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Dear Postdoctoral Community,
With the new fall semester in full swing, I hope you are feeling the excitement of campus. I look forward to hearing about the impact your research progress and the impact you are having in our community through teaching, mentorship, and discovery.
In that spirit, we are celebrating National Postdoc Appreciation Week, September 18-22. This week is a celebration of the many contributions postdocs make to Vanderbilt and the Nashville community. Below, you will find a full line-up of events offered by OPA and other campus partners have prepared. We look forward to celebrating with you all later this month.
Take this month to reflect and celebrate the your accomplishments and those of your peers. I look forward to seeing you around campus.
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 WeekSeptember 18-22, 2023
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.
Refreshments & Research Support with the Career Center
Monday, September 18 | 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Student Life Center, Suite 220
No RSVP required, this is a 'Drop-In' event
Complimentary Professional Headshots for Postdocs
Tuesday, September 19 | 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall 206Reserve your headshot time here.
Complimentary Professional Headshots for Postdocs
Wednesday, September 20 | 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall 206
Reserve your headshot time here.
Wellness Workshop: Creating Harmony Within Your World
Wednesday, September 20 | 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | 100 Alumni LoungeRSVP Here!
Free Treats at the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center
Wednesday, September 20 | 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | 2304D Vanderbilt Place
Massage Chairs for Postdocs
Friday, September 22 | 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall 206Reserve your preferred timeslot here.
For the Love of Ice Cream Social
Friday, September 22 | 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall Terrace
RSVP Here!
For up to date information on events, please visit our website.
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Come join the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion on Wednesday, September 20th from 11AM-6PM for this annual event hosted by students, faculty, staff, and post-docs at Vanderbilt to come together on Alumni Lawn to learn more about various social justice, identity, and resource centers on campus. The event is free and will offer food, music, and giveaways! For more information, please visit the event website here or search for "Diverse 'Dores Day" on AnchorLink!
Please note this event will be an 'informational quest' and a great opportunity to get your 'Dore Passport stamped by visiting each of the participating offices on campus to learn more about their services and resources available. You will be able to turn in your passport back on Alumni Lawn at the end of the day to receive additional free goodies, food, and a custom made t-shirt.
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Immigration Workshops with International Student and Scholar Services and Global Support Services
ISSS and OPA will be having mutliple workshops throughout the day on Wednesday, October 4 with Attorney Dan Oldenburg to discuss a variety of immigration topics as it relates to international postdocs and employees. These workshops will be offered both in-person in Alumni Hall Lounge (Alumni 100) and synchronously via Zoom for those who will not be on campus.
More information regarding the zoom links will be forthcoming closer to the date.
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| | VPA Symposium: Friday, November 17
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| The 17th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoc Symposium is scheduled for Friday, November 17 in the Student Life Center.
The symposium will include:
- Welcome Remarks from André Christie-Mizell, Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Dean of the Graduate School, and Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Vanderbilt University
- Research Talk by Siru Liu, 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow of the Year
- Lunch & Keynote Address by Keivan Stassun, Stevenson Professor of Astrophysics, College of Arts & Science; Professor of Computer Science, Vanderbilt School of Engineering; Director, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt
- On Campus Resource Fair
- Poster and Lightning Talk Presentations with Q&A
- Professional Development Session with Dr. Ashley Brady
- Academic and Non-Academic Track Alumni Panel
- Closing Remarks & Award Ceremony
Registration is open and will close on Monday, September 4 at 5:00 p.m. CDT. To register for the conference, please complete this form.
You can submit your interest to present a poster presentation or give a lightning round talk when you register.
For more information on past symposia, please visit the VPA website.
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Libraries' Digital Scholarship and Communicatiosn Office (DiSC)
The DiSC Office, Digital Commons, and Digital Humanities Center have joined forces in the Libraries’ new Digital Lab. This fall, the Digital Lab is sponsoring a variety of events focused on building technical skills. They include lesson series on: Intro to Network Analysis, Bibliometric Networks, Intro to R, Intro to Python with an AI assistant, Data viz with ggplot, and individual sessions on: ArcPro, ArcGIS Online, Mapping Demographic Data, StoryMaps, Georeferencing Scanned Maps, and Open GIS tools. The Digital Lab is also organizing a Text Analysis Community of Practice focused on acquiring text, building corpora, and text analysis. All of these events are free, with some available by Zoom, some in-person, and some that are hybrid. For more detailed information and registration information, visit there website here.
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| | Tax Workshop Presented by the International Tax Office
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| Join the International Tax Office (ITO) on Friday, October 13 in Light Hall 411 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for a workshop on U.S. taxes and what it means to you as an international postdoc.
There will be an additional workshop on Tuesday, November 4 in Light Hall 407 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for those who cannot attend the October session.
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Individual Development Plan (IDP) WorkshopTuesday, October 24 | 1:00 p.m. | 360 Science and Engineering Building
All postdocs complete an IDP early in their postdoc appointment and on a yearly basis. Bring your lunch and learn how to benefit from this important document. Light snacks and refreshments will also be provided.
Duco Jansen, Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Faculty Affairs, School of Engineering, will present.
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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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| Graduate Development Network: Passport to Success
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| | Fall 2023: 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.
Managing Perfectionism and “Imposter Syndrome"
Thursday, September 14 | 4:00PM - 5:00PM | Center for Student Wellbeing
This workshop is designed to explore the concepts of Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome, to share experiences about how they affect our work, and to outline strategies to acknowledge and resist the thoughts that get in our wa
Motivation, Mindset & Effective Goal Setting
Thursday, September 28 | 4:00PM - 5:00 PM | Center for Student Wellbeing
This workshop is designed to explore the concepts of motivation and mindset, to share experiences about how they affect our work, and to outline strategies on how to set goals that keep us motivated and productive.
Managing Conflict and Relationships
Thursday, October 12 | 4:00PM - 5:00 PM | Center for Student Wellbeing
This workshop is designed to explore conflict within academia, to share experiences about how conflict has affected your work, and to outline strategies on how to navigate academic relationships that foster clear boundaries and expectations.
Performing under Pressure & Fighting Procrastination
Thursday, October 26 | 4:00PM - 5:00 PM | 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, November 9 | 4:00PM - 5:00 PM | 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.
Weekly "Co-Working" Sessions
The GPAS staff will also be offering weekly 'co-working' sessions on Wednesdays between 10:00AM and 11:30AM (Stacey) and on Thursdays between 2:00PM and 3:30PM (Nick) 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 & Stacey will begin each session with setting goals for the time and provide free coffee! If you are interested in participating in these sessions via Zoom, please contact Nick or Stacey directly to set those up.
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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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| 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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| Now Leasing: The Broadview at Vanderbilt
The Broadview at Vanderbilt has recently expanded its eligibility to include Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center postdoctoral fellows. The Broadview'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!
Be one of our first residents to live in a 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: Juliet Nyanamba, Ph.D.
Juliet Nyanamba is a postdoc in the department of Human & Organizational Development at Vanderbilt University Peabody College of Education where she is studying the impact of macro-systems in the cultural and historical context on youths’ development. Read more about her work in the community and how she spends her free time painting, hiking, or cheering on the soccer teams where her husband coaches in our September 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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2022-2023 Annual Report
Be sure to check out our 2022-2023 Annual Report. This year was filled with growth and new opportunities for our postdoctoral fellows. The annual report highlights our collective accomplishments as well as OPA's vision for the future.
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National Postdoc Association
NPA SmartSkills: Transiting Out of Your Postdoc
How can you best prepare oneself for entering a full-time, permanent position after your postdoc. What professional skills do you need to succeed? How should you approach career exploration to best succeed in finding the right position? Register here for the September 26 virtual course.
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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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