Biomedical PhD Student Organization
BPSO Mission
The Biomedical PhD Student Organization (BPSO) aims to build and strengthen the community among PhD programs at BUMC; to foster personal and professional relationships between students faculty, alumni , and administrators; to promote interdisciplinary research at BU; and to cultivate camaraderie among Biomedical Science PhD students.
Email us at: bpso@bu.edu
Find us on Facebook
BPSO Officers 2025 – 2026
President: Jillian Grassia (jgrassia@bu.edu)
Vice President: Sam Tolton (sgtolton@bu.edu)
Academic Affairs Liaison: Madeline Labbott (mlabott@bu.edu)
Treasurer: Isabella Garza (igarza99@bu.edu)
Administrative Coordinator: Diana Yeritsyan (dyeritsy@bu.edu)
Union Liaison: Jack Nelson (jacknel@bu.edu)
BPSO Events
Hopefully everyone is staying warm and enjoying the holiday season! As always, please fill out this survey with any ideas you have for events you’d be interested in attending. We look forward to hearing from you!
December BPSO Business Meeting
Wednesday, 3 December 2025, 5:00pm-6:00pm, K103
The executive board will discuss plans for formal, provide an overview of winter and spring events, and provide updates on happenings within GMS. Students will have an opportunity to raise concerns and provide feedback to our Academic Liaison and Union Liaison. FREE food will be provided! Going forward, all business meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of every other month.
Winter Wonderland Social and Food Drive
Tuesday, 9 December 2025, 4:00pm-6:00pm, K103
BPSO will be hosting a winter social event with sweet treats and warm drinks. We will be accepting donations of canned and non-perishable foods for Rosie’s Place. Please join us to celebrate the holidays and spread some cheer with a donation!
Winter BPSO Happy Hour
Friday, 12 December 2025, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Join us at Mighty Squirrel for a happy hour to celebrate the end of the semester! FREE food will be provided!
GMS Events Calendar Highlights
Graduate Student Internships Panel Discussion
Tuesday, 2 December 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston MA, room CILSE 106C
Current BU graduate students who have interned at various biotech and pharma companies will have a panel discussion on the internship experience through BU. Past interns will answer questions about their experiences at AstraZeneca, Draper, IRIS Kinetics, MatTek, Concerto Biosciences, and Pfizer.
Cocoa and Chill
Thursday, 4 December 2025, 4:30pm-6:30pm, L311
Take a much-needed break from studying and join student affairs for a laid-back event with a hot cocoa bar and popcorn machine! Enjoy games and crafts with friends and a movie screening of Home Alone. All GMS students are welcome to attend.
Finals De-Stress Break
Friday, 5 December 2025, 12:30pm-2:30pm, L311
Take a moment to breathe and enjoy cookie decorating & crafting! Stay & relax with friends or just swing by and grab some sweet treats!
Upcoming Defense
Jennifer Freire
Tuesday, 2 December 2025, 2:00pm, Keefer Auditorium
Pharmacology
Optical Voltage Imaging and Nonviral Gene Delivery for Mechanistic Investigation of Parkinson’s Disease
Mackenzie Gamble
Tuesday, 2 December 2025, 3:00pm, INS209
Molecular and Translational Medicine, Program in Biomedical Sciences
From Preclinical Models to Public Health: Mechanistic and Translational Insights into Fentanyl and Polysubstance Effects on Sleep, Respiratory Function, and Overdose
Ivy Hughes
Tuesday, 2 December 2025, 2:00pm, L110
Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Program in Biomedical Sciences
Mechanisms of Innate Immune Activation by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1
Congrats Doctor!!!
Are you defending soon? Let us know so we can help advertise your defense!
Union Updates
The Union Security clause in the contract requires bargaining unit members to pay membership dues or a fair share agency fee. In the event that a bargaining unit member after notification of this obligation fails to pay one or the other, they are subject to a one week’s suspension of pay between the fall and spring semesters.
We entered an MOU with BU to move this penalty from Winter Break to after the spring semester for this year only. When is the time to sign membership cards? If you haven’t signed a membership card yet, now is the time to do so!
You can find a link to the card, and important information on paying dues here: https://www.seiu509.org/join/joinhighered/
Feedback or thoughts? Email us at BPSO@bu.edu
FOLLOW OUR GOOGLE CALENDAR
THANK YOU FOR READING,
YOUR BPSO EBOARD
PRESIDENT: JILLIAN GRASSIA (JGRASSIA@BU.EDU)
VICE PRESIDENT: SAM TOLTON (SGTOLTON@BU.EDU)
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS LIAISON: MADELINE LABOTT (MLABOTT@BU.EDU)
TREASURER: ISABELLA GARZA (IGARZA99@BU.EDU)
ADMIN COORDINATOR: DIANA YERITSYAN (DYERITSY@BU.EDU)
UNION LIAISON: JACK NELSON (JACKNEL@BU.EDU)