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Dear Postdoctoral Community,
Thank you for your participation during National Postdoc Appreciation Week. I look forward to seeing you at the 19th Annual Symposium which will be held on Tuesday, October 14, in the Student Life Center. Also join me at the annual holiday postdoc luncheon on December 4 (RSVP below).
I am excited to welcome Dr. Christina Keeton as the new Associate Director of Graduate and Postdoctoral Career Success. In this role, Dr. Keeton will work closely with departments and programs to support graduate students and postdocs, offering tailored career resources and strategies to help scholars thrive. You can read more about the enhanced career services offered by Dr. Keeton from previous communications.
Finally, note that open enrollment for benefits for VU- and VUMC-employed postdocs is this month. Read more below and mark your calendars for these important dates. 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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| Annual Vanderbilt Postdoc SyposiumTuesday, October 14 | Student Life Center
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The 19th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoc Symposium is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14 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
- Career Talk on Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Charleson Bell, The Wond'ry I-Corps Hub Director
- Lunch & Keynote Address by Dr. Matthew Johnson-Roberson, Dean of the College of Connected Computing, University Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, and University Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- On Campus Resource Fair
- Poster and Lightning Talk Presentations with Q&A
- Workshop on Science Policy: Funding Landscape for Biomedical and Non-Biomedical Careers in 2025 by Dr. Heather Bloemhard, Director, Federal Relations, Vanderbilt University
- 'Boss Mode' Workshop
- Closing Remarks & Award Ceremony
For more information on past symposia, please visit the VPA website.
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You're Invited! 2025 Annual Postdoc Holiday Luncheon
Celebrate the season with your fellow postdocs at our Annual Postdoc Holiday Luncheon! Join us on Thursday, December 4 at 11:30 a.m. in Alumni Hall 202 (Memorial Room) for good food, festive cheer, and community.
RSVPs are required, and you can reserve your spot by clicking the link below.
Please notate any allergies or dietary restrictions in your registration form.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge Program Mentor Mixer
The Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge Program invites you to attend the annual Mentor Mixer on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is designed to foster meaningful connections between students and mentors, offering a supportive space to build relationships, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities for collaboration and professional growth. Participants will have the chance to meet with faculty and peers in a relaxed setting while strengthening the Bridge Program’s mentoring community.
Location: 2nd Floor Event Space, Faculty Commons, 1101 19th Avenue, Vanderbilt University.
We hope to see you there!
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Fall 2025: Becoming A Resilient Scientist SeriesThe NIH OITE is pleased to offer both Resilient Scientist Series this fall. Trainees and fellows at all levels will have the opportunity to develop skills needed to thrive in research and healthcare careers. Faculty and staff will be supported in mentoring trainees in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences.
For students, trainees and fellows at all levels, we offer the BECOMING A RESILIENT SCIENTIST Series. There are five units in the series. Each includes a lecture followed by a facilitated small group discussion allowing trainees to share their experiences and learn from peers. Each lecture will run from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. To register and to learn more information, please visit our webpage.
- Unit 1. An Introduction to Resilience and Wellness (9/29/25)
- Unit 2. Exploring our Self-Talk: Cognitive Distortions and Imposter Fears (10/20/25)
- Unit 3. Self-Advocacy and Assertiveness for Scientists (11/3/25)
- Unit 4. Developing Feedback Resilience (11/10/25)
- Unit 5. Managing Up to Maximize Mentoring Relationships (11/24/25)
Note: There will be a combined group for Units 3 & 4 and no group discussion for Unit 5.
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Enrolling Now for CompassNIH Early-Career Leadership Development ProgramSpring Application Deadline December 26
Compass is a remote training and mentoring program for early-career faculty and postdocs across research disciplines who want to develop essential leadership and management skills for the research environment. We provide knowledge, skills, and tools to help Scholars identify new and refined approaches to their work that foster their achievement and fulfillment as scientists. This series runs for 6 weeks and is free to postdocs.
Learn To
- Create a productive work environment
- Build good relationships and team
- Navigate managing projects and peopl
- Ensure rigorous, trustworthy researc
- Engage effectively as a mentor and mentee
Key Program Features
- Practical Tools and Strategies
- Collaborative Learning Community
- Insights from Experienced Mentors
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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!
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Writing Studio Graduate Writing GroupsThe 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.
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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!
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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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The GPAS staff will offer weekly 'co-working' sessions throughout the fall 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.
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BRET Office of Career Development ASPIRE ProgramThe 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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| ASPIRE UP SERIES
The ASPIRE Up series is a monthly workshop series for biomedical Ph.D. students and postdoctoral scientists to aide in advancing their career and professional skills. Topics will include navigating career choices, grant writing, job search skills and more! Please see the list below for the full lineup of events for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The ASPIRE program will be running a special session in October titled ASPIRE Résumé Masterclass Live! in which postdocs will have the opportunity to learn how to strengthen their resume and boost their career readiness in this interactive session with Vanderbilt alumni Lori Rudolph Owen, Ph.D., and JJ Owen, Ph.D. They’ll provide live feedback on selected resumes, share insider tips on what industry employers look for, and highlight common pitfalls to avoid. Even if your resume isn’t chosen, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to showcase your skills effectively. This event will be held on Thursday, October 16 in in Light Hall 202 at 12:00 p.m. Registration is requested.
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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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K.C. Potter Center
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 for October below.
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| Open Enrollment for Postdoc Scholar, Research (VU) and Research Fellows (VUMC)
Benefits Open Enrollment take place in October for those eligible for Human Resources benefits in both VU and VUMC.
VU Open Enrollment takes place October 16 through October 31. For more information, click here.
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| Additional Events, Webinars, and InformationAll postdocs are invited to participate!
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Postdoc Spotlight: Ronald McMillan, Ph.D.Ronald is a postdoc in the Division of Infectious Disease at VUMC studying the cellular mechanisms behind cardiovascular disease, with a focus on salt-sensitive hypertension and weight cycling. Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, he was the first in his family to graduate from college and found his passion for science through mentorship. At Vanderbilt, Ronald is continuing to grow as a molecular physiologist while also serving as the new President of the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association. Outside the lab, he enjoys cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles, exploring Nashville with his wife, and spending time with their dog. Read more about his work in our October 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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| National Postdoc Association
NPA SmartSkills: Supporting the Next Generation of Aspiring Biomedical Entrepreneurs through the NIH
This session will focus on how over the past decade, greater numbers of early-stage researchers have sought to apply their skills towards careers in the private sector. As a result, there is a growing need for training programs that educate scientists on the intersection of business development, R&D, and regulatory approval. This session will feature several program officers from the National Institutes of Health Small Business (SBIR/STTR) Programs who will highlight training programs and resources that can equip academic researchers at all career stages with the skills they need to commercialize their lab’s discoveries and advance new biomedical technologies to the marketplace. Additionally, attendees will hear from a postdoctoral scholar who leveraged SBIR/STTR funding from the NIH to launch her career as a biomedical entrepreneur. Register here for the October 28 virtual course.
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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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| 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). 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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| 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?
Complete this form to submit this recognition to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs so we can celebrate through our newsletter, website, and social media. Visit our website to read the achievements of our Vanderbilt postdocs.
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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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