Month: January 2011

(Photo credit: iStock photo) Breast cancer patients who have a strong social support system in the first year after diagnosis are less likely to die or have a recurrence of cancer, according to new research from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Shanghai Institute of Preventive Medicine. The study, led… Read More

Stanley Harrold, a Civil War historian at South Carolina State University, spoke Jan. 27, 2011, on “Abolitionism and the Coming of the Civil War.” Harrold has done extensive research on the complex dynamics leading to the Civil War. His most recent book, “Border War,” was published November 2010 by the… Read More

Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management ranked 25th in the U.S. and 51st worldwide, according to the 2011 Global MBA survey published today by Financial Times. Read More

Watch the Jan. 27, 2011, talk “String Things,” part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Mitchell Korn leads a participatory and in-depth exploration of orchestral string instruments: their construction; sound production; techniques and histories. Audience members try out various instruments and directly participate in the joys, frustrations and challenges of… Read More

Left to right: Karen Gregory, Elizabeth Hammock, Peilin Jia, John Panos Eight Vanderbilt University scientists have won 2010 Young Investigator Awards from NARSAD, the world’s leading mental health research charity. Each scientist will receive up to $60,000 over two years for innovative brain and behavioral studies of serious psychiatric disorders. Read More

(iStock Photo) Individuals with schizophrenia are better at some cognitive tasks than average people, new research from Vanderbilt University indicates. The findings open the door for potential new therapies for these individuals. Katy Thakkar and Sohee Park (Mary Donaldson/Vanderbilt University) “We found a pocket of spared or enhanced ability in… Read More

Human Resources is currently verifying all Vanderbilt employees’ employment eligibility in response to federal regulations put in place in September 2009.  All employees hired since January 2010 have already gone through the E-Verify process.  HR is also reviewing the I-9 forms submitted by all employees hired prior to January 2010… Read More

Nathan’s journey to life takes a turn filled with hope, thanks to the greatest gift of all…a new heart. Watch this VUCast update on the child whose story touched us all. [vucastblurb]… Read More

Bringing a new drug to market is an increasingly daunting – and expensive – task. Today it costs more than $1 billion and takes more than seven years, on average, to complete the human studies required for a drug to be approved for marketing. Only about one in five drugs… Read More

Do your children think you work too much and don’t spend enough time with them? If so, their perception could lead to bullying behavior, according to research by Vanderbilt University sociologist Andre Christie-Mizell. “Our behavior is driven by our perception of our world, so if children feel they… Read More

Please see these important changes to HR Payroll and Benefits information that you should be aware of as we move into 2011: Social Security tax has decreased. The tax rate for the OASDI (Social Security) tax has been decreased for 2011 from 6.2% to 4.2%. The maximum OASDI tax… Read More

Your 2010 W-2 has been mailed to your current address (typically your home address) on file with Human Resources. The W‐2 HelpLine is available again this year to assist you with questions or problems at 322-3100 (2-3100 on campus.) Please allow the U.S. Postal Service until Feb. 1 to deliver… Read More

Charter schools and mayoral control are both hot topics in education reform.  Indiana combined these reform strategies when enacting a new charter school law in 2001.  Under the law, the mayor of Indianapolis was granted authorizing authority to charter schools in the Indianapolis Public Schools district, as well as 10… Read More

A documentary about seminal American musical figure Sam Phillips will be screened Feb. 9 at Vanderbilt University, with writer Peter Guralnick speaking after the presentation. The free showing of Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll, part of the International Lens series at Vanderbilt, is 7 p.m. Read More

Watch video of the class “Symphony 101,” held Jan. 20, 2011. Giancarlo Guerrero, music director and conductor of the Nashville Symphony, leads an engaging and invigorating discussion about the elements and structure of the music of the symphony orchestra. What is a symphony? Maestro Guerrero will dissect the symphonic form… Read More

Watch video of the Jan. 13, 2011, class “The Musician’s World.” Mitchell Korn explores the mind set, culture, training, daily preparation and perspectives of the symphonic musician. Audience members learn about rehearsal regiments, the role of the musician’s teacher(s); the complexity of musical and intellectual tasks; and the challenges of… Read More

Are conspiracy theories just for fun? Do they do service or do they do damage? Are we right to question official stories or are we just making it harder for the truth to be known? The Tennessee Repertory Theatre’s production of Yankee Tavern is a fierce, funny, suspenseful, and ultimately… Read More

Ambassador Atallah Shabazz, daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X, will give a talk, “Melting Pot: Cultural Diplomacy/Multi-National Patriotism,” at Vanderbilt University Thursday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. in Room 103 of Wilson Hall. Her lecture is among several free, public events scheduled at Vanderbilt University during February – Black History Month. Read More

Mitchell Seligson, Centennial Professor of Political Science (Vanderbilt University/Steve Green) Despite one of the worst worldwide economic crises in the past half-century, support for democracy among those in Latin America and the Caribbean has not been eroded, according to the results of the latest AmericasBarometer survey. The… Read More

Vanderbilt experts are available to comment on the State of the Union address. Read More