MGPA - Mass General Postdoc Association

Mission

May we introduce to you: MGPA – Mass General Postdoc Association! A number of dynamic and passionate postdocs have come together to form a postdoctoral association that can help make life better right here in our MGH community. This process was greatly facilitated through the practical support from the Office for Research Career Development (ORCD), and we are looking forward to a fruitful coordination of mutual event programming. So far, we have defined our mission as follows:

Research advancement – We came here to conduct world-class research, and as the MGPA, we want to facilitate discussion and practical help related to research on the postdoc level. We intend to organize postdoc conferences, seminars, and platforms to promote scientific exchange between postdocs specifically.

Career development – Time as a postdoc is a transition period, and it should be used as a springboard on the way to a permanent position. We are planning to introduce seminars and workshops to address the concerns of postdocs such as: How do you transit to independence in your own lab? Are there alternative options? How to polish your application material and prepare for the interview?

Social activities – Hard to believe: Postdocs are not only working, but also have a life, at times. The MGPA will bring you together with colleagues for networking, events, and sports. We also want to provide practical help for incoming postdocs and begin to build an alumni network.

Quality of life and postdoc advocacy – We would like to provide a forum to discuss postdoc issues at large. Which concerns do postdocs have, and how can they be best addressed?

We will work with the ORCD to exchange thoughts on the local postdoc status. On the national level, we have already registered with the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). The NPA has numerous postdoc associations and offices as members and is, among others, sponsored by the Burroughs Welcome Fund, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The founding MGPA members

Pawel Mroz (Dermatology) – Membership at MGH Main Campus
Tiago F. Outeiro (Neurology) – Research
Hideo Sakamoto (Reproductive Biology) – Alumni Network
Keri Siggers (Medicine) – Career Development
Olga Syrkina (Medicine) – Quality of Life and Postdoc Advocacy
Emi Takahashi (Psychiatry) – Social Activities
Julie E. Tetzlaff (Neurology) – Membership at MGH Charlestown Navy Yard Campus
Sarika Verma (Dermatology) – Co-Chair; Membership, Coordination
Danqing Xiao (Neurology) – Social Activities
Elena Zalyapin (Medicine) – Co-Chair; Newsletter, Membership at Simches Building

Newsletters

No.1 - October 2006
No.2 - April 2007

Survey

Participate in the MGPA / ORCD event programming survey! They are interested to hear about your thoughts regarding seminars that the MGPA and the ORCD should offer. Please take a minute and fill out their anonymous survey.

Click for Survey

Contact the MGPA

Email: mgpa@partners.org
Website: https://www.massgeneral.org/mgpa/index.asp