March 3, 2026

Dear Postdoctoral Community,  

Please take time to review the funding updates, upcoming events, and resources in the newsletter designed to support you during the semester. I would like to highlight the return of the VPA “Speak Easy” Talk Series on March 26. Additional details and the link to RSVP are available below.

As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need support. 

Best, 

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

We’re thrilled to share that Dr. Kanchana Devanathan, a postdoctoral scholar in the Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center, was selected as the 2026 Annual Conference Design Contest Winner by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). Her original artwork will be featured on official materials and merchandise for the upcoming NPA Annual Conference in San Francisco.

Dr. Devanathan’s journey as a postdoctoral researcher reflects her passion for advancing healthcare through cutting edge research and innovation. At Vanderbilt, her work focuses on optical diagnostic and treatment modalities that bridge engineering and medicine, and she also previously served as a leader in our postdoc community as the President of the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Devanathan on this recognition!

The VPA is looking for current Vanderbilt Postdocs to serve as mentors for the Postdoc Buddy Program!

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! Interested? Complete this quick survey. 

The VPA team will notify you when you have been matched with an incoming postdoc!

The Journal of Life Sciences (JoLS) invites postdocs to join JoLS-Pub, a new platform where scientists share layperson-friendly summaries of their published research. As a reviewer, you’ll gain editorial experience, refine your science communication skills, and mentor graduate and undergraduate trainees while promoting accurate, accessible science for the public.

Key Details:

Register now to join the JoLS-Pub editorial team and help bridge the gap between science and society! Encourage your trainees to register as reviewers too. You can register by emailing info@journaloflifesciences.org.

Simplifying community engagement, so you can invest your energy where it matters. Get Connected today! Find volunteer opportunities easily, sign-up quickly and track your service hours efficiently. 

Visit vu.edu/getconnected and log in with your VUNetID to get started.

Heather Hartmann is a postdoctoral scholar in Biochemistry studying how fatty acid binding proteins and cytochrome P450 enzymes influence drug metabolism. Supported by an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship, her work explores important mechanisms underlying drug response in heart failure. Heather values Vanderbilt’s collaborative research environment and enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and time with her dog, Domino.

Are you a post-doctoral researcher interested in polishing your “lay” scientific communication skills by giving a short 10-minute presentation to your peers and others in the Vanderbilt community in a fun and casual setting? If so, we invite you to join our Talk Series Speak Easy. Presenting is not mandatory! Join your fellow postdocs and hear about the different research being performed across VU and VUMC over drinks and appetizers.

Join us for our monthly Coffee Break and connect with fellow postdocs in a relaxed, welcoming space. All Vanderbilt postdocs, new and current, are invited to stop by for conversation, community, and a chance to recharge together. We hope to see you there!

The Brock Family Center will be hosting a lecture to celebrate Dr. Daniel Fabbri, one of their 2025 Innovators of the Year. This lecture will take place on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. This is a free event that will take place both in-person in 202 Light Hall and online via Teams for those who need to attend virtually.

This workshop applies a design thinking approach to career development, transforming career planning from a linear planning process into an iterative and reflective experience. The goal is to empower attendees to leverage a growth mindset to take charge of their professional growth, and to navigate career transitions during uncertain times. This session will be led by Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., M.P.S., who serves as faculty at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Register here for the March 24 virtual course.

The GPAS staff will offer weekly 'co-working' sessions throughout the spring semester 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 questions 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.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Career Success (GPCS) supports academic and non-academic career and professional development of postdoctoral fellows in non-biomedical STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences disciplines. 

GPCS has weekly virtual drop-in hours on Mondays from 10 am - 11 am beginning on January 12, along with in-person drop-ins in Alumni Hall lounge beginning January 21. More details can be found on Handshake (see links above. 

Postdocs can request a 1:1 appointment with Dr. Keeton via Handshake.

Through McKinsey & Company's APD Recruiting, there are several opportunities you can get involved with this month if you're looking beyond the academy after your postdoc:

The BRET Office of Career Development ASPIRE program supports biomedical postdoctoral fellows in the School of Medicine and VUMC. 

Virtual Career Expo
As a trainee at Vanderbilt, you are invited to attend the Wednesday, March 24 | 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | vFairs

K Awards... From K12 to K99!
Featuring Abigail Brown, Ph.D., Director of BRET Outcomes Research
Thursday, March 5 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Light Hall 407

Scientific Liaison and Marketing
Featuring Afrida Rahman-Enyart, Ph.D., Senior Marketing Manager, Proteintech
Friday, March 6 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Light Hall 208

CV/Resume Drop-In Clinic
EVERY Tuesday | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 707

Parenting Group: Talking to Children About Grief and Loss
Thursday, March 4 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom

Women in the Academy: Making Personal History - First Generation Women in Academia
Tuesday, March 17 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. | Divinity School, Room 127

Work-Life Workshops: Building Financial Confidence - The Emotional Side of Money
Wednesday, March 18 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom

People, Culture, and Belonging welcomes all postdocs to take part in PCB events. 

The National Institutes of Health has announced the availability of several clinical research training courses designed to support postdoctoral scholars and trainees. These offerings provide foundational and advanced instruction in key areas of clinical and translational research, including study design, ethics, regulatory requirements, and clinical pharmacology. Participants who complete the courses may receive certificates of completion. We encourage interested postdocs to review the course options and registration details below.

Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research

The Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (IPPCR) course provides comprehensive training in the effective and ethical conduct of clinical research. The curriculum covers study design, biostatistical and epidemiologic methods, protocol development, patient monitoring, quality assurance, and key ethical and regulatory considerations. The course is well suited for clinicians, scientists, trainees, and public health professionals pursuing or planning a career in clinical research.

Principles of Clinical Pharmacology

This course introduces the core principles of clinical pharmacology as a translational science supporting rational drug development and therapeutic use. Topics include pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism and transport, pharmacogenomics, pharmacotherapy, drug effects, and drug development. The course is designed for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, medical and pharmacy students, scientists, and health professionals seeking to strengthen their knowledge of pharmacology.

Ethical and Regulatory Aspects of Clinical Research

The Ethical and Regulatory Aspects of Clinical Research course is an asynchronous online offering presented by the Bioethics Department of the NIH Clinical Center. It provides foundational instruction in the ethical and regulatory considerations involved in conducting clinical research with human participants and is open to individuals interested or engaged in human subjects research.

Applications Open!

The Alzheimer’s Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute (AA-ISRI) is a fully funded, immersive training opportunity for early-career researchers focused on care interventions and population health. This year’s institute will be held in Chicago, August 3-7, 2026, and will feature group sessions and individualized mentoring from leading experts in dementia science.

Applications are due March 9, 2026, and 24 researchers will be selected for this exclusive experience. Postdocs and early-career investigators who completed their doctoral degree within the past 10 years are eligible, and individuals from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please share this opportunity with colleagues and trainees who may be interested, and submit your application today!

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!

Are you a postdoc that has been awarded a new fellowship or accepted a faculty position? Have you published a high-impact journal article or had your book accepted for publication? Let OPA know so we can celebrate through our newsletter, website, and social media.

The 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. 

The Graduate and Postdoctoral Career Success (GPCS) program provides essential support to departments/programs, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows to allow  scholars to  build skills, cultivate confidence, and design successful careers. 

The GPCS supports the academic and non-academic career and professional development of postdoctoral fellows in non-biomedical STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences disciplines. 

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.

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The K.C. Potter Center is a welcoming space and resource hub for students, postdocs, faculty, and staff. The center provides community, support, and programming aimed at fostering inclusion across campus. Check out their upcoming events on their website.

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The Office of Research Weekly Update delivers the latest news, events, and funding opportunities from across the School of Medicine. All postdocs are invited to subscribe here! 

The Writing Studio offers weekly writing groups for graduate students and postdocs during the Fall and Spring semesters on Tuesday afternoons from 2-5pm and Friday mornings from 9am-12pm. Students are welcome to attend one or both days and are encouraged to commit to attending each week. Each group meeting begins with a brief 10-minute check-in during which participants are invited to share their writing goals for the session. Participants then check in again at the end of the session to share their progress. A Writing Studio facilitator is available throughout to provide an additional sense of community and accountability. To participate, please complete this registration form.

More information can be found here: Writing Groups | The Writing Studio

Career Center Photo Booth - 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.

Holy Days Calendar - 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.

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/.