In Brief

Career & Postdoctoral Services Office Launches "Council of Scientific Editors"
The Career & Postdoctoral Services Office is coordinating a new volunteer peer editing service, the Scripps Research Council of Scientific Editors, to help Scripps Research postdocs and graduate students on both campuses write high quality papers and fellowships. This new program is a result of feedback from graduate students, faculty, and postdocs during the institute's reaccreditation process.

EDITORS NEEDED
Postdocs and senior graduate students are needed to serve as volunteer reviewers on the Council of Scientific Editors. It is expected that reviewers will give various levels of feedback (from general to specific), depending on the time available and each document's requirements. This is an excellent resume-builder and great opportunity to share your skills and passion for scientific writing and editing, especially if you're considering a career in science journalism, editing, medical writing, or similar field. If you are interested in participating as a reviewer, contact Ryan Wheeler, rwheeler@scripps.edu with your name, position (postdoc/grad student), department, lab, contact information, and scientific area(s) of expertise.   

REVIEW PROCESS
Once the reviewers have been assembled, the Career & Postdoctoral Services Office will open the service to Scripps Research postdocs and graduate students who wish to have their manuscript or fellowship application reviewed. The office will match each request to peer editors based on the topic and reviewer availability. Further details will be forthcoming once the editors have been assembled, so be on the lookout for future announcements.

The Scripps Research Council of Scientific Editors is intended to supplement, not supplant, the scientific communication mentoring that trainees receive from their advisors, by formalizing an additional review option benefiting both the volunteer peer reviewers and the researchers who use the service.

Benefits Seminar: "Fidelity Quarterly Market Update"
Benefits Administration is pleased to present Thomas Worsley, regional consultant from the Fidelity Investments Personal Investment Center, who will provide a "Fidelity Quarterly Market Update" on Monday, November 10, from noon to 1 PM in the Keck Amphitheater, Beckman Building. In this update you will learn:

• What drives changes in bond market interest rates and valuations
• The factors affecting the performance of domestic and international equity markets
• The driving forces behind U.S. economic growth
• Strategies for determining your target asset mix
• How a NetBenefits questionnaire can help with asset allocation.

For more information, contact Benefits, x4-8487 or benefits@scripps.edu.

Safety Gram Live! Hosts Seminar on Emergency Preparation
Environmental Health & Safety will feature John Wiecjorek, (pronounced Wee-jor-ick), senior emergency services soordinator with the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services, on Wednesday, November 12, at noon. The seminar will provide useful information and resources on disaster planning and preparation at home and at work. For more information on the seminar, which will be held in the Keck Auditorium, Beckman Building, contact Julio Giannotti, julio@scripps.edu.

Open Enrollment Continues Until November 7
Open Enrollment continues through Friday, November 7, at 5 PM Pacific time (8 PM Eastern time). Open Enrollment is the annual opportunity for participants to make changes to their Scripps Research benefit selections and, if eligible, enroll (or re-enroll) in the Healthcare and/or Dependent Care Spending Accounts for the 2009 plan year.

Some things to keep in mind during Open Enrollment:

• The Comprehensive PPO plan now has a $50 per month charge for employee only coverage. California employees may choose to enroll in the Aetna Value HMO plan at no cost for employee coverage.
  
  
• Scripps Research is now offering a new Aetna HMO for the Florida campus effective January 1, 2009. The plan includes $15 office visit co-pays with no annual deductible. For more information on the new plan, visit http://www.scripps.edu/hr/benefits/flhmo.html. This plan is offered at no cost for employee-only coverage.
  
  
• Employees eligible for Group Life insurance will now have an option of obtaining either two times or three times annual salary in coverage. Individuals who currently have one times annual salary or a flat $10,000 coverage will automatically be moved to two times annual salary coverage effective January 1, 2009.
  
  
• Kiosks are available in Human Resources on both campuses for employees who DO NOT have computer access.
  
  
• Please note if you participated in the Healthcare or Dependent Care Spending Accounts in 2008, you must log on and elect a new deferral amount to participate in 2009. Your 2008 selection will not automatically be applied to 2009.

Participants with questions regarding Open Enrollment should contact Human Resources at the Benefits Line, x4-8487 or benefits@scripps.edu. To login to the Open Enrollment system, go to https://openenrollment.scripps.edu.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu