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Vanderbilt College of Arts and Science | October 2024

What a month of accomplishments it has been! A&S alumnus John Jumper, BS’07 in mathematics and physics, received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work using AI to predict the complex structure of proteins. Professor Keivan Stassun was named a MacArthur Fellow for his contributions to the field of astrophysics and to society more broadly. And our faculty continued to secure high-profile grants to support their innovative scholarship. I am continually impressed by the impact of the A&S community and the ways we are improving our world.

My best,

Timothy P. McNamara
Ginny and Conner Searcy Dean
Professor of Psychology

A&S alumnus awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

John M. Jumper, BS'07 who majored in mathematics and physics, helped develop an AI model to solve a 50-year-old problem: predicting proteins’ complex structures. He is the youngest recipient in 70 years.

Keivan Stassun named MacArthur Fellow

Stassun, Stevenson Professor of Physics and Astronomy, was selected for his groundbreaking work expanding opportunities in STEM education for underrepresented populations.

Carlos Taboada named Packard Fellow for Science and Engineering

Taboada, assistant professor of biological sciences, is Vanderbilt's first recipient of the award that highlights the nation's most promising early-career scientists.

Center for Global Democracy awarded $12.5 million in USAID funding

The five-year award supports activities related to CGD's influential AmericasBarometer survey.

Three A&S projects receive National Endowment for the Humanities funding

The wide-ranging projects further advance the college's leadership in humanities research and preservation.

Woman with outstretched hands alongside an illustration of a ghost

Feeding the Hungry Ghost: Moral metaphors from Buddhist ghost stories

Adeana McNicholl, assistant professor and Mellon Foundation Dean's Faculty Fellow in Religious Studies, explains how the Buddhist Ghost Festival reflects morality and how we treat others in life.

Veranda: What, exactly, is a tudor-style house?
Kevin Murphy (history of art and architecture), quoted.

The Atlantic, Autocracy in America: Politicize 'Freedom'
Jefferson Cowie (history), interviewed.

Inside Higher Ed: Study: Musk Twitter takeover prompted academic disengagement
James Bisbee (political science), research cited.

Quanta Magazine: How do merging supermassive black holes pass the final parsec?
Stephen Taylor (physics and astronomy), quoted.

Finalcial Post: William Watson: Do you still dislike inequality even when it's earned?
Adam Blandin (economics), research cited.

Technology Networks: Sensory prediction under anesthesia may offer clues about conscious cognition
André Bastos (psychology), quoted.

Students in our Intro to Archaeology class are hands-on this semester, learning about stone tool technology used by our earliest human ancestors. Check out photos and videos from a recent class on Instagram.

Dare to Grow

The A&S community is built on leadership, innovation, and dedication. With your gift, we not only move forward—we lead with purpose. Make a contribution before Nov. 8 and receive a special Vanderbilt token of appreciation! Let’s conquer and prevail together.

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