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: 

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. 

Nominations are open through Friday, May 15 with voting to follow. Elected members will attend the July VPA Executive board and take over thereafter. 

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!

Jialing Li is a postdoctoral scholar in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt University studying seasonal processes across the Earth system. Her work uses satellite data and machine learning to understand how land and atmosphere interact through phenological change. She enjoys traveling, staying active, and exploring new experiences outside the lab.

Join Vanderbilt scholars, including current and former postdocs, at Pint of Science, May 18-20, at Fait La Force Brewing. 

Presenters include current postdocs Anshu Dutta, Milene Fontes, Sophia Kekes-Szabo, and Rachel Spicer and former postdoc Alexander Conley. 

For more information on sessions, times, and cost, visit https://pintofscience.us/events/nashville/. 

This month's workshop is designed to help connect you to career opportunities and to advance in the application process, particularly in a competitive job market, through conducting career conversations. In this workshop, the NPA will share tips for finding and identifying individuals to intentionally connect with to help you access the hidden job market, the portion of jobs that are never posted publicly or only after a candidate has already been identified. Join the NPA to learn strategies that can increase your success in finding and securing a position in any job market. Register here for the May 26 virtual course.

Ready to take your mentoring and supervision skills to the next level?

Don’t miss the Effective Mentoring Strategies for Postdocs workshop — your essential guide to mentoring now and into your academic future!

This interactive session will help you build foundational skills in:

SAVE THE DATE

📅 Friday, July 17, 2026

Gain tools to mentor and supervise with confidence and clarity—now and in the future. Presented by the Graduate & Postdoc Academic Success Office and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

Let’s build a stronger future—together.  Note:  this is a repeated program offered in Spring and Summer.  If you have already participated, this will not include new material.

The English Language Center (ELC) is offering expanded resources to support postdoctoral scholars in strengthening their academic communication skills. Postdocs can enroll in the self-paced Academic Communication for Post-Docs course at any time through the ELC website.

In addition, Individual Language Coaching services will be extended through the summer (pending staff availability), providing personalized support for writing, presentations, and professional communication.

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.

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

Finding the Right Fit: Understanding Faculty Roles at U.S. Institutions and Overview of the Faculty Job Search Process
Do you know the different types of academic faculty positions that are available in the U.S.? What skills do you need for each type? What type of faculty positions is right for you? Join Kathy Gould, Ph.D., Louise B. McGavock Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, for a session in which we will explore the different types of faculty positions available to life scientists and the variable skills a competitive applicant needs to demonstrate for each type.
Thursday, May 14 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Light Hall 407

2026 ASPIRE Annual Career Symposium: A Kaleidoscope of Biomedical Science Careers
Friday, May 29 | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Student Life Center

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

A Conversation with Jill Biden
Monday, June 8 | 6:30 p.m. | Langford Auditorium (2209 Garland Avenue)

The APMM program is open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Biomedical Sciences at Vanderbilt University. It offers a unique opportunity to integrate your thesis work with clinically relevant, disease-focused areas of research. The program includes a combination of didactic and experiential learning, seminars, and mentored experiences guided by both clinical and basic science mentors. Applications are due on Monday, June 1, 2026.

More information on training structure and program requirements can be found here.

To access the application, click HERE.

If you have any questions about the application process or the APMM program, feel free to reach out.

The Vanderbilt Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach (CSEO) is seeking science and education graduate students and postdoctoral fellows interested in joining our STEM Educator Learning Community as a part of the Scientist in the Classroom Partnership (SCP) program for the 2026-2027 academic year.

This is a training program for graduate students and postdocs to learn and implement STEM education practices in collaboration and service with classroom teachers and their students. Intended benefits to the scientist include – exposure to STEM education, experience translating real world science to the classroom, education skill and workforce development, mentorship, outreach & community involvement.

Upon completion of the year-long program and all required training components, participants will earn a “Certification of program completion in Innovative K-12 STEM Education” and a service-free stipend.

Take a NEW STEP forward with us and join our Vanderbilt Scientist-Teacher-Educator Partnership (VSTEP).

More information and the digital application can be found on our website (https://vu.edu/scp). We’re hoping to hear from all interested parties by the beginning of May.

The UC San Diego Rady School of Management is now accepting applications for its Summer 2026 MicroMBA, an eight-week virtual program designed for graduate students and professionals, particularly those with STEM backgrounds interested in building foundational business skills.

Running July 8–August 26, the program features 12 live online sessions, networking opportunities, and interactive discussions held Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00–6:30 PM. Participants will explore key topics including finance, marketing, business analytics and AI, leadership, and innovation.

The program is open to individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree. The application deadline is June 19, 2026, and the cost is $525 for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

Apply here or visit the MicroMBA website for more information.

Registration is now open for the Summer 2026 Skills for Health & Research Professionals (SHARP) program, featuring 30+ hands-on boot camps for health and research professionals at all career stages. Trainings cover a wide range of topics from data science and grant writing to emerging areas like metallomics and computational toxicology, and are offered in in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats. Scholarships are available for many courses. Explore the full lineup and apply here.

The NIH Summer Course in Clinical and Translational Research for basic science researchers will be offered virtually this year at no cost. This intensive, introductory program is designed to explore the role of PhD scientists in clinical and translational research, highlighting how basic science discoveries and clinical observations intersect to drive innovation in human health.

Through lectures, discussions, and small group activities, participants will gain foundational knowledge in key areas such as study design, protocol development, scientific and ethical review, and medical product development. The course also offers valuable opportunities to engage with NIH researchers and program administrators, learn about unique NIH resources, and explore potential career pathways within the NIH.

Eligibility:
Open to doctoral students and early-career PhD investigators in the basic sciences who are currently affiliated with a U.S. institution and have limited clinical research experience. Advisor or supervisor approval is required.

Application Details:
Applicants must submit a cover letter, NIH-format biosketch, and a letter of recommendation from their advisor/supervisor. Letters of recommendation are due July 1, 2026, and applicants will be notified of decisions by July 10, 2026. Enrollment is limited.

Learn more and apply through the NIH Summer Course application process here.

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. 

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/.