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September 12, 2024

Dear colleagues,

I want to thank you for dedication to the postdoctoral community. This newsletter is designed for faculty and staff who work with postdoctoral fellows at VU and VUMC. Please review the contents below to see the programmatic offerings for your postdocs and how the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) can assist you in recruiting and training the best and brightest trainees. These newsletters will be sent quarterly to keep you updated.

As a reminder, National Postdoc Appreciation Week (September 16 – 20) is an important week to recognize our postdocs’ contribution to research and scholarship. I encourage your postdocs to attend the events that the OPA and other campus partners have worked hard to put together. A full list of events can be found below. Please reach out to OPA@vanderbilt.edu if you have questions.

Sincerely,

C. André Christie-Mizell
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Dean of the Graduate School
Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Centennial Professor of Sociology

National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Since 2009, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has sponsored National Postdoc Appreciation Week to recognize the significant contributions that postdocs make to research and discovery. Each year, the OPA curates several events in appreciation of our postdoc community. This is just one of the many ways we say thank you to our postdocs for their service and vital contributions to Vanderbilt.

We will celebrate National Postdoc Appreciation Week September 16-20, 2024. A listing of events is below. More information including locations and RSVP links can be found on the OPA website.

Monday, September 16

Complimentary Postdoc Headshots - 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Annual Postdoc Family Picnic - 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 17

Complimentary Postdoc Headshots - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cookies with the BRET Office - 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 18

Postdoc Coffee & Catered Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, September 19

OPA at the Farmer's Market - 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

VPA Speak Easy Talk Series - 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Friday, September 20

Group Hike at Edwin Warner Park - 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Recruiting Resources

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs provides information for prospective and incoming postdocs on our website. If faculty have postdocs visiting campus for interviews or lab visits, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is happy to meet with them for 30 minutes to discuss benefits and resources provided to postdocs. Alternatively, the OPA can set up a Zoom call with any prospective or incoming postdocs not on campus.

Postdoc Buddy Program

The goal of the Vanderbilt Postdoc Association's Postdoc Buddy Program is to systematically match new, incoming postdocs with current Vanderbilt postdocs to help build a supportive, welcoming community.

Incoming postdocs receive information to sign up to be matched with a current postdoc buddy upon signing their postdoc appointment letter.

Fall Programming for Postdocs

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs works across campus to provide programming for postdocs. Below is a list of upcoming programming:

Academic Communication for Postdocs Self-Paced Modules hosted by the English Language Center | Ongoing, Self-Paced
The Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center hosts Women in the Academy - Getting Connected: Expanding your Network | September 17 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Peak Performance Series: Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome with Graduate and Postdoc Academic Success | October 1 |12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
18th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoc Association Symposium | October 14 | 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Peak Performance Series: Motivation, Mindset, & Goal Setting with Graduate and Postdoc Academic Success | October 22 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Immigration Sessions with International Student & Scholar Services | November 7 | Times vary throughout the day

New Postdoc Coffee Break is an opportunity for new and current postdocs to meet the OPA, current postdocs, and other campus partners. Upcoming dates are October 24, November 21, and December 12.

More events are being planned for the fall semester. All postdoc programming can be found on the university calendar.

Poster Judges Needed for the Annual Postdoc Symposium

The VPA Symposium will take place on Monday, October 14, 2024, at the Student Life Center. Faculty are needed to judge one or both poster sessions.

Morning Session (10 – 10:45 AM)
Afternoon Session (2:30 – 3:15 PM)

At the end of the symposium, the VPA will host a networking and awards reception, where you can meet the poster winners and enjoy a complimentary drink as a token of our appreciation for your participation.

To register as a poster session judge, please complete this form.

For more information on the VPA Symposium, including speakers, visit the symposium website.

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Annual Report

The 2023-2024 Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Annual Report is out now! View on the OPA website.

Resources

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association

Events for Postdocs

Faculty and Staff Resources

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Vanderbilt University Office of Postdoctoral Affairs | 615.343.1990
117 Alumni Hall | 2205 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37240