Hello fellow post-docs,
The Harvard Medical Postdoc Association (HMPA) would like to invite you to get involved and join one of our committees (described on our website). We warmly welcome you to play the leadership roles in HMPA, an organization dedicated to all the post-docs in the HMS community. You can apply for any of the positions listed below by July 15st, and the new HMPA Board will be elected by the current Board. All positions are open to quad-based HMS post-docs as well as post-docs from HMS-affiliated hospitals, except for the Chair, who must be a quad-based HMS post-doc.
Other than playing a leadership role, we also warmly welcome you to be part of our committees.
Application process
To nominate yourself for a position on the HMPA Board, your application should include the following:
1. Full name and email address
2. The position that you are applying
3. A short description (250 words max.) of your motivation and previous relevant experience
Applications should be sent by email to Julie (jkonge@bidmc.harvard.edu) or Wenqiang (Wenqiang.chen@childrens.harvard.edu) before July 15th.
Applicants must also attend a Board meeting at HMS on July 12, at 12:30 pm. This will be a friendly and welcoming meeting that will serve as an opportunity for the current board to get to know you better and vice versa.
Listed here are the various positions you can apply for:
Committee chair positions
Chair of Professional Development Committee
Responsibilities - organize programs to support the professional research and career development skills of post-docs by providing workshops/forums to address career-related issues such as grant writing, scientific writing, job searching, networking, etc.
hmpa_professional_development@listserv.med.harvard.edu
Chair of Advocacy Committee
Responsibilities - collect and analyze information on employment conditions and benefits of post-docs; seek adequate benefits for members commensurate with level of education and skills, including a health plan, parental leave, childcare, disability insurance and retirement plan; seek recognition for post-docs as members of the campus community with a distinct set of contributions and needs; work to get a voice in campus decisions that affect post-docs.
hmpa_advocacy@listserv.med.harvard.edu
Chair of Outreach Committee
Responsibilities - engage with other local, regional and national organizations that have missions that are relevant to the postdoctoral experience, such as the National Postdoctoral Association, in order to involve the HMPA in the broader discussion on how to improve the postdoctoral experience.
hmpa_outreach@listserv.med.harvard.edu
Chair of Social Committee
Responsibilities - foster a sense of community amongst post-docs by organizing events including socials, picnics, and trips or activities; organize events to provide opportunities for social, professional and academic networking.
hmpa_social@listserv.med.harvard.edu
Chair of Forum Committee
Responsibilities - organize and lead events that allow post-docs to interact with other post-docs with the goals of practicing professional skills (such as giving scientific talks and chalk talks) and receiving constructive criticism from peers in a safe and supportive environment.
hmpa_postdoc_forum@listserv.med.harvard.edu
Officer Positions
Chair (quad-based HMS postdoc only)
Responsibilities - being the chief officer of the Governing Board; making appointments and delegating responsibilities subject to the advice and consent of the Governing Board; presiding over all Board meetings; meeting with members of the faculty and administration as the representative of the HMPA; reporting HMPA business conducted by the Board to the members at general meetings; coordinating interactions with postdoctoral associations at other institutions as well as national organizations.
Vice-Chair of Liaisons
Responsibilities - liaising with the HMS/HSDM Office of Postdoctoral Fellows to coordinate policies and planning; maintaining an up-to-date calendar of events for HMPA activities; managing the email listserv and advertising HMPA activities via the listserv as needed; acting in the Chair’s stead in individual instances when the Chair is unable to perform his or her duty.
Vice Chair of Web Communications
Responsibilities - managing and updating the HMPA website; overseeing management of social media accounts; acting in the Chair’s stead in individual instances when the Chair is unable to perform his or her duty.
Secretary
Responsibilities - recording the minutes of all Board meetings; distributing meeting minutes to all Board members within one week of the meeting; archiving meeting minutes (e.g. using Dropbox or other file-sharing system), acting in the Chair’s stead in individual instances when the Chair is unable to perform his or her duty.
Treasurer
Responsibilities - supervising the receipt and disbursement of all moneys, properties, securities and other evidence of financial worth of the HMPA; authorizing, subject to Board approval, financial transactions on behalf of the HMPA; maintaining records of all financial activities of the HMPA; preparing an annual financial statement; proposing a budget for approval of the Board committee; submitting the approved version of the budget to related offices; maintaining budget records for the HMPA; reporting regularly to the Governing Board and members on the financial status of the HMPA; overseeing fundraising efforts by the organization.
We hope you’ll join us!
Julie and Wenqiang,
HMPA Election Committee Co-Chairs
