POSTDOCTORAL SEMINAR SERIES

This monthly postdoctoral seminar series is sponsored by the RWJMS Office of Research and supported by the UMDNJ Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. All UMDNJ postdoctoral appointees are invited to participate and meet your colleagues. Lunch is provided. Please contact Dr. Richard Nowakowski for additional details or if you wish to participate.

Unless otherwise noted, seminars will be held at:
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway
Research Tower, Dean's Conference Room, Room 123/124

Friday, November 6, 2009
"Planning for Your Own Success "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Speakers: Ann Stock, Jerry Langer and Richard Nowakowski

Postdocs (and Graduate Students) and their mentors need to work together for their own success, both short term and long term. A recent development on the national scene has been the introductionof the Individual Development Plan (IDP) as a mechanism for coordinating the goals of each postdoc (or graduate students) and their mentors. This session will present the concept of IDP and provide an example form and instructions on how to use it. BRING YOUR MENTORS TO THIS SPECIAL SESSION!

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday,September 25, 2009
"Opportunities for Scientists in Education"
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Speaker:Melvin Limson, Ph.D., K-12 Education Programs Coordinator; American Physiological Society

Dr. Limson is a 2002 alumnus of Rutgers/UMDNJ-GSBS Molecular Biosciences Program earning his Ph.D. in Biochemistry. He received his B.S. from Duke University and worked for Schering-Plough previously. Dr. Limson transitioned from lab research to precollege science education with his first postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Utah's Genetic Science Learning Center, and continued another postdoctoral experiece with the Virtual Courseware Project at the California State University, Los Angeles. He joined the APS Education Office in 2006 as the staff coordinator for K-12 Education Programs, and is currently the co-PI of an NIH Science Education Partnership Award that supports a national science teacher professional development fellowship program.

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday,September 4, 2009
"The Rutgers Mini-MBA" Professional Development Programs
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Speaker: Abe Weiss, Executive Director; Rutgers Center for Management Development (CMD)

Rutgers CMD offers several Mini-MBA programs. The Mini MBA: BioPharma Innovation and Mini MBA: Strategic Healthcare Management include workshops in management and other skills that might improve your prospects of landing a job at a pharmaceutical or biotech company. Brochures have been distributed to the email distribution list. Classes begin on 9/21. There are discounts for both UMDNJ and RU employees, (and the courses might also qualify for UMDNJ's employee tuition reimbursement program) Abe Weiss, Executive Director will be joining us on Friday to discuss the programs and answer your questions. Also, at least one of our postdocs has taken one of these courses, so a student viewpoint will also be available.

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday, August 7, 2009
"Internships -- an Exploratory Idea "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

General Discussion

There are no internship programs for postdocs. Should we change this?
The purpose of this will be to explore, discuss and brainstorm about how to get postdocs experience in areas that they might like to explore for the good of their future careers. Come for lunch and have a good discussion!

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday, July 10, 2009
"Getting and Keeping a Job in Academia "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location: Research Tower/C207, Piscataway

Speakers: Chris Quinn, Dept of Pathology, UMDNJ-RWJMS; Li Cai, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers and a Senior Faculty member, to be announced.

This session will be a panel discussion by academic scientists of different rank and experience. The range of experience will include a current postdoc who has just been offered a position at a major university, a junior faculty member who has now 4 years into the experience, and a Professor who is on the Appointments and Promotions Committee.

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday, June 5, 2009
"Science Writing: Manuscript Preparation "

Speaker: Richard S. Nowakowski , Ph.D.

Richard S. Nowakowski, Ph.D.
Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, UMDNJ-RWJMS
Director, Postdoctoral Career Development Program

Writing skills are key to success in science. This session will be the first in a series that will deal with writing, talking and other communication skills. This first session will deal with the differences in style between a manuscript and other forms of writing. There will be a short workshop so bring a pencil and paper!

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday, May 1, 2009
"Tech Transfer: What it is and How to Get Involved "

Speakers:

• Diane Ambrose, Ph.D.
• Director, Special Projects-ORSP; UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• Benjamin Belinka, Jr., Ph.D.
• Chief Executive Officer/President; Actinobac Biomed, Inc.
• Vince Smeraglia, M.S., JD
• Director of Patents and Licensing; UMDNJ

Technology Transfer describes the formal transfer of rights to use and commercialize new discoveries and innovations resulting from scientific research to another party.  Universities transfer technology through first protecting (using patents and copyrights) and then licensing new innovations which brings new technologies and products to the public.  Technology Transfer represents the intersection between science, business and law.  The Ph.D. Scientist plays a critical role in the technology transfer process by evaluating new invention disclosures, marketing these inventions, and ultimately, creating and implementing the best commercialization pathway for each invention.  The Technology Transfer professional interacts with scientists, business development and legal personnel from industry and universities.  The work is challenging, often frustrating, but never, ever dull.

Friday, April 3, 2009
"Legal Seminar for International Postdocs "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location: Research Tower, Dean's Conference Room, R123, Piscataway

Speaker: Adam Frank of Leavy & Frank, LLC (Specialists in Immigration Law)

This seminar will cover a variety of topics related to immigration law. International postdocs and students will certainly find this interesting. Domestic postdocs and faculty members will find this most educational. Specific topics to be covered include:

• Recent Developments in Immigration Law & Regulations
• Your Legal Rights as Temporary Residents
• J-1 versus H1-B and the Two Year Home Residence Requirement
• Other Temporary Visa Options
• Permanent Residence: Self-Sponsored & Institutional Sponsorship

Registration required by email to Brenda Coleman or register online at http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/legal

This presentation is sponsored by the Postdoctoral Career Development Program, Leavy and Frank, LLC, and the National Postdoctoral Association. Graduate Students and Faculty are welcome to attend.

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday, February 6, 2009
"New Jersey Pharm Fair "
Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Research Tower, Dean's Conference Room, R123, Piscataway

Speakers: Michael Tal Sharon, Managing Partner, Tal Enterprises; Robert Zambon, Ph.D., Stem Cell Biotechnologist, Osiris Therapeutics; Eric Staeva-Viera, Ph.D., Senior Pharma & Biotech Analyst, Majestic Research; Tim Maguire, Ph.D., Research Engineer, Hurel Corporation

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday, January 9, 2009
"Clinically Directed Science "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location: Research Tower/Kessler Teaching Labs, Room C208

Speaker:
Nicholas Di Prospero, MD, PhD
Associate Director, Early Development
J&J Pharmaceutical Research and Development
Email: ndiprosp@its.jnj.com

Dr. Di Prospero is an MD/PhD from RWJMS. After receiving his dual degree he worked clinically and also in basic science labs at NIH. He recently moved to JNJ. He will talk about his experiences and the transitions from the basic science lab to more translation/clinically related research and the transition into industry. This is an excellent networking opportunity for postdocs and graduate students.

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Michael Tal Sharon is a Managing Partner in Tal Sharon Enterprises. He is a recruiter specializing in Biotech and Pharmaceutical companies. He will talk about how to build up a network of connections for career advancement. He is also working to plan a "recruiting" event for February and this will be a good "get to know you" session.

Please RSVP Brenda Coleman.

Friday, November 7, 2008
"Compacts and IDPs (Individual Development Plans): Helping Your Mentor Guide Your Career "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Speaker:
Richard F. Rest, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Director, Professional Development
Biomedical Graduate and Postgraduate Studies
Director, Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis and Biodefense
Institute of Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease
Drexel University College of Medicine

Traditionally, the postdoc/mentor relationship is an informal one. The AAMC's "Compact Betweent Postdoctoral Appointees and Their Mentors" and Individual Development Plans are useful tools to guide this most important relationship, and to get the most out of the postdoc training period for both postdocs and mentors. Dr. Rest has been a pioneer in implementing this at Drexel Med. He will tell us what the documents are and what they are meant to do, and will offer suggestions on their implementation.

Friday, October 10, 2008
"What is Translational Medicine "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location: Research Tower, C207, Piscataway

Speakers:

• Beatrice Haimovich, Ph.D., Department of Surgery, RWJMS-UMDNJ
• Suzie Chen, Ph.D., Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University

We hear the phrase "Translational Medicine," but it is not always clear what it means. Beatrice Haimovich and Suzie Chen will lead a discussion on the topic of Translational Medicine, and what sort of background scientists who are involved in translational research have or should have. This will be an informal discussion so be ready to ask questions!

Friday, September 5, 2008
"How to Give a Good Talk "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Speaker: Chavela M. Carr, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Fundamentals of scientific presentation skills will be discussed in an open forum.

Friday, August 1, 2008
"CV Writing: Preparing an Academic CV vs a Resume "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

The goal when you apply for a job is to present the facts about yourself in the most appropriate and appealing, indeed flattering, light. The academic CV and the Resume differ. We will discuss what goes in each. Feel free to bring your CV/resume to this session so that you can write your notes directly on them. We will also discuss the all important cover letter, the "Statement of Research Goals" and other documents that are sometimes needed when one applies for a job.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
"Pharmaceutical and Device Development "
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Location: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Room 010679, Hoes Lane, Piscataway

Program:

Trends in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Gary J. Grover, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor, Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Executive Director of Pharmacology Eurofins Scientific/Product Safety Laboratories

Medical Device Commercialization *
Past, Present and Future
Richard L. Kronenthal, Ph.D.
Cofounder, Executive Vice President, and Chief Scientific Officer ORTHOCON, Inc.
North Brunswick, NJ