The Networking and Community Building (N&CB) Subcommittee of CUPS is committed in fostering social networking opportunities for postdocs within Columbia University to meet each other. The events organized by N&CB will increase morale and enhance the sense of community for postdocs at Columbia University. Most notably, some of the main activities organized include Happy Hours held on a monthly basis at external locations close to Morningside and Medical Center campuses. In addition to the Happy Hours, N&CB also organizes outings to Upstate New York (such as the Annual Ski Trip), trips to places of interest in NYC (such as sport events, city tours, etc.), and biweekly board games nights at both campuses. The future goal is to build a University-wide community of postdocs by promoting social and professional interactions among its members. The activity of N&CB has already greatly contributed to this cause, and will further continue doing it in the future.
If you want to know more about our current projects or have an event idea, contact us at [email protected]. The committee has two Co-chairs: Vikas Malik and Francesca Copperi.
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Slide 1: Friday Happy Hour, March 2023
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Slide 2: Yankees Game, June 2022
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Slide 3: Biweekly Board Game Nights, 2022
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Slide 4: Ice skating, March 2019
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Slide 5: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights, December 2022
Subcommittee Members
I am a stem cell biologist. Following my study of natural stem cells in Hydra and Planaria during my master's, I moved on to making stem cells from mouse skin in the lab during my Ph.D. Now, I have transitioned to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), aligning myself more closely with translational research during my Post-Doc at Columbia University. Engaged in various projects, I explore the complex mechanisms of intrinsic immunity in stem cells, specifically their defense against viral infections. My another research project is focused on understanding the impact of sleep restriction on the regeneration potential of adult stem cells.
Beyond the lab, serving as the CUPS co-vice president and co-chair of the networking community has been a tremendous experience. It allows me to discover innovative ways to collaborate with the exceptionally talented members of the CUPS team. Together, we engage in dynamic brainstorming sessions to expand our community within the university, with the aim of connecting with every individual in the extensive and dynamic postdoc and ARS population (>1600 people!). One particularly meaningful initiative, close to my heart, is the "CUPS and Startups: a Networking Series" co-developed with my colleague Mikael Pezet. This endeavor involves bringing the postdoc community into the incubator spaces within NYC, and we're immensely grateful for the warm reception from the NYC life science community. In addition to this, our regular board game nights, happy hours, city visits, and outdoor events serve as fantastic opportunities to bridge connections within the postdoc/ARS community. We at CUPS are always open to hear your ideas regarding what events would you like us to organize. Please feel free to reach out to us.
I received my Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Sorbonne Université (Paris). Since October 2023, I have been a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Columbia University Climate School and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York. I am broadly interested in Earth's climate system, with a focus on clouds. My research aims to better understand the cloud radiative effect and cloud feedback. I typically work with satellite observations, in combination with radiative transfer codes and climate models, aiming to improve our understanding of clouds and climate projections.
Shortly after settling in New York, I began attending several events organized by CUPS. I really enjoyed meeting new researchers, building connections, and becoming part of the community. After a few months, I joined the Networking Committee, and later transitioned to serving as Co-president. I love organizing events and fostering meaningful connections within the group.