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: Kate Alimenti (alimenti@bu.edu)
Vice President: Joelle Johnson (jgjohns@bu.edu)
Academic Affairs Liaison: Madeline Labbott (mlabott@bu.edu)
Treasurer: Isabella Garza (igarza99@bu.edu)
Administrative Coordinator: Viviana Dominguez (vadoming@bu.edu)
Union Liaison: Dilnar Mahmut (dmahmut@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
Alumni Mixer (drinks and food included) – April 11th, 3-5pm @Hiebert Lounge
This is a great opportunity to network with past BU PhD students from a diverse set of career paths. Food and alcoholic beverages will be provided. Please sign up at this link.
Crazy Critters (free pizza!!) – April 17th from 4-6pm, location TBD
The return of crazy critters! Stop by to hang out with some animals. Please interact with the animals and then have the pizza afterward.
Mocktail Making @BPSO Speakeasy (dinner catered) – April 29, 5-6 pm ,K103
Join BPSO and other students in creating and enjoying some mocktails.
Roaring 20’s BPSO Formal – May 2nd @ 7PM – 10 PM, Carrie Nation
We are very excited to announce our formal will be OFF CAMPUS this year at Carrie Nation. We will have a private room with music and pool tables. Plus ones are welcome to attend. RSVP HERE and add song requests now.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
Sign up for one-on-one career exploration Brainstorm about career options, access relevant resources, get connected to professionals, or CV, resume, cover letter, and/or LinkedIn review advice, support, or coaching with:
– Lauren Celano, Biotech career coach and freelance recruiter
or
– Béné, PhD career specialist.
**BU x NSF Innovations in Graduate Education PhD Internships –Summer 2025
BU Grad Affairs is thrilled to announce that this summer we will be offering 3 internship positions for BU PhD students with local companies through the support of an NSF Innovations in Graduate Education grant as well as the BU Bioengineering Technology & Entrepreneurship Center (BTEC)!
BU PhD students/candidates are invited to apply for internship positions with three BU BTEC member companies: Amgen, Draper, and Novartis. Please note that you must be enrolled as a BU PhD degree-seeking student during Summer 2025 to be eligible. Selected interns will work up to 20 hours per week for 10 weeks between June and August 2025. Interns will receive a stipend equivalent to their current PhD stipend rate.
GMS Events
GMS Campus Store has launched!
Checkout the new virtual GMS campus bookstore with different GMS swag items. HERE
Courses Running in March and April:
Self-Defense Trainings: Safety Comes First!
Student Wellbeing, in partnership with BUPD, is excited to offer five self-defense training sessions designed to help students feel more confident and safer on and off campus. These 3 hour trainings provide skills and information around crime-prevention and awareness, including basic self-defense tactics that allow students to practice techniques in real-time. Sessions are open to all BU students. Link to sign up here
Life After Graduation: Financing Your Future GMS students!
March 18th @ 6pm
Headed to professional school soon? Taking a gap? Headed into a job? Learn how to best prepare yourself financially for your next step after graduation: what to expect for funding your professional school education, deferring your current loans, and how to support yourself during a gap. *Registration strongly encouraged / Walk-ins welcome. Link to sign up here
Upcoming Defense
Dissertation Defense – Erik Matson, March 11th 1pm INS – 110
“Molecular and Immunological Mechanisms B Cell Activating Factor – Driven B cell Dysregulation in CVID”
Dissertation Defense – Pihl Riley, March 13th 2pm INS – 110
“Neutrophils Respond with Pathogen – Specific Defenses during Bacterial Pneumonia.”
Dissertation Defense – Amy Monasterio, March 14th 11 AM 610 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, Room 101
“Hippocampal Engram Dynamics Before and After Learning”
Dissertation Defense – Remi Janicot, March 14th 1pm K103
“High – Fidelity Detection of G – Protein Activity with Complementary Optical Biosensor Platforms”
Dissertation Defense – Sita Ramaswamy, March 18th 1pm Heibert Lounge
“Elucidating Mechanisms of HIV – 1 Intron – Containing RNA – Mediated Inflammatory Response in Immune Cells”
Congrats Doctor!!!
Dr. Todd Dowrey
Dr. Liz Flores
Dr. Laura Marshall
Dr. Kevin Hayes
Dr. Nathan Sanders
Dr. Shuqiang Chen
Dr. Christina Ennis
Dr. Minyi Lee
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: KATE ALIMENTI (ALIMENTI@BU.EDU)
VICE PRESIDENT: JOELLE JOHNSON (JGJOHNS@BU.EDU)
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS LIAISON: MADELINE LABOTT (MLABOTT@BU.EDU)
TREASURER: ISABELLA GARZA (IGARZA99@BU.EDU)
ADMIN COORDINATOR: VIVIANA DOMINGUEZ (VADOMING@BU.EDU)
UNION LIAISON: DILNAR MAHMUT (DMAHMUT@BU.EDU)