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 1^st, 6.00 pm: BPA Happy Hour

2. Thursday, February 2^nd, Groundhog day

3. Saturday, February 11^th, San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade

4. Tuesday February 14^th, Valentine’s Day

5. Wednesday February 15^th, 6:30 pm: BPA Board Meeting at 652 Barrows Hall

6. Thursday February 16^th, 6:30 pm until they throw us out: BPA Pub Social at the Beta Lounge

7. Monday February 20^th, 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 2^nd

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 11^th

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 14^th

 No comment – you know the drill.

5.     BPA Board Meeting at 652 Barrows Hall, Wednesday February 15^th, 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 16^th, 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 20^th, 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!

Would you like to visit local Bay Area biotech companies, learn about various career opportunities for Cal postdocs, network with industry professionals, and gain invaluable career guidance? If so, join the Postdoc Industry Exploration Program (PIEP)!   Program for 2012 coming soon!

Mission Inspired by a similar program in Boston (The ABC's of industry:  a postdoc program provides a sneak peek into industry careers.  Nat Biotechnol, 2010), PIEP will provide opportunities for UC Berkeley postdocs to explore various industry career paths by connecting them with local companies.

How to Enroll To be eligible for site-visits, postdocs must attend a workshop focused on writing a biosketch (a fusion of a resume and cover letter, highlighting their scientific and soft skills).

Program Description Postdocs will write a short (200 words or less) biosketch (a hybrid of a resume and cover letter) used for the site-visit selection process.  For more information, please attend "The Savvy Site Visitor" seminar (see above). Through data provided from postdoc biosketches, participant's interests and skills are categorized and collected in the PIEP repository database Local Bay Area companies will host site-visits and invite PIEP postdocs based on biosketch data Prior to enrollment in PIEP, postdocs must attend a workshop focused on job-hunting skills provided by the campus Industry Alliances Office and the UC Berkeley Career Center

Benefits for Postdocs Free on-site visits to companies of interest An opportunity to gain exposure to current industry trends and career paths Insight into the cultures of various life sciences companies A chance to network with industry employees in a small group setting Career guidance

Benefits for Comapnies An opportunity for life sciences companies to gain exposure by hosting an on-site visit for qualified postdocs Ability to identify potential future hires Potential scientific collaborations

Upcoming Workshops in development - will be posted here soon!

 Sponsors

PIEP is sponsored by the Berkeley Postdoctoral Association, Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs Office, Berkeley Career Center, and the Office of Intellectual Property and fully supported by the Vice Chancellor for Research.