Office for Postdoctoral and Research Careers (OPRC)

OPRC Goals, Progress and Accomplishments

OPRC GOALS:

The OPRC will work with fellows, faculty and administration to facilitate postdoctoral career advancement at the BWH/HMS.  Some of our goals are;

• Postdoctoral Advisory Committee – develop policies & initiatives
• Postdoctoral Association – build a sense of community
• Standardized benefits package and pay scale – create transparency
• Advocacy and resource center for the postdoctoral community
• Orientation – to complement existing orientations
• Institutionally defined training period and guidelines for extension
• Reviews of training progress – performance evaluations
• Improved skills and competencies – i.e. mentoring
• Diversity Initiatives: Outreach, Retention, Recruitment
• Mechanism for grievances – ombudsperson
• Career Development workshops/seminars – i.e. Professional Pathways Programs

HIGHLIGHTS OF OPRC PROGRESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2006-2007:

Career Development:

• Established Postdoc Advisory Committee to direct and oversee OPRC activities
• Offered comprehensive career development programs, seminars and workshops 
• Enrolled BWH postdocs in Harvard’s Bok Center Teaching Conferences
• Attended 2007 National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Meeting and presented poster,“The Synergistic Model: An Office for Postdoctoral Careers within a Center for Faculty Development & Diversity”
• Encouraged, communicated and facilitated career development award opportunities, including NPA Travel Awards
• Became NPA sustaining member, securing free NPA affiliate membership for all BWH postdocs, including access to career development resources and discounts. 

Collaboration:

• Formed Postdoc Office Consortium (pDOC) with HMS, HSPH and Harvard-Affiliated Postdoc Offices (BIDMC,  BWH, Children’s Hospital, DFCI, Joslin Diabetes Center, MGH)
• Collaborated with pDOC on development and delivery of programs and seminars of professional interest
• pDOC awarded co-sponsorship of 2008 National Postdoctoral Association Meeting to be held in Boston at the Conference Center at HMS
• Advocated for postdoc community, including continuation of free access to M2 shuttle for Harvard affiliate postdoctoral fellows
• Secured postdoctoral fellow representation on the BWH Research Oversight Committee 

Communication:

• Initiated outreach to new postdocs at weekly orientations 
• Developed vibrant OPRC presence on BRI Intranet
• Developed Weekly e-Newsletter to communicate OPRC programs, events and information relevant to postdoctoral fellows
• Instituted Postdoc Fellows’ benefits page on BWH Intranet, “Pike Notes”
• Increased hospital-wide awareness, understanding and support for postdoctoral fellow population

Community:

• Established Peer Mentoring Program 
• Held monthly open forum postdoc lunches
• Communicated HMS/HSDM Postdoc Association events