![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-main\/medschool-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/07\/ASPIRE-on-the-Road-St-Louis-2023-300x109.png\")
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ASPIRE On the Road<\/em>\u00a0is an initiative of the Vanderbilt ASPIRE Program\u00a0aimed at broadening the training experiences of biomedical PhD graduate students and postdocs by organizing site visits to companies and organizations to help our trainees make well-informed career decisions.\u00a0 During these trips, we will spend time with area biotechnology and pharma companies learning about career paths,\u00a0hearing from key leadership, touring the facilities, and meeting with alumni. Read more about past trips here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n We will be visiting \u00a0Pfizer\u2019s Chesterfield site, hosted by alumnus, Larry Thompson, PhD, Associate Research Fellow, Medicinal Sciences & BioTherapeutics.\u00a0\u00a0Pfizer’s St. Louis site<\/a> houses their\u00a0 BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences group and enabling partners. This team is responsible for advancing Pfizer\u2019s biologics, vaccines, and gene therapy portfolio by developing manufacturing processes and dosage forms, applying state-of-the-art analytical technologies, conducting non-GMP manufacturing and scale-up studies. This critical work enables the development of potential new medicines to treat ailments in oncology, rare disease, internal medicine, inflammation & immunology, and vaccines, including biosimilars.<\/p>\n We will also be visting Bayer, and seeking to secure a meeting at BioStl<\/a><\/strong>, a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster collaborative efforts to advance innovation & entrepreneurship in the city and region.\u00a0 We hope to also find the opportunity to visit some smaller companies and start-ups in the area as we dive into the region a bit more over the coming weeks building the agenda. In addition there will be an alumni happy hour that will take place at a local restaurant on the evening of Thursday, October 19 which will include BRET alumni in all types of careers who are located in the St. Louis area.<\/p>\n A\u00a0maximum of 12 trainees will be selected to participate.\u00a0Airfare and hotel accommodations\u00a0will be covered by\u00a0the\u00a0ASPIRE Program for those selected to participate.<\/p>\n 1. Applicants must be a current Vanderbilt University or VUMC PhD student or postdoctoral fellow in the biomedical sciences.\u00a0\u00a0Please note, in order to be equitable in providing opportunities to all of our trainees, if you have already participated in a past ASPIRE on the Road trip, such as to Boston or San Francisco, your application will not be considered for this program.<\/span><\/p>\n 2.\u00a0PhD students must have passed their qualifying exams before the application deadline and should not have defended prior to the trip dates. Priority will be given to more senior graduate students (years 4+) and postdocs who have completed at least a year of their training at Vanderbilt.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0Applicants must be able to attend the full site visit in St. Louis, Oct 18-20, 2023; this may require departure from Nashville early on Wednesday, Oct 18 (we intend to fly).<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0Selected participants must be able to provide proof of vaccination and bring their vaccination card on the trip. This may be required to gain access to industry facilities.<\/p>\n To submit your application:<\/p>\n For more information about the agenda and alumni happy hour, please visit our website (we are still building the program so watch for updates):https:\/\/medschool.vanderbilt.edu\/career-development\/aspire-on-the-road-fall-2023\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nEligibility Requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nDEADLINE to APPLY: Monday, August 21st, 2023 at noon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n