Welcome to the Berkeley Postdoctoral Association!
The Berkeley Postdoctoral Association (BPA) is a volunteer organization of postdocs working for all postdocs. On our website you can find information on social events, schedule of orientation for new postdoctoral scholars, policy issues of interest to Berkeley postdoctoral scholars, announcements for seminars for professional development, and lists of useful resources.
The Berkeley Postdoctoral Association
Newsletter February 2012
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Well, thank goodness for that! January, the most depressing month of the year, is making way for its far superior neighbour, February. Along with the usual exciting BPA events, February is planning to hold a celebration of a small brown rodent on Groundhog Day and invites you to the Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco. February does have one black mark against its name, harbouring St Valentine’s day right in the middle, disappointing, February; very disappointing. Did you know that actually St Valentine was beheaded by the Emperor Claudius II of Rome for all of his pesky matchmaking antics? Anyway, your BPA is still excited about February, and bring you this lovely newsletter so that you will be too.
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1. Wednesday February 1st, 6.00 pm: BPA Happy Hour
2. Thursday, February 2nd, Groundhog day
3. Saturday, February 11th, San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade
4. Tuesday February 14th, Valentine’s Day
5. Wednesday February 15th, 6:30 pm: BPA Board Meeting at 652 Barrows Hall
6. Thursday February 16th, 6:30 pm until they throw us out: BPA Pub Social at the Beta Lounge
7. Monday February 20th, Presidents’ Day
8. The remaining members of the new BPA board introduce themselves
9. February’s joke – a concession to romance
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BPA online: http://postdoc.berkeley.edu/
BPA on Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4209571
BPA on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=141584449197971
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1. The BPA Happy Hour is held outside of Pat Brown’s grill, just opposite Koshland Hall on the north-west side of campus. We have chilled delicious beer, and provide wine, soft drinks and pizzas for all. This month we have the same number of pizzas as last month, which was a lot, and more beer. Wednesday. February 1st. 6.00. Be there. Or be in the lab.
2. Groundhog Day, February 2nd
As logical thinkers, we should all celebrate the groundhog’s ability to predict the weather. The skiers amongst us should hope that he immediately goes back into his burrow – winter hasn’t even STARTED yet.
Theory has it; a sunny day today will mean that the groundhog will see his shadow and retreat, therefore predicating six weeks of winter weather; A cloudy day = groundhog goes for a stroll = end of winter. In any case, this is a good day to nurse your Happy-Hour Hangover and re-watch the ‘90s absolutely classic film “Groundhog day”, starring Bill Murray and that annoying McDowell woman.
3. Chinese New Year Parade, February 11th
Head to downtown San Francisco (Powell or Montgomery BART) for the lunar new year parade along Market, Geary and Kearny, with floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers, and a spectacular 250' Golden Dragon. http://www.chineseparade.com/
4. Valentine’s Day, February 14th
No comment – you know the drill.
5. BPA Board Meeting at 652 Barrows Hall, Wednesday February 15th, 6.30 pmCalling postdocs of the humanities – who are you? Where are you? We are curious and want to meet you and find out what makes you tick. Come to our board meeting. There will be homemade snacks. More scientists are also very welcome, as always.
The BPA board is always open to new ideas; we encourage everyone to get involved and help out. So if you would like to voice issues that you feel affect postdocs, or programs you’d like to start, then join us. Also, if anyone has any burning suggestions for social events – do tell. To help out, send suggestions, or to receive reminders about BPA meetings, send an email to me, the BPA secretary: jmfrost@berkeley.edu
6. BPA Pub Social at the Beta Lounge: Thursday February 16th, 6:30pm:
We’ll be at the Beta Lounge (http://www.thebetalounge.com/) from 6:30 PM, and will stay as long as the evening remains entertaining. Usually until they close. The Beta Lounge has $3 beers and $5 glasses of wine, interesting Sake and comfortable sofas. It is located near the intersection of Fulton and Durant.
7. Monday February 20th, Presidents’ Day
Federal holiday in honour of Washington’s Birthday. I don’t think we get the day off though.
8. The rest of the new BPA Board!
VSPA Liaison: Rae Taylor
Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Favourite pastime: Taking photos of concrete and sometimes stone
Reincarnation animal of choice: Butterfly
BPA Support: Oscar Vazquez Mena
Department: Physics
Favourite pastime: Cycling
Reincarnation animal of choice: Dolphin
BPA support: Thomas Lazzara
Department: Materials Science and Engineering
Favourite pastime: Exploring the outdoors
Reincarnation animal of choice: Grizzly bear
9. February’s joke – a concession to romance
Edward, an 85-year-old man, at his monthly check up, was asked by the doctor to provide a semen sample. The doctor gave Edward a jar and said, "Take this jar home and bring back a semen sample tomorrow."
The next day Edward reappeared at the doctor's office and gave him the jar, which was as clean and empty as on the previous day.
The doctor asked what happened and the Edward explained: "Well, doc, it's like this. First I tried with my right hand, but nothing. Then I tried with my left hand, but still nothing. Then I asked my wife for help. She tried with her right hand, then her left, still nothing. She tried with her mouth, first with the teeth in, then with her teeth out, and still nothing.
We even called up Deirdre, our next-door neighbour, and she tried too, first with both hands, then an armpit and she even tried squeezing it between her knees, but still nothing."
The doctor was shocked "You asked your neighbour?!"
Edward replied, "Yep. And no matter what we tried, we still couldn't get the jar open."
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That’s all for this month folks.
For more information, look us up at http://postdoc.berkeley.edu/ or to sign up for postdocnet; an informal list to exchange info and look for furniture, housing, etc. - go to
https://calmail.berkeley.edu/manage/list/listinfo/postdocnet@lists.berkeley.edu
If you know someone that doesn’t receive our emails, but would like to, they need to REGISTER their email address. To register, or to change the address your emails are sent to, write to vspa@berkeley.edu
Hoping to see you this month!
With thanks,
Your Berkeley Postdoctoral Association (BPA)
Check out our Postdoc Industry Exploration Program!
Dear Berkeley Postdocs,
Are you considering a career outside academia and wondering what it is
like to work in industry? The Postdoc Industry Exploration Program
(PIEP) gives postdocs a rare glimpse inside Bay Area Life Science
companies. By transporting participants to PIEP partner companies,
postdocs learn about the company, current industry trends, and career
paths for Ph.D.s. via speaker presentations, panel discussions, and
facility tours. Most importantly, postdocs network and make key
connections with company employees in a small group setting. Last
year, PIEP partnered with Life Technologies, Novartis, QB3 @ UCSF
Mission Bay, LS9, and Bio-Rad. This year, we will be announcing an
exciting new line-up of companies who will give you exposure to
exciting new fields and career options within the industrial space.
Also new for this year, we will have a small allocation of spots
reserved for graduate students.
If you are interested in learning more about PIEP and want the
opportunity to be a member, please join us for the first event of 2012
on February 15. We will introduce you to the program and have our
first workshop on:
"Preparing your Bio-sketch for Site-Visits and using LinkedIn Strategically"
by Andrew Green, Associate Director of the UC Berkeley Career Center
During this workshop, you will learn how to produce a biosketch, which
is your personal profile of career interest, skills and
accomplishments that will be used by the company and PIEP committee to
select postdocs and graduate students for site-visits, should space
become limiting. Subsequently, you will discover how your biosketch
can be easily used to create or improve upon your LinkedIn profile,
which is the largest on-line network of working professionals. In
order to attend any PIEP site-visit, it is MANDATORY to have your
biosketch in the PIEP database, so you should plan on attending this
workshop.
*IMPORTANT* - If you were a member of PIEP last year, you are still
required to submit a biosketch for 2012.
We encourage all postdocs (new and old) and graduate students who are
interested in PIEP, to attend our opening event of the season, which
will be catered.
Event Details:
Date:
Wednesday, February 15 2012
Location:
Room 105 (Auditorium), Stanley Hall
Agenda:
5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. - Light snack and refreshments
6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Opening remarks and workshop
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Beer networking hour
In order to attend this event, please RSVP to:
http://piepbiosketch2012.eventbrite.com/
Hope to see you there!
The PIEP committee
Christopher Tsang
Justin Elstrott
Michael Fisher
Kelsey Sivick
PIEP is supported by:
Vice Chancellor for Research
Visiting Scholars and Postdoctoral Affairs (VSPA)
UC Berkeley Career Center
Check out our Postdoc Entrepreneurship Program!
Get the News about our Entrepreneurship Program BPEP at https://vspa.berkeley.edu/bpep.html
or on likedin: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4080797&trk=hb_side_g
Interested in Outreach?
Community Resources for Science
Community Resources for Science (CRS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting and engaging educators, students, and scientists in a vibrant community working together to excite all children about learning through the scientific exploration. CRS is funded by foundation and corporate grants, including UC Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and private donations. Through the Bay Area Scientists in Schools (BASIS) program, CRS recruits, prepares, and places Cal scientists and science students into local classrooms to deliver hands-on science lessons aligned with state standards, and to serve as enthusiastic and diverse role models. CRS also facilitates classroom placements for various Cal education outreach groups, provides information and support services to teachers in Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville and other local schools, and partners with Cal campus programs for pre-service teachers including CalTeach and Environmental Leadership Pathways.
