NPAW

Monday, September 21, 2020 – Coffee Hour
Coffee hour will be from 1:00 – 2:00 PM on Monday, September 21, 2020, on zoom.  Though there will not be our normal coffee and snacks, we encourage everyone to grab a comforting beverage and perhaps a snack from their own kitchen and join us for a chat. This is a time to chat with other researchers about our research and life here in Happy Valley. Hope to see you there. Show up and leave during this time as you please. Five participants will be randomly selected to win a $20 Downtown State College gift card or a $25 MOO.com gift card to get a new set of business cards! Questions can be addressed to Emily Durham (ejd5264@psu.edu).

Tuesday, September 22, 2020 – Professional Headshots
We are very excited to continue the professional headshot event from last year. This year VJM Studios will be on campus taking headshot photos on Tuesday, September 22th from 1-4 PM location TBD (tentatively inside the HUB). Each person will get a 5-minute slot with our professional photographer. Please bring $10 in cash. Within one week, you will receive a digital copy of your photograph. Spots are limited and will be assigned on a first come first basis, so please sign up fast. Last year we had more interest than available spots, so make sure to take advantage of this opportunity! Participants will receive a follow-up email confirming their time slot and all details. Questions can be addressed to Allison Gicking, axg1438@psu.edu.

Sign-up for your 5-minute slot (see email for link) by Friday, September 18th. If all slots are full, please contact axg1438@psu.edu to be added to the waitlist.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020 – Penn State Mental Health Resources Available for Postdocs
Even though funded by student fees, some services of Penn State Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) are available to postdocs, too! Zoom into this hour-long session (see email for link) at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 23, to learn about what CAPS resources are available to you as a postdoc or when unavailable, how CAPS can help you find community mental health resources. This presentation will also address strategies for combating imposter syndrome, the doubting of one’s accomplishments and feeling like a fraud. Five participants will be randomly selected to win a $20 Downtown State College gift card or a $25 MOO.com gift card to get a new set of business cards! Questions can be addressed to Lydia Hardie (lhardie@psu.edu).

Thursday and Friday, September 24-25, 2020 – Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the Penn State Postdoc Society invite early career researchers across Penn State to participate in a virtual research exhibition to be held on September 24^th and 25^th, 2020, as a part of the National Postdoc Appreciation Week. In addition to highlighting the research efforts of Penn State postdocs and assistant research professors, the exhibition will consist of a Keynote Speaker, a workshop on Diversity and Allyship, a panel discussion titled “Career Transitions in the Face of Covid-19”, opportunities to share your research with a broad audience, and time for networking. You can find the detailed program for the exhibition at https://www.research.psu.edu/node/3347.  Interested in attending? Register here: https://forms.gle/9rfU9yx2icdYtsWh7 This year there are three competitions to showcase your research. Additional information for each competition can be found by clicking on the following link(s): lightning talks, posters, and media submissions (a new track this year!). Deadline for submission for posters and media submissions is September 14^th. Questions can be directed to postdocaffairs@psu.edu.

Friday, September 25, 2020 – Social Hour and Game Night  
End the work week with a virtual social hour and game night. See email for link to join us at 5:30 PM to celebrate the end of Postdoc Appreciation Week with games and good company! Prizes will be awarded for game winners and additionally, two participants will be randomly selected to win a $20 Downtown State College gift card! This is a great chance to meet other postdocs at Penn State and to learn more about the Penn State Postdoc Society (PSPS). Any questions about this event can be addressed to Ali Jaffary (sfj5213@psu.edu) or Michael Gorka (mjg382@psu.edu).