Alumni

  • Headshot of Dave Vigerust in a navy suit on a gray background. The image is overlaid over a golden background emblazoned with the Vanderbilt name.

    Alum Answers with Dave Vigerust

    For our latest Alum Answers feature, meet Dave Vigerust, PhD’04, who trained as a scientist in Vanderbilt’s IGP umbrella program and then in the Cellular and Molecular Pathology program. He has spent his career interfacing between basic research and the clinic and is now the chief scientific and strategy officer of three companies. Read More

    Nov. 20, 2025

  • Headshot of Chase Spurlock

    Alum Answers with Chase Spurlock

    A Middle Tennessee native, Chase Spurlock, PhD’14, was drawn to Vanderbilt University for its excellence in healthcare and science. A project he completed in graduate school ignited in him a desire to impact patient lives through academic-industry partnerships, and he has not looked back since. Read More

    Oct. 13, 2025

  • Ashley Brady (left) and Lee Limbird image over Vanderbilt gold background

    Vanderbilt basic science alum Q&A: Ashley Brady

    Ashley Brady, PhD’03, assistant dean of biomedical career engagement and strategic partnerships in the BRET Office of Career Development ASPIRE Program and associate professor of medical education and administration, sat down with us to discuss her experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in her career. Read More

    Jan. 21, 2025

  • People in a classroom

    From the bench to biotech executive: Alum Lori Rudolph-Owen’s career path

    Lori Rudolph-Owen, an accomplished figure in the biotechnology industry and a Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences alum, shared her insights on career progression and drug development on Oct. 3 as part of BRET’s Ph.D. Career Stories, a series focused on various alums and their professions. Read More

    Dec. 17, 2024

  • Sonja Fulmer headshot over Vanderbilt gold background

    Vanderbilt basic science alum Q&A: Sonja Fulmer

    Sonja Fulmer, a graduate of Chemical and Physical Biology Program who is now the deputy director of the FDA’s Digital Health Center of Excellence, sat down with us to discuss her experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in her successful career. Read More

    Dec. 10, 2024

  • Efrain Garcia headshot over Vanderbilt gold background

    Vanderbilt basic science alum Q&A: Efrain Garcia

    Efrain Garcia, a graduate of the pharmacology department who is now a Senior Project Officer & Health Scientist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sat down with us to discuss his experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in his career.  Read More

    Nov. 14, 2024

  • Alum speakers at the 2024 ASPIRE Career Symposium

    BRET’s annual career symposium helps students explore a variety of biomedical career paths

    Vanderbilt’s ASPIRE program recently hosted its yearly career symposium, bringing biomedical science professionals, including biomedical sciences alums, to speak about their jobs and share diverse career pathways available to our trainees. Read More

    Aug. 1, 2024

  • Randy Perera headshot over Vanderbilt gold background

    Vanderbilt basic science alum Q&A: Randy Perera

    Randy Perera, Fellow'24, who worked in the biochemistry department and is now a scientist at the pharmaceutical and biotech company MilliporeSigma (Merck KGaA) sat down with us to discuss his experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in his career.  Read More

    Jul. 29, 2024

  • Jennifer Zachry headshot over Vanderbilt golded background

    School of Medicine Basic Sciences Alum Q&A: Jennifer Zachry

    Jennifer Zachry, graduate of the Department of Pharmacology who is now the director of business development at Orion Therapeutic, sat down with us to discuss her experience at the School of Medicine Basic Sciences and how it played a role in her successful career. Read More

    Apr. 23, 2024

  • Vanderbilt University

    Accolade Corner and Class Notes

    The hard work of the faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students who conduct basic biomedical research at Vanderbilt continues to be recognized on the local and national level. Here we list a few of the researchers whose work has been recently recognized. Read More

    Mar. 7, 2024