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Foundational Training

Foundational TrainingMastering the skills of goal planning, scientific or scholarly writing, time management, and mentorship are necessary for a successful postdoctoral experience.

This training will be offered independently throughout  the year to support scholarly work for postdoctoral scholars at all stages.

Communication

Communicating Your Research

Part of the grAdvantage programming, this intensive four-day workshop will enhance participants’ abilities to vividly articulate their research and inspire audiences. Participants will incorporate storytelling, metaphor and gestures while practicing innovative communication of their research.  During the final day of the workshop, participants will be filmed by an expert interviewer and camera crew in a setting that resembles a professional media capture environment

Dates: The next workshop will be offered in 2020

Check the grAdvantage website for current schedule.


Postdoc Research Communication Symposium

Organized by Postdoctoral Association (PDA), this symposium showcases the research being conducted by postdoctoral scholars at UC San Diego, one of the premier research institutions in the world.  In addition, the postdoctoral scholars will have the opportunity to connect with your peers, faculty and industry professionals.

Dates: The next symposium will be held on December 4, 2020


Research Communications Program

UC San Diego’s Research Communications program draws on scholarship in the sciences, science communication, science education, the arts and other fields to provide the guiding theoretical perspective and the practical experience that is critical to communicating effectively with a wide range of audiences, including those with questions or concerns about the methods, findings or implications of scientific research.

For more information and upcoming events, visit: https://physicalsciences.ucsd.edu/centers-outreach/research-communications/

Next event:

Explaining Everything in Two Minutes or Less (with Joe Palca)

Seminar Flier

You really can convey a lot information in two minutes. Of course your audience won’t be getting a graduate seminar understanding of your topic, but that level of detail should be saved for graduate seminars. Join renowned NPR science correspondent, Joe Palca, to learn how you can crisply capture a research story to reach a wide audience.  The seminar is open to all.  No registration necessary.

 

Research Communications Hour

Do you have an upcoming presentation, interview, talk, or are you interested in learning techniques that will help you better engage with your audience? The Research Communications Program recently launched our "Research Communications Hour" from 11am-noon every Friday. This series includes talks, workshops, interdisciplinary conversations and "office hours" to provide one-on-one feedback to researchers preparing to give public presentations.

Please visit https://doodle.com/mm/researchcommunications/book-a-time to register for individualized office hours (Office Hours are only open to Post-Docs and Faculty).

Visit https://go.ucsd.edu/2UeaD3U for information on our upcoming events.

 

More resources:

Financial Education

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“Save early, save often” is a mantra touted by many financial planning websites and experts.  Time is critical when saving for retirement or any financial goal.  According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, every 10 years you delay starting to save for retirement, you will need to save three times as much each month to catch up.

To help you get started and understand how to maximize your financial potential, the Office of Postdoctoral Scholar Affairs has teamed up with Curo Financial Planning to offer the “Financial Education Series for Postdocs”. 

Each workshop will discuss the ways to set yourself up for financial success for that specific topic.  UCSD graduate students and family members of postdocs are welcome to attend.  Come join us to learn about the topics listed below and create a strategy for your financial future!

Date Topic Time & Location Registration

February 15, 2024

Understanding Taxes

Understanding taxes is crucial at any phase of your career. This workshop focuses on how US taxes work and strategies for reducing your taxes, keeping records, and handling unique tax situations.

9:00 am

Online via Zoom

Register now!

May 16, 2024

Smart Money Moves in your Early Career

Do you understand what it means to be financially independent and know how you can get there? In this workshop you will learn specific tactics you can implement to set up a solid foundation and get and stay on track financially. 

9:00 am

Online via Zoom

Register now!

August 15, 2024

Investing 101

Understanding investments is a key part of a person's financial well-being and long-term financial planning. In this workshop you will learn about investment terminology, performance measurements, risk management, and how to determine the right investments for you!

9:00 am

Online via Zoom

Register now!

November 7, 2024

Roth IRA: Is it Right for me?

Tax-free investing can play a big role in your financial picture as you move throughout your career. This class will help you understand what a Roth IRA is, how you can take advantage of it, and why it may make sense to have it as a post-doc or grad student.

9:00 am

Online via Zoom

Register now!

Most workshops will be held via Zoom unless otherwise indicated.

Please note that UCSD graduate students and family members of postdocs are also welcome to attend.

Dates and locations are subject to change.

Grantsmanship - Funding Fest

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The ability to successfully secure funding is a critical part of your postdoctoral training.  However, how does one write a competitive grant? What funding opportunities exist for postdocs? How does the submission process work? Come and learn the answers by attending the workshops of Funding Fest!  

Funding Fest is an annual series of informational workshops that is held each Spring or Summer and provided by the Torrey Pines Training Consortium. The Torrey Pines Training Consortium members include Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP), The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and UC San Diego. They sponsor training courses and programs designed to provide career development and leadership competencies for scientific professionals at early stages of their career.

Funding Fest workshops are presented by various faculty members, postdoctoral training grant and fellowship recipients and institutional offices.

Workshops will be held at the different Torrey Pines Training Consortium institutions from May to June, 2021.

Register for events at https://tptc.wordpress.com/funding-fest/

See descriptions below of the 2021 workshops

Finding Postdoc Funding

This hour-long workshop will guide postdoctoral researchers through available resources to help them efficiently find funding opportunities appropriate for their research and career stage. We will utilize funding opportunity databases to create individualized proposal submission plans that postdocs can reference throughout their research career. Tips will be shared to automate future funding searches and best utilize existing resources.

Date: Monday, May 2 

Time: 1 - 2:30 pm

Register HERE

Basics of Mentored Grant Writing

Come and learn the fundamentals of Grant Writing, a necessary skill in academia and many other career paths. Dr. Peter Wagner from the Department of Medicine will share his vast experience of how to create a well –structured grant and the general review process the grant will receive.

Date: Wednesday, May 18 

Time: 1 - 3:30 pm

Register HERE

American Cancer Society Funding Opportunities

Interested in learning about funding opportunities through the American Cancer Society? As part of TPTC’s Funding Fest, on Tuesday, May 24, Dr. Nicole Lopanik will provide information about ACS fellowship and early-career award opportunities, and answer any questions you may have on submitting a strong application.

Date: Tuesday, May 24 

Time: 11 am - 12 pm

Register HERE

K99/R00 & the NIH Grant Process

Please join us to learn about the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) with Professor Pamela Mellon. The NIH K99/R00 program provides support to postdocs to facilitate transition to independence. The award will provide up to five years of support consisting of two phases. The initial phase will provide 1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral scholars. This phase will be followed by up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent research position. AND non-US citizens are eligible to apply. Professor Mellon will give an overview of the program, share her experience as a reviewer, and provide valuable tips to help your application stand out.

Date: Thursday, June 2 

Time: 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Register HERE

Fellowship Recipient Panel

Join us to hear from fellowship recipients as they discuss their experience applying for and receiving their awards and share their tips navigating the process. Panelists will discuss how they found and applied for their fellowships and their experience writing and submitting their applications. Don't miss your chance to get your questions answered and learn how you can best prepare for and submit a strong fellowship application!

Date: Tuesday, June 7 

Time: 11:30 am – 1 pm

Register HERE

Non-Federal Sources Funding Opportunities Fair

Non-federal funding agencies will share what fellowship opportunities are available to postdocs and what they are looking for from applicants and their research proposals. Names of non-federal funding agencies forthcoming. A Remo (virtual) link to follow.

Date: Wednesday, June 15

Time: 11 am – 1 pm

Register HERE

Ford Foundation and UC Presidents Postdoc Fellowships

This workshop, given by Professor Mark Lawson, Director of the UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and the Southern California Liaison for the Ford Foundation Fellowship Office, will provide an overview of the Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and the University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP). The Ford and PPFP fellowships are open to researchers in social science, humanities, and STEM fields. PPFP fellowships are also open to anyone with authorization to work in the US. Learn about the review process for these fellowships and get tips you can use for writing a strong application!

Date: Tuesday, June 28

Time: 2 – 3:30 pm

Register HERE

Questions? Suggestions? Contact the person at your respective institution:

Heather Dillon, UC San Diego, hadillon@ucsd.edu

Nisha Cavanaugh, SBP, ncavanaugh@sbpdiscovery.org

Jeanelle Horcasitas, Scripps Research, jhorcasitas@scripps.edu

Bea Rajsombath, Salk, brajsombath@salk.edu

Grant Writing

Image result for Sanford Burnham Prebys logo

 

Through the Office of Education, Training, and International Services (OETIS), Sanford Burnham Prebys (SBP) emphasizes its commitment to educating and training the next generation of scientists. The mission of OETIS is to establish SBP as an unparalleled institution for innovative graduate education and postdoctoral training.

 

See the upcoming Grant Writing Workshop Series:

Date
Topic Time & Location Registration

 

Responding to Reviewer Comments

What happens after the grant is reviewed? This module will discuss what a summary statement looks like, describe the resubmission process, and provide tips on how to effectively respond to reviewer comments.

 

 

Demystifying the Study Section Process

In this module, we will describe the peer review process and explain how proposals are scored in an NIH Study Section. First we will look at a study section discussion of research proposals (R mechanism). Then, SBP faculty (Drs. Hansen, Sacco, Salvesen, and Snyder) will participate in a mock study section discussion of a fellowship proposal.

 

 

F & K Awards: Career Development Plans, Mentor Statements, and Training Environment

In this module, OETIS will give an overview of the F (fellowship) and K (career development) funding mechanisms and discuss several of the non-scientific components. The presentation will be followed by a panel of F and K award recipients who will share their experience and strategies for successfully applying to and managing either award. 

 



Health and Wellness

 

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In 2020 we are offering two options for an inspiring group of great people who will meet once a month and cover concepts from the Tritons Flourish Initiative. Each meeting explores Tritons Flourish topics (see PDF), and you will establish a plan to practice skills and behaviors to improve your life overall. We hope to establish a network of support and accountability for flourishing at UC San Diego.

For questions please contact: William Youngblood, LMFT Faculty and Staff Assistance Program wdibbleyoungblood@ucsd.edu

Time: 12 - 1 pm

Upcoming Dates and Locations:

Location
Time & Dates
Barrett Room, HDH Building

 

12 - 1 pm

Meets every 2nd Friday of the month:

February 14, 2020

March 13, 2020

April 10, 2020

May 15, 2020

Hubbs Hall, Scripps Institute of Oceanography

 

12 - 1 pm

Meets every 3rd Thursday of the month:

February 20, 2020

March 19, 2020

April 16, 2020

May 21, 2020

 

 

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Stop by the Cross-Cultural Center on Wednesdays from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm for some wellness tips!

International Scholar Support

U.S. Job Search Strategies for International PhDs

This workshop is designed in collaboration with Career Center, Graduate Division, International Faculty & Scholar Office and Office of Postdoctoral Scholar Affairs to provide international pre- and postdoctoral scholars with the tools they need to successfully navigate a job search for non-academic long-term employment in the U.S.A.  Concerns that are common among the international population will be addressed including visa limitations, networking and interviewing process.


Permanent Residency Pathways for Postdocs

This workshop offered by the International Faculty & Scholar Office and Office of Postdoctoral Scholar Affairs will touch on the most common pathways that postdoctoral researchers can use to adjust to permanent residency status. Additionally, this workshop will address the topic of internal policies on employment-based permanent residency here at UC San Diego, and the specific appointment titles that allow such sponsorship.

 

Visit International Faculty & Scholar Office for current schedule.


Navigating Visa Classifications for your Career

Roark Miller, Director of the International Faculty & Scholars Office, and Emily Kawahara, International Student Advisor in the International Students & Programs Office, will discuss common questions that postdocs and graduate students in J-1, H-1B, and F-1 status have pertaining to their nonimmigrant status, including eligibility for outside employment, planning your next nonimmigrant status in tandem with institutional policies and government regulations, and employment-based permanent residence filing.  After the presentation, visa advisors will offer individual advising appointments to the attendees. Light refreshments will be served.

Leadership and Teamwork

Teamwork and Leadership certificate

Part of the GrAdvantage programming, this UC San Diego Extension Specialized Certificate in Leadership and Teamwork is designed to equip participants with skills to help them excel in any working environment; communication skills, self-awareness, time management, and the ability to function on diverse and collaborative teams. The certificate consists of three courses focusing on leadership, teamwork, and project management. Throughout the program, students will implement these skills by working collaboratively on teams to manage hands-on projects on campus. The culmination of the program will include a showcase of the students’ projects to campus leaders, industry guests, and the general public. Upon completion of the certificate program, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows will be empowered to transition into their career pursuits.

For more information about the certificate program, call 858-534-9151 or email drhammon@ucsd.edu.

For more information about the Gradvantage programs and resources, visit: gradlife.ucsd.edu. Plus, check out the Gradvantage program featured on KPBS and featured on the UC San Diego Extension blog.

 


Leading Yourself and Others to Career Success

This Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) leadership development program is designed for advanced graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to learn more about their leadership styles and preferences, so they can use this information in the context of their career paths to help them and their future teams succeed. Certificates will be awarded to participants who complete all program requirements.

Teaching and Mentoring

Postdoc Teaching Program

Teaching experience is vital for career development, yet can be difficult to come by as a postdoc. This pilot program is designed to provide postdoctoral fellows substantive experiences in teaching and learning where they can implement evidence-based strategies while guest lecturing in UC San Diego courses.
For more information: See the Postdoc Teaching Program Flyer or contact Kate McCulloch (k1mcculloch@ucsd.edu).


Teaching Workshops 

The Teaching and Learning Commons offers quarterly workshops for Graduate Student & Postdoc Educators. See schedule of upcoming workshops at Graduate Student & Postdoc Teaching Workshops.  Space for these workshops is limited, so register early to secure your spot!  


Ambassador Program

In collaboration with the UC San Diego International Faculty & Scholar Office, the Postdoctoral Association offers assistance with the transition of a new postdoc to campus through our Ambassador Program. The program places a new postdoc in contact with a fellow postdoc “Ambassador”.


Summer Research Scholar Program

In partnership with Prof. Elizabeth Komives and UCSD Extension, this mentorship program allows postdoctoral scholars to have hands-on mentorship of high school students from across the country over 3-weeks in the summer quarter.  The postdoctoral scholars will learn how to provide effective mentorship and guide a short-term and manageable research project that will culminate in a formal poster session.

Funding Your Future

Funding Your Future

Applying for and securing funding demonstrates and develops a variety of skills that are highly sought after by employers. The Office of Postdoctoral Scholar Affairs has designed this series to help you learn about and successfully apply for fellowship awards.  

All postdoctoral fellows and graduate students are welcome to attend.

Date Topic Time & Location Registration

 

Fellowship Workshop for Ford, PPFP, and Other Award Opportunities

Are you interested in applying for a postdoc fellowship? In this workshop, Professor Mark Lawson, Faculty Director of Postdoctoral Training and Education, will provide an overview of the Ford Foundation Fellowship and the University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs.  These fellowships are open to researchers in social science, humanities, and STEM fields. 

 

 

Review Workshop: Fellowship Draft

Don’t miss out on the chance to have your application reviewed by a faculty member who has experience serving on fellowship study sections!  Participants will be asked to submit their fellowship drafts one week in advance for review to receive feedback on their submission during this session.

 

 

 

 

 

Writing Workshop: Fellowship Outline and Specific Aims

Start your fellowship application off on the right foot by getting feedback from faculty reviewers and your peers on your fellowship outline or Specific Aims page.  Participants should bring a printed copy of the material they would like to have reviewed during the session.

 

 

 

 

Writing Your Specific Aims, Research Strategy and Training Plan

What distinguishes a well written fellowship application?  In this session, we will dissect what you should include in your Specific Aims, Research Strategy, and Training Plan sections and how to effectively convey your message through your writing.

 

 

 



Tips for Submitting a Successful Application

Take advantage of this opportunity to get tips from trainees who have submitted successful fellowship applications.  Panelists will discuss best practices and answer your questions about writing and navigating the submission process.

 

Introduction to Foundation Funding

Private foundations can be a great source of funding, if you know where to look!  This seminar will provide an overview of foundation fellowships and how they compare to other funding sources.

 

Applying for Fellowships: The Why and the How

In this seminar Professor Mark Lawson, Faculty Director of Postdoctoral Training and Education, will provide an introduction to why applying for fellowships is important for all trainees, regardless of their career objectives.  Participants will learn what opportunities are available, the criteria on which application are evaluated, and the general anatomy of a fellowship submission.

 


Dates and locations are subject to change.

Career Preparation Series

Career Preparation Series

It is not enough to know what you want to do, you need the skills and knowledge for how you will find and land the job that you want.  From developing and utilizing your professional network, to conducting an productive job search, to putting together effective application materials, to interviewing and negotiating, this series will help you learn tips and techniques to successfully advance to the next stage in your career.

 

NEW: Self-Paced Online Academic Job Market Workshop Series

We recently converted our Academic Job Market Workshop Series into online, self-paced learning modules. Each workshop will entail a combination of videos and optional worksheets and exploration exercises. You can engage with these resources at a time, place, and pace that’s right for you. We will resume offering in-person sessions of these programs next year. 

The online Academic Job Market Workshop Series include workshops on:

  • Preparing for the Academic Job Market

  • Research Statements

  • Teaching Statements

  • Diversity Statements

  • Academic Cover Letters

View the workshop modules here: https://writinghub.ucsd.edu/for-grad-students/job-market-resources.html

 

Date Topic Time & Location Registration
April 9, 2021

Workshop: Preparing for the Academic Job Market: General Strategies + Staying Well

Join the first workshop in the new workshop series hosted by the Writing Hub and Engaged Teaching Hub. This new workshop series is for graduate students and postdocs who are preparing written materials for the academic job market. During the workshop series, we will overview and demystify common genres required for academic portfolios in most disciplines, exploring common features and general best practices for writing strong materials.  

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 Zoom Registration

April 16, 2021

Workshop: Research Statements

Join the second workshop in the new workshop series hosted by the Writing Hub and Engaged Teaching Hub. This new workshop series is for graduate students and postdocs who are preparing written materials for the academic job market. During the workshop series, we will overview and demystify common genres required for academic portfolios in most disciplines, exploring common features and general best practices for writing strong materials.  

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

Zoom Registration

April 23, 2021

Workshop: Teaching Statements

Join the third workshop in the new workshop series hosted by the Writing Hub and Engaged Teaching Hub. This new workshop series is for graduate students and postdocs who are preparing written materials for the academic job market. During the workshop series, we will overview and demystify common genres required for academic portfolios in most disciplines, exploring common features and general best practices for writing strong materials. 

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

Zoom Registration 

April 23, 2021

Writing Group: Session 1

At the weekly writing group, graduate students and postdocs will have a dedicated time and virtual space to work on their job market materials in community with their peers. The writing group meetings will provide time and space for writing the materials, gentle accountability for making steady progress, and opportunities to receive peer feedback on drafts-in-progress. 

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

No Registration Required

April 30, 2021

Workshop: Diversity Statements

Join the fourth workshop in the new workshop series hosted by the Writing Hub and Engaged Teaching Hub. This new workshop series is for graduate students and postdocs who are preparing written materials for the academic job market. During the workshop series, we will overview and demystify common genres required for academic portfolios in most disciplines, exploring common features and general best practices for writing strong materials.  

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

Zoom Registration 

April 30, 2021

Writing Group: Session 2

At the weekly writing group, graduate students and postdocs will have a dedicated time and virtual space to work on their job market materials in community with their peers. The writing group meetings will provide time and space for writing the materials, gentle accountability for making steady progress, and opportunities to receive peer feedback on drafts-in-progress. 

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

No Registration Required 

May 7, 2021

Workshop: Academic Cover Letters

Join the fifth workshop in the new workshop series hosted by the Writing Hub and Engaged Teaching Hub. This new workshop series is for graduate students and postdocs who are preparing written materials for the academic job market. During the workshop series, we will overview and demystify common genres required for academic portfolios in most disciplines, exploring common features and general best practices for writing strong materials.  

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

Zoom Registration 

May 7, 2021

Writing Group: Session 3

At the weekly writing group, graduate students and postdocs will have a dedicated time and virtual space to work on their job market materials in community with their peers. The writing group meetings will provide time and space for writing the materials, gentle accountability for making steady progress, and opportunities to receive peer feedback on drafts-in-progress. 

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

No Registration Required

May 14, 2021

Writing Group: Session 4

At the weekly writing group, graduate students and postdocs will have a dedicated time and virtual space to work on their job market materials in community with their peers. The writing group meetings will provide time and space for writing the materials, gentle accountability for making steady progress, and opportunities to receive peer feedback on drafts-in-progress. 

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

No Registration Required 

May 21, 2021

Writing Group: Session 5

At the weekly writing group, graduate students and postdocs will have a dedicated time and virtual space to work on their job market materials in community with their peers. The writing group meetings will provide time and space for writing the materials, gentle accountability for making steady progress, and opportunities to receive peer feedback on drafts-in-progress. 

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

No Registration Required 

May 28, 2021

Writing Group: Session 6

At the weekly writing group, graduate students and postdocs will have a dedicated time and virtual space to work on their job market materials in community with their peers. The writing group meetings will provide time and space for writing the materials, gentle accountability for making steady progress, and opportunities to receive peer feedback on drafts-in-progress. 

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

No Registration Required 

June 4, 2021

Workshop: Peer Feedback Workshop for Academic Job Market Materials

Join the sixth and final workshop in the new workshop series hosted by the Writing Hub and Engaged Teaching Hub. This new workshop series is for graduate students and postdocs who are preparing written materials for the academic job market. During the workshop series, we will overview and demystify common genres required for academic portfolios in most disciplines, exploring common features and general best practices for writing strong materials.  

1:00 - 1:30 pm

Online via Zoom

 

Zoom Registration 

Dates and locations are subject to change.

Resources

Garnett-Powers & Associates (PSBP Insurance Broker) - (800) 254-1758

International Faculty & Scholar Office (International Center) - ischolars@ucsd.edu; (858) 534-3730

Payroll

Research Ethics

UC Learning Center - Registration system and catalog of training available to postdocs

UCSD Extension - Postdocs are eligible for  a 10 percent discount, up to $50 per quarter, on eligible courses to eligible students at UC San Diego Extension.

UCSD Whistleblower Hotline - (877) 319-0265

Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination - (858) 534-8298; ophd@ucsd.edu

Office of the Ombuds - (858) 534-0777

Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) - (858) 534-5523

Lactation Accommodation at UCSD

UCSD Early Childhood Education Center

Garnett-Powers & Associates Wellness Programs

For more information about benefits and services for UC San Diego postdocs, visit: https://postdoc.ucsd.edu/postdocs/benefits-services.html