Once a month, all Neuro RAs are invited to participate in the PiNBAC Core Course professional development workshops. The sessions cover a breadth of topics relating to graduate school applications, careers in neuroscience, the graduate school experience, and more. Click here to join the Fall 2024 Sessions and check back soon for our Spring 2025 Workshop offerings.

Research assistants participate in a workshop led by Tari Tan, PhD, HMS Assistant Dean for Educational Innovation and Scholarship and Lecturer in the HMS Department of Neurobiology, titled 'Acing Your Graduate School Interview,' where they practice their
Research assistants engage in an interactive session led by Tari Tan, PhD, HMS Assistant Dean for Educational Innovation and Scholarship and Lecturer in the HMS Department of Neurobiology, as part of the monthly professional development workshop series.
Bob Datta, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, leads a session titled 'Where to Apply? The Neuroscience PhD Landscape,' providing research assistants with valuable insights into PhD programs in the US and Europe.

Fall 2024 Workshops

  • Talking about your science: elevator pitches, seminars, and posters, oh my!

    September 12, 2024 from 5:00-7:00PM

    Session Objectives: 

    • Identify features of novice vs. expert scientific thinking and features of more vs. less successful elevator speeches, poster presentations, and scientific talks
    • Compare and contrast the goals and key components of different forms of oral scientific communication (elevator speeches, poster presentations, and scientific talks)
    • Generate and implement a plan to create high-quality scientific communication products to share your own research

  • Making letters of recommendation work for you!

    September 26, 2024 from 5:00-7:00PM

    Session Objectives: 

    • Describe the function of letters of recommendation in the context of graduate school applications
    • Identify features of strong letters of recommendation (graduate school context) 
    • Reflect on your “ideal letter” and use that as a framework to generate an individual development plan for your remaining time in the lab
    • Implement helpful practices to solicit strong letters of recommendation 

  • Writing about your science: statements of purpose and the PhD admissions process

    October 10, 2024 from 5:00-7:00PM

    Session Objectives:

    • Identify components of graduate school applications and features of the admissions process (using Harvard PiN as an example)
    • Describe the roles of the statement of purpose and “personal statement” in the application process
    • Identify the components that should be included in your descriptions of your previous research
    • Implement strategies and resources to help you develop your application essays 

  • Neuro RA Grad App Writing Session

    November 13, 2024 from 5:00-7:00PM

    This event was an opportunity for RAs applying to graduate school to sit alongside peers to work on their application materials and have volunteer PiN graduate students available to provide feedback and answers questions. 

  • Upcoming: Acing your graduate school interviews

    December 10, 2024 from 4:00-6:00PM

    Click here to register and learn more. 

    Session Objectives: 

    • Describe the format and role of graduate school interviews in the application process
    • Apply tips to continuing practicing talking about your science and asking questions about other people’s science
    • Identify gaps in your knowledge and topics you should explore further in preparation for your own graduate interviews