Calendar of events, awards and opportunities

Every week, we update this list with new meetings, awards, scholarships and events to help you advance your career. If you’d like us to feature something that you’re offering to the bioscience community, email us with the subject line “For calendar.” ASBMB members’ offerings take priority, and we do not promote products/services. Learn how to advertise in ASBMB Today.

Sept. 19–23: #ASBMBLovesPostdocs activities

National Postdoc Appreciation Week is Sept. 19–23 — a time to celebrate postdocs and their immeasurable contributions to the scientific community. Here’s what we have planned at the ASBMB:

• Sept. 19–23 — Daily coffee breaks: Join us on Twitter at 1:30 p.m. for the chance to win a cup of coffee on us!
• Sept. 19–23 — Thank-you shout-outs: Email us a video tribute or a a photo of and a message for your postdoc(s) by Sept. 14. We’ll share it on social media. (Feel free to shoot your tribute on your cell phone.)
• Sept. 20 — Interactive workshop about writing an effective teaching statement. Register.
• Sept. 21 — Town hall on work–life balance. Register.
• Sept. 22 — Webinar on National Science Foundation funding for postdocs. Register.
• Sept. 23 — Twitter chat: Use #ASBMBLovesPostdocs to chime in.

Sept. 19: Webinar on tripartite symbioses with the virome

Cell Press is hosting a free virtual event about "the multidisciplinary research investigating the diverse ways in which viruses, microbes and the host interact" on Sept. 19. Speakers include Britt Koskella at the University of California, Berkeley, Bryan Hsu at Virginia Tech and Paul Bollyky at Stanford University. Learn more.

Sept. 21–22: NIST virtual workshop on liposomes

The National Institute of Standards and Technology will host a virtual, two-day workshop about advances in the measurement of liposome physical-chemical properties and the development of liposome reference material. NIST notes: "This workshop will not discuss, nor will it address biological attributes such as potency, drug loading efficiency, in vitro or in vivo toxicity, etc." You must register by Sept. 14. Learn more.

Sept. 22: Webinar on applying to graduate programs

The American Association for Anatomy is hosting a free webinar for anyone interested in applying to STEM graduate programs. Learn about the process and get some helpful advice. Speakers include a Ph.D. candidate and an assistant professor. Learn more.

Sept. 22: Town hall for chemistry students

The American Chemical Society's Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect is hosting a virtual town hall during which students can talk to established scientists about their chemistry career paths. Among the panelists will be members of the ACS board of directors. Learn more.

Sept. 27: #DiscoverBMB abstract system opens

#DiscoverBMB is the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

With a mission to share the latest, most impactful research findings in the molecular life sciences, #DiscoverBMB offers an exciting agenda that includes in-person and virtual sessions, talks by the field's foremost experts, interactive workshops on the latest trends, technologies and techniques, and an invigorating exhibition of posters, services and products.

The meeting attracts researchers in academia and industry, educators, trainees and students from across the globe. It offers unparalleled opportunities for collaborating, networking and recruiting.

Learn more.

Sept. 28: NIGMS lecture on AI and antibiotic discovery

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences is holding its annual Judith H. Greenberg Early Career Investigator Lecture on Sept. 28. This virtual event will feature César de la Fuente, whose talk is titled “Artificial Intelligence Approaches for Antibiotic Discovery.” A Q&A session will follow his lecture. Learn more.

Sept. 28: HHMI Hrabowski applications due

In May, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute launched a roughly $1.5 billion program to "help build a scientific workforce that more fully reflects our increasingly diverse country." The Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program will fund 30 scholars every other year, and each appointment can last up to 10 years. That represents up to $8.6 million in total support per scholar. HHMI is accepting applications from researchers "who are strongly committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in science." Learn more.

Oct. 3: Nominations for NAS awards due

The National Academy of Sciences offers more than a dozen annual awards, and the nomination deadline for all of them is Oct. 3. You can see the full list here, but we want to draw your attention to the NAS Award in Molecular Biology (for a young investigator).

Oct. 5: Attracting — and keeping — grad students from all walks of life

Scientists who have varied life experiences provide different insights when faced with complex scientific questions. Increasing the number of and improving the retention of underrepresented and historically marginalized students in graduate programs is critical to the success of the biomedical research enterprise. In this webinar, hosted by the ASBMB Maximizing Access Committee, two academic leaders who specialize in recruitment and retention will discuss their professional experiences, program outcomes and winning strategies that are worthy of adoption by other institutions. ASBMB members register for free. Nonmembers pay $25. Learn more.

Oct. 5: Webinar on talking about animal research

The American Physiological Society is hosting a free webinar titled "Communicating how, when and why large animals are essential for research" at 1 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 5. The keynote speaker will be Karen Parker, associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. Also in the lineup: Sally Thompson-Iritani, an assistant vice provost at the University of Washington, and Paula Clifford, executive director of Americans for Medical Progress. Learn more.

Oct. 5: Deadline for DOE undergrad intern applications

Undergraduate students interested in interning at a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory in the spring must apply by Oct. 5. There are two programs to be aware of: the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships program and the Community College Internships program. In both cases, students work at national laboratories on research or technology projects supporting the agency's mission. All full-time students or recent grads are eligible for the first program, and community college students are eligible for the other. These are paid positions. Learn more.

Oct. 5: Deadline for DOE visiting faculty applications

The U.S. Department of Energy has expanded its opportunities for faculty members from historically underrepresented groups to engage in research at national labs. The Visiting Faculty Program is intended to create partnerships between national labs and two-year colleges, minority-serving institutions and other colleges and universities nationwide. About 50% of participants are from MSI, and one-third of those are from historically Black colleges and universities. The deadline to apply is Oct. 5. Learn more.

Oct. 15: Deadline for Nominations for Ricketts Prize

The University of Chicago is seekimg nominations for the Howard Taylor Ricketts Prize, named after the discoverer of the causative agent for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The prize includes a cash award of $50,000 and a medal, and the winner gives a public lecture on campus. Learn more.

Oct. 17–21: NASA bridge program workshop

The NASA Science Mission Directorate Bridge Program is intended to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility at NASA and in the broader STEM community. The agency seeks to partner with minority-serving institutions, primarily undergraduate institutions and Ph.D.-granting universities and provide paid research student positions "to transition science and engineering students from undergraduate studies into graduate schools and employment by NASA," according to the announcement. A virtual workshop will be held from Oct. 17 through Oct. 21. You have to formally express interest in attending. Learn more.

Oct. 26: Webinar about women’s dead-end work

Across industries, jobs and levels of seniority, women carry a heavier load of tasks that support the organization but do not advance careers. In this discussion, we’ll explore why this happens and what you can do to manage your nonpromotable tasks. The first 20 people who register for the webinar will receive the book "The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead-End Work." One of the authors, Laurie Weingart, will be a speaker. Register.

Nov. 2: ASBMB Virtual Career Expo

Save the date for the ASBMB Career Expo. This virtual event aims to highlight the diversity of career choices available to modern biomedical researchers. No matter your career stage, this expo will provide a plethora of career options for you to explore while simultaneously connecting you with knowledgeable professionals in these careers. Each 60-minute session will focus on a different career path and will feature breakout rooms with professionals in those paths. Attendees can choose to meet in a small group with a single professional for the entire session or move freely between breakout rooms to sample advice from multiple professionals. Sessions will feature the following five sectors: industry, government, science communication, science policy and other. The expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 2. Stay tuned for a link to register!

Nov. 6: Deadline for policy-related papers

The Journal of Science Policy & Governance and the National Science Policy Network issued a call for papers for an issue containing policy ideas from the next generation of scientists. The submission deadline is Nov. 6. They encourage submissions "that highlight policy opportunities and audiences related to the 2022 U.S. midterm elections at the local, state or national level as well as related foreign policy issues." Read the press release.  

Nov. 9: Applications due for DOE grad student awards

The Department of Energy is accepting applications through Nov. 9 for its Office of Science Graduate Student Research Awards program, which places grad students doing thesis research at national labs or other host site in collaboration with agency scientists. Application assistance workshops are scheduled for Sept. 19 and Oct. 20. Learn more.

Nov. 14: ASBMB fellows nominations due

Fellows of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are recognized for their contributions to the society and their contributions advancing the molecular life sciences, whether that's through research, education and mentorship, or other forms of service to the scientific community. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 14. Learn more.

Dec. 6: Deuel lipids meeting early registration deadline

The ASBMB Deuel conference is a must-attend event for leading lipids investigators — and for scientists who’ve just begun to explore the role of lipids in their research programs. This event will bring together a diverse array of people, including those who have not attended Deuel or perhaps any lipid meeting before. The conference is a forum for the presentation of new and unpublished data, and attendees enjoy the informal atmosphere that encourages free and open discussion. Interested scientists are invited to attend and encourage trainees to submit abstracts by Jan. 10. Learn more.

FASEB family care awards

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology has launched the Career Advancement and Research Excellence Support (CARES) Program, which provides financial support for caregiving, enabling FASEB society members to continue their scientific training, professional development and career progression. Read the eligibility criteria and apply.

IUBMB relocation support for displaced trainees

The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is offering $2,000 to graduate students and postdocs displaced from their labs as a result of natural disaster, war or "other events beyond their control that interrupt their training." The money is for travel and settling in. Learn more and spread the word to those who could use assistance.

On-demand webinar on getting, gaining influence

The American Association for Anatomy has a free on-demand webinar titled "The power of suggestion: How to get and gain influence." It features Adele Cehrs, CEO of the When and How Agency, who explains "when the power of suggestion is most likely to work for individuals and how to use it to your advantage through traditional media and social media channels." As we understand it, AAA membership is not required (but you will have to create an account) to view the webinar. Here's a list of all of AAA's open-access webinars.

Call for virtual scientific event proposals

The ASBMB provides members with a virtual platform to share scientific research and accomplishments and to discuss emerging topics and technologies with the BMB community.

The ASBMB will manage the technical aspects, market the event to tens of thousands of contacts and present the digital event live to a remote audience. Additional tools such as polling, Q&A, breakout rooms and post event Twitter chats may be used to facilitate maximum engagement.

Seminars are typically one to two hours long. A workshop or conference might be longer and even span several days.

Prospective organizers may submit proposals at any time. Decisions are usually made within four to six weeks.

Propose an event.

Take over the JLR Twitter account

If you are a graduate student, postdoc or early-career investigator interested in hosting a #LipidTakeover, fill out this application. You can spend a day tweeting from the Journal of Lipid Research's account (@JLipidRes) about your favorite lipids and your work.