|
Dear Postdoctoral Community,
Welcome to the official start of the fall season! As the weather cools and leaves start to change, I hope you continue to have a productive and exciting semester. I enjoyed celebrating National Postdoc Appreciation Week with you and appreciate your participation in our various events, including the Annual Family Picnic, the Group Hike at Radnor Lake, and the 'Speak Easy' Talk Series. I look forward to and encourage your continued engagement throughout the year.
The 17th Annual Symposium is scheduled for November 17, and OPA is delighted to collaborate again with the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association (VPA) to bring this event to you. Below you will find links for more information regarding the upcoming symposium and other opportunities. See you there!
FInally, please note that benefits open enrollment for both VU- and VUMC-employed postdocs is taking place this month. Read more below and mark your calendars for these important dates.
Best,
| |
|
C. André Christie-Mizell
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Dean of the Graduate School
Centennial Professor of Sociology
| |
|
Immigration Workshops with International Student and Scholar Services and Global Support Services
ISSS and OPA will be having mutliple workshops throughout the day on Wednesday, October 4 with Attorney Dan Oldenburg to discuss a variety of immigration topics as it relates to international postdocs and employees. These workshops will be offered in-person in Alumni Hall Lounge (Alumni 100) and recorded and be made available later for those who cannot attend day-of. Space is limited, so please plan to RSVP for any sessions you would like to attend.
Self-Petitioned Pathways to Permanent Residency: NIW and EB-1A
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
We will discuss how to build your CV to provide you with pathways to a green card that are self-petitioned, focusing on national interest waivers (NIW’s) and EB-1A's for those of Extraordinary Ability. This will not cover University-sponsored pathways to a green card.
Please contact ISSS@vanderbilt.edu if you have any questions.
| |
| | Employer Panel with the Career Center
| |
| | VPA Symposium: Friday, November 17
| |
| The 17th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoc Symposium is scheduled for Friday, November 17 in the Student Life Center.
The symposium will include:
- Welcome Remarks from André Christie-Mizell, Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Dean of the Graduate School, and Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Vanderbilt University
- Research Talk by Siru Liu, 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow of the Year
- Lunch & Keynote Address by Keivan Stassun, Stevenson Professor of Astrophysics, College of Arts & Science; Professor of Computer Science, Vanderbilt School of Engineering; Director, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt
- On Campus Resource Fair
- Poster and Lightning Talk Presentations with Q&A
- Professional Development Session with Dr. Ashley Brady
- Academic and Non-Academic Track Alumni Panel
- Closing Remarks & Award Ceremony
Registration to attend is open and will close on Friday, October 27 at 5:00 p.m. CDT. To register for the conference, please complete this form.
For more information on past symposia, please visit the VPA website.
| |
|
Libraries' Digital Scholarship and Communicatiosn Office (DiSC)
The DiSC Office, Digital Commons, and Digital Humanities Center have joined forces in the Libraries’ new Digital Lab. This fall, the Digital Lab is sponsoring a variety of events focused on building technical skills. They include lesson series on: Intro to Network Analysis, Bibliometric Networks, Intro to R, Intro to Python with an AI assistant, Data viz with ggplot, and individual sessions on: ArcPro, ArcGIS Online, Mapping Demographic Data, StoryMaps, Georeferencing Scanned Maps, and Open GIS tools. The Digital Lab is also organizing a Text Analysis Community of Practice focused on acquiring text, building corpora, and text analysis. All of these events are free, with some available by Zoom, some in-person, and some that are hybrid. For more detailed information and registration information, visit there website here.
| |
| | Tax Workshop Presented by the International Tax Office
| |
| Join the International Tax Office (ITO) on Friday, October 13 in Light Hall 411 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for a workshop on U.S. taxes and what it means to you as an international postdoc.
There will be an additional workshop on Tuesday, November 4 in Light Hall 407 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for those who cannot attend the October session.
| |
|
Individual Development Plan (IDP) WorkshopTuesday, October 24 | 1:00 p.m. | 360 Science and Engineering Building
All postdocs complete an IDP early in their postdoc appointment and on a yearly basis. Bring your lunch and learn how to benefit from this important document. Light snacks and refreshments will also be provided.
Duco Jansen, Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Faculty Affairs, School of Engineering, will present.
| |
|
Halloween Social: Hosted by OPA and ISSSFriday, October 27 | 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall Lounge (100)
| |
|
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.
| |
| | Fall 2023: Peak Performance Series
| |
| This workshop series is designed to promote expert performance by exploring common issues impacting graduate and professional students and postdocs. During each session, we will briefly cover theory and research on the topic and provide a space for attendees to discuss their related experiences and to gain support and consultation.
Both Graduate Students and Postdocs are welcome to register. Sessions held in person only. Space is limited, RSVPs are required.
Managing Conflict and Relationships
Thursday, October 12 | 4:00PM - 5:00 PM | Center for Student Wellbeing
This workshop is designed to explore conflict within academia, to share experiences about how conflict has affected your work, and to outline strategies on how to navigate academic relationships that foster clear boundaries and expectations.
Performing under Pressure & Fighting Procrastination
Thursday, October 26 | 4:00PM - 5:00 PM | Center for Student Wellbeing
This workshop is designed to acknowledge the pressures of academia, to share experiences about how they affect our work, and to outline strategies on how to fight procrastination and increase efficiency in an ever-demanding environment.
Finding Work/Life Balance
Thursday, November 9 | 4:00PM - 5:00 PM | Center for Student Wellbeing
This workshop is designed to explore your professional and personal values and responsibilities, to share experiences about how they affect your work, and to outline strategies to ensure that you are giving adequate time to your holistic needs.
| |
|
The Postdoc Academy would like to introduce a new free and self-paced resource to support postdoctoral scholars and their mentors in having productive mentoring conversations. The Productive Postdoc Conversations provide postdoc activities and mentor toolkits on 10 themes important for postdocs’ belonging and success:
- Setting Expectations
- Building an Actionable Career Plan
- Developing Resilienc
- Working effectively in an Intercultural Environmen
- Exploring Leadership
- Giving & Receiving Feedback
- Time Managemen
- Listing, Honing & Developing Transferable Skill
- Strategic Networking
- Managing Career Transitions
Each theme can be explored in 15-20 minutes and is grounded in the literature on mentoring and interviews of 40+ postdoc mentees and mentors.
| |
|
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:
| |
| 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 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.
| |
|
| Connect with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)
| |
| Connect with the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association (VPA)
| |
| Postdoc Spotlight: Douglas DeMoulin, Ph.D.
Douglas DeMoulin is a postdoc in the Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer (MAGEC) program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he is investigating occupational benzene exposure among Chinese men in the Shanghai Men’s Health Study and collaborating with Pfizer representatives assessing psychosocial factors and cancer survivorship. Read more about his work and the path that led him to this research from his initial studies with an emerging mental health condition, referred to as moral injury in high risk occupations in our October postdoc feature here.
| |
|
Open Enrollment for Postdoc Scholar, Research (VU) and Research Fellows (VUMC).
Benefits Open Enrollment take place in October for those eligible for Human Resources benefits in both VU and VUMC.
VU Open Enrollment takes place October 16-27. For more information, click here.
VUMC Open Enrollment takes place October 17-31. For more information, visit hr.vumc.org/oe.
| |
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!
| |
|
2022-2023 Annual Report
Be sure to check out our 2022-2023 Annual Report. This year was filled with growth and new opportunities for our postdoctoral fellows. The annual report highlights our collective accomplishments as well as OPA's vision for the future.
| |
|
National Postdoc Association
NPA SmartSkills: Transiting Out of Your Postdoc
How can you best prepare oneself for entering a full-time, permanent position after your postdoc. What professional skills do you need to succeed? How should you approach career exploration to best succeed in finding the right position? Register here for the September 26 virtual course.
| |
| 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/.
| |
|
