Events

An annual event jointly sponsored for more than 10 years, Postdoktoberfest brings together postdocs from many of the Texas Medical Center institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist, UT Health, Rice and Texas A & M.   Postdoktoberfest is appropriately hosted at the John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons (The Commons) and features food, beverages and a completely casual and friendly atmosphere.

Trainee Research Day is an ideal opportunity for our postdoctoral research fellows and graduate medical education fellows and residents to showcase and be rewarded for their exciting research in the basic sciences, clinic, population and translational science. In addition to the oral competitions, an “Elevator Speech” competition provides trainees the opportunity to convey their science in under two minutes.

Save the Date: 2018 Trainee Research Day
Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Draft Agenda

Endowed Fellowships are awarded competitively to clinical and postdoctoral fellows who are nominated by faculty members.

The Annual Postdoctoral Career Symposium, a unique and exciting event connecting the private and public sector, industry, and academia, is organized by postdoctoral fellows of sponsoring institutions throughout the Texas Medical Center and offers access to experts from a variety of career fields.  The APCS provides a great opportunity for postdocs to learn more about different career options and strategies to navigate those career paths. Space is limited.  Registration is required.

The Annual Postdoctoral Science Symposium provides a platform for postdoctoral fellows in the Texas Medical Center to present their current research in the areas of basic and translational research and features presentations and hosts interactive sessions facilitated by experts in a variety of fields. The APSS offers the opportunity to network with colleagues from TMC Institutions while presenting your science, learning from colleagues, a featured keynote and invited speakers, as well as gaining valuable career skills during breakout sessions. 2017 APSS Electronic Booklet and poster abstracts.

Established by the Postdoctoral Association in 2005, the Robert M. Chamberlain Distinguished Mentor Award annually recognizes and honors faculty members whose careers have been underscored by their valuable mentoring of postdoctoral fellows at MD Anderson and honors a faculty member who, through demonstrated guidance of postdoctoral fellows, exemplifies the fundamental mentoring qualities of teacher, coach and sponsor.

Coinciding with National Postdoc Appreciation Week, often with other TMC institutions we celebrate with such activities as Postdoktoberfest and an international luncheon which celebrates the diversity of our postdoctoral community.

Academic Insights Seminar Series gives postdoctoral fellows insight into a broad range of career options within academia including tenure and non-tenure track faculty, scientific writers, research scientists, teachers, grant managers, program managers, administrators, etc. The monthly series offers seminars and panel discussions on topics to help postdocs identify the requisite non-lab based skills and insights necessary to launch an academic career.

Responsible Conduct of Research is a monthly seminar series that meets the NIH requirements of 8 contact hours in responsible conduct of research training. Fellows can view their transcript and download their certificate of completion from the MD Anderson Education Center. Click here for the 2016 - 2017 RCR Seminar Series Schedule or the 2017 - 2018 RCR Seminar Series Schedule.
 

• What happens if an NIH-funded postdoc doesn’t complete the required training in one year?
  
  NIH strongly encourages the postdoc to complete the required training as soon as possible. If the postdoc is on an institutional training grant (e.g., T32) there will be consequences for the review of the renewal (Type 2) application.

• What if a postdoc is partially funded by another source?   
  
  Regardless of other sources of support, NIH  training programs (National Research Service Award) require full-time training, and trainees must comply with all NRSA requirements (see NIHGPS).  There is no prorating the required hours of RCR training. RCR training must be face-to-face as much as possible, but exceptions may be granted by the awarding Institute. Please contact the NIH Program Officer in charge of the award.

• If I move to a faculty position and have completed eight (8) hours of RCR training as a postdoc, do I need to complete RCR training again?

If you are transitioning to a faculty position and wish to apply for a K-award, you must complete eight (8) hours of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training that is tailored to that career stage as NOT-OD-10-019  requires that  “Instruction must be undertaken at least once during each career stage, and at a frequency of no less than once every four years.”  This RCR requirement is limited to K-awards and also applies to associate and full professors who might apply for a K24 award.  Currently, RCR at MD Anderson is designed for postdocs.

• To be compliant, how often must a postdoc complete the eight-hours of required training?

Every four years.

Postdoctoral Networking Coffee Breaks provide networking opportunities to all postdocs in MD Anderson. Coffee and snacks are served, free for all postdocs. We typically host these on the first Friday of each month.