Wayne Mitchell, PhD
Chair, Career Development Committee
We have put together a list of resources for new postdocs, including information on housing, taxes, time off, and more!
If you want to see other topics included, let us know at BWHPDA@partners.org.
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The Postdoc Leadership Council (PLC) is the governing body for the BWH PDA and is made up of postdocs who volunteer their time to serve on our various committees.
Chair, Career Development Committee
This column will spotlight a different member of the PLC every time you visit this page.
These events happen monthly, barring holidays or other interruptions. Check the specific series page for details on the next event! If no event appears, we are still working on organizing the next installment.
First Monday of every month. Alternates between Wolf Conference Center (3rd floor Hale BTM) and Carrie Hall (main Pike, 15 Francis St).
Meet fellow postdocs and mingle with the leaders of the Postdoc Leadership Council! Hear about what we do and how to get involved – or just enjoy free treats on us every month.
~2nd Thursday of every month. Either in Wolf Conference Center (3rd floor Hale BTM) or Carrie Hall (main Pike, 15 Francis St).
Join us for pizza and drinks after work! All postdocs welcome. Some events may have a theme or optional activity attached. Let us know if you have ideas of what you want us to organize!
The Postdoc Leadership Council (PLC) is the governing body for the BWH PDA and is comprised of the following committees. Read more about each below and reach out to a co-chair if you are interested in hearing more!
The Advocacy committee serves as a bridge between the postdoc community and BWH leadership. We collect data from the community and use it to discuss policies that affect postdocs and how to bring on change to current policies within the institution.
In December of 2023, the PLC’s Advocacy Committee published the second annual Postdoc Survey, collecting a total of 295 responses from BWH Postdocs regarding their
The Career Development committee aims to help BWH postdocs in the transition to their next career path. We invite speakers to run workshops and presentations on resumes, presentation skills, mental health and burnout, alternative career paths, and more.
Thursday, Oct 26 at 5pm
Join us in-person (or virtually) for our monthly BWH Journal Club series! Postdoc Deepa Krishnaswamy, PhD will present a paper on computer vision and pattern recognition. Come chat about science and hang out with fellow postdocs – we’ll provide snacks!
The Communications committee shares opportunities, events, and ideas with the BWH postdoc community. We maintain the official BWH PDA social media sites and publish a biannual BWH PDA newsletter covering news items and topics relevant to postdocs.
The latest issue of the bi-annual postdoc newsletter is out now! Click the image below to open a PDF of the full newsletter and read
The Networking committee works to foster a sense of community amongst postdocs by organizing events for social, professional and academic networking. We run events on campus as well as outings around Boston, and are always looking to find new, exciting ways to engage with the community!
Join us for drinks, pizza, and good company to celebrate Pride Month! All BWH postdocs are welcome. Be one of the first to arrive to
The Mentoring Circles Program originated in the BWH PLC and matches junior postdocs with senior postdocs in a year long mentorship program. We are always looking to welcome both mentors and mentees to the next cycle of the program in the fall!
MCP is a program created by postdocs, for postdocs, to help fellows get the most out of their training at BWH. Two mentors (senior postdocs) meet 5-7 mentees (junior postdocs) on a monthly basis to give advice and advance their career.
Join us as we celebrate the 15th annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week! The Brigham Postdoctoral Association from September 16 to September 20 will recognize all
Vote Now It’s time for the Postdoc Leadership Council (PLC)’s annual elections! This is a great way for everyone in our community of BWH postdocs
Due Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 11 PM It’s time for the Postdoc Leadership Council (PLC)’s annual elections! This is a great way for everyone in
Due Monday, July 15, 2024, 11PM It’s time for the Postdoc Leadership Council (PLC)’s annual elections! This is a great way for everyone in our
Please join us Monday, 4/29, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM in the VTC 200b conference room (2nd floor, Hale building, 60 Fenwood Road) for an information session
Closes Monday, Jan 1, 2024
All BWH Postdocs: Take the Annual Postdoc Survey now! Your input is vital for us to understand the most pressing issues facing the postdoc community this year. Optional VISA gift card drawing on completion of survey!
Thurs, Dec 7 at 5:30 PM
Join the BWH Postdoctoral Association in a winter wonderland to celebrate the holiday season! Enjoy good food, drinks, and an optional ugly sweater contest.
Thursday, Oct 26 at 5pm
Join us in-person (or virtually) for our monthly BWH Journal Club series! Postdoc Deepa Krishnaswamy, PhD will present a paper on computer vision and pattern recognition. Come chat about science and hang out with fellow postdocs – we’ll provide snacks!
The Postdoc Leadership Council (PLC) is the governing body for the BWH PDA and is comprised of the following committees. Read more about each below and reach out to a co-chair if you are interested in hearing more!
The Advocacy committee serves as a bridge between the postdoc community and BWH leadership. We collect and analyze information on employment conditions and benefits of postdocs; seek adequate benefits for its members commensurate with the level of education and skill demonstrated by the Ph.D., including a health plan, parental leave, child-care, disability insurance and retirement plan; seeks recognition for postdoctoral fellows as members of the campus community with a distinct set of contributions and needs, and works to provide a voice in BWH decisions that affect postdoctoral fellows.
The Advocacy committee also helps to update and provide feedback on the BWH Postdoc Policy, which provides minimum guidelines for postdoctoral fellows across the institution, including guaranteed paid time off, expected availability of PI mentoring, and annual salary increases during the Annual Career Conference.
Members of this committee engage with other local, regional and national organizations that have missions that are relevant to the postdoctoral experience, such as the National Postdoctoral Association and Boston Postdoctoral Association, in order to involve the BWH PDA in the broader discussion on how to improve the postdoctoral experience. The Advocacy Committee discusses policies that affect postdocs and how to bring on change to current policies within the institution.
The Career Development committee aims to help BWH postdocs in the transition to their next career path. We invite speakers to run workshops and presentations on resumes, presentation skills, mental health and burnout, alternative career paths, and more.
For more information about the Career Development committee, see our recent events.
The Communications committee’s mission is to communicate opportunities, events, and ideas with the BWH postdoc community.
Some of our activities include:
The Networking committee fosters a sense of community amongst postdocs by organizing events to provide opportunities for social, professional and academic networking.
For more information about the Networking committee, see our recent events.
The BWH PDA established the Mentoring Circles Program to help postdocs get the most out of their training at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
MCP is a program created by postdocs for postdocs. Two mentors (senior postdocs) meet 5-7 mentees (junior postdocs) on a monthly basis to give advice and advance their career.
If you are seeking mentorship or feel you would be a good mentor for others, please look out for MCP applications in August-September.
The Mentoring Circles Program was initiated in the Fall of 2013 for the 2013-2014 academic year with an inaugural class of 18 postdocs. In academic year 2021-2022, over 70 postdocs participated in the Program.
We are always looking for more members, so come join us and make a difference in your career and at BWH!
See more details about the Mentoring Circles Program.
Do you work at the Brigham? Still looking for a specific resource?