|
Dear Postdoctoral Community,
I hope you are enjoying your summer. I am excited about the opportunities that are coming for Fall 2023. We have many upcoming events, including National Postdoc Appreciation Week, which will take place September 18-22.
This month Stacey Stachell, Director of the Graduate & Postdoctoral Academic Success Program, will be presenting the Critical Conversation series. These mulitple sessions will focus on various topics including 'Navigating Academic Relationships' and 'Building Self-Efficacy'. See registration and more series information below.
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will host our summer SpeakEasy Talk Series on Thursday, July 20. The SpeakEasy provides opportunities to discuss your work and hear about the work of others in a relaxed and informal environment.
Finally, the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association (VPA) Board elections are underway. Make your voice heard and help select your VPA representatives for the next academic year. The VPA facilitates the professional and personal development of its members as well as provides opportunities for advocacy and open communication. I encourage you to get involved!
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the OPA if we can support you in any way. Best,
| |
C. André Christie-Mizell
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Dean of the Graduate School
Centennial Professor of Sociology
| |
| VPA Speak Easy - July 20 at 5:00 p.m.
| |
National Postdoc Appreciation WeekSeptember 18-22, 2023
National Postdoc Appreciation Week is a time to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of the postdoc community. There will be many activities throughout the week including our annual picnic.
Complimentary Professional Headshots for Postdocs
Tuesday, September 19 | 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall 206
Annual Postdoc Family Picnic
Tuesday, September 19 | 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Fannie Mae Dees Park
RSVP Required
Complimentary Professional Headshots for Postdocs
Wednesday, September 20 | 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall 206
Postdoc Coffee Break & Breakfast
Thursday, September 21 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | 100 Alumni Lounge
More events are being planned! Keep an eye on our August & September newsletters for more ways to get involved and added events!
| |
English Language Center Course for Postdocs
The ELC is getting excited about the start of fall semester and hope you are too! I’m writing to let you know that the English Language Center (ELC) will be offering Academic Communication for Postdocs during the fall semester. The course is offered as a service of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the ELC. There is no additional charge to you for the class.
This course will offer postdoctoral scholars and researchers opportunities to practice academic communication skills to make the most of their postdoctoral experience at Vanderbilt University. 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. This course is highly interactive so that postdocs will have plenty of opportunities to practice speaking and receive individualized feedback on assignments. Postdocs will also learn about expectations for postdocs, cross-cultural considerations, and navigating professional relationships.
The course begins the week of August 28 and ends the week of November 20. The class will be held on Thursdays from 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in Featherington Hall 211. Please sign up now to reserve your spot.
| |
| NIH IPPCR Course
Interested in expanding your clinical research knowledge base? Registration for the 2022-2023 NIH Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (IPPCR) course is still open for registration!
The NIH Office of Clinical Research Education and Collaboration Outreach (OD/OCRECO) offers this free, self-paced online course now through August 1, 2023. Graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, medical, dental, and pharmacy students, scientists, nurses, and other health professionals are encouraged to enroll now. The syllabus can be found here.
The IPPCR course is a lecture series from thought-leaders around the world covering:
- Study Designs, Measurement and Statistics
- Ethical, Legal, Monitoring, and Regulatory Considerations
- Preparing and Implementing Clinical Studies
- Communicating research findings and other topics
To register, please visit the IPPCR website and if you have any questions, please contact the course coordinator at ippcr2@mail.nih.gov. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Rebecca Hwang, Office of Clinical Research Education and Collaboration Outreach, at ippcr2@mail.nih.gov or 301-451-1468.
| |
Limited Submission Opportunity: Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship
Applications due August 1, 2023
Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC): This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.
Vanderbilt (VU+VUMC, collaboratively) may nominate one candidate for the 2024 Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Award. This program supports individual postdoctoral scientists of exceptional creativity who have an MD or PhD degree and who have completed by July 1, 2024 a minimum of three years of a postdoctoral fellowship in the field of basic or clinical neurosciences at a medical school. Scholars will be chosen based on the success in their prior postdoctoral work and the importance and creativity of their porposed future research.
These awards are given as transitional postdoctoral awards for recipients as they advance to become full time faculty members at the Assistant Professor level or higher and to promote the development of a laboratory program that will lead to independent funding. The medical school nominating each scholar will be awarded $200,000 annually for two years to cover their salary, lab costs, and related expenses. Under certain circumstances, the awardee may transfer funding to support their beginning faculty position. Indirect cost of up to 15% of direct costs, may be included in the $200,000. All applicants are required to provide 75% effort.
Eligibility:
1. Must be a postdoctoral researcher with a School of Medicine appointment (either VU or VUMC).
2. Research must be focused in the field of Neuroscience.
3. Postdocs must have completed a minimum of 3 years and no mare than 6 years of a postdoctoral fellowship by July 1, 2024.
4. Postdocs must have an MD and/or PhD.
5. Commitment of a minimum of 75% effort.
Internal Application Process:
Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt's nominee must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5:00 p.m. on August 1, 2023:
1. Brief research plan including summary budget; 2 pages max, references may be included on a separate page.
2. 1/2 page description of your applicant background and the special characteristics that you have for implementing the proposed project and career plan.
3. Statement of support from department chair/center director.
4. NIH BioSketch or abbreviated CV (5 page max).
Submissions should reference "Warren Alpert Distinguised Scholars" in the subject line of the email. Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.
| |
|
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.
| |
|
1-1 Meetings
1-1 Meetings with Stacey and Nick will be offered throughout the summer. Please feel free to reach out or connect as needed. The schedule is listed above on their flyer, but you can also sign up using their online calendar here.
Weekly "Co-Working" Sessions
The GPAS staff will also be offering weekly 'co-working' sessions on Wednesdays between 10:00AM and 11:30AM (Stacey) and on Thursdays between 2:00PM and 3:30PM (Nick) 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 & Stacey will begin each session with setting goals for the time and provide free coffee! If you are interested in participating in these sessions via Zoom, please contact Nick or Stacey directly to set those up.
Summer Critical Conversations
GPAS will have two offerings of their 3-part series this summer entitled 'Critical Conversations'. The June session will be in person on campus and the July session will be online via Zoom. Participants do not have to attend the full series, but can pick and choose. You can sign up for either the inp=-person or virtual sessions below.
Navigating Academic Relationships - Maintaining a positive relationship with your faculty and research advisor is very important and can be achieved through frequent, open and candid communication, as well as establishing clear and aligned expectations. We will also discuss important principles for working through conflict and managing up.
Building Self-Efficacy - Self-efficacy is a belief one has in his/her ability to successfully complete a given goal or task. In other words it is situation specific self-confidence. We will discuss the sources of self-efficacy and strategies for building your research confidence and independence.
Receiving & Responding to Feedback: GPAS will work to (1) Identify the intent behind statements and questions, (2) understand the role of constructive feedback and improve communication between trainees and their mentors, (3) Assess the influence that mentors have on their confidence in their abilities and (4) Devise strategies to cope with and respond to feedback that negatively influences their confidence.
| |
|
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.
| |
| 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.
| |
| Now Leasing: The Broadview at Vanderbilt
The Broadview at Vanderbilt has recently expanded its eligibility to include Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center postdoctoral fellows. The Broadview'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!
Be one of our first residents to live in a 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.
Are you looking for an early move-in? Move-in as early as mid-July and receive July rent free, only pay the amenity fee. For a limited time when you apply and sign within 48-hours you will also receive August rent free!
| |
|
| Connect with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)
| |
| Connect with the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association (VPA)
| |
| Postdoc Spotlight: Siru Liu, Ph.D.
Siru Liu is a postdoc in Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center studying the importance of leveraging data-driven methods in CDS development and management. Read about their work and how she spends her free time exploring nature with her new puppy, Culry, in our July postdoc feature here.
| |
|
Save the Date! 2023 Postdoc Symposium
The 2023 Postdoc Symposium will take place on Friday, November 17 in the Student Life Center. Look out for more information as we get closer to the event.
For more information on past symposia, please visit the VPA website.
Get involved by joining the Symposium Planning Committee.
| |
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!
| |
|
National Postdoc Association
NPA SmartSkills: Developing Your EQ for Professional Success
Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and regulate one's emotions and understand the emotions of others. This is relevant as it allows you to communicate effectively, empathize with others, and be both self and socially aware. This talk will discuss emotional intelligence (EQ) and its impact on career success, job performance, and stronger mental health. Participants will learn the definition of EQ & understand how it differs from IQ, be introduced to the four parts of EQ, and acquire ways to develop and strengthen EQ, including increasing self-awareness, developing empathy, identifying emotions, and embracing differences. Register here for the July 25 virtual course.
| |
Libraries' Digital Scholarship and Communications Office (DiSC)
The Libraries’ Digital Scholarship and Communications (DiSC) Office will present a variety of workshops and lesson series this spring to help you build your technical skills. For more detailed information and registration links, visit their website here.
| |
| 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/.
| |
|
