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Dear Postdoctoral Community,
I am looking forward to our Spring Postdoctoral Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 23. This event will recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our postdoctoral community with awards, including postdoc of the year, postdoc mentor of the year, and the postdoc service award. Additionally, one faculty member will be recognized as faculty mentor of the year. I hope you will consider nominating a fellow postdoc or faculty mentor for one of these awards. Nominations will close this Friday, March 8, at midnight.
The annual tax workshop, How to Complete Your Grad Student or Postdoc Tax Return (and Understand It, Too!), returns this spring. Offered by Dr. Emily Roberts, personal finance educator and founder of Personal Finance for PhDs, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions about your taxes. Register by March 8, 2024. Take advantage of this great learning opportunity. More information can be found below.
You have several other opportunities to get involved this month. The OPA has partnered with the Center for Teaching for a Diversity Statement workshop on March 12. Additionally, the VPA will host their bi-monthly 'Speak Easy' on March 21. Details for both events are listed below.
Finally, poster judges are needed for the Spring Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair, held on March 28 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. I encourage you to lend your time to our undergraduate researcher community. More information and the form to sign up can be found below.
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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May 23: Annual Postdoc Awards
Nominations for our annual postdocs awards are open and will close on Friday, March 8 at midnight. The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 23.
Awards to be presented include:
Postdoc of the Year
Postdoc Mentor of the Year
Postdoc Service Award
Faculty Mentor of the Year
Outstanding Campus Partner Award
For more information on the award criteria, to submit a nomination, or to view past winners, visit the OPA website.
To RSVP to the ceremony on May 23 at 3:00 p.m., click here.
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SAVE THE DATE! VPA 2024 Symposium
Mark it in your calendars! This year, the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association's Symposium will be held in the Student Life Center on Monday, October 14.
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| Symposium Planning Committee: Calling All Postdocs!
The Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association (VPA) is looking for postdocs to join this year’s VPA 2024 Symposium Planning Committee. As a planning committee member, you will have the opportunity to work with other postdocs from VU and VUMC to assist with the planning of the VPA’s largest event. Requirements include attending a 1-hour virtual and some in-person monthly (February to September) and bi-monthly (September-October) meetings to assist with the planning/preparation of the 2024 Symposium, attending the full-day symposium event on Monday, October 14, 2024, and willingness to work in groups to support the Symposium event. This is a 10-month commitment.
For more information on past symposia, please visit the VPA website.
If you are interested in learning more or would like to join the committee, please fill out the RedCap survey using the button below.
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Judges needed for the Spring Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research FairThe Spring Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair will be held on March 28 from 3:30-6:00 in the Student Life Center Commodore Ballroom. Students will present their research in two sessions (3:30-4:30 and 4:40-5:40). Immediately following the second session, Chancellor Diermeier will address the participants and attendees and will announce the winners of presentation awards.
Poster judges are needed for the event. Judges will review posters online between March 19 and March 24. We anticipate assigning no more than 6 posters per reviewer and estimate that each poster will require 15-20 minutes to review.
Complete the form below by March 12 to register as a judge and to indicate topic areas that you feel comfortable judging. Reviews are due at midnight on March 24. If you volunteer to judge, we ask that you honor this strict deadline to allow us to assign awards and notify students and mentors prior to the event.
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| | March 21: VPA 'Speak Easy' Talk Series
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| | Tax Workshop for tax year 2023
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The Graduate School and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs have partnered with Dr. Emily Roberts, personal finance educator and founder of Personal Finance for PhDs, to offer three tax return workshops for tax year 2023.
The workshop, How to Complete Your Grad Student or Postdoc Tax Return (and Understand It, Too!) is available in three versions, each containing special features for the following populations:
- Graduate students who are United States citizens, permanent residents, or residents for tax purposes
- Postdoc non-employees (postdoc scholar, trainee, or research fellow trainee) who are United States citizens, permanent residents, or residents for tax purposes
- Graduate students and postdocs who are nonresidents or international students/postdocs in the United States
Upon registering, you will receive login information via email. After logging in, you will be able to access the workshop materials, including pre-recorded modules, worksheets, and Q&A opportunities.
Please visit the following landing page to register. Registration will close on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 4:30pm Central Time.
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As a disclaimer, please note the following:
- These are educational workshops for informational purposes only
- These workshops should not be regarded as individual tax or legal advice
- Each person should consult their tax advisor or seek guidance for their particular situation
- Vanderbilt University has not reviewed or approved the information and does not endorse the presenter or her company
Questions about accessing the workshops may be directed to Graduate School Deputy Director of Operations Annie Hornung. Questions regarding workshop content may be directed to tax@PFforPhDs.com.
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| New Funding Opportunities with Upcoming Deadlines
NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00)
Internal Applications Due March 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Additional Ventures Catalyst for Independence
LOI Due March 14
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Now Open! The Postdoc Academy
The Postdoc Academy: Succeeding as a Postdoc is a 6-week course launching March 18 on edX. To register for the course, please visit their site here. This course provides skill development for postdocs from orientation to their next career step. Using inclusive, active-learning approaches, participants in this course will build skills to (1) find success as a postdoc, (2) draft an actionable career plan, (3) develop resilience, and (4) work effectively in an intercultural environment. This course explores the research related to postdoc success and guides participants in applying it to their environments.
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The NIH Office of Clinical Research Education and Collaboration Outreach (OD/OCRECO) offers this free, self-paced online course now through August 1, 2024. 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.
Course Details:
- The course is free, online, and self-paced
- A certificate of completion is awarded to participants who achieve an 80% or higher score on the final exam
- The course focuses on the spectrum of clinical research and the research process by highlighting biostatistical and epidemiological methods, study designs, protocol development, quality assurance, ethical and legal issues, and much more
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| | Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program:Applications Open!
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The one-year career mentoring program pairs ethnically diverse students and early career researchers with industry mentors who work at companies in the medical technology, biotechnology and consumer healthcare industries.
With their mentors, Scholars attend a 5-day training session to learn about career opportunities in industry and receive career development coaching. They also attend a major industry conference.
For more information visit the SMDP website or register to attend the March 8 virtual fireside chat at 9:00 a.m. CST.
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Libraries' Digital Scholarship and Communicatiosn 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. New offerings this spring include an introductory workshop on the popular Python and Colab code notebooks platforms, a lesson series on R using RStudio for data wrangling, statistical analysis and data visualization. Other lesson series that will be offered include an Introduction to Network Analysis, as well as GIS workshops covering the basics of ArcGIS and QGIS. The full list of upcoming GIS workshops can be found below. Many of these lessons are available remotely, with some events also offered in-person. For more detailed information and registration links, visit their website here.
Intro to Remote Sensing (Spatiotemporal Change with Imagery)
Wednesday, March 27 | 12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. | Peabody Library Room 304
Remote Sensing imagery (satellite, airborne, drone, etc.) can be used for studying change over time on the earth’s surface. Studies in climate change, urban and built environment, and environmental applications often use remote sensing and image analysis to show how the Earth has changed and its implications. This workshop will discuss terminology and how to do a basic image analysis between multiple dates of imagery in ArcPro.
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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.
Spring 2024: Weekly "Co-Working" Sessions
The GPAS staff will also be offering weekly 'co-working' sessions through the Spring 2024 term on Tuesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 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)! Free writing consultations will be provided by the Writing Studio once a month during the co-working sessions: March 19 and April 16. See you there!
No registration required.
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| Spring 2024: Peak Performance Series
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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.
Performing Under Pressure
Thursday, March 7 | 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | 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, March 21 | 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | 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.
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Career CenterThe Career Center supports VU postdocs with the non-academic career exploration and planning of postdoctoral fellows in 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/Resumé Drop-In Clinics
Tuesday, March 12 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
Tuesday, March 19 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
Tuesday, March 26 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
Tuesday, April 2 | 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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March is women's history month! Special programming led by the Women's Center throughout the month can be found here.
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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: Helen Makhdoumian, Ph.D.
Helen Makhdoumian is a postdoc in Collaborative Humanities Postdoctoral Program (CHPP) at Vanderbilt University. Helen is a literary studies scholar who takes up a relational approach to theorize the legacies of collective violence in the Middle East and in North America. In so doing, she expands upon discourses in trauma, memory, and genocide studies, as well as diaspora, transnational, and migration studies. Her book project, Nested Memory and the After-Words of Removal, focuses on multigenerational transmissions of memory in the face of the recursivity of collective trauma. It features contemporary texts by Armenian American, Palestinian American, American Indian, and First Nations authors. Read more about her work and current projects in our March 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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National Postdoc Association
NPA SmartSkills: Effective Interpersonal Communication - The Foundation for Career Success
Interpersonal communication is the exchange of information, such as thoughts, feelings, and ideas, between two or more individuals. As a postdoc, effectively communicating information to peers, colleagues, and mentors is central to a productive training experience and future career success. In this workshop, the NPA will discuss: (1) the four types of interpersonal communication, (2) why effective interpersonal communication is important to career success, (3) approaches toward improving interpersonal communication skills, and (4) examples of effective interpersonal communication in the workplace. Register here for the March 26 virtual course.
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| New VPA Slack Channel!
The VPA is revamping 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 (jayden.lee@vumc.org or yasmina.mekki@vumc.org). Let's build a stronger, more connected postdoc community together!
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| 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.
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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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