It is once again time to collect your thoughts and reflections on the professional climate that we are creating in the department.  The Office of Faculty Development (OFD) values your honest and comprehensive input regarding your experience as a faculty member over the past year (2023).  Accordingly, please spend 5-10 minutes to complete this anonymous survey regarding department culture and professional support.  This year’s survey is similar to those of past years, but some questions and formatting have been altered to make responses more definitive and easier to interpret.  All data will only be analyzed and presented in aggregate.  Complete responses from all faculty are required so that we may have a comprehensive view of our department culture and importantly, better understand additional measures that we may take toward continual improvement. The link to this anonymous survey may be found here:   https://wustl.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Ky3JI8mcEOTSFE

Survey Closes on Monday February 12 at noon.

Representatives work with OFD to support the goals and core values of the office. They work on programming initiatives and enhance representation and diversity of the OFD across the divisions and career pathways of the department. Feel free to reach out to them to bring ideas, concerns or news to OFD. The 2024 representatives are:

Rebekah Dumm, PhD
Allison Eberly, PhD
Ian Hagemann, MD, PhD
Eynav Klechevsky, PhD
Nathan McLamb, MD
Nidia Messias, MD
Katherine Schwetye, MD, PhD
Cara Shirai, PhD
Hussein Sultan, PhD

WUSM-Wide Career Development Seminars

The Office of Promotions & Career Development (OPCD), the Academy of Educators and others across the school are committed to creating and supporting an environment in which faculty members flourish and achieve their career goals and full professionalism.

Highlighting these opportunities open to all will now be a standard feature in this monthly newsletter. 

Click on any of the links below for information & registration details. We encourage you to participate

Pathology & Immunology OFD Programs

All 2nd Wednesday of the month seminars can be accessed with the same Zoom link provided below.
Can't attend? Contact Janet Braun for the recordings.

Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 972 8040 1417
Passcode: 691473

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Key Steps in Translating Research into an Entrepreneurial Success
February 14, 2024
12:05 - 12:50 via Zoom

Presented by:
Deepika Poranki, PhD
Business Development Director
Office of Technology Management

Michael McCay, PhD
Director Patent Management
Office of Technology Management

Patent process overview
Dataset needed for filing patents
Public disclosures
Patenting modifications/drug repurposing
Overview of technology commercialization
Asset development
Success stories,
OTM resources

Diversity Book Discussion
March 5, 4-5 pm via Zoom

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Copies of the book are still available on a first come, first served basis. To request a copy, email janetbraun@wustl.edu.

What is the SPARK Initiative?

Support your innovation ideas and provide constructive feedback.
Advance innovative work from concept to implementation.
Foster Research by encouraging researchers, across our department to work together.
Kickstart groundbreaking projects with seed funding and resources.
Mentorship: Foster a mentorship environment where seasoned and junior faculty can share insights.

Why Apply and Present?

Showcase Your Work: This is a unique platform for you to present your research ideas or ongoing projects or new innovative ideas to your peers and senior faculty.

Seed Funding: Selected projects could receive up to $5,000 initial funding to support your research journey.

Mentorship: Engage with seasoned professionals in your field who can provide invaluable guidance.

Networking: This is a prime opportunity for interdisciplinary interaction and potential collaboration during our followed happy hour.

How to Register and Apply

SPARK talks will take place every other month starting November of 2023.

Register to give a short 30-minute talk by submitting an abstract via our online portal.

Invite your colleagues and mentors to attend for real-time feedback.

Apply to participate in the SPARK Initiative funding right after your presentation through the same online portal.

As part of SPARK, you're not only advancing your own work—you're contributing to our collaborative efforts and advancing the research within our department. We look forward to your participation and are excited to hear and support your innovative research.

Effective July 1, 2020, Washington University is now an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) institutional membership).  Founded by Dr. Kerry Ann Rockquemore, the organization provides research productivity, academic mentoring, and professional development resources to all faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and trainees.  Free resources available through the membership include:

Monthly Core Curriculum Webinars

Monthly Guest Expert Webinars

Access to Multi-Week Courses

Access to 14-Day Writing Challenges

Access to Dissertation Success Curriculum for graduate students

Weekly Monday Motivator

Private Discussion Forum for peer-mentoring, problem-solving, & moderated writing challenges

Monthly accountability buddy matches (by request)

Access to the Member Library that includes past webinar materials, referrals, and readings

To enroll and obtain your individual membership, complete the following steps:

Go to http://www.facultydiversity.org/join

Choose your institution from the drop-down menu.

Select “Activate my Membership”

Complete the registration form using your wustl.edu email address

Go to your wustl email inbox to find a confirmation/welcome email. Click “Activate Account” in the email.

You can learn more about the resources available through the NCFDD here: https://www.facultydiversity.org/membership; additionally the Provost’s Office has created a webpage with an overview of the resources available and instructions on how to enroll in the individual free membership.

 

Discounted tickets for St. Louis CITY SC 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024

WashU has partnered with St. Louis CITY SC to offer an exclusive employee discount on tickets for the Feb. 20 Champions Cup match against the Houston Dynamo! The Champions Cup is an annual tournament that features the top clubs from North America. 

St. Louis CITY qualified for the tournament by finishing first in the Western Conference last year. Join your colleagues, family, and friends as St. Louis CITY takes on the Houston Dynamo at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20. Discounted tickets are available at three different price points.

Thrive tip: Find more WashU Signature Events by visiting the Culture & Community hub.

Take Care Health Fair, School of Medicine Campus
Tuesday, March 12, from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

All WashU employees are invited to attend the Take Care Health Fair, which will be held on Mar. 12, 2024, at the Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC) on the School of Medicine Campus. Further information will be provided in the upcoming weeks.