Postdoc Life in MB&B

Group Picture of 2015 Retreat

The Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry department at Yale is home to world-class science ranging from the study of the mechanisms of ribonucleoprotein complexes to the in vivo imaging of cancer cells. The quality of its faculty is internationally recognized, with numerous young investigator awardees, several members of the National Academy of Sciences, and one Nobel laureate. It is also an active and supportive community which comes together frequently for scientific and social events. Current postdocs can access the MB&B Wiki for information on instrumentation, seminars, and other department resources; prospective postdocs should contact the MB&B postdoc group with any questions.

Departmental Retreat

Every fall the department gathers for the yearly retreat at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to learn about the work of other MB&B labs through oral presentations and posters. In addition to the scientific schedule, there are activities such as lab olympics, the “newlywed” game (played by newly-established mentors and mentees), trivia, and excursions around gorgeous Cape Cod and nearby Martha’s Vineyard. This annual event is an ideal venue for postdocs to network within the department.

Seminar Series

In addition to the speaker hosted by MB&B each week, postdocs are able to attend the weekly talks given by invited lecturers visiting the plethora of departments that collaborate with MB&B at Yale. Selected talks are followed by a postdoc reception where postdocs can meet the invited speaker in a small informal setting. Several groups with ties to MB&B also host one-day symposia on Science Hill and at West Campus.

Postdoc Talks

The MB&B department offers plenty of opportunities to present your work to colleagues and receive feedback from professors, graduate students, and other postdocs. Subgroups in RNA, yeast genetics, structural biology, biophysics, and chemical biology host monthly seminars presented by graduate students and postdocs. Labs at the Medical School, Science Hill, and on West Campus also participate in less formal research-in-progress talks.

Events

MB&B partners with Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) to host happy hours throughout the year. It is not unusual to find students, postdocs, and professors crowded around a grill in the Science Hill courtyard during the warmer months.

Every winter the MB&B holiday party is held at a fun and interesting location on campus. The party is open to families and features good food and drink and a skit by the second-year grad students.