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 2023 – 2024
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 Business
Hi everyone,
The past few weeks have been difficult, and we must support one another during these unpredictable times. Please take a moment to check in with the international students in our community. Below, you’ll find upcoming BPSO events that provide spaces for us to come together, along with resources for those looking to learn more about international students’ rights and how we can all support each other in case of emergencies. Take care, and let’s look out for each other.
BPSO Events
Happy summer, from your new executive board! As we transition to a new leadership team, we’d like to encourage all BPSO members to reach out with any ideas or suggestions for the upcoming academic year. We want to host events that you all enjoy! 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!
Board Meeting -We will be having our first meeting with our new executive board at 5:00pm on 17 June 2025. There will be burritos for those in attendance!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
Boston University Science Policy Event on AI in Healthcare
Thursday, 7 August 2025, 4:30pm-6:30pm, Hiebert Lounge (L-14)
National Science Policy Network (NSPN) is hosting Politics Aside: Policy Forward, a nonpartisan policy series. Speakers will include Senator Jacob R. Oliveira, Senator Michael O. Moore, Representative Meghan K. Kilcoyne, and a CEO from the pharmaceutical industry, among others. More information and registration available here.
Graduate Writing Support Retreat
Monday, 18 August 2025–Wednesday, 20 August 2025, 100 Bay State Road, Room 613
If you’re working on your dissertation and would benefit from dedicated co-working space and time, apply here to join this writing retreat! Coffee, tea, and pizza lunch will be served.
GMS Events
GMS Campus Store has launched!
Checkout the new virtual GMS campus bookstore with different GMS swag items. HERE
First-Gen Summer Lunch Series – Wednesday, 4 and 18June 2025, 11:00am-1:00pm, Newbury Center Suite B04
Bi-weekly lunch series to bring together the Terrier F1RSTS community.
Register here!
C3 Ice-Cream Summer Social – Tuesday, 19 August 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm, L306 (C3 Suite)
Stop by the C3 suite to catch up with GMS friends and enjoy some ice cream!
Summer Immunization Clinic – Thursday, 28 August 2025, 9:00am-2:00pm, Hiebert Lounge (L-14)
Vaccine offered will include: MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B (Heplisav), Meningitis ACWY, Tdap, and HPV. TB testing (IGRAs) and Hep B titers will also be available. Please bring insurance information for blood testing.
GMS Orientation – Friday, 29 August 2025
Broad and program-specific sessions for incoming GMS students highlighting academic services, professional development, diversity and inclusion, student life, financial services, and more. Additional information here.
Upcoming Defense
Erika Smith-Mahoney
Thursday, 5 June 2025, 12:00pm, L110
Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology
Novel Insights into Gamma Delta T Cell Heterogeneity Revealed via Investigation of Inflammatory States Driven by Chronic Viral Infections and Aging using Next Generation Tools
Chelsey Skeete
Friday, 6 June 2025, 2:00pm, L110
Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology
Investigating the Role of Opioid Signaling on HIV-1 Infection in Microglia
Congrats Doctor!!!
Dr. Erika Smith-Mahoney
Thursday, 5 June 2025
Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology
Novel Insights into Gamma Delta T Cell Heterogeneity Revealed via Investigation of Inflammatory States Driven by Chronic Viral Infections and Aging using Next Generation Tools
Dr. Chelsey Skeete
Friday, 6 June 2025
Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology
Investigating the Role of Opioid Signaling on HIV-1 Infection in Microglia
Are you defending soon? Let us know so we can highlight your seminar!
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)