Welcome, Retriever postdocs and mentors, to the November Newsletter!
UMBC's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs welcomes you to the 5th edition of our new monthly newsletter! Highlights include several online and in person workshops, including helpful webinars about A.I., teaching, and research in different industries. We hope you can take advantage of some great opportunities this fall semester!
"Talk it Through" Topic of the Month:
A recommended topic for postdocs and their mentors to discuss this month:
Events
UMBC Graduate Student & Postdoc Development (GSPD):
Follow our MyUMBC GSPD page and stay updated on our PAWsome resources and workshops!
UMBC Center for Social Science Scholarship:
★ Friday 11/7, 12-1:30 pm, Public Policy 438:
Dealing with unstructured data (text, images), APIs, and API calls to LLMs RSVP here
★ Wednesday 11/19, 4:30-6 pm, Hybrid, PAHB 216:
CAHSS New Faculty Micro-talks RSVP here
★ Wednesday 12/3, 12-1 pm, Online:
Translating Research for a Public Audience: Writing for the Public and Talking to the Press RSVP here
UMBC Library:
★ Monday, 11/10, 12-1 pm, Online:
Skills for Graduate Students: Advanced Research Strategies RSVP here
★ Wednesday, 11/12, 12-1 pm, Online:
Exploring the Gadgets & Gizmos In Your AI Toolkit: Dr. Eric Stokan RSVP here
★ Tuesday, 11/18, 4-5 pm, Online:
Skills for Graduate Students: Managing and Organizing Your Research RSVP here
UMBC Faculty Development Center:
★ Monday, 11/10, 12-1 pm, Online:
Teaching Generation 'Why?': Helping Students Find Meaning and Purpose in Your Course RSVP here
★ Tuesday, 11/11, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Online:
Generative AI in Teaching II: Applied Skills and Use Cases RSVP here
★ Wednesday, 11/12, 12-1 pm, Online:
Bring Your Best Idea: Infusing Humor & Fun into the Classroom RSVP here
★ Thursday, 11/20, 12-1 pm, Online:
Integrating Community-Engaged and Experiential Learning into Your Course: Fostering Meaningful Learning and Student Success RSVP here
★ Tuesday, 12/2, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Online:
I'm Not Teaching with Generative AI, But What Do I Still Need to Know? RSVP here
UMBC Career Center:
★ Thursday, 11/6, 12-1 pm, Online:
River Valley Ranch Career Corner
The RAND Summer Associate Program introduces outstanding doctoral students to RAND, an institution that conducts research on a wide range of domestic and international social policy issues and matters of national security. RSVP here
★ Monday, 11/17, 12-1 pm, Online:
Inside Scoop: Careers in Biomedical and Health Research RSVP here
★ Wednesday, 11/19, 11 am-12 pm, Online:
UMBC Connects: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory RSVP here
Events from Partners within the University System of Maryland
CARTI @ UMMS
★ Tuesday, 11/4, 9-10 am, Zoom
Pivoting to Aging Research: Opportunities for Every Discipline RSVP here
★ Thursday, 11/6, 9-10 am, Zoom
Writing and Conducting a Systematic Review RSVP here
★ Tuesday, 11/4 & 11, 1-2 pm, Zoom
Writing Your First NIH R01 Grant Application: 2-Part Seminar Series RSVP here
★ Tuesday, 12/2, 1-2 pm, Zoom
Identifying a Mentoring Team & Developing Mentoring Skills RSVP here
★ Thursday, 12/11, 9-10 am, Zoom
Making the Most of Your Unfunded Grant Application RSVP here
University of Maryland
★ Wednesday, 12/3, 2025, 6:30–7:30 pm, Online:
Behind the Hire: Insights from Matt Majoros, Partner with Workforce Genetics
Matt will discuss the skill sets valued in the life sciences industry, how to reach out to recruiters and hiring managers, best platforms to find open positions, expectations on how fast hiring moves and answer your question. RSVP here
Events from National Partners
CIRTL (the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching & Learning):
Reminder: UMBC is part of the national CIRTL network; you can earn a nationally recognized certificate that demonstrates your commitment to being an effective instructor! Email Dr. Gurganus at jgurganus@umbc.edu for more information.
★ Wednesday 11/5, 12-2pm, Online:
Shared Voices, Shared Decisions: Sociocracy for Educators and Leaders in Higher Ed RSVP here
★ Monday 11/10, 12-1 pm, Online:
Exploring Teaching Careers at Teaching Intensive Universities with CIRTL Alumni RSVP here
★ Tuesday 11/11, 11 am- 1pm, Online:
Examining and Analyzing Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in Post-Secondary Contexts RSVP here
★ Thursday, 11/13, 12-1:30 pm, Online:
Overcoming Learned Helplessness: Helping Students to Develop Strong Team Skills Through Emotional Intelligence RSVP here
★ Monday, 11/17, 12-1 pm, Online:
Exploring Academic Careers Beyond the Professoriate with CIRTL Alumni in Centers for Teaching & Learning RSVP here
★ Thursday, 11/20, 2-3:30 pm, Online:
Leveraging Strengths of Neurodiverse Students in the Classroom RSVP here
★ Thursday, 12/11, 1-3 pm, Online:
Postdoc Teaching Practicum RSVP here
National Postdoctoral Association (NPA):
Reminder: UMBC has an institutional membership allowing you to get your Free NPA Affiliate Membership! Use your your institutional (UMBC) email address and attend events for FREE.
★ Check here for NPA's calendar of events.
★2025 NPA Social Sciences & Humanities Postdocs Special Interest Summit
Friday, November 14, 2025, 1-5 pm, Online Read More
Through a series of interactive online discussions led by the NPA, the summit seeks to identify barriers – and find paths forward – in the greater postdoctoral community. Sponsorship provides visibility to thousands of active, exiting, and aspiring postdocs.
Member Benefit for NPA Postdoc Members
Are you deciding on the next step after your postdoc? Need help looking for jobs that excite you and then figuring out how to apply? The NPA is proud to partner with SciPhD and provide a free, permanent license for all NPA members to their online web application tool – Flamingo™. Sign up here.
★ 2025 NPA SmartSkills Registration: SmartSkills is a free, virtual course for NPA members. Experts teach monthly classes that focus on building skills critical to career and personal success. Postdocs can earn a certificate from the NPA by attending 10 out of the 12 skills classes. Takes place the fourth Tuesday of each month, at 3 p.m. ET. Register here.
NCFDD (National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity):
Reminder: UMBC has an institutional membership with the NCFDD, an independent professional development, training, and mentoring community dedicated to supporting academics in making successful transitions throughout their careers. Sign up for free and join their email newsletter!
WEBINARS:
You must log in to register.
★ Thursday, 11/13, 2025 2-3pm
SKILL #10: How to Manage Stress, Rejection & the Haters in Your Midst RSVP here
★ Friday, 11/14, 2025 1-2pm
The Weekly Meeting- for planning ahead RSVP here
★ Tuesday, 11/18, 2025 10-11 am
Virtual Writing Session RSVP here
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education is academe's most trusted resource for independent journalism, career development, and forward-looking intelligence. UMBC provides free access. Sign in today.
Sign up to receive the several different newsletters The Chronicle offers that are all about higher education! They are helpful resources that are released daily and weekly.
★ Check out The Chronicle's virtual events page, including On Demand recordings!
Resources
Job Sites in Higher Ed:
Postdoc Opportunities Board
NPA Job Board
The Chronicle Job Page
HigherEd Jobs
By the Office of Graduate Student and Postdoc Development (GSPD) at UMBC. Contact the author Aubrie at azepp1@umbc.edu for questions or suggestions about the newsletter.
Discover how UMBC students can take their learning global. This myth-busting brown bag session will clarify the study abroad process, highlight key resources, and explore how faculty and staff can get involved in supporting global learning.
Join the International Student Recruitment team to learn about existing projects to connect with prospective international students around the world and how your program or department can connect with our team to support outreach to prospective undergraduate, masters, or doctoral international students.
This session will provide staff and faculty with a basic understanding of the F-1, J-1, and H-1B visa categories. We will cover the key characteristics of each visa type, focusing on employment options available to international students and scholars. This will be a fast-paced and high level discussion. Our Office of International Students and Scholars team is always available for questions about more nuanced cases upon request.
Dear Campus Community,
As a result of the government shutdown, the FAA has determined that it will begin reducing air traffic at select airports. Airlines will phase in the cuts at the direction of the FAA, eliminating 4% of flights at 40 airports as of today and working up to 10%, BWI is one of those airports.
Many community members have reached out to Business Services to ask, if they make other travel arrangements, due to the disruption in air service, will this be reimbursed even though this may not be the least expensive mode of transportation?
The circumstances causing our community members to choose alternate, and in many cases more expensive, modes of transportation are beyond our control. As you are making your alternate plans, be assured that as long as your Division leadership approves the changes and the increase in expense, we will support you in getting them reimbursed.
The leadership team will continue to monitor travel expenses during this period of uncertainty and disruption. If the increased cost of travel becomes unsustainable, additional guidance and/or restrictions may be necessary.
We would advise you to consider:
Here are some FAQ's to guide you as you consider alternate travel arrangements:
If time permits it would be best practice to get a new pre approval. However, in many cases time is of the essence and processing a new pre approval may not be practical. In these cases, we advise that the traveler send an email to their approver advising them of the change and the additional cost, prior to booking. A simple one word "approved" email response, will be sufficient as a pre approval.
If upgrades that would normally be outside of policy are the only options available, discuss it with your travel approver and make sure they are aware of the financial impact. Follow the above guidance regarding preapprovals in this case.
If you are away from campus and trying to get home, feel confident that we are going to support your efforts to get home. If you booked your travel through Altour our travel management partner, we suggest you contact them and they can assist you in your alternate arrangements. Phone: 800-333-2115
Today from 3:00 – 5:00 PM in ILSB 101, the Accounting Club is hosting a Former Student Panel featuring alumni who now work at EY, one of the Big Four accounting firms!
You'll gain valuable, real-world insights into:
What it's really like to work at a Big 4 firm
How to stand out during the recruitment and interview process
Resume support
The role of certifications like the CPA in career advancement
Tips for balancing academics, internships, and professional development
How to start building your career network and position yourself for future opportunities
Don't miss this chance to learn directly from those who have successfully transitioned from UMBC to one of the big 4 and discover how you can turn your education into an extraordinary career.
]]>Dear Campus Community,
As a result of the government shutdown, the FAA has determined that it will begin reducing air traffic at select airports. Airlines will phase in the cuts at the direction of the FAA, eliminating 4% of flights at 40 airports as of today and working up to 10%, BWI is one of those airports.
Many community members have reached out to Business Services to ask, if they make other travel arrangements, due to the disruption in air service, will this be reimbursed even though this may not be the least expensive mode of transportation?
The circumstances causing our community members to choose alternate, and in many cases more expensive, modes of transportation are beyond our control. As you are making your alternate plans, be assured that as long as your Division leadership approves the changes and the increase in expense, we will support you in getting them reimbursed.
The leadership team will continue to monitor travel expenses during this period of uncertainty and disruption. If the increased cost of travel becomes unsustainable, additional guidance and/or restrictions may be necessary.
We would advise you to consider:
Here are some FAQ's to guide you as you consider alternate travel arrangements:
If time permits it would be best practice to get a new pre approval. However, in many cases time is of the essence and processing a new pre approval may not be practical. In these cases, we advise that the traveler send an email to their approver advising them of the change and the additional cost, prior to booking. A simple one word "approved" email response, will be sufficient as a pre approval.
If upgrades that would normally be outside of policy are the only options available, discuss it with your travel approver and make sure they are aware of the financial impact. Follow the above guidance regarding preapprovals in this case.
If you are away from campus and trying to get home, feel confident that we are going to support your efforts to get home. If you booked your travel through Altour our travel management partner, we suggest you contact them and they can assist you in your alternate arrangements. Phone: 800-333-2115
SAP Concur Launch Week: Day Five!
It's the final day of launch week! Thank you to everyone who has joined us for training sessions, help desk hours, and hands-on support as we roll out SAP Concur across campus.
Today's Schedule:
10:00 AM – Concur Traveler + Arranger Training (Live)
Location: Fine Arts Room 215
This session provides an in-depth look at how to create travel requests, book trips, and submit reimbursements in SAP Concur. It's perfect for frequent travelers and those who arrange travel on behalf of others.
View Event Details
Help Desk Support
We'll be available again today for virtual support from 1:15–2:30 PM. Drop in with any questions or issues as you start using the system.
Join the Help Desk Session (not a training)
If you can't make it to training or the help desk but need assistance, email us at travel@umbc.edu. You can also visit travel.umbc.edu anytime for the Interim Travel Policy, FAQs, recorded trainings, and travel discounts.
Training Doesn't Stop Here!
Launch week may be wrapping up, but we're just getting started. We'll continue offering SAP Concur training sessions weekly to make sure everyone across campus has the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and feel confident using the new system.
Stay tuned — we'll be posting new training dates and registration links soon! Whether you're brand new to Concur or looking to sharpen your skills, there will be a session for you.
Thank you for making launch week a success — and for helping us make SAP Concur and our new Travel website a true one-stop shop for UMBC travel!
]]>Join us for Thrive Fest 2025, a celebration of mindfulness, wellness, and community! Thrive Fest offers opportunities to relax, connect, and recharge through creative activities, discussions, and self-care sessions.
Click the links below to learn more about each event and add them to your calendar.
Chai Chats @ The Mosaic (Commons 2B23) | 12–1 PM
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic/events/148129
Restore @ Lower Flat Tuesdays, 9:00 - 11:30:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/thegatheringspace/events/148248
Nourish @ Lower Flat Tuesdays, 12:00 - 2:00:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/thegatheringspace/events/148249
QT Hangout @ UC 101, 1:00-3:00:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/thepridecenter/posts/154303
Free Farmers Market @ ACC, 2:00 - 2:45:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/retrieveressentials/events/146009
Explore @ Lower Flat Tuesdays, 2:30 - 4:30:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/thegatheringspace/events/148250
Queer Connect Cafe @ The Commons 318, 3:00 - 5:00:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/thepridecenter/events/148246
Stop by our Mainstreet table from 10 AM – 4 PM for giveaways and info!
Thursday, November 20 – Thrive On
Dinner with the Center for Democracy & Civic Life @ UC 312, 5:30 - 7:30 (RSVP REQUIRED)
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/civiclife/events/148274
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