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Dear Postdoctoral Community,
As the Spring semester nears an end, I want to recognize your hard work and dedication to your research programs and to Vanderbilt. Please join me in celebrating the accomplishments of postdoctoral fellows and faculty mentors at the annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 21. The ceremony will be followed by a reception and networking opportunity. More information and the link to RSVP is below.
I encourage you to view the opportunities for career and professional development and networking activities below. Notably, the next Vanderbilt Postdoc Association Happy Hour will take place on April 25.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do to assist in your research and scholarship.
Best,
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C. André Christie-Mizell
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Dean of the Graduate School
Centennial Professor of Sociology
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| | You're Invited! Annual Postdoc Awards on May 21
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| To RSVP to the ceremony on May 21 at 3:00 p.m., click here.
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SAVE THE DATE! VPA 2025 Symposium
Mark it in your calendars! This year, the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association's Symposium will be held in the Student Life Center on Tuesday, October 14.
The VPA is excited to announce that Dr. Jules White, Professor of Computer Science and Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Generative AI in Education and Enterprise Solutions will be the 2025 Keynote Speaker.
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Academy of College Teaching: Register Today!
The Academy of College Teaching (ACT) is co-sponsored by AdvancED and the Graduate School. This 10-week program is a redesign and continuation of the previous Certificate in College Teaching program and will integrate both theory and practical applications. This program aims to prepare participants for future careers in higher education teaching and is intended for Vanderbilt graduate students and postdocs whose goals are to become more effective educators and who wish to gain a clearer, deeper, more active approach to teaching and learning in higher education. As such, this program is most useful for Vanderbilt graduate students and postdocs in their last two years on campus at Vanderbilt who intend to pursue positions in higher education institutions with a teaching component. The program focuses on the research on learning and best teaching practices and supports the university’s pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning.
If you have any questions or need further clarification, please reach out to the AdvancED team at advanced-teaching@vanderbilt.edu or 615-322-7290 for guidance.
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| Huo Early Career FellowshipsApplications Due May 23
Effects of the Usage of Digital Technology on Brain Development, Social Behaviours and Mental Health in Children and Young People
The Huo Family Foundation invites applications for early-career fellowships to support talented and promising postdoctoral researchers on the path to independence. These fellowships are to allow early-career researchers to design, plan and deliver their own innovative research project, and to make the transition to independent researcher.
Proposals should be tackling key questions within the broad topic of the effects of usage of and exposure to digital technologies on brain development and function (including physiological responses), social behaviour and interactions, and mental health of children and young people.
- Fellowships are for up to a three-year term.
- The fellowship amount is up to £130,000 / US$169,000 per year.
- The fellowship should begin between January and March 2026.
More on eligibility:
Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant field, which may include but is not limited to neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, epidemiology, public health, computer science, social science, economics.
Applicants must have completed their PhD in January 2022 or later i.e. at the time of award be within four years of completing PhD.
For more information or to apply, please visit their website.
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| | Scientist in the Classroom: Applications Now Open!
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Applications are now open for established postdocs to apply to the Scientist in the Classroom Partnership program. This program is a wonderful opportunity for scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals that are interested in engaging local middle school teachers and students in weekly hands-on experiments. Selected fellows are partnered with a MNPS teacher to co-teach science lessons and conduct experiments one day each week during the school year. It’s a great way to gain teaching experience and build connection with the next generation of citizens and future scientists. A monthly stipend for the fellow’s time is awarded.
More information and the digital application can be found on the CSEO website.
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| Alert for NIH Fellowship Parent Funding Opportunities with Due Dates on April 8, 2025 and May 7, 2025
Alert Notification from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
We were unable to reissue the NIH parent fellowship funding opportunities to use the new review criteria, FORMS-I forms, and FORMS-I application instructions in time for the April 8 and May 7 (AIDS) due dates.
If applying to a parent Fellowship opportunity (PA-23-260, PA-23-261, PA-23-262, PA-23-263, or PA-23-272) for the April 8 or May 7, 2025 standard due date, you must use FORMS-H application forms and FORMS-H instructions. We will accept candidate biosketches with or without grades for applications submitted using FORMS-H.
If applying to a non-parent Fellowship opportunity (e.g., PAR-25-234, PAR-25-250, PAR-23-109, RFA-OD-24-007, or PAR-25-021), you must use FORMS-I application forms and FORMS-I instructions.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Additional Resources:
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| New VU SBER IRB
The Vanderbilt University Social, Behavioral, and Educational Research (SBER) IRB soft launch began on March 3. This new VU SBER will oversee the majority of human research conducted at the university, offering tailored support for SBER studies while enabling the VUMC IRB to focus on biomedical and clinical research.
Start preparing now by taking advantage of the resources linked in the article, including:
- Monthly “Introduction to the VU Social, Behavioral and Educational Research (SBER) IRB” sessions held on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
- The new vu.edu/irb website that provides comprehensive guidance for Vanderbilt researchers, including submission procedures, timelines and policy updates.
- Daily office hours every weekday, Monday through Friday, from 1 to 2 p.m..
- Contacting the VU SBER IRB team at irb@vanderbilt.edu with questions, feedback, or to request a tailored outreach session for your school or department.
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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!
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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.
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| | Spring 2025: Weekly "Co-Working" Sessions
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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. Stacey or Nick 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.
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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.
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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, April 8 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
Tuesday, April 15 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
Tuesday, April 22 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
Tuesday, April 29 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| | Connect with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)
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| | Connect with the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association (VPA)
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| Postdoc Spotlight: Connor Phillips, Ph.D.
Connor is a postdoc in the Political Science department with the College of Arts & Science at VU. After completing his Ph.D. at Harvard University, Connor completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University in the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics, which enabled him to deepen his understanding of interest groups in state politics. He was then offered a postdoctoral research position at Vanderbilt in the Center for Effective Lawmaking, working with Professor Alan Wiseman. His current research seeks to measure and explain legislative effectiveness in Congress as well as state government. This summer, Connor will be returning to his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to join Carnegie Mellon University as an Assistant Teaching Professor in their Institute for Strategy & Technology. Read more about his work in our April postdoc feature here.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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National Postdoc Association
NPA SmartSkills: Demystifying the NIH Grants Process
In this session, the NPA will discuss how early career researchers (ECRs) face many challenges while completing training and forging independent research programs and do not have the same funding success as their more senior colleagues. This class will provide information and tools to successfully navigate the NIH grants process, with the goal for participants to come away feeling more knowledgeable and empowered in applying for NIH funding. Register here for the April 22 virtual course.
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| 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!
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| 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/.
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