VPA Symposium

The 18th Annual VPA Symposium took place on Monday, October 14 in the Student Life Center. 

Click to view the 2024 VPA Symposium Booklet

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Patricia Clark

Patricia L. Clark has served as Associate Vice President for Research since 2021, leading all aspects of research development including assisting faculty in developing a successful research portfolio, collaborating with federal and military research agency advisors, leading a team of proposal development specialists and overseeing the development of NDR’s new Center for Broader Impacts. She is also the Rev. John Cardinal O'Hara Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the director of the Biophysics Instrumentation Core Facility. Clark, who has been at Notre Dame since 2001, is a biochemist whose research laboratory uses a wide range of biophysical and other approaches to investigate protein folding in the cell. She founded the Biophysics Graduate Program in 2018, which she then led until 2021. She has received multiple awards throughout her career, including a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, the Barany Award from the Biophysical Society, the Hodgkin Award from the Protein Society, and a Director’s Pioneer Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 

Postdoc of the Year

Dr. Eric Moses Gurevitch

On November 17, 2023 the VPA held the 17th Annual VPA Symposium at the VU Student Life Center.

This interdisciplinary one-day conference highlights postdoctoral research as well as provides a venue for networking and professional development.

Postdocs have the opportunity to present their research through either a lightning talk (brief oral presentation) or a poster presentation. The best presenters in both categories will be awarded at the closing event.

Complete symposium program is now available!

2023 Postdoc Symposium Schedule

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Keivan G. Stassun

Stevenson Professor of Physics & Astronomy
Vanderbilt University

Dr. Stassun holds the Stevenson chair in Physics & Astronomy at Vanderbilt University, where he was previously the recipient of an NSF CAREER award, a Cottrell Scholar award from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, an HHMI Professor award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and a Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship from the National Academies. Stassun is a co-investigator for NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, chairs the executive committee of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and recently served on the National Academy of Science’s Decadal Steering Committee for Astronomy & Astrophysics. An elected Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Astronomical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, his research on stars and exoplanets has appeared in more than 500 peer-reviewed journal articles, with an emphasis on developing new data-driven methods for making precise measurements of the fundamental physical properties of stars and planets. From 2004 to 2015, he served as founding director of the Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program, which has become one of the nation’s top producers of PhDs to underrepresented minorities in the physical sciences. Having trained more than 50 PhD students and postdoctoral scholars from diverse backgrounds, Stassun is a leader and advocate for broadening participation in STEM, especially of underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities. He has served on NSF’s Committee for Equal Opportunity in Science and Engineering, chaired the American Astronomical Society’s Committee on Minorities, is a recipient of the American Physical Society’s Nicholson Medal for Human Outreach, has been named Mentor of the Year by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has been honored with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Stassun currently serves as founding director of the Frist Center for Autism & Innovation in Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering, focused on advancing science and engineering through the engagement and workforce development of autistic individuals and those with other forms of neurodiversity. In 2023, Stassun was appointed to a six-year term on the National Science Board by President Joseph R. Biden.

Postdoc of the Year

Dr. Siru Liu

Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Informatics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Siru Liu, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her research interests include: optimizing electronic health record features and functions, with an emphasis on clinical decision support, leveraging machine learning and large language model techniques to improve healthcare quality, and analyzing public perceptions using social and behavioral science. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Informatics from the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Liu received NIH NLM K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award for her research in optimizing CDS using explainable AI. She is recognized as a 2022 Google Cloud Research Innovator. She is a fellow in the NCI’s Multilevel Intervention Training Institute, a 2022-23 American Association of University Women International Fellow, and a scholar in the Women in AMIA (WIA) Leadership Program. She developed an explainable machine learning-based clinical decision support tool to predict new onsets of ICU delirium. This project was a finalist in the 2022 AMIA Artificial Intelligence Evaluation Showcase. She serves as a member of the WIA Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee in AMIA. She also served on the Scientific Program Committee at the AMIA 2023 Annual Symposium and as an Area Chair in the Women in Machine Learning Workshop at NeurIPS.

This interdisciplinary one-day conference highlights postdoctoral research as well as provides a venue for networking and professional development.

Postdocs have the opportunity to present their research through either a lightning talk (brief oral presentation) or a poster presentation. Best presenters in both categories received prizes to be presented at the closing event.

Registration is closed. Day-of registration may be available.

Complete symposium program is now available! Click here.

This interdisciplinary one-day conference highlights postdoctoral research as well as provide a venue for networking and professional development.

Postdocs have the opportunity to present their research through either a lightning talk (brief oral presentation) or a poster presentation. Best presenters in both categories received prizes to be presented at the closing event.

Schedule of Events (Central Time)

• 10:00-10:15 - Welcome Remarks by Vice Provost André Christie-Mizell
• 10:15-11:15 - Poster Session & Coffee
• 11:30-12:45 - Keynote Speaker by Dr. Adia Harvey Wingfield  & Lunch
• 01:00-01:30 - BRET Career Advising Session by Dr. Ashley Brady
• 01:30-02:30 - Poster Session & Coffee
• 02:45-04:15 - Lightning Talks
• 04:30-05:15 - Cocktail Hour, Awards, & Closing Remarks

Keynote Address

Dr. Adia Harvey Wingfield

Vice Dean of Faculty Development and Diversity
Professor of Sociology
Mary Tileston Hemenway Professor of Arts & Sciences
Washington University in St. Louis

Professional Work in a ‘Post Racial’ Era: Black Health Care Workers in the New Economy

What happens to black professionals when work transforms? In an era of rapid technological change, shrinking protections for workers, and growing income inequality, work is no longer the secure, stable, predictable path to economic stability that it once was for some segments of the population. Instead, organizations today focus on shedding labor, cutting costs, and increasing shareholder returns. At the same time, however, many organizations also profess an interest in meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse population. How do they manage the tensions of adapting to these neoliberal ideals in a more multiracial society?

This research study focuses on black professionals in the health care industry to answer this question. Using in depth interviews, field observations, and survey data analysis, I show how work transformation fundamentally changes the labor black professionals do within and outside of organizations. This labor varies by occupational status and gender, leaving black men and black women with divergent responsibilities depending on their position in the organizational hierarchy. Ultimately, this research identifies new challenges for organizations and reveals an additional way that racial inequality gets perpetuated in the new economy.

BRET Career Advising Session

Dr. Ashley Brady

Assistant Dean of Biomedical Career Engagement and Strategic Partnerships
BRET Office of Career Development ASPIRE Program
Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Administration
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Career Development for Postdoctoral Fellows and the ASPIRE Program at Vanderbilt

What are your career plans? What should your next steps be to get you there? If these questions overwhelm you, or you just want to be more strategic in preparing, then join Ashley Brady, PhD, as she shares ideas to help you make a plan and maximize the resources available to you, both on campus and elsewhere. Your postdoc years are an excellent time to explore career options, build skills and network to help you make the most of this important stage in your training.

Organizing Committee

Chitra Basu
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, VUMC

Faith Bishop
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Maxime F Chevée
Department of Pharmacology, VU

Daniel Fehrenbach
Department of Medicine
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, VUMC

Shramana Ghosh
Dermatology, VUMC

Kakali Ghoshal
Department of Medicine
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, VUMC

Caitlin Haskell
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Markie Sneed
Division of Pediatrics, VUMC
School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University

Mohammad Saleem
Department of Medicine
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, VUMC

Anirban Sengupta
Institute of Imaging Science, VUMC

Rei Ukita
Department of Thoracic Surgery, VUMC

Neelima Wagley
Department of Psychology and Human Development, VU

Zhiyu Wan
Department of Biomedical Informatics, VUMC

Brianna Yamasaki
Department of Psychology and Human Development, VU

The 14th Annual VPA Symposium occurred October 29th, 2020. Thanks so much to Dr. Chad Topaz, everyone who presented, everyone who attended, and everyone who helped make this event possible!

Congratulations to our Lightning Talk Winners Inga Saknite and Stephanie Moore-Lotridge!

Congratulations to our Poster Winners Jessica Thomas, Andrew Patterson, Tomas Rush, and  Kakali Ghoshal!

The Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association (VPA) is excited to announce that the 14^th  Annual VPA Symposium will be held virtually on Thursday, October 29^th! We are proud to be sponsored by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities consortium!

This interdisciplinary one-day conference will highlight postdoctoral research as well as provide a virtual venue for networking and professional development. We are proud to announce our Keynote Speaker, Chad Topaz, Professor of Mathematics, Williams College, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Research, Institute for the Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity!

Postdocs will have the opportunity to present their research through either a lightning talk (brief oral presentation) or a poster presentation. Best presenters in both categories will receive prizes (e.g., gift cards, travel award, etc.) to be presented at the closing event. All attendees will also be eligible to receive raffle prizes throughout the day!

Events will be held through Zoom and Gather.

Keynote: Quantitative Approaches to Social Justice

Chad Topaz, Professor of Mathematics, Williams College, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Research, Institute for the Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity.

https://chadtopaz.com/

Civil rights leader, educator, and investigative journalist Ida B. Wells said that "the way to right wrongs is to shine the light of truth upon them." In this talk, I demonstrate how quantitative and computational approaches can shine a light on social injustices and help build solutions to remedy them. One project uses data science tools to study gender representation on mathematics journal editorial boards, finding that of 13,000 editorial positions studied, a mere 8.9% are held by women. A second project is constitutes a large scale study of gender and ethnic representation amongst artists whose works are held in the collections of major U.S. museums. We estimate that 85% of these artists are white and 87% are men. We find that the relationship between museum collection mission and artist diversity is weak, suggesting that a museum wishing to increase diversity might do so without changing its emphases on specific time periods and regions. Finally, I will mention other quantitative social justice projects underway in the realms of criminal justice, music, education, and more.

Schedule of Events (Central Time):

10:00-12:00 Poster Session

12:30-1:30 Keynote Seminar

1:30-2:00 BRET Office Career Advising Session

2:00-3:00 Science Advocacy & Policy Discussion: held in conjunction with the VU and VUMC Office of Federal Relations "VU in DC" event. Separate registration required.

3:15-4:15 Lightning Talks

4:30-6:00 Closing Ceremony w/ Prizes, Virtual Professional and Community Networking

Congratulations to our Poster Winners Kakali Ghoshal, Tomas Rush, Andrew Patterson, and Jessica Thomas!

Congratulations to our Lightning Talk Winners Stephanie Moore-Lotridge and Inga Saknite!

The VPA Annual Symposium is the premier event that highlights postdoctoral research across different fields from both VU and VUMC. It also serves as a venue for postdocs to network with each other, faculty, other members of the Vanderbilt community and leaders in several industries pertinent to postdoctoral development.

Our Keynote Speaker this year was Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff, a molecular biologist, executive, and diversity advocate. Dr. Villa-Komaroff is a consultant and speaker, founder of Intersections, SBD and founding member of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Her storied career will be a message for all to see!

Thank you to all postdocs, staff, and faculty, who attended and participated in the 12 th annual VPA symposium. Also, thank you to the OPA and BRET offices who helped make the symposium a success, and to the VPA symposium organizing committee who has worked hard all year to make this event happen!

Congratulations to Natalie Hinkel for being named Postdoc of the Year, and to Kareem Mohni and Monica Ridgeway for being honorable mentions. Congratulations to professor Anita Disney for being Mentor of the Year.

VU News Article

And congratulations to all poster and lightning round winners:

Lightning round winners: Mindy Leelawong and Daniel Blackwell

Poster winners: Benjamin Nixon, Abigail LaBella, Bartholomew Roland, Sarah Short, Xin Tong, Amy Engevik, Oleg Kovtun, Lauren Palmer, William Beavers, and Ralph Hazlewood.

Our keynote speaker will be Liz Neeley, Executive Director of The Story Collider!

Afternoon Breakout Sessions Focused on:

• Junior faculty
  • Erin Caliperi (Pharmacology)
  • Piran Kidambi (Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering)
  • Ann Tate (Biological Sciences)
  • Yi Ren (Biochemistry)
• Communicating Science
  • Liz Neeley
    • Executive Director, The Story Collider
  • Teddy van Opstal
    • Graduate Student in Biological Sciences
    • Life Science Tennessee Academic Alliance
    • NIH BEST Blog
  • Bill Snyder
    • Vanderbilt University News & Communications Writer
  • Jennifer Ufnar
    • Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach
• Challenging situations as a postdoc
  • David Sacks
    • Vanderbilt Psychological and Counseling Center
  • Roger Chalkley
    • Senior Associate Dean for BRET
  • Alyssa Hasty
    • Faculty in Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
  • Chuck Sanders
    • Faculty in Biochemistry
    • Associate Dean for Research

Postdoc lightning round (5 minute) talks & posters.

See all the abstracts here.