Resources for Parents

Department Resources

The Neurobiology Postdoc Club (NPC) and Women in Neuroscience group (WiN) are local communities where parents can share resources and advice on being a parent during the pivotal trainee years. This year, the NPC hosted a panel discussion for postdoctoral parents to come together and chat about finding childcare, balancing experiments with children, and discussing topics related to parenting with PIs. We also have a dedicated Slack page where neuroscience postdocs from the entire HMS community can chat and connect on this topic. Contact Soha Ashrafi for details. 

WiN has a working group dedicated to resources for new mothers. This year, we had a meeting to discuss the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, childcare, and other topics around this issue. If you are interested in future events, please contact Soha Ashrafi for details. 

As always, the Department is here to provide assistance and connect you with possible resources to help support parents. We can connect you with other parents who are in the Department who can provide concrete advice or suggestions related to childcare, balancing work/life, and other topics. Please be sure to contact us if you have questions or need help. 

Harvard University

Harvard has resources available for child care both on campus and off campus. Daycare centers are located around Boston, Cambridge, and Allston. These resources are in high demand so it is recommended to apply early . Be sure to also check out the FAQs page for more details.

There are also some Harvard-sponsored programs that provide financial support for child care.

Mother's Rooms are available on HMS Campus and there are several resources available, described here. Many of the rooms require pre-scheduling. To register for a room, follow the directions here (scroll down to "Register Once, Campus-wide" section). You will be assigned a preferred lactation room based on availability and access to a calendar system. 

Family and Medical Leave Assistance is also available. Contact Antonia Gonzalez (Leave_ofabsence@hms.harvard.edu) for detailed consultation.