ASPIRE Cafe for Postdoctoral Fellows
Explore topics in career development and professionalism.
Orientation to BRET Resources for Postdocs (offered once each semester) provides an overview of the Office of Career Development ASPIRE programs and helps postdoctoral fellows find out how to become involved in our activities. This session should only be attended once, as the content will be repeated each time.
All other sessions will feature specific career development or professionalism topics, such as converting your CV into a powerful résumé, networking strategies, writing a winning cover letter, informational interviewing, finding funding for your research, Leveraging LinkedIN, Preparing for a teaching demo, and grant resources at Vanderbilt. This will be an informal session where conversation and questions are encouraged. Since this topic will change each meeting, feel free to attend as often as you wish.
All past session handouts can be found via the special Vanderbilt Box ASPIRE Cafe folder
All sessions are held from 11am – 12pm on Thursdays.
Add the sessions to your calendar here!
Training Stage Key
Sessions are open to Postdoctoral Fellows at any stage of their training and all are welcome to attend. However, many topics are most relevant at specific stages. Each session is designated as such. Please use this key as a guide to determine which would be most beneficial to you
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| Postdoctoral fellows | First half of training period | Second half of training period | All years |
Fall 2021
| Date | Title | Speaker | Location | Training Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 26, 2021 | Orientation to ASPIRE Resources for Postdocs | Ashley Brady, PhD Assistant Dean of Biomedical Career Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Administration | Light Hall 202 | |
| September 9, 2021 | Preparing a Faculty Position Application | Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, PhD Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Eric Skaar, PhD Director, Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation (VI4) Director, Division of Molecular Pathogenesis Ernest W. Goodpasture Chair in Pathology Vice Chair for Research, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology Elma Zadanjor, PhD Assistant Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics | Light Hall 208 | |
| September 23, 2021 | Grant Resources at Vanderbilt | Abby Brown, Ph.D., BRET, Director, Outcomes Research | Light Hall 202 | |
| October 14, 2021 | Fellowships and F32 NRSAs | Kim Petrie, PhD Assistant Dean for Biomedical Career Development, Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Administration | Light Hall 419 BCD | |
| October 28, 2021 | What to Expect from a Faculty Interview | Faculty Panel | Light Hall 202 | |
| November 11, 2021 | K Awards: Which One is Right for You? | Abby Brown, Ph.D., BRET, Director, Outcomes Research | Zoom | |
| December 9, 2021 | How to Give a Chalk Talk | Faculty Panel | Light Hall 419 BCD | |
Spring 2022
| Date | Title | Speaker | Location | Training Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 13, 2022 | Orientation to ASPIRE Resources for Postdocs | Ashley Brady, PhD Assistant Dean of Biomedical Career Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Administration | Light Hall 214 | |
| January 27, 2022 | Negotiating Your Faculty Compensation and Start-Up Package | Kathy Gould, Ph.D., Louise B. McGavock Professor Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Senior Associate Dean for Biomedical Research, Education and Career Development | Light Hall 214 | |
| February 10, 2022 | Developing Your Mentoring Style | Ashley Brady, PhD Assistant Dean of Biomedical Career Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Administration | Light Hall 214 | |
| February 24, 2022 | Informational Interviewing | Ashley Brady, PhD Assistant Dean of Biomedical Career Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Administration | Light Hall 214 | |
| March 10, 2022 | Nontenure Faculty Track | Faculty Panel | Light Hall 214 | |
| March 24, 2022 | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| April 14, 2022 | Topic on Resiliency | Beth Bowman, Ph.D. | Light Hall 214 | |
| April 28, 2022 | A Fair Look: How to Review A Paper | Kathy Gould, Ph.D., Louise B. McGavock Professor Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Senior Associate Dean for Biomedical Research, Education and Career Development | Light Hall 214 | |
| May 12, 2022 | Setting up and Running a New Lab | Faculty Panel | Light Hall 214 | |
Questions or suggestions for other topics? Email Ashley Brady at ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu