Since 2009, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has sponsored National Postdoc Appreciation Week to recognize the significant contributions that postdocs make to research and discovery. Institutes across the world participate, and 2021 marks the twelfth annual celebration. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) postdocs are an invaluable part of the Laboratory’s biological research and on-campus life. Here are some of their fondest memories of life at the Laboratory.
As much as I enjoy working on my project on cancer and drug discovery in the Tonks lab since 2017, I also love art and am passionate about scientific illustration. One of the most rewarding experiences for me was auctioning my paintings at a fundraiser for CSHL in 2019. In addition, I was also part of the Postdoc Liaison Committee (PDLC) for two years and organized various events for postdocs.”
Our lab has an ‘all hands on deck’ mentality for tomato transplanting and genotyping. It’s always fun to see colleagues’ spouses and children and computational collaborators come out to the field at dawn to help punch holes in the ground, and we try to have a nice picnic afterward to reward everyone for the hard work!”
In my first year as a postdoc, I had an unforgettable time at the Laboratory’s Burns Night, reciting poems with other postdocs, students, and faculty in Blackford Hall.”
From building microscopes to diving on the sand of the volleyball courts, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is an inspiring place where I have been able to develop my scientific career and meet friends for life.”
One of the most memorable times at CSHL for me was when I was selected to participate in the 2018 Chromatin, Epigenetics, and Gene Expression course. It brought together a cohort of amazing scientists as both participants and instructors—and the whole group would live, breathe, eat, and science together! I will never forget, during one late evening class being taught by Ali Shilatifard (from Northwestern University), the fire alarm for the building went off. Waiting for security to come and take care of it was taking longer than we thought, so Ali got proactive, and we moved the entire class (beers, snacks, and all) outdoors to the Beckman patio, gathered under a single light where he continued instructing the class using whiteboard markers on the window pane!”
I enjoyed the volleyball tournament my first year. The games were lots of fun and I was able to socialize with awesome people on campus who I wouldn’t usually see.”
Written by: Jasmine Lee, Content Developer/Communicator | publicaffairs@cshl.edu | 516-367-8845