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Dear Postdoctoral Community,
I hope you are enjoying the summer season. VPA elections are underway. Nominations for board positions have been extended, with an option to join a committee without being in an elected position. I hope you make your voice heard by participating in the nomination and election process. Please see details and links below.
This month, the Graduate & Postdoc Academic Success office will present “Effective Mentoring Strategies for Postdocs” on Wednesday, July 16. Lunch and refreshments will be provided with registration. Please RSVP to attend.
Finally, I am looking forward to celebrating National Postdoc Appreciation Week, September 15-19. I look forward to celebrating our postdoc community. I hope to see you at many of the planned events. See the save the date below along with a list of planned events.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance.
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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| National Postdoc Appreciation Week
September 15-19, 2025
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.
Postdoc Coffee & Catered Breakfast
Monday, September 15 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Location: TBA
Start your week with a hot breakfast on us!
Complimentary Professional Headshots for Postdocs
Tuesday, September 16 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall 202
More details on reserving your time slot to come.
Annual Postdoc Family Picnic
Tuesday, September 16 | 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Fannie Mae Dees Park
RSVPs requried, will open in August.
Complimentary Professional Headshots for Postdocs
Wednesday, September 17 | 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall 202
More details on reserving your time slot to come.
OPA at the Farmer's Market
Thursday, September 18 | 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Medical Center Plaza
Stop by our table at the farmer's market!
VPA 'SpeakEasy' Talk Series
Thursday, September 18 | 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | 100 Alumni Lounge
RSVP required, will open in August.
Campus Arboretum Walk
Friday, September 19 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Vanderbilt Campus
Meeting Point: Alumni Lawn
More events are being planned! Keep an eye on our August and September newsletters for more ways to get involved and added events! For up to date information on events, please visit our website.
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2025-2026 VPA Executive Board Nominations EXTENDED!
The Executive Board helps to promote scholarly learning, social activities, and postdoc advocacy. This is an excellent opportunity to get involved in the postdoc community and enact any changes you would like to see in postdoc culture on campus. Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged. Postdocs with any number of years of experience are encouraged to apply.
Available positions are:
- President
- Vice President
- Scholarly Advancement Chairs (1-2 positions*)
- Community Building Chairs (1-2 positions*)
- Postdoc Advocacy and EDI Chairs (1-2 positions*)
- Career Development Chairs (1-2 positions*)
More information on the VPA can be found on their website. Information on the purpose and function of the VPA and each elected position can be found in the VPA Bylaws.
This year’s ballot will also include a vote on a proposed bylaws change. Committee co-chair elections will be held twice a year—in November and May. The 12-month term remains the same. This staggered structure ensures that there is one experienced co-chair in place to support continuity and facilitate effective knowledge transfer.
*If this change passes, the nominee with the most votes for each committee chair position will be elected with one current committee co-chair remaining through December.
Nominations are now open through Friday, July 18 with voting to follow. Elected members will attend the August VPA Executive board and take over thereafter.
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Overview
VU and VUMC may each submit one application per scientific focus area to the NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00) programs. The scientific focus areas are Cancer Data Science, Cancer Control Science, Molecular/Precision Cancer Prevention and Other Cancer Research. There are three separate RFAs, which allow different types of proposed research (e.g. basic, clinical): PAR-23-286, PAR-23-287, and PAR-23-288. Each of VU and VUMC’s four selected applicants (1/focus area) may apply to whichever RFAs best suit their research proposals.
The objective of the NCI Pathway to Independence Award is to help postdoctoral researchers complete needed, mentored training and transition in a timely manner to independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions. The program will provide independent NCI research support during this transition to help awardees to launch competitive, independent research careers. The K99/R00 award is intended to foster the development of a creative, independent research program that will be competitive for subsequent independent funding and that will help advance the mission of the NCI.
This program is designed for postdoctoral fellows with research and/or clinical doctoral degrees who do not require extended periods of mentored research training beyond their original doctoral degrees before transitioning to research independence. Researchers in the scientific areas of cancer control, cancer prevention and cancer data sciences are especially encouraged to apply.
Individuals must be in mentored, postdoctoral training positions for no more than 6 years as of the application due date to be eligible to apply to the K99/R00 program. The K99/R00 award will provide up to 5 years of support in two phases. The initial (K99) phase will provide support for up to 2 years of mentored postdoctoral research training and career development. The second (R00) phase will provide up to 3 years of independent research support, which is contingent on satisfactory progress during the K99 phase and obtaining an approved, independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position.
The award covers up to $100,000 per year toward the salary of the career award recipient, and up to $30,000 per year toward the research development costs of the award recipient.
See solicitations for full program and eligibility details:
PAR-23-286 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed
PAR-23-287 - Independent Clinical Trial Required
PAR-23-288 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required
- Internal Deadline: July 24, 2025
- Sponsor Deadline: October 14, 2025
Award Amount:
- Mentored Phase (K99): up to $130,000/year for up to 2 years
- Independent Phase (R00): up to $249,000/year for up to 3 years
Eligibility Note:
- Must currently hold a mentored, postdoctoral training position
- Must have no more than 2 years of postdoc research experience as of Oct 14, 2025
- Must not have been an independent PI on NIH research grants, career development awards or other peer-reviewed grants over $100,000/year
Disciplines: Biological/Biomedical
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OITE Mental Health Talk:
Burnout Prevention & Recovery
Burnout, characterized by feelings of exhaustion, detachment, and a sense of ineffectiveness, can profoundly impact work performance, mental health, and overall well-being. Internal as well as external factors can exacerbate the situation. For scientific researchers, burnout is especially concerning, as it can hinder creativity, innovation, productivity, and the ability to collaborate effectively crucial elements in advancing scientific knowledge.
This program will discuss how burnout differs from depression and other mental health issues. We will describe risk factors that contribute to burnout and explore individual and community protective factors. We will cover strategies to help prevent burnout, manage burnout symptoms, and speed recovery from burnout, ensuring researchers can maintain their passion for discovery while safeguarding their health and well-being.
📅 Wednesday, July 9, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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Open Request for Information from the NIH
Call for Perspectives - Pediatric Health Researchers
The National Academies' Committee on Strategies to Enhance Pediatric Health Research is inviting pediatric health researchers to share their experiences with and perspectives on the NIH pediatric research portfolio and structure.
Responses Due: July 1, 2025
Call for Perspectives - Pediatric Patients and Family
The National Academies' Committee on Strategies to Enhance Pediatric Health Research is inviting pediatric patients and their families to share their experiences with and perspectives on NIH-supported pediatric research.
Responses Due: July 13, 2025
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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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| | Effective Mentoring Strategies for Postdocs
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Postdocs, sharpen your supervision and leadership skills by encouraging by attending the Effective Mentoring Strategies for Postdocs workshop this summer!
This interactive session, led by the Graduate & Postdoc Academic Success Office, will equip postdocs with practical tools to mentor with clarity and confidence—skills that are essential both now and into your academic futures.
This interactive session will help you build foundational skills in:
✅ Following Up & Following Through
📝 Creating Compacts & IDPs
👂 Listening with Intent
🎯 Aligning Expectations
There will be one session held in July:
📅 Wednesday, July 16 | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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| | Summer 2025: Weekly "Co-Working" Sessions
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The GPAS staff will also be offering weekly 'co-working' sessions through the summer on Tuesdays 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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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:
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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: Andreas Mono, Ph.D.
Andreas is a postdoc in the Department of Mathematics at Vanderbilt University, working under the supervision of Professor Larry Rolen since August 2023. His research lies in number theory, one of the oldest branches of mathematics, known for elegant problems that are simple to state but notoriously difficult to prove. He approaches mathematics as a philosophical discipline, using formal language and logical deduction to understand abstract structures and relationships. Originally from Germany, he completed his graduate studies at the University of Cologne and previously studied at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. At Vanderbilt, he has taught and mentored undergraduate students each semester, finding the teaching environment both distinct from his prior experiences and deeply rewarding. Beyond his academic work, he enjoys spending time with friends, hiking, reading, and playing chess. Read more about his work in our July postdoc feature 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. Matthew Johnson-Roberson, inaugural dean for the new College of Connected Computing, will be the 2025 Keynote Speaker.
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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: Empowering Your Postdoc Journey - Strategies for Effective Communication with Advisors
This session is designed to help postdoctoral researchers build strong, collaborative relationships with their mentors. Participants will receive practical advice for setting expectations, aligning goals, and advocating for their professional growth. The NPA will cover communication skills that postdocs can use to navigate potential challenges with their advisor. Register here for the July 22 virtual course.
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| Join VPA Slack Channel!
Join the VandyPostdocs Slack channel, where they offer 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!
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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