Non-ASPIRE Programs to Enhance Your Career and Professional Development
The ASPIRE program provides many opportunities for career and professional development, but there are numerous other terrific opportunities at Vanderbilt and in Nashville to test your interests and build your skills and network. This list of potential activities to enhance your career and professional development was originally compiled by VU alumnus Teddy van Opstal, PhD Biological Sciences ’18, and we’ve added to it as we’ve learned of new developments. Have ideas for the list? Let us know!
Teaching
Vanderbilt Center for Teaching
-Certificate in College Teaching (1 semester coursework, 1 semester practicum)
-Certificate in Humanities Teaching and Learning
-Course Design Institute
-Graduate Teaching Fellows program
-An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching workshop
-Learning Communities
-Teaching statement revisions
-Become a staff member (several openings)
Vanderbilt Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning
-Teaching-as-Research Fellows program
-An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching workshop
-Tiered Mentoring Program
-Blended & Online Learning Design program
-Future faculty Classroom Experience
Vanderbilt Program for Talented Youth
-Saturday Academy at Vanderbilt for the Young instructor
-Summer Academy at Vanderbilt for the Young instructor
-Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University instructor
-Vanderbilt Summer Academy instructor
Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach
-Scientist in the Classroom program (for postdocs)
-Day of Discovery program lab visit
-Young Scientist Journal editor
Science Policy and Advocacy
-Annual Vanderbilt STEM Policy trip to D.C
-Life Science Tennessee Mid-TN Academic Alliance
-Vanderbilt Science Policy Group
Writing & Communication
Ideas for Writing Opportunities
-department newsletters (i.e BioVU investigator, Results and Discussion, etc.)
– VUMC Reporter newspaper
-Vanderbilt Editors Club
-Vanderbilt Hustler news
Vanderbilt Writing Studio
-Walk in appointments
-Dinner and a draft
-Dissertation Writers Retreat
-3 minute thesis workshop
-On Writing seminar series
-Become a staff member
English Learning Center
-English for Academics and Professionals Program
-1-1 speaking consultations
-1-1 writing consultations
-Effective Teaching Strategies for International Faculty
-Dissertation workshops
Oral Communication
-Graduate Student Council’s 3-Minute Thesis Competition
-Nashville Science Club
Turner Family Center for Social Ventures
-Project pyramid
-Regular lunch and learns
-TFC Summer Fellowships
-Advising hours with TFC director
Science Outreach
-Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science (VSVS)
-BrainBlast event (every Spring)
-MegaMicrobe event (every Fall)
–Adventure Science Center volunteer
–Vanderbilt Aspirnaut
Vanderbilt Program for Talented Youth
-Saturday Academy at Vanderbilt for the Young instructor
-Summer Academy at Vanderbilt for the Young instructor
-Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University instructor
-Vanderbilt Summer Academy instructor
Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach
-Scientist in the Classroom program (for postdocs)
-Day of Discovery program lab visit
-Young Scientist Journal editor
Curb Center
-Curb Scholars Program
-Public Scholars Program
-Racial Equity in Arts Leadership program
Entrepreneurship
–Annual TechVenture Challenge
-VINES or VEN organizations
-Life Science TN Academic Alliance Beer and Biotech events
Wond’ry
-Entrepreneur Prelaunch
-Entrepreneur Postlaunch
-Innovation Garage
-iCorps
Data Science and Digital Scholarship
-Workshops from the Vanderbilt Libraries Digital Scholarship and Communications team
–Vanderbilt Data Science Institute
Leadership opportunities
-Inclusivity in the Biosciences
-Graduate Student Council
-Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association
-Departmental student associations
-VU-WISE
-Graduate Diversity and Inclusion committee member
-Organization of Black Graduate & Professional Students
-Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science
-Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health Student Advisory Council