By Kate Stuart
Vanderbilt University welcomed 48 undergraduate researchers from 30 institutions across the country to present their work at the July 31 Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy Poster Symposium. The event highlighted innovative research conducted at Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt University Medical Center laboratories and spanned multiple departments and disciplines.
VSSA was founded in 2003 by the Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training in the School of Medicine to support undergraduate students interested in graduate school and research and provide them with the opportunity to come to Vanderbilt during the summer to learn, conduct research, and participate in clinical patient care. It is currently directed by Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Steph Richards and executed by Program Manager Davie Morales-Miranda, Program Coordinator Aaron Howard, and Director of Trainee Well-being RC Stabile.
To participate in the nine-week VSSA program, students can apply to Basic Sciences Programs, such as AspirnautTM or Leadership Alliance, if they are interested in careers in research or the Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program if they are interested in practicing medicine. Although students apply to individual programs, VSSA provides support and programming for all affiliated research programs.
As part of the program, students complete a research project under the leadership of a research mentor. Some students also have the opportunity to observe clinical patient care while spending time with residents and attending physicians. This year, over 120 students participated in the VSSA, representing a diverse array of institutions from as near as Nashville and as far away as Texas, New York, and even Puerto Rico.
The symposium welcomed students from any VSSA-affiliated program and those who were conducting research independently or through other initiatives, ensuring that all relevant undergraduates doing research at Vanderbilt this summer had the opportunity to share their scientific discoveries and engage with the broader research community.
“I enjoy seeing the students grow as scientists. I hope that this experience offers an opportunity for them to meet others who have the same interests and passions and build their own scientific community,” Richards said. Richards, who is also the director of recruiting for biomedical graduate umbrella programs, also emphasized the importance of the experience for the participating students. “These experiences are invaluable as they prepare for their next steps, whether it be graduate school, medical school, or an M.D./Ph.D. program,” she said.
Faculty mentors echoed the transformative nature of the program. “Summer research offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the research experience in a way that is simply impossible during the academic year,” V-START and V-SMART Program Director Katherine Freedman said. “Having the time to learn the hands-on aspects of research while reading, talking, and thinking about a problem all day long can focus or transform a student’s academic and career goals.” Freedman is also the vice chair and a professor of biological sciences.
“The positive impact that the research opportunities that VSSA provides for undergraduate students is immeasurable,” said Kimberly Vinson, UCRIP director and associate dean of the School of Medicine. “Participation in VSSA allows students to get hands-on experience and contribute to real, cutting-edge research that advances patient care. It is always my hope that these students begin to see themselves as agents of change for the betterment of medical care through innovation in research.” Danielle Dean, assistant professor of medicine and molecular physiology and biophysics, agrees about the program’s impact. “My own summer research experience was the defining moment that solidified my desire to pursue a career as a research scientist.”
David Cliffel, the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Science and the vice chair of the department, highlighted the unique value for students from primarily undergraduate institutions. “These summer research opportunities may be the only time for them to be inspired to pursue a research career,” he said. “Beyond the scientific inquiry and lab experience, the ability to start quickly, set achievable goals, and create a presentation on their work will carry with them.”
Participating in the VSSA and the VSSA symposium helped shape many of the students’ academic and professional aspirations. Cooper Brun, an undergraduate who is applying to medical school, said, “Participating in research has given me an opportunity to explore my interests before fully committing to a graduate degree. My most meaningful experience has been meeting great people at Vanderbilt while learning more about working and learning in a large academic medical center.”
Genevieve Lynn Biberdorf, another student, also reflected on the personal development aspects of the program. “The VSSA has provided me with multiple meaningful experiences, but the most impactful for me would have to be the Overcoming Imposter Syndrome seminar,” she said. “I was able to feel empowered by being shown tools on how to overcome these feelings and the endless opportunities on the other side of this barrier.”
The VSSA Poster Symposium not only celebrated the scientific achievements of undergraduate researchers but also reinforced Vanderbilt’s commitment to mentorship, belonging, and the advancement of future leaders in scientific research and medicine.
