|
Dear Postdoctoral Community,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful break and have been able to return to your work recharged and refreshed.
The start of a new year is always an exciting time to plan for the year ahead. I look forward to the great things we will accomplish together in 2025. As a reminder, the ‘Speak Easy’ Talk Series will return this month on Thursday, January 16. RSVPs are required to attend. I hope you will plan to attend.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly or contact the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs if you have questions or need support.
Best,
| |
|
C. André Christie-Mizell Vice Provost for Graduate Education Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Dean of the Graduate School Centennial Professor of Sociology
| |
| January 16: VPA 'Speak Easy' Talk Series
| |
| English Language Center Course for Postdocs
| |
|
The English Language Center (ELC) will be offering an online Academic Communication for Postdocs during the Spring 2025 semester.
These modules are intended to provide the resources and space for international postdocs to discuss, practice, and ask questions about the postdoc experience in the US. Attendees will have opportunities to meet and interact virtually with other international postdocs, submit materials for individualized feedback, and receive supplementary materials online.The course content includes various aspects of oral communication in an academic setting, including making small talk with colleagues, joining group discussions, practicing job talks, and discussing research to different types of audiences. Postdocs will also learn about expectations for postdocs, cross-cultural considerations, and navigating professional relationships.
| |
| L'Oréal USA for Women in Science Fellowship Program
The L’Oréal USA For Women in Science program awards five women postdoctoral scientists annually with grants of $60,000 each for their contributions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields and commitment to serving as role models for younger generations.
The program has awarded 105 postdoctoral women scientists over $5 million in grants to advance their research and careers.
The L’Oréal USA FWIS Program is seeking five exceptional women scientists to advance their research and serve as role models for the next generation of girls in STEM.
Applications will remain open until February 14, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Candidates must have completed their PhD and have started their postdoctoral research position by the application deadline. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to apply.
| |
|
Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Program
The Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Program (PDEP) is now accepting applications! The deadline to apply is January 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. CST. The PDEP provides a total of $60,000 over three years to support the career development activities for underrepresented minority postdoctoral fellows in a degree-granting institution in the United States or Canada whose training and professional development are guided by mentors committed to helping them advance to stellar careers in biomedical or medical research. For more information about the program and to apply, please visit their website.
| |
| RSVP for 2025 Translational Research Forum
| |
|
On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Vanderbilt researchers will be presenting their recently funded science initiatives at the Student Life Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The forum will include a talk by Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD as the keynote speaker for the event along with faculty plenary talks, trainee poster sessions, networking opportunities, and more. To attend the event, please register here.
| |
|
The VPA is looking for current Vanderbilt Postdocs to serve as mentors for their new Postdoc BuddyProgram!
The goal of this program is to systematically match new, incoming postdocs with current Vandy postdocs based on multiple factors that the buddies deem fruitful for a match to help build a supportive, welcoming community! As a current postdoc, your insight about Nashville and Vanderbilt will serve as a key resource to those who are transitioning into new positions. Remember that one hour of support/advice from a peer is worth more than 100s of pages of Word documents with lists of resources!
This is an excellent way to gain mentorship and academic leadership experience. We encourage our buddies to meet at least once during the new postdoc’s transition to Vanderbilt (virtually or in-person at one of the VPA sponsored events!). Otherwise, the mentor buddy will serve as a point of contact for incoming postdocs for any informal questions, advice, and support! The VPA will check in with mentor buddies each quarter to give volunteers the opportunity to recommit to an additional semester.
To get started, please complete this quick survey located here.
The VPA team will notify you as soon as possible, when you have been matched with an incoming postdoc!
| |
|
Graduate and Postdoc Academic SuccessThe Graduate & Postdoc Academic Success (GPAS) are here to support graduate students and postdocs with anything that keeps them from doing their best academic work. They provide strategies to address concerns around progress and productivity, as well as, navigating academic relationships. They address your needs through 1-on-1 consultations and success planning sessions. Additionally, both of their staff members are Gallup-Certified Strength Coaches and able to give you access to the CliftonStrengths Assessment to help you accomplish your best work utilizing an authentic approach to who you are and how you show up. If you are interested in meeting with one of the staff members, you can schedule an appointment here. If you ever feel like you are “stuck” in your writing and/or research, we hope that you will reach out and connect with them.
| |
| Spring 2025: Weekly "Co-Working" Sessions
The GPAS staff will also be offering weekly 'co-working' sessions through the Spring 2025 term on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall Graduate Student & Postdoc Lounge (Room 100) for anyone to come by and work alongside them. This time can be used for writing, planning or other academic projects. Nick or Stacey will be there to discuss any goals setting or accountability questionsdd you may have. If you are looking for a quiet space to work on projects in the company of colleagues, this is the place to stop in. They will also provide free coffee (and sometimes snacks)! See you there!
No registration required.
| |
|
Career CenterThe Career Center supports VU postdocs with the non-academic career exploration and planning of postdoctoral fellows in non-biomedical STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences disciplines. At the Career Center, students and postdoctoral fellows learn and explore professional opportunities through internships, career coaching, workshops, career panels, on-campus recruiting, job fairs, and industry-based treks. Currently, Jessica Abner, PhD and Whitney Taylor, PhD serve as the Senior Career Coaches for the postdoctoral population. If you're interested in taking advantage of any of their services, please check out their website for more information and to make an appointment. Additionally, you can attend some of their upcoming events listed on Handshake.
| |
|
BRET Office of Career Development ASPIRE Program The BRET Office Career Development ASPIRE Program provides career and professional development services and enrichment activities for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in the biomedical sciences at VU and VUMC.
Upcoming Events Hosted by the BRET Office of Career Development:
CV/Resume Drop-In Clinic: Tuesday, January 14 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340 Tuesday, January 21 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340 Tuesday, January 28 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340 Tuesday, February 4 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
| |
| The Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center is an on-campus office and resource to help celebrate and empower women in both their professional and personal aspirations, helping to boast their overall lives as they navigate through their time at Vanderbilt University. You can read more about the Women's Center on their website and by attending some of their upcoming events below!
| |
| Now Leasing: The Broadview at Vanderbilt
The Broadview at Vanderbilt's ideal location on Broadway and 20th Avenue in midtown Nashville puts you just 2 blocks from the Vanderbilt campus and half a mile from VUMC, making your commute a breeze!
The Broadview offers brand-new studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment. Each home is outfitted with upscale features and finishes including a fully equipped kitchen, stainless steel appliances, wood-style flooring, in-unit washer/dryer, and private bedrooms and bathrooms.
| |
|
| Connect with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)
| |
| Connect with the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association (VPA)
| |
| Postdoc Spotlight: Alicia Cronin, Ph.D.
Alicia is a postdoc in the Institute of Imaging Science program within the School of Medicine at VUMC where her current research focuses on spinal cord imaging. Alicia has been passionate about science since an early age when her father helped to ignite a passion to better understand the human body. Whether it was learning about the stars or dissecting a frog at the kitchen table, Alicia was able to discover and explore science in a way that was paramount to her future career decisions. As Alicia's time as a postdoc progresses, she hopes to continue to learn and challenge herself in this field and continue to be involved in the postdoc community at Vanderbilt. She also hopes to become involved in community work in Nashville that allows for children to have the opportunity to experience the STEM field that she did as a child and help them cultivate a love for science. Prior to her postdoctoral role here at Vanderbilt, Alicia received her Ph.D. in Medical Biophysics at Western University in London, Canada. During her Ph.D. studies, Alicia focused on developing a quantitative pH-weighted MRI technique in the cervical spinal cord, with the eventual purpose of being implemented in degenerative cervical myelopathy patients to discover a surgical recovery biomarker. Read more about her work in our January postdoc feature here.
| |
| The Career Center is proud to present their free, self-service photo booth. Just step inside, pose, and share!
Located in the Student Life Center, this resource is free and available to the entire Vanderbilt community. The photo booth is available for use anytime the Student Life Center is open. Check out this flyer for more details!
| |
| Holy Days CalendarAs a reminder, the Vanderbilt Holy Days Calendar provides a broad list of major holy days throughout the year and includes recommended accommodations for community members observing each holy day. For more information, please read the communication here.
| |
|
National Postdoc Association
NPA SmartSkills: Becoming A Principal Investigator
In this session, the NPA will take on how making the transition from a mentored postdoctoral position to directing your own research group can be very difficult, if not intimidating. Those that utilize a thoughtful and informed approach have the best chances for success. This webinar will discuss the many issues faced by investigators as they prepare for their first independent position and their early years as a junior faculty member. This includes new skill sets to acquire as well as previously unfamiliar career milestones to achieve. Included in the discussion are practical suggestions to meet these challenges. Register here for the January 28 virtual course.
| |
| Join VPA Slack Channel!
The VPA has revamped the VandyPostdocs Slack channel to foster a vibrant postdoctoral community, with dedicated channels for all general announcements, calendar events for all postdoc-related activities, job postings, social events (both formal and informal), and discussion about anything and everything!
*Must re-signup even if you have previously signed into the former Slack because this is a brand new channel!
How to sign into VandyPostdocs Slack:
- Visit the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Associatiion website.
- Click the link at the bottom (vandypostdocs.slack.com).
- Sign up with your VU or VUMC email.
- Launch Slack in your browser or download the app.
Then you should be all set! Feel free to post a message in any of the channels or request to start a new channel based on an interest you may have.
Important Note: Must be signed in with VU/VUMC email to access VandyPostdocs Slack workspace.
Explore the VandyPostdocs Slack Channel today and connect with your fellow postdocs. For any assistance, contact the OPA (opa@vanderbilt.edu) or the VPA Community Building Co-Chairs (alicia.cronin@vumc.org or ilkin.safa@vumc.org). Let's build a stronger, more connected postdoc community together!
| |
| Employee Affinity Groups
Employee Affinity Groups (EAGs) are open to all Vanderbilt employees, regardless of identity. Staff, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars who identify as part of or have a close affinity to these groups are encouraged to attend. You can learn more about which group you identify most with from our options below:
Association of Vanderbilt Black Faculty and Staff (AVBFS)
Women & Working Moms
To learn more about Employee Affinity Groups or to join, visit the EAG website.
| |
| Nature Masterclass
Nature Masterclasses are developed by Nature Research and provide professional development training for researchers by drawing on the expertise of Nature Research journal editors and experts. Faculty, staff, postdocs, and students of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center are free to sign up at https://masterclasses.nature.com/.
| |
|