Event Details

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Science Day 2011

Date: February 15, 2011

Time: 10:00AM to 4:30PM

Location: Student Life Center

Science Day - February 15, 2011

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center supports basic/molecular, applied, and clinical research and training. The VKC has over 285 faculty researchers, staff, and affiliate members working together across disciplines to create basic and clinical scientific discoveries, to translate research into best practices, and to train the next generation of researchers and practitioners. The ultimate goal is to make positive differences in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Take part in Science Day and discover the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center in new ways.

Science Day goals:

to promote “centeredness” by providing a scientific forum for VKC faculty, their graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows,
to promote research collaboration, and
to provide faculty and trainees with an opportunity to present significant research findings.

Attend Science Day

We invite VKC researchers and members of their research teams to attend and to submit research posters. Prizes will be awarded to trainees (students or fellows) for outstanding posters in three theme areas. Poster abstract submission is now closed. Register to attend by February 11.

Science day highlights include a keynote presentation by a VKC researcher, research presentation by a VKC faculty member, and the poster awards presentation.

Preliminary Event Schedule

10:00 a.m.
Registration and hanging posters

11:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Donna Webb, Ph.D., VKC Science Day Chair

11:05 a.m. Research and Research Training at Vanderbilt
Dennis Hall, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School; Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering

11:20 a.m. Postdoctoral Research at Vanderbilt
Patricia Labosky, Ph.D., Director of Postdoctoral Affairs, BRET Office; Associate Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology and Pharmacology

11:35 a.m. Development and Developmental Disabilities Research and Research Training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Jonathan Gitlin, M.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor for Maternal and Child Health, James C. Overall Professor and Chair of Pediatrics

11:45 a.m. - 1:45
Poster Session and Poster Judging (Lunch served throughout)
Session 1 Judging: 11:45 -12:45
Session 2 Judging 12:45-1:45

2:15 p.m. Keynote Address
Prader-Willi Syndrome and the Tyranny of Evidence
Ronald Emeson, Ph.D., Joel G. Hardman Professor of Pharmacology; Professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics and Psychiatry; Deputy Director, Center for Molecular Neuroscience

2:45 p.m.
Q & A

3:00 p.m. Presentation by VKC Junior Researcher
Trajectories of Autism Spectrum Features in Angelman and Rett Syndrome
Sarika Peters, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

3:25 p.m.
Q & A

3:30 p.m. Poster Awards Presentation and Concluding Remarks
Elisabeth Dykens, Ph.D., VKC Director
Wine & Cheese Reception and continued viewing of posters

4:30 p.m.
Posters removed

Research Posters and Prizes

Prizes awarded to a graduate student and a postdoctoral fellow for best poster in each theme area:

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Clinical, Behavioral, and Intervention Research
Systems Neuroscience

Prize awarded to best overall poster by an undergraduate student.

All poster presenters who are graduate students or postdocs become VKC Affiliates, and are eligible to compete for VKC Travel Awards to present at a professional conference

Posters presented at other scientific meetings are eligible

Dan Polley reviews the poster of a graduate student