Blog from January, 2012

The Teaching and Learning Laboratory (TLL), the Office of the Dean of Graduate Education (ODGE), and the Sloan School will be sponsoring a series of talks on scientific writing, presenting, and graphic representation by Dr. Jean-luc Doumont (http://www.principiae.be/), the week of January 23rd.
Jean-luc, who has a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford, is a fantastic speaker on these topics and is back at MIT this year by popular demand. These workshops shouldn't be missed! (legal size flyer attached)
Details are as follows:

“Making the Most of Your Presentation,” Monday, Jan. 23, 2:00-4:00 p.m., 32-123 http://student.mit.edu/searchiap/iap-4986.html

“Structuring Your Scientific Paper,” Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2:00-4:00 p.m., 32-123 http://student.mit.edu/searchiap/iap-7502.html

“Roadsigns: Finding Your Way in the Visual World,” Friday, Jan. 27, noon-2:00 p.m., 32-141 http://student.mit.edu/searchiap/iap-9601.html

<><><><><><><<><><><><><><><<><><><><><>
Leann Dobranski
Assistant Director, Teaching & Learning Laboratory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(617) 253-3371
email: leann@mit.edu

The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2012-2013 California Science and Technology Policy Fellowships based in Sacramento.
The S&T Policy Fellowship, a unique one-year professional development opportunity, provides the selected fellows with hands-on experience working with the California Legislature to incorporate science and technology into public policy. Eligible applicants will be Ph.D.-level (or equivalent) scientists and engineers who have a sincere interest in California current events, the state legislative process, and a strong desire to learn how policy decisions are made.
Please forward this announcement to any individuals or group listservs that may be interested in this exciting opportunity. Deadline for submission of applications is February 29, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. PST. More information is available at http://fellows.ccst.us.

GECD IAP Events 2012
Go abroad, get a job, earn a degree. IAP.
For more information or to register, visit CareerBridge www.myinterfase.com/mit/student, and select Workshops Career Fairs and Events.
GECD IAP event list: http://student.mit.edu/iap/nsgecd.html

Network into Career Success
Thursday, January 12, 2-3:30pm, 4-159
Did you know that 80% of individuals find jobs through their connections? Do you have a difficult time figuring out what to say at social events, career fairs or company functions? Does the word networking frighten you? Learn how to connect effectively with others while making a winning impression and creating a personal brand. Gain advice on how to use social media tools to turn online connections into in person connections that can help you grow professionally. Register on CareerBridge.

Patents & Pizza: Careers in Intellectual Property Law
Thursday, January 12, 6-8pm, room 4-163
Learn from MIT alums working in patent law about careers that let you stay abreast of the newest technologies. By working in the field of intellectual property, you can make a career of patenting, protecting, licensing, and valuing the most recent technological discoveries! Topics discussed will include an overview of intellectual property rights available to inventors, a day-in-the-life of patent attorneys, and a discussion of how intellectual property rights are protected in the realms of academia and industry. Bertucci's Pizza is sponsored by iRobot Corporation (http://www.irobot.com). Preregistration requested on CareerBridge.
Panelists:
Glen Weinstein, Senior Vice President & General Counsel at iRobot Corporation
Alex Wissner-Gross, Founder of Enernetics, Inc.
Kristin Smith, Associate at Carr & Ferrell
Wendy (Haller) Verlander, Senior Partner at WilmerHale
Clay Satow, Patent Counsel at Bose Corporation

How to Feel As Bright and Capable As Everyone Seems to Think You Are: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How You Can Thrive In Spite of It
Tuesday, January 17, 1:30-3pm, room 34-101
Do you secretly worry that others will find out you’re not as intelligent and competent as they seem to think you are? Do you often dismiss your accomplishments as a “fluke” or “no big deal?” Do you sometimes shy away from taking on greater challenges because of nagging self-doubt? Are you crushed by even constructive criticism, taking it as evidence of your ineptness? If so, join the club!
Presented by Valerie Young. Sponsored by MIT Global Education & Career Development

Do You Have What It Takes to Win a Distinguished Fellowship?
Wednesday, January 18, 11-12:00, room 2-105
This session will introduce participants to distinguished fellowships’ application processes, including Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, and others. Recent winners will be in attendance, as well as former national selection panelists. Here you will learn what is involved, and how to be successful in one of these competitions.
Web: http://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student
Contact: Kim Benard, 12-189, x3-4378, benard@mit.edu
What Should I Do With My Life?
Wednesday, January 18, 2-3:30pm, room 4-145
Unsure about your career or major? Learn about yourself by identifying career values and skills to help you choose the path that is right for you. This is a small, hands-on workshop designed to help you determine what values and skills are important to you, which can be used in making future life decisions. Preregistration required through CareerBridge. Sponsor: Global Education and Career Development

Careers in Energy
Wednesday, January 18, 5:30-7:30pm, room 32-155
Considering a career in the energy sector? Come hear from MIT alumni working in the industry about some of the many career options out there and what it takes to find a position and succeed in this growing field. The first hour will feature a panel discussion, while the second will provide the opportunity to network with the panelists individually. Representatives from FloDesign Wind Turbines, First Wind, GE Energy, Conservation Services Group and PowerAdvocate will be present. Preregistration requested on CareerBridge.

Does It Matter? Non-Verbal Communication and the Job Search
Thursday, January 19, 2-3pm, room 4-153
You might not think that things like hairstyle, tone of voice, facial expressions or posture would affect your networking, interviewing and negotiating processes, but in fact you would be incorrect! Come learn ways to effectively communicate non-verbally so that you can leave a positive lasting impression with all those that you meet. Registration requested through CareerBridge.

How Much Does Starting Salary Matter? Negotiating a job offer
Thursday, January 19, 4-5pm, 4-149
Negotiating a job offer is a delicate event. Knowing when to ask for more, how to ask for more, and what to ask for are all questions that you need to have answers for before you start the conversation. Join GECD staff for a session aimed at helping you understand the process and how to handle the situation. Register through CareerBridge (click on Workshops, Career Fairs and Events tab).

Management Consulting: Career Opportunities for PhDs
Friday, January 20, 2-3:30pm, room 4-163
PhD alums in Management Consulting will talk about their work, their work lifestyle, how they made the decision to leave the bench and enter this field, what it’s like to transition out of the lab into management consulting, and the highs and lows of their work. Come learn from those who are doing it; ask questions, meet some interesting alums! Register through CareerBridge.

Practice Makes Perfect: Group Mock Interviews
Monday, January 23, 3:30-5pm, room 4-145
In this group mock interview session, students will have a unique chance to practice and sharpen their interview skills. We will briefly review interviewing wisdom, discuss the art of giving and receiving feedback, then all participants will have a chance to answer questions and get feedback on their responses. Students who participate should first attend one of our in-person interviewing workshops or listen to our online workshop, Effective Interviewing, at http://gecd.mit.edu/workshop/interviewing/index.htm. Preregistration required through CareerBridge. Limited to 18.

Business Etiquette- Mastering Meals, Manners and Business Interactions
Tuesday, January 24, 3-4pm, room 4-231
Are you unsure as to what to do during interviews and networking dinners? People tend to equate a lack of etiquette with a lack of care and self-control necessary to be good at what you do. Etiquette is about presenting yourself with the kind of polish that shows you can be taken seriously. Come learn tips on how to have an etiquette advantage to help you land a job. Register on CareerBridge (click on Workshops Career Fairs and Events).

Alternative Careers Unplugged
Wednesday, January 25, 4-5pm, room 4-237
Your major or degree does not have to confine your career path choices. All MIT graduates have many unique talents and skills that are transferable and sought-after in many fields. Please join us for a panel of MIT alumni as they discuss their careers and how they found themselves making the leap out-of-the-box. Register on CareerBridge.

Career Management: What is it and how to do it?
Wednesday, January 25, 7-8:30pm, room 4-163
Upon graduating MIT you will begin a career. MIT has provided you with countless facts and formulas to help you with your job, but what have you learned to help you with your career? This talk provides an overview of the basic issues needed for career planning and management such as: how do you know which job is right? where will you be in 20 years? how to plan work-life balance? how to select the right projects? what to ask for in job negotiations?

LinkedIn Lab
Thursday, January 26, noon-1:30pm, room 4-253
Registration required through CareerBridge (www.myinterfase.com/mit/students, click on Workshops Career Fairs and Events)

Bring your laptop to explore the many ways LinkedIn can help you in your career exploration and job or internship search. We will begin with an overview of LinkedIn and some of the key areas of a complete LinkedIn profile. This will be followed by individual work on your profile, with Career Services staff available to answer your questions.

Required: Set up a free account at Linkedin.com and begin to fill in your profile prior to the workshop. Bring a laptop to the workshop. Limited to 15 students.

Starting Up Your Startup
Thursday, January 26, 3-4:00pm, room 3-270
Do you have a brilliant idea but no clue on how to take it to the next level? Our panel discussion of Start-Ups will have speakers at various stages in the Start-Up process from sloppy beginnings to smooth runnings. This panel will also feature individuals with different types of organizations from social enterprises to for-profit companies. This is a wonderful opportunity to speak with people who have done just what you are trying to do! Preregistration requested through CareerBridge.

Demystifying Operations Consulting
Friday, January 27, 3-4:30pm, room 4-237
What does “operations and management consulting” actually mean? Hosted by Stroud Consulting, this workshop will explore the diverse field of consulting, with an emphasis on operations and management consulting. We will describe the range of projects and day-to-day responsibilities of a consultant, discuss how to compare firms in your search, and highlight how undergraduate and Masters students can distinguish themselves in the applicant pool. Registration through CareerBridge.

Experience the Way of Tea - Japanese Tea Ceremony
Sunday, January 29, 2-3:00pm, room W20-307
Join us for a Japanese tea ceremony performed by Mrs. Kyoko Wada, who has been studying the Japanese Tea Ceremony for more than 30 years. She will share "the happiness of the tea ceremony" with you and invite you to take this opportunity to leave your worries and problems at the door. Be transported to Japan by the calligraphy, ceramics, flowers, lacquer, and incense. Experience the four elements of the "way of tea:" harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. Imagine how they can bring harmony into our daily interactions. Take the first step of what can become a lifetime of study and meditation. We will also talk very briefly about opportunities for MIT students to visit Japan through the Kawamura Fellowship and MIT Japan. Web: http://web.mit.edu/chado/www/index.html
Contact: Kyoko Wada, (781) 860-0373, chado@mit.edu
Cosponsor: SpousesandPartners@mit

Careers in Non Profits: Learn about this exciting field from Non Profit professionals!
Monday, January 30, 5-6:30pm, room 4-270
If you are wondering what a career in non-profit might be like or what opportunities are available in your field in the non-profit world, this is the workshop for you! After a brief information session about the field, panelists working for non-profits will tell their success stories. There will be time at the end to speak with the panelists and to ask questions. Co-sponsored by Global Education & Career Development and the Public Service Center. Registration through CareerBridge.

The “R” in Resume Stands for Reflection
Tuesday, January 31, 3:30-4:30pm, room 12-142
Are you not sure how to answer the interview question: Tell me about yourself? You are not alone. It can be a result of not taking advantage of the reflection process while preparing your resume. Reflection is a critical element in preparing a formal document such as a resume. However, it is not frequently enough. As a result, people miss out on the opportunity to really shine in the job or internship. This session will provide a blend of exercises and thought provoking activities to prepare students to be able to talk about one’s self. Taking the time to explore your previous academic, volunteer and professional experiences will give you a competitive advantage because you will be armed with a set of tools to describe your experiences in a vivid, but concise manner.

What are the Benefits? What you need to know about benefits before you begin that new job
Wednesday, February 1, 1-2pm, room 56-114
Led by Julie Thibodeau, Director of Benefits at Philips USA

Policy Analysis and Research Careers
Wednesday, February 1, 3-4:30pm, room 4-237
Do you like to research complex problems and recommend solutions? Are you interested in influencing policies that relate to science, healthcare, energy, education, defense, transportation, food, poverty, space, to name a few? Policy analysts work in venues such as government, think tanks, universities, nonprofit and profit organizations. Many analysts have graduate degrees in technical fields. Come and hear from MIT alums who work in policy analysis and learn more about this interesting way to put your MIT education to work.

Major Impact: Your Major and a Career in Finance
Thursday, February 2nd, 2:30-3:30, room 4-237
Want to work in finance but aren’t sure if your major is marketable to those big companies? Come learn about the diverse majors working in finance and the various career paths in this field. Please join us for a panel of company representatives as they discuss why they’re attracted to students from a diverse range of majors and how to best market yourself to these companies. Barclays, Fidelity, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley will be represented on the panel.

Amanda C. Peters
Career Development Specialist, Career Services
MIT Global Education & Career Development (GECD)
617-253-4733
acpeters@mit.edu * www.linkedin.com/in/acpeters
Sustainability@MIT http://ehs.mit.edu/site/sustainability

The Intel PhD Fellowship (2012-2013 academic year) http://intelfellowships.com

The Intel PhD Fellowship is for doctoral students performing research in the technical areas of 1) Hardware Systems Technology and Design, 2) Semiconductor Technology and Manufacturing, or 3) Software Technology and Design. Applicants must have passed their qualifying exam, had their thesis topic defined and approved, and be within 18 months of graduation.
Please see the attached file for detailed information on eligible fields of research.

Departments are requested to forward up to three nominations each and accompanying application materials to the Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE) as single PDF files by 5 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 to Jessica Landry (jlandry@mit.edu) for consideration in the internal MIT competition for the Intel PhD Fellowship. ODGE will evaluate, select, and submit five applications for nomination to Intel on behalf of MIT, as well as an unlimited number of applications from highly qualified students from underrepresented groups (e.g. African Americans, Hispanic-Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.)

Eligibility:
• Preferred: U.S. Citizens and Permanent U.S. Residents (students should have the unrestricted permanent right to work in the US without any type of sponsorship. Exceptions may be made, but cannot always be guaranteed, for candidates with critical skills in an area of demonstrated shortage in the U.S.

• The program is not open to individuals from embargoed (Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria) or controlled countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, Georgia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Macau, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam), unless they are exempt from U.S. Export License and Control rules based on their status as a U.S. Worker (e.g., legal permanent resident, refugee, person granted political asylum).

Benefits:
This is a one-time, external fellowship award. The amount of each fellowship will cover the cost of tuition for the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013, a $24,000 stipend, and a $1,500 travel grant that should be used to attend the fellowship forum in the summer/fall and/or to meet face to face with the Intel mentor assigned to the student. Student health insurance will not be covered.

Internal Application Requirements:
• WebSIS Grade report or unofficial graduate transcript
• C.V.
• Research summary, 500 words maximum
Please see attached file for details on composing the research statement per Intel’s instructions. If you are nominated, this research statement may become part of your full application.
• Letter of recommendation (one page maximum) from current research advisor

Timeline:
ODGE will notify candidates of the status of their internal application by Monday, January 23, 2012. Nominated candidates will be able to complete their full application via the Intel website between January 23 – February 17, 2012. Winners will be announced by Intel during the week of April 23, 2012. The fellowship forum is tentatively planned for August/September 2012.

Please do not hesitate to contact Jessica Landry (253-1958, jlandry@mit.edu) with questions regarding the application requirements.

Thank you,

Jessica Landry
Assistant to the Dean for Graduate Education and
Coordinator of Graduate Education Initiatives
Office of the Dean for Graduate Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Office: Room 3-138
Email: jlandry@mit.edu
Phone: 617-253-1958 http://web.mit.edu/odge/

Are you a grad student with a clean energy technology that can be commercialised? Are you passionate about clean energy and wondering how you can maximize your impact? Want to know what it's like to start a new cleantech venture? If any of these describe you, then come check out the Founder's Panel Discussion. Several previous-MIT PhDs, now-clean energy entrepreneurs, will share with you their motivations behind their career choice, their challenges and successes in their journey from academia to entrepreneurship and answer questions you may have about taking an idea and building a successful business around it.

We are very honoured to have four entrepreneurs to join our panel:

1. Chris Fischer (Course III '07) from PellionTech
2. Raymond Raab (Course X '06) from Agrivida
3. Anthony Sagneri (Course VI) from Onchip
4. Bilal Zuberi (Course V '03) from General Catalyst Partners

Date: January 12th, 2012
Time: 6:00 to 7:00pm, with mixers thereafter
Location: 32-124

Please RSVP with via the googledoc link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFpsZUFaWWMxZEZLQ2R0T1haTkVPT0E6MQ

If there are any questions, please email: Athens@mit.edu

Many thanks
CEP organizing team

ABOUT CEP
The MIT Clean Energy Prize is the world’s premier student competition for early-stage energy ventures with the potential to catalyze a new generation of clean energy solutions. The MIT CEP endeavors to inspire and train entrepreneurs to build companies that will significantly accelerate the pace of energy innovation. The competition offers a low-risk, high-reward environment for student entrepreneurs to develop business ideas with the aid of mentorship and rigorous judging feedback, while gaining exposure to some of the biggest thinkers in the clean energy space. The 2012 competition comprises three categories (Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Deployment & Infrastructure) and culminates with a Grand Prize award of $200,000, in addition to three Category Winner awards of $20,000. See cep.mit.edu for deadlines and more information.

IAP LINK http://student.mit.edu/iap/nc43.html

Athens Fitzcheung
Team Matching Lead, Clean Energy Prize
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M: 650.5565.227 │ E: athens@mit.edu