Postdoc Awards

Each spring the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) partners with the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association (VPA) to recognize postdocs who demonstrate excellence in research, service, mentorship, and a commitment to the postdoc community, as well as their mentors who demonstrate a willingness to share expertise and advice, service to the community at large, along with other mentoring activities.

Postdoc of the Year Award

Sponsor: Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

Eligibility: All current Vanderbilt-affiliated (VU and VUMC) postdoctoral fellows, scholars and trainees are eligible for nominations.

  • Criteria, Nomination Process and Selection

    Criteria: Nominee must demonstrate excellence in research, scholarship or creative expression as evidenced by one or more of the following:

    • Recent publications, publication contracts, and/or works of creative expression
    • Presentations: papers or posters at local, regional, national or international conferences/meetings
    • Awards and honors: internal and/or external recognition of excellence in research, scholarship or creative expression

    Consideration will also be given to:

    • Service: committees and organizations (internal and/or external), teaching, volunteering, etc.
    • Mentoring within a lab or school, establishing or leading projects and initiatives (internal and/or external)

    Nomination Process and Selection:

    • The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs solicits nominations from faculty in each school.
    • The Postdoctoral Fellows Advisory Committee reviews and votes on all nominations; if needed, the Graduate School leadership will act as additional reviewers.
    • The committee may select honorable mentions in addition to the award winner.

    Nominations close on Friday, March 8 at midnight central time. 

Faculty Mentor of the Year Award

Sponsors: Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association (VPA) and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

Eligibility: Anyone who has served as a mentor to a postdoctoral fellow, scholar or trainee at Vanderbilt in any capacity is eligible for this award.

  • Criteria, Nomination Process and Selection

    Criteria:

    • Willingness to share expertise and advice.
    • Support of the mentee’s current career stage and advancement towards the mentee’s chosen career direction.
    • Service to the community at large, including other mentoring activities.
    • Scholarship within the mentor’s own career: publications, awards, presentations, and honors.

    Nomination Process and Selection:

    • The VPA solicits nominations from all postdocs at Vanderbilt.
    • The VPA Executive Board reviews and votes on all nominations.

    Nominations close on Friday, March 8 at midnight central time. 

Postdoc Mentor of the Year Award

Sponsors: Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association (VPA) and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

Eligibility:

  • All current Vanderbilt-affiliated (VU and VUMC) postdoctoral fellows, scholars and trainees who have served as mentors are eligible for nominations.
  • Self-nominations and nominations by others are accepted.
  • Criteria, Nomination Process and Selection

    Criteria:

    • Willingness to share expertise and advice.
    • Support of the mentee’s current career stage and advancement towards the mentee’s chosen career direction.
    • Service to the community at large, including other mentoring activities.
    • Scholarship within the mentor’s own career: publications, awards, presentations, and honors.

    Nomination Process and Selection:

    • The VPA solicits nominations from members of the Vanderbilt community.
    • The VPA Executive Board reviews and votes on all nominations.

    Nominations close on Friday, March 8 at midnight central time. 

Postdoc Service Award

Sponsors: Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association (VPA) and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

Eligibility:

  • The nominee must be a current postdoc at Vanderbilt University or Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
  • Self-nominations and nominations by others are accepted.
  • Criteria, Nomination Process and Selection

    Criteria:

    • Demonstrated sustained leadership skills to foster postdoc experience at Vanderbilt.
    • Demonstrated meaningful contribution in national and international societies relevant to their research field, e.g., moderating sessions at national/international conferences.
    • Engaged in scholarly research activities outside regular lab responsibilities to advance science, e.g., reviewing manuscripts for journals.
    • Service to the community at large, including other mentoring activities.

    Nomination Process and Selection:

    • Service activities should be clearly listed on the postdoc’s CV.
    • The VPA solicits nominations from all postdocs at Vanderbilt.
    • The VPA Executive Board reviews and votes on all nominations.

    Limitation: Each postdoc is eligible to receive the service award once during their tenure at Vanderbilt University or Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

    Nominations close on Friday, March 8 at midnight central time. 

Previous Award Winners