ASPIRE Mock Interview Week 2026
Application deadline: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at noon
Back again for its 4th year, this event will provide biomedical PhD students and postdocs the opportunity to practice their interview skills with employers and alumni, (including faculty, if appropriate), and receive valuable feedback. Each participant will have up to 4 mock interviews, each lasting about 45 minutes, scheduled during the week of February 23rd; all virtual via Zoom!
Mock interviewers will represent a range of nonacademic and academic careers. Nonacademic fields represented include – but are not limited to – data science, medical science liaisons, clinical research, start-ups, medical communications, nonprofits, and industry. Academic careers represented include research/program administration (e.g. VICTR) and staff scientist roles, as well as postdoc positions and teaching- or research-focused faculty positions.
As part of the application for this event, you will need to specify your career interests so we can try to schedule your mock interviews with alumni/employers from appropriate career fields, as well as provide a copy of your resume/CV.
APPLY TODAY!
CV/Resume preparation
In your application for this event, you will be asked fine tune your CV/Resume. This CV or resume will need to be formatted according to the standards of the industry you are most interested in, as these will be shared with the interviewers before the event. For example, if you submit an academic research CV, but indicate you are interested in applying for a medical science liaison position, we will ask you to submit a resume instead.
Eligibility
This event is for Vanderbilt and VUMC PhD students or postdoctoral fellows in the biomedical sciences.
- PhD students must have passed their qualifying exams before the the application deadline
- Preference will be given to PhD students affiliated with a School of Medicine or VUMC department or program, students affiliated with an institutional training grant, and students who have been admitted through the IGP, QCB, or IMSD.
- This is a limited-capacity event open to both PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in the biomedical sciences. Preference will be given to individuals who are currently interviewing for positions, and to those who will finish their training at VU within the next 18 months.
Mock Interview Day – Key Dates & Deadlines
December 17 – Final Application Deadline
January 7 – Applicants notified of their acceptance for mock interview day
February 9 – Participants receive names/titles of individuals with whom they will be interviewing and example job descriptions for typical positions within the career field.
February 9 – Revised CV/resumes due (if requested)
February 23-27 – ASPIRE Mock Interview Week
Questions? Please contact BRET Office of Career Development Assistant Director Angela Zito (angela.zito@vanderbilt.edu)