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Dear Postdoctoral Community,
We hope you have had a relaxing and productive summer. As we prepare to embark on our Fall 2022 semester, I write to update you on some exciting events and opportunities available to postdocs this fall.
In recognition of your service and vital contributions to Vanderbilt, we are excited to celebrate National Postdoc Appreciate Week from September 19-23, 2022. We have curated several events in appreciation of our postdoc community that we hope you will enjoy.
In collaboration with the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association (VPA), we will host our 16th Annual VPA Symposium on Thursday, October 27. More details to come in the near future.
Lastly, please join me in extending a warm welcome to our 2022-2023 VPA Executive Committee Members. You can learn more about them below and by visiting the VPA website here.
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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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National Postdoc Appreciation Week September 19-23
National Postdoc Appreciation Week is a time to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of the postdoc community. There will be many activities throughout the week including our annual picnic.
Annual Postdoc Family Picnic
September 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Fannie Mae Dees Park (Dragon Park) RSVP here
Professional Headshots for Postdocs
September 20, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
September 21st, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Secure your time here.
Sweets and Treats
September 23 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Drop by for desserts, games, and to socialize to finish off the week!
Location TBD
More events are being planned! Keep an eye on our September newsletter for more ways to get involved.
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Graduate and Postdoc Academic SuccessOPA is excited to introduce the newly restructured office, the Graduate & Postdoc Academic Success (GPAS). They 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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English Language Center Course for Postdocs
The ELC is getting excited about the start of fall semester and hope you are too! I’m writing to let you know that the English Language Center (ELC) will be offering Academic Communication for Postdocs during the fall semester. The course is offered as a service of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the ELC. There is no additional charge to you for the class.
This course will offer postdoctoral scholars and researchers opportunities to practice academic communication skills to make the most of their postdoctoral experience at Vanderbilt University. The course content includes various aspects of oral communication in an academic setting, including making small talk with colleagues, joining group discussions, practicing job talks, and discussing research to different types of audiences. This course is highly interactive so that postdocs will have plenty of opportunities to practice speaking and receive individualized feedback on assignments. Postdocs will also learn about expectations for postdocs, cross-cultural considerations, and navigating professional relationships.
The course begins the week of August 29 and ends the week of November 21. We have a few potential days/times for classes, but we are still awaiting final confirmation regarding room assignments. Please sign up now to reserve your spot.
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Vanderbilt Postdoc Association Executive Board
Thank you for taking the time to nominate and vote for your Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association Executive Board.
The VPA Executive Board for 2022-2023 is:
President: Daniel Fehrenbach
Vice President: Jeanne Ishimwe
Community Building Chair: Kasey Schalich & Zhiyu Wan
Postdoc Advocacy & EDI Chair: Saptarshi Chatterjee & Victoria Nasci
Scholarly Advancement Chair: Nestor de la Visitación Pastor & Markie Sneed
Career Development Chair: Brandon Baer & Hani Chanbour
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Federal STEM Policy & Advocacy
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If you're interested in a career in science policy, you won't want to miss this unique opportunity to participate in an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. for Federal STEM Policy and Advocacy: An Inside the Beltway Look.
This two-day event will provide Vanderbilt graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) an opportunity to learn how federal STEM policy is made and the role of advocacy by various stakeholders in achieving policy goals.
For more information and to apply, visit the OFR website.
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16th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoc Symposium
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The symposium planning committee meetings take place on the first and third Wednesdays at 4 p.m. To join, email postdoc@vanderbilt.edu.
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BRET Office of Career Development ASPIRE Program
Upcoming Events Hosted by the BRET Office of Career Development:
August 19, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | In Person at Light Hall
August 22, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | In Person at Light Hall
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Quarterly Estimated Tax Workshop for Postdoctoral Scholar, Trainees and Research Fellow Trainees
The purpose of the workshop is to help PhD trainees determine whether they are required to pay estimated tax in 2022—and if so, in what amount and when. Furthermore, it shows them how to financially prepare to pay their tax bill(s). It also addresses the common scenarios postdocs such as switching on to or off of fellowship mid-calendar year and being married to someone who has automatic income tax withholding.
This workshop is a series of self-paced modules with a live Q&A. The workshop is open through September when the Q3 estimated deadline payment is due.
If you are interested in participating in this workshop or have any questions, please email Faith Bishop.
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National Postdoc Association SmartSkills Workshop - Thriving as an International Postdoc in the United States
Thriving as a postdoc in today’s competitive climate is tenuous. International postdocs in the United States may face additional challenges due to a lack of clarity of expectations (hidden curriculum) and disadvantages due to marginalization posed by intersectional factors (immigration, socio-economic factors, etc.). In "Thriving as International Postdoc in the United States," we will introduce a framework for thriving as international postdocs. This framework will provide approaches for seeking information, resources, mentorship, and communities of support to identify and achieve professional and personal goals.
This NPA workshop will be held on August 23 at 2 p.m. CST.
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Save the Date: Immigration Workshops with International Student and Scholar Services and Global Support Services
ISSS and GSS will be having a day-long workshop on Tuesday, October 4th looking at a variety of immigration topics. This workshop will take place via Zoom and will be recorded.
More information will be forthcoming.
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Postdoc Spotlight: Ash Gillis, Ph.D.
Ash Gillis is a postdoc in the Owen Graduate School of Management. Read more about their work in our August postdoc feature here.
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Virginia Tech Future Faculty Diversity Program
The Office for Inclusion and Diversity at Virginia Tech is pleased to announce that the fall 2022 Future Faculty Diversity Program (FFDP) will occur in-person October 2-5, 2022.
The Future Faculty Diversity Program is designed to assist departments at Virginia Tech with identifying and recruiting talent from historically underrepresented minority populations in STEM.
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Job and Funding Opportunties
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Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra Auditions
The Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra will hold auditions for the Fall 2022 semester starting in August. For more information, click here.
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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.
To learn more about Employee Affinity Groups, visit the EAG website.
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National Postdoc Association
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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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Updated Health and Safety Protocols
Vanderbilt University will no longer require masking or physical distancing indoors. Individuals will have the option of wearing a mask indoors, including in classrooms, offices, labs, dining, and community spaces. The Vanderbilt Testing Center in the David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center closed for the summer effective May 16th. For more information on University protocols, visit the Health and Wellness website.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center requires masking in all indoor public areas, both clinical and non-clinical for VUMC and VU faculty, staff, postdocs, and students. Other information on Covid-19 can be viewed on the VUMC Clinician and Employee Guidance website.
COVID-19 symptomatic testing for the Vanderbilt community is available at Occupational Health in Suite 112, Mondays - Fridays, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., and at Vanderbilt Health Walk-In Clinics and Vanderbilt Health Clinics at Walgreens.
Free rapid antigen at-home kits are available.
For the VU Community, pickup at Sarratt 310 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on weekdays.
For the VUMC Community, pickup at Occupational Health, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekdays.
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