Activities

calendars: View all department and program calendars.

journal club and research reports: The entire program meets twice a week to hear analyses of papers from the current literature (journal club - presented by students) and for reports of current research activities (presented by students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members). View our current journal club and research report schedule.

seminar series: View the 2008-2009 calendar. View the 2009-2010 calendar.

local scientific activities: View some of the Boston-area scientific activities.

friday afternoon tea: The entire program gathers every Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm for “tea”; that is, food and drinks provided by each of the research groups in turn. This is a great time to socialize with faculty and other students and discuss common interests, both scientific and non-scientific.

graduate student retreat: At the beginning of the academic year, the graduate students organize a retreat at a camp on Cape Cod. This two-day event, attended only by students, allows each student to speak briefly about his or her research project, to learn about the research in all the labs, and to interact in a very informal setting with all other students. Recreational activities include swimming, fishing, hiking, a clam bake, and late night philosophizing.

annual picnic: During the summer, students, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, technicians, and administrative staff take a day off to swim, sunbathe, play volleyball and croquet, and overeat.

holiday party: December is the month for holiday parties and our program takes such events seriously. A massive amount of food (mostly catered, partly pot luck) and drink is consumed while various labs put on skits, invent game shows, or screen homemade videos. The evening concludes with several hours of boisterous karaoke, where members of the program show off their singing ability (or lack thereof).

softball team: The Mighty Microbes are proud of having made the playoffs every year in the summer slow-pitch (no balls or strikes called) league. The season runs from May to August. Teams are mixed male and female and the atmosphere is relaxed and supportive. Talent is not a prerequisite for joining the team. Discrete beer drinking is not discouraged.