It’s time for the Postdoc Leadership Council (PLC)’s annual elections! This is a great way for everyone in our community of BWH postdocs to get more involved and shape the future of the PLC, even if you are not already a member. You can learn more about the structure of the PLC and how these positions work together in our bylaws, or read on for some more details.
Voting for PLC officers will be open from Thursday, August 1st, 2024 through Thursday, August 15th, 2024. All members of the BWH Postdoc community are eligible to vote.
The categories in this year’s elections are:
- President
- Vice Presidents
- External Affairs
- Internal Affairs
- Registrar
- Treasurer
Please note that the only contested election will be for President. Nominees in the other categories will simply receive a vote of confidence.
Role & Responsibilities of the PLC
The Brigham and Women’s Hospital Postdoctoral Leadership Council is the governing body for the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Postdoctoral Association. It is a voluntary organization run by Postdoctoral Fellows working to enhance the Postdoctoral experience at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
President
Calvin Howard, MD
Department of Neurology
Hi everyone, I’m Calvin, a Canadian MD trained in neurology, and am entering the third year of my postdoctoral fellowship researching deep brain stimulation for cognition. I’ve been a part of the PLC during the last academic cycle, and I am hoping to continue working for postdocs as the President this next year. I think the greatest part has been building a community by simply getting to know the fellows around the Brigham.
I am currently the Registrar of the PLC. This role has given me exposure to the PLC broadly, helping me understand how we can continue forward. Regarding my skillset, I have been involved in academic leadership for several years, with 4 years’ experience at the national level, 3 years at the regional level, and almost 10 years in local or institutional roles.
Within the last several years, I have been a board member of Resident Doctors of Canada, the Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba, and have represented trainees on numerous university committees. While I have experience in organizational tasks like chairing finance committees, I am most proud of initiatives which have had a tangible impact on the people I represented. Most recently, this involved setting money aside to establish a series of awards to honour exceptional people for years to come.
I also have experience in the private sector, having consulted for startups like Neuraura, am an Ascent member in the North Forge Incubator, and run CogNet, which is a private company providing dementia testing to rural Canadians.
This is all to say: I am familiar with the PLC, I know how to advocate for trainees in academia, and I can represent the postdoctoral fellows interested in the private sector.
I aim to build upon last year’s advocacy to instate resources for fellows and position us to secure more resources for years to come. This last year, our advocacy committee managed to secure postdoctoral fellows a full 20% raise, we secured dedicated funding from the Brigham, and reinstated programs lost to the pandemic. This leaves us in an excellent position to continue to advocate for critical resources for fellows. For example, I want to tackle the silent number of fellows with no primary care provider, or even healthcare. As an MD, I feel uniquely positioned to navigate and secure this. Additionally, with the recent Brigham-MGH merger, I am aiming to establish a formal group of postdoctoral fellow leaders representing both hospitals, and potentially even more. This will position us wonderfully to advocate in concert with fellows from different institutions, ensuring we all prosper together. Lastly, the discussion of when fellows become Instructors is just beginning at the Brigham, and I hope that we can formalize the route to becoming an Instructor once the fellowship has come to an end.
Lien Nguyen, PhD
Department of Neurology
I have been actively involved in the PLC since I joined as a postdoc in July 2020. Having started when 6-feet distancing and masks were the norm, I fully appreciate the importance of a strong postdoc community. My favorite aspect of being in the PLC is the sense of agency – knowing that I can make tangible improvements in the professional development and well-being of both myself and my peers. Furthermore, collaborating with like-minded postdocs on initiatives that enhance the postdoc experience has been deeply fulfilling. I am proud of what the PLC has achieved, and I am running for president to continue and further its successes.
I have participated in four committees: Communication, Advocacy, Mentoring Circles Program, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As chair of Advocacy, I led efforts in conducting the annual postdoc surveys and negotiating with leadership for salary increases and other benefits. As co-director of MCP, I matched 75 postdocs into 9 circles, with 50 completing the program. This diverse experience has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of how the PLC functions within BWH. Furthermore, I am a member of the Neurology Postdoc Advisory Council, and I have contributed op-eds to the National Postdoc Association. These experiences have honed my leadership, organizational, and communication skills, which, with my track record in leading and completing initiatives, make me the ideal candidate for president. Most importantly, as I enter my fifth and final year as a postdoc, I am acutely aware of the challenges that postdocs face. I am passionate about addressing these issues and broadening awareness of resources available to ensure a better experience for all postdocs.
My vision is for the PLC to continue as a functioning, inclusive, and dynamic organization that represents the interests of all BWH postdocs. I will work closely with all PLC members and committees to:
1. Maintain & improve current operations: I will continue events like NPAW, social hours, annual surveys, networking, and DEI events, as well as new events like job fairs and pitch competitions.
2. Recruit & retain PLC members: I will implement targeted outreach and engagement strategies to recruit new PLC members and ensure that current members are acknowledged and rewarded for their dedication.
3. Enhance visibility & support for postdocs: I will work on improving onboarding materials and postdoc-specific informational sessions. I also aim to revise the postdoc policy to add new policies on salaries and provide resources for career transitioning and conflict resolution.
4. Bridge between postdocs and leadership: I will continue to advocate for postdoc interests and ensure their voices are heard in the decision-making processes at BWH and MGB.
5. Collaborate with other postdoc associations: I will ensure smooth integration while maintaining the distinct identity of the BWH PLC within MGB. Additionally, I will collaborate with local and national PDAs to advocate for systemic changes that benefit all postdocs.
By focusing on these goals, I aim to foster a supportive, inclusive, and vibrant postdoc community at BWH to ensure our collective growth and success.
Vice President
External Affairs
Allison Williams, PhD
Department of Rheumatology
I have been a part of the PLC as a member since about February of 2023 and I have been the iterum chair of the communications committee since about September of 2023. My favorite part about being in the PLC is the people. The communications committee has been such a joy to work with, and it has been so nice meeting amazing and passionate people. I have also enjoyed learning new things in the DEI committee.
I think that I have a good mix of a “do it yourself” attitude with the ability to know when I need to delegate tasks. I think that I have demonstrated this with the communications committee in organizing the newsletter for the summer issue as well as trying to find ways to contribute to the DEI committee.
The major thing I would like the PLC to accomplish over the next year is to increase attendance at some of our events such as coffee hour or maybe the journal clubs. I’m not quite sure why these events aren’t well attended because they are the lowest commitment events that we put on. I know that they don’t cost the most money, but it seems like we could be using this type of event/time slot for other things that are either more targeted or come up with ideas to try to make the more interesting to a greater population of post docs. I think having a punch card or something like the raffle we did for black history month could be a nice incentive to continue encouraging people to come to events. Encouraging people to come to our events is going to be the best way to build community as well as determine the needs of our community.
Internal Affairs
Camila Zanella, PhD
Department of Pathology
I have been involved for one year as the MCP co-director. My favorite experience has been interacting with both new and senior postdocs, engaging them in the MCP, learning about their problems and concerns, and advocating for them.
I have experience in the PLC and strong people skills. I am well-organized, have excellent time management skills, and am eager to learn and take on a new role within the PLC.
I believe we can continue the good work that has been done and further improve postdoctoral activities in the PLC. I envision a stronger sense of community and belonging, with increased participation and engagement in all events. Additionally, postdocs have shared their suggestions with me, and I think we could implement these ideas to better meet their needs.
Registrar
Masamitsu Nakayama, PhD
Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular
I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at BWH. My research focuses on developing artificial intelligence using patient data, specifically ECGs and echocardiograms. I commenced my postdoctoral career at BWH in October 2023 and have found it to be an immensely rewarding experience. The research environment, including the great colleagues, excellent research facilities, and the overall living environment, has been amazing. I am eager to continue my journey here for the future.
I have not yet participated in any PLC activities, but I have an agreement with Stecia-Marie P. Fletcher, the president of PLC, to attend a meeting on 7/15.
I have experience leading team projects in the past. The project involved supporting the redesign and introduction of Japanese medical device company to local healthcare institutions in Southeast Asia. To efficiently cover a wide range of tasks such as coordinating travel arrangements to the region, organizing visits to medical facilities, interviewing doctors, and managing deliverables, I effectively utilized project management sheets and meeting minutes during regular meetings with the client. Currently, I am also active as an organizer for the Japan-US forum held in Boston. I have contributed to the smooth progress of projects by taking minutes at each meeting and creating Gantt charts for project management. I am skilled at ensuring all members maximize their abilities towards a common goal, making me well-suited for the role of Registrar.
Through a year of activities with the PLC, I aim to establish my own method of managing projects composed of multinational members. Currently, as a postdoc, I am still learning how to work effectively with people from various cultural backgrounds. For example, when a colleague had a conflict with our PI, I was unable to provide specific advice, and he ultimately decided to leave the lab. By participating as a member of the PLC, I hope to explore ways to communicate my opinions effectively and work comfortably. This requires not only research activities but also experience in managing projects with team members from different backgrounds. Through this experience, I want to gain valuable project management skills for the next stage of my career development.
Treasurer
Tamayanthi Rajakumar, MD
Department of Pathology
I am Tamayanthi Rajakumar, and I’ve been a postdoc at Hanna Lab for 2 years. Being a postdoc at BWH has provided me with opportunities to meet and collaborate with excellent researchers. Besides that, being surrounded by people from various science backgrounds who are passionate about their research and work together towards scientific discoveries to ultimately contribute to society, has molded me to be a better scientist. The environment at BWH has also instilled in me the core value of teamwork.
Throughout my time here, I have participated in several events conducted by the PLC. I was a mentee for the MCP program during my first year of postdoc. The program has largely benefited me in settling in and adjusting to a new environment. From my experience, attending PLC events has always allowed me to gain new insight and new friends.
I am confident that I would be a great fit for the treasurer role. I have experience in managing finances, preparing financial reports, and budgeting for university events. Additionally, I have collaborated with various organizations to organize programs, enhancing my ability to work effectively with different teams. Furthermore, my experience in various front desk roles has also significantly improved my interpersonal skills, which I believe are crucial for this position.
I believe the Postdoctoral Leadership Council has significantly improved the postdoc experience by providing valuable support and resources. Over the next year, my vision for the PLC is to further enhance professional development through expanded programs and networking events to advance postdoc careers.
