VI4 Science Communication Internship in partnership with 
This internship provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary graduate students to work with the VI4 Project Manager each semester to learn about and execute creative communication strategies through both traditional and social media platforms. They will learn to craft the perfect caption, write a compelling editorial, and design infographics and animations. In addition, they work together on a group project, ImmuKnow+, which aims to incorporate different elements of science communication.
What do the interns do?
- Generate written content and images on current research and discoveries
- Monitor and post on social networks
- Curate and report on faculty and trainee publications
- Produce engaging content in the VI4/PMI self-serve video studio
- Design graphic materials to accompany various communications
- Contribute to website design
- Assist in making marketing and creative materials for community outreach programs
Internship Details:
- Internship runs on a semester basis, with the opportunity to extend to the following semester pending review.
- Internship is unpaid.
- Part-time (~10 hours per week), flexible and a mix of on campus and remote work.
Eligibility:
- Internship participants must be a current Vanderbilt University Ph.D. student or a current postdoctoral fellow both during the application period and for the duration of the internship.
- All Ph.D. students must have completed all coursework for their degree prior to the start of the internship.
- Biomedical Ph.D. students must also have passed their qualifying exams before the application deadline.
Application for Fall 2023 will open May 2023.
ASPIRE Internship FAQs
Meet the Spring 2023 Interns
Alexandra Abu-Shmais is a Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Ivelin Georgiev in the department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. Her research is focused on gaining a better understanding of the fundamental rules of antibody-antigen interactions.
Matt Vukovich is a Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Ivelin Georgiev in the department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. His research is focused on vaccine design for viruses such as HIV-1 and influenza. Matt’s interests include teaching, mentorship, and scientific outreach. Outside of the lab he loves riding his bike and going on long walks.
Rachael Wolters is a 3rd year Ph.D. candidate in the lab of James Crowe at the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center. Before joining the Crowe lab, she earned her BS and DVM from the University of Tennessee. Her work is currently focused on the humoral immune response to influenza and using air-liquid interface cell culture techniques and animal models to test antibodies as therapeutic candidates.
Spring 2023 Intern Mentors
Kaitlyn Browning is a Ph.D. candidate in Houra Merrikh’s lab in the Department of Biochemistry. She studies the consequences of collisions between DNA replication and transcription in bacterial pathogens, with a focus on mutagenesis and evolution. Kaitlyn is passionate about making science accessible and approachable for all audiences and is hopeful about a career in science advocacy and communication. She is an avid plant collector and enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her two dogs.
Casey Butrico is a Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Jim Cassat in the department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. Her research is focused on understanding how hyperglycemia influences infection dynamics during invasive Staphylococcus aureus bone infection. Throughout graduate school, Casey fostered a passion for science communication via leadership and teaching roles and is thrilled to have the opportunity to continuing learning as a VI4 Science Communication Intern. Casey also completed an internship at Pfizer during graduate school and worked at Janssen as an Assistant Scientist prior to starting her Ph.D. program. She hopes to combine her passions for translational science and science communication to establish a career in medical affairs or clinical research.
Meet the Spring 2023 Interns
Alexandra Abu-Shmais is a Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Ivelin Georgiev in the department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. Her research is focused on gaining a better understanding of the fundamental rules of antibody-antigen interactions.
Matt Vukovich is a Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Ivelin Georgiev in the department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. His research is focused on vaccine design for viruses such as HIV-1 and influenza. Matt’s interests include teaching, mentorship, and scientific outreach. Outside of the lab he loves riding his bike and going on long walks.
Rachael Wolters is a 3rd year Ph.D. candidate in the lab of James Crowe at the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center. Before joining the Crowe lab, she earned her BS and DVM from the University of Tennessee. Her work is currently focused on the humoral immune response to influenza and using air-liquid interface cell culture techniques and animal models to test antibodies as therapeutic candidates.
Spring 2022 Intern Mentors
Kaitlyn Browning is a Ph.D. candidate in Houra Merrikh’s lab in the Department of Biochemistry. She studies the consequences of collisions between DNA replication and transcription in bacterial pathogens, with a focus on mutagenesis and evolution. Kaitlyn is passionate about making science accessible and approachable for all audiences and is hopeful about a career in science advocacy and communication. She is an avid plant collector and enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her two dogs.
Casey Butrico is a Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Jim Cassat in the department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. Her research is focused on understanding how hyperglycemia influences infection dynamics during invasive Staphylococcus aureus bone infection. Throughout graduate school, Casey fostered a passion for science communication via leadership and teaching roles and is thrilled to have the opportunity to continuing learning as a VI4 Science Communication Intern. Casey also completed an internship at Pfizer during graduate school and worked at Janssen as an Assistant Scientist prior to starting her Ph.D. program. She hopes to combine her passions for translational science and science communication to establish a career in medical affairs or clinical research.
Past Interns
Fall 2022 - Kaitlyn Browning, Casey Butrico, Helen Parrington, and Steven Walker
Spring 2022 - Kaitlyn Browning and Helen Parrington
Fall 2021 - Taylor Engdahl, Adriana Norris, and Helen Parrington
Spring 2021 - Taylor Engdahl, Sara Melow, and Sohini Roy, Ph.D.
Fall 2020 - Caroline Cencer, Christopher Hofmann, and Sohini Roy, Ph.D.