I hope everyone was able to attend at least a few presentations during the multiple NICHD retreats last month. Keep an eye out for the retreat recaps in upcoming issues of this newsletter. If you missed out, you still have an opportunity to hear about 60 years of the institute’s impactful research at the “NICHD 60th Anniversary Symposium: Healthy Pregnancies. Healthy Children. Healthy and Optimal Lives” on Monday, October 17. The agenda includes an exciting lineup of speakers, including several of our own intramural investigators—and even a trainee! Aisha Burton, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Storz lab, will serve on a panel titled “Cultivating the Next Generation of Researchers” toward the end of the event.
Dr. Burton is a busy fellow, as she also graciously agreed to write an “Interesting Opportunity” article about her experience as an adjunct professor at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. She shares valuable information about teaching position announcements, expected time commitments, and what helped her prepare for the role. If you’re not interested in teaching, many, many, more interesting opportunities can be found in this month’s Rep Report and announcements and events.
Before I close out my letter for this month, I want to say a personal congratulations to Dr. Triesta Fowler for her many accomplishments while she was the Director of Communications and Outreach in the NICHD Office of Education. In working with Dr. Fowler on this newsletter, I witnessed her incredible passion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in science. I look forward to carrying on Dr. Fowler’s enthusiasm for DEIA in our newsletter content, as she had an indelible influence that will benefit trainees for years to come.
Your Editor in Chief,
Shana R. Spindler, PhD
This newsletter is for NICHD fellows and by NICHD fellows. We want to hear from you! Please send your questions, comments, and ideas to our editor at shana.spindler@nih.gov.