The Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association’s 16th annual symposium, featuring a keynote seminar, poster sessions and presentations and research talks by postdoctoral scholars from Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was held Oct. 27.
André Christie-Mizell, vice provost for graduate education, dean of the Graduate School and director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, encouraged the postdocs in attendance to get involved in the postdoc community through the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association, by attending events and by exploring the research of their fellow postdocs at the symposium. He also recapped the opportunities and resources available to postdocs over the past year, including partnerships with the English Language Center and International Student and Scholar Services for additional programming for international postdocs, and the creation of policies to bridge access to VU systems for VUMC postdocs.
Jack Dongarra, the 2021 ACM Turing Award winner and professor, emeritus, at the University of Tennessee, presented the keynote seminar, “A Not-so-simple Matter of Software.” Harry Barbee, the 2022 Postdoc of the Year, presented his research on “Developing Inclusive Institutions to Reduce Health Disparities: Lessons from Older LGBTQ+ Adults.”
During the afternoon session, symposium participants had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion on career exploration led by Ashley Brady, assistant dean of biomedical career engagement and strategic partnerships in the Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training.
Several award winners were recognized during the symposium for their excellence in research through poster presentations and short talks.
Best Lightning Talk
- Brandon Baer (VUMC): Medicine
- Rebecca Moore (VUMC): Medicine
Best Poster Presentation
- Bhawik Jain (VU): Biological Sciences
- Samantha McClenahan (VUMC): Anesthesiology
- Katherine Young (VU): Biomedical Engineering
People’s Choice Poster
- Rafay Ahmed (VUMC): Orthopaedic Surgery
“One highlight of the symposium was a resource fair to connect postdocs with groups across campus that offer special services and programming opportunities,” said Markie Sneed, scholarly learning co-chair of the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association. “I would like to thank Vice Provost André Christie-Mizell; Faith Bishop and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs; all of our amazing presenters; our invited speakers, Dr. Jack Dongarra and Dr. Ashley Brady; our faculty judges; and the symposium planning committee for making this year’s symposium so successful.”
ABOUT VANDERBILT’S POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS
Vanderbilt postdoctoral scholars, commonly known as postdocs, are professionals who have earned doctoral degrees and are, in most cases, temporarily pursuing additional scholarly training, experience and research progress necessary for a wide range of career paths. Postdocs play an important role in Vanderbilt’s research enterprise and are integral to the discovery and learning mission of Vanderbilt University and Medical Center. At any given time, Vanderbilt has about 450 postdocs across both VU and VUMC. To learn more, visit vu.edu/postdocs.