Keivan Stassun
Stassun appointed to Astro2020 Steering Committee
May. 22, 2019—Vanderbilt University astrophysicist Keivan Stassun, Stevenson Professor of Physics and Astronomy, was named Tuesday to the National Academies’ Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics (Astro2020) Steering Committee.
The hunt is on for closest Earth-like planets
Mar. 26, 2019—The catalog identifies 1,823 stars for which TESS is sensitive enough to spot Earth-like planets just a bit larger than Earth that receive radiation from their star equivalent to what Earth receives from our sun.
Grandin, advocate on autism, to give conference keynote, Chancellor’s Lecture Nov. 29
Nov. 12, 2018—Temple Grandin, a world-renowned author, inventor and spokesperson about the autism spectrum, will participate in a daylong conference in Nashville on Nov. 29, capped off with a keynote and conversation with Vanderbilt University Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos as part of the Chancellor’s Lecture Series.
Vanderbilt University launches the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation
Nov. 8, 2018—A $10 million gift from alumna Jennifer R. Frist, BS’93, and husband William R. “Billy” Frist will endow a new center focused on supporting and developing the neurodiverse talents of individuals with autism at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering.
White House honors Vanderbilt faculty for STEM mentorship
Jul. 5, 2018—The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy honored two Vanderbilt researchers for STEM mentorship.
Hinkel named Postdoc of the Year at annual symposium; Disney named Mentor of the Year
Apr. 25, 2018—Postdoctoral scholar Natalie Hinkel has been named Postdoc of the Year by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs for her exceptional scholarship. Assistant Professor of Psychology Anita Disney was honored as Mentor of the Year at the 12th annual Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association Symposium April 12.
NASA’s TESS mission to discover new worlds will use a map developed at Vanderbilt
Apr. 16, 2018—Vanderbilt’s Keivan Stassun serves as a deputy principal investigator on the mission and is tasked with identifying the most promising stars to target in its search for habitable nearby planets.
Keivan Stassun named 2018 AAAS mentor of the year
Feb. 15, 2018—Astrophysicist Keivan Stassun has been named mentor of the year by AAAS for his efforts in increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in STEM Ph.D. programs.
Better way to weigh millions of solitary stars
Dec. 14, 2017—Astronomers have come up with a new and improved method for measuring the masses of millions of solitary stars, especially those with planetary systems.
Astronomy professor wins $1M grant, takes multifaceted approach to keeping minorities and persons with disabilities in STEM
Dec. 13, 2017—Keivan Stassun was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Million-Dollar Professor for promotion of minorities in the physical sciences.
Vanderbilt astronomers continue international effort to map and analyze universe in greater detail than ever
Nov. 16, 2017—Vanderbilt astronomers will carry out detailed studies of nearby stars orbited by planets with the potential to harbor or sustain life.
Making connections in autism research across VU and VUMC focus of Nov. 17 event
Oct. 17, 2017—"Surprising Connections in Autism and Innovation,” a day of presentations, poster sessions and cross-discipline conversations, will be held Friday, Nov. 17, at The Commons Center, rooms 237 and 235.