourth-year medical student, MD/ PhD student, or medical student taking a research year with a keen interest in pediatrics and/or infectious disease.  We are developing a mobile app targeted at parents of children under 10. One aspect of this app will involve providing parents with easily digestible information about the duration and progression of common diseases of concern (e.g., Strept Throat, Influenza, Croup, Hand Foot and Mouth Disease). The student would lead the collection of medically relevant data, help to structure the data for consumption by parents, provide input into User Experience (UX) design of the app as it relates to this data, and engage with practicing pediatricians and ID physicians as appropriate to gather input and verify the data/ approach. The project will involve 20-40 hours of work. Positive performance on the project may lead to additional projects/ opportunities.
 
The project can be performed remotely.
 
Compensation:  $20/ hr as well as exposure to an early-stage startup company. You will work closely with one or more of the founders of Transform Health, and an expert in UX design. The founders include three previously successful entrepreneurs who together have started over a dozen companies, and the individual who led the public health program at President Clinton’s Foundation which reduced the price of AIDS and malaria drugs for developing countries by up to 90%, enabling millions of people to receive treatment.  See www.transformhealth.me for more information about the company.  
 
Contact inder@transformhealth.me if you are interested in the project.
 
--
Inder Singh, HST/BEP alum | Founder & CEO, Transform Health Inc. | inder@transformhealth.me | +1 415 812 4633 (7/20/2012)
 
 
 
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. (8/3/2012)
 
 

Professional Opportunities

 

MISTI GLOBAL SEED FUNDING FOR INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS AND COLLABORATION

 
2012-2013 Call for Proposals
 
MISTI offers seed funds to enable MIT faculty and researchers to launch early-stage international projects and collaboration with colleagues abroad. Applicants are encouraged to involve MIT undergraduate and graduate students in their projects.
 
MISTI GSF includes a general fund for projects in any country and additional funds for projects in: 
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Russia
Funding may be used to cover travel, meeting and workshop costs to facilitate international projects and collaboration. In 2011, MISTI received 181 requests for funding, and 71 projects were awarded a total of $1.7 million. Over $2.1 million is available in the current grant cycle.
 
The application deadline is September 17, 2012.
 
For more information and to apply:  http://mit.edu/misti/faculty/seed.html.
 
Contact:  misti-gsf@mit.edu.
 
 
 
STANFORD BIODESIGN INNOVATION FELLOWSHIP 2013-14 APPLICATION NOW OPEN
 
Ready for a year of Innovation!
Spend a year of hands-on training medtech innovation -- beginning by identifying patient needs in the hospital and moving through the stages of inventing, prototyping, patenting and planning for business implementation.  Your mentors will be some of the premier entrepreneurs, engineers and clinicians at Stanford and in the Silicon Valley.
 
Learn the satisfaction that comes with developing a medical technology and the opportunity to impact patients worldwide.
 
Your future as a medtech innovator starts here:  http://biodesign.stanford.edu/
 
Applications for the 2013-14 fellowship are due Oct 10, 2012.
 
 
 
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITIONS IN HEARING4ALL, UNIVERSITY OF OLDENBURG
 
The University of Oldenburg is announcing a number of assistant professor positions in its recently approved cluster of excellence Hearing4All (http://www.hearing4all.org/), in the fields of speech and audio processing for hearing instruments and assistive listening devices, machine listening, auditory modelling and diagnostics, and brain-computer-interfaces. More details can be found in the attached document and on http://www.hearing4all.org/60085.html
 
 
 
NEW T32 POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM--RECRUITMENT UNDER WAY
 
Translational Research in Regenerative Medicine / Postdoctoral "Training without Borders"
This is a new T32 postdoctoral program that is an evolution of a Rutgers-based training program on biomaterials science and tissue engineering.   Joachim Kohn at Rutgers is the PI and Carole Kantor is the program administrator. We have formed a 15-member faculty team spanning six universities and are now recruiting candidates to become NRSA trainees in Translational Research in Regenerative Medicine, informally subtitled "Training without Borders". Here are some of the research topics the faculty have suggested:
  • Multiphasic Scaffolds For Complex Tissue Regeneration
  • Combinatorial Polymer Synthesis and Characterization
  • Molecular Surface Design of Polymers and Scaffolds
  • Nanomedicine And Drug Delivery
  • Bioengineering /Biotechnology/ Biomaterials
  • Computational and Systems Biology; Biomedical Imaging
  • Neuroscience
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Interface Patterning For Cell and ECM Alignment
  • Stem Cells in Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Other topics may well emerge as trainees work with multiple faculty to define research projects. Our co-mentoring model will drive this kind of project definition.
    
See njbiomaterials.org/postdoc for more information.
 
September 30, 2012:  Deadline for applications for first cohort.
 

 

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, DUKE UNIVERSITY

Department of Biomedical Engineering
 
An opportunity exists to join our research group in neural engineering: using engineering techniques to understand and control neural function. We work primarily on fundamental questions related to development and application of neural prostheses. Neural prostheses use electrical activation and recording of the nervous system to restore function to individuals with neurological impairment.
 
We have active projects in:
• developing systems using electrical stimulation to restore bladder function
• design and testing of innovative electrodes and stimulation techniques
• explaining the mechanisms of action of deep brain stimulation
• advancing technologies for deep brain stimulation, including closed-loop control
 
We conduct computer-based modeling of neurons and electric fields, in vivo stimulation and recording in pre-clinical models, and clinical feasibility studies in human subjects.
 
We seek a highly-motivated individual who enjoys the freedom to pursue his/her own ideas in a supportive environment to join our team. The focus of this position is on experimental studies using electrical stimulation to restore control of bladder function. Funding comes from an NIH R01 and a new grant from industry.
 
This is a full-time position with university benefits and provides exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary research and career development. A PhD in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, neuroscience, physics or math is required, as are excellent communication skills. Previous experience in experimental electrophysiology is highly desirable, and previous experience in human subjects research is beneficial.
 
For consideration submit a CV and the names and contact information of three professional references as a .pdf file attachment to:
Warren M. Grill, PhD, Addy Professor of Biomedical Engineering, warren.grill@duke.edu. (7/20/2012)
 
 
 
MESO SCALE DIAGNOSTICS OPENINGS
 
Meso Scale Diagnostics of  Gaithersburg, Maryland is currently seeking several candidates for various positions within the organization. The posting is very general so that we can attract a broad range of applicants with various backgrounds. We would get into specifics for different opportunities based on what the applicant’s background experience reflects. Specifically we are looking for scientists with expertise in oncology, protein purification for our critical reagents group, and expertise working with cytokines. We are encouraging applicants from all departments to contact us directly regarding opportunities with us.
 
Applicants can directly contact jcardona@mesoscale.com, or via telephone at (301) 947-2023 (direct dial). We would expect anyone who is interested to forward a current copy of their resume/CV for review and consideration.
 
For more information, see the attached file here. (7/20/2012)
 

 

BURROUGHS-WELLCOME FUND (BWF) - 2012 CAREER AWARDS AT THE SCIENTIFIC INTERFACE

Self-nominations accepted: Now Accepting Proposals

Advancing the careers of physical, chemical or computational science researchers and engineers whose work addresses biological questions.
 
Preproposal Deadline: September 4, 2012
 
BWF’s Career Awards at the Scientific Interface provide $500,000 to bridge advanced postdoctoral training and the first years of faculty service.  These awards are intended to foster the early career development of researchers with backgrounds in the physical/mathematical/computational sciences and engineers whose work addresses biological questions. 
 
These awards are open to U.S. and Canadian citizens or permanent residents as well as to U.S. temporary residents.
 
Eligible candidates for this award may self-nominate by submitting a preproposal by September 4, 2012. 
 
Preproposals will be reviewed by the Interfaces in Science Advisory Committee and selected candidates will be invited to submit a full application. Full invited applications must be submitted by January 10, 2013.
 
 
For full grant details, see www.bwfund.org.
 
Prior to 2010, candidates for this award were nominated by North American degree-granting institutions.  Since 2010, eligible candidates for this award may self-nominate by submitting a preproposal.
 
An eligibility quiz has been created to assist you in determining whether you are eligible to apply for this award. Successful completion of the quiz will take you directly to the preproposal application. You will be notified upon conclusion of the quiz if you are not eligible to continue.
 
 
 

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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