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Dear Postdoctoral Community,
As 2024 draws to a close, I hope you give yourself the time to relax and enjoy the winter break.
As a reminder, the 'Speak Easy' Talk Series will return on January 16, 2025. I encourage you to take advantage of additional career development, community building, and networking opportunities in the Spring. These upcoming events will be posted on our website and featured in our next newsletter.
I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
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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| | May 16: VPA 'Speak Easy' Talk Series
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| | English Language Center Course for Postdocs
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The English Language Center (ELC) will be offering an online Academic Communication for Postdocs during the Spring 2025 semester.
These modules are intended to provide the resources and space for international postdocs to discuss, practice, and ask questions about the postdoc experience in the US. Attendees will have opportunities to meet and interact virtually with other international postdocs, submit materials for individualized feedback, and receive supplementary materials online.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. Postdocs will also learn about expectations for postdocs, cross-cultural considerations, and navigating professional relationships.
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Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Program
The Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Program (PDEP) is now accepting applications! The deadline to apply is January 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. CST. The PDEP provides a total of $60,000 over three years to support the career development activities for underrepresented minority postdoctoral fellows in a degree-granting institution in the United States or Canada whose training and professional development are guided by mentors committed to helping them advance to stellar careers in biomedical or medical research. For more information about the program and to apply, please visit their website.
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| | RSVP for 2025 Translational Research Forum
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On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Vanderbilt researchers will be presenting their recently funded science initiatives at the Student Life Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The forum will include a talk by Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD as the keynote speaker for the event along with faculty plenary talks, trainee poster sessions, networking opportunities, and more. To attend the event, please register here.
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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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Career CenterThe Career Center supports VU postdocs with the non-academic career exploration and planning of postdoctoral fellows in STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences disciplines. At the Career Center, students and postdoctoral fellows learn and explore professional opportunities through internships, career coaching, workshops, career panels, on-campus recruiting, job fairs, and industry-based treks. Currently, Jessica Abner, PhD and Whitney Taylor, PhD serve as the Senior Career Coaches for the postdoctoral population. If you're interested in taking advantage of any of their services, please check out their website for more information and to make an appointment. Additionally, you can attend some of their upcoming events listed on Handshake.
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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:
CV/Resumé Drop-In Clinics
Tuesday, December 10 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Light Hall 340
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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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| MNPS School Choices
Thursday, December 5 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom
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| Monday, December 9 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Women's Center
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| Tuesday, December 10 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Women's Center
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| Wednesday, January 22 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | RPW Center for Humanities
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| Now Leasing: The Broadview at Vanderbilt
The Broadview at Vanderbilt'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!
The Broadview offers 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: So Young Choi, Ph.D.
So Young is a postdoc in the Institute of Imaging Science program within the School of Medicine at VUMC where her current research focuses on the examination of the contribution of white matter neural activity to brain activity as captured by the BOLD imaging technique in humans. So Young has been passionate about the brain, the nervous system, and it's functioning since her childhood when her father would run acupuncture clinic out of their home. As he treated patients, he would explain the inter-workings of the nervous system to So Young, sparking a lifelong interest in the subject. Prior to her postdoctoral role here at Vanderbilt, So Young completed both her B.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Southern California where she was first introduced to neuro-imaging under the guidance of her previous mentor, Dr. Hanna Damasio. Read more about her work and her passion for the nervous system and all things brain related in our December 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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| 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:
Identifying and Applying for Research and Training Opportunities at the NIH
In this session, Erika Barr, Ph.D., Office of Health Equity at the NIH will provide information on the NIH intramural training, and job opportunities, as well as resources and strategies for identifying and applying for these opportunities at NICHD. Register here for the December 17 virtual course.
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| Join VPA Slack Channel!
The VPA has revamped the VandyPostdocs Slack channel to foster a vibrant postdoctoral community, with 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!
*Must re-signup even if you have previously signed into the former Slack because this is a brand new channel!
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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| 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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