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 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 

We hope you’ve all had a restful summer and are ready to launch into a new academic year! 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!

October BPSO Business Meeting
Wednesday, 1 October 2025, 4:00pm-5:00pm, K103

The executive board will provide an overview of fall events and 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.
Meet the First Years
Friday, 3 October 2025, 5:00pm, Cathedral Station
All PhD students are welcome to attend! This will be an opportunity to connect with the new students and give them a warm welcome to our community. Free food will be provided, and drinks can be purchased at the bar.

GMS Events Calendar Highlights

C3 Grad Lab: Create, Connect, and Chill
Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 3:00pm-5:00pm, L401

Join C3 for an evening of creativity and connection! Snacks and C3 swag will be available, plus art supplies for you to relax and meet some of your fellow students. Drop in whenever you are available!

Fall Immunization Clinics
Wednesday, 3 September 2025 and Thursday, 4 September 2025, 9:00am-3:00pm, FitRec 3-Court Gym

Vaccine offered will include: MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B (Heplisav), Meningitis ACWY, Tdap, and HPV. Limited walk-ins available. Register in advance here.

Black Girl Environmentalist Volunteering with the Prison Book
Program
Saturday, 6 September 2025

Come choose books, write letters, and more to support sending essential literature to incarcerated members of our community. We will also learn about environmental (in)justice in prisons! More info and RSVP here.

Black Folks in the Blue Hills
Sunday, 7 September 2025

Black girl environmentalists are partnering with Outdoor Afro for a free, guided hike in the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, MA. Black folks of all gender identities are welcome! Some transit support can be provided (indicate so on the RSVP). Afterwards, we will have an (optional) picnic lunch and a chance to go swimming! More info and RSVP here.

Newbury Center Grad Student Welcome and Orientation
Dinner
Thursday, 11 September 2025, 5:00pm-6:30pm, Hiebert Lounge (L-14)

Join the Newbury Center to learn about upcoming events and mentoring opportunities and to meet fellow first-generation students to start building your Terrier F1RSTS community. Dinner will be provided. Registration required, available here.


Upcoming Defense

Are you defending soon? Let us know so we can help advertise your defense!

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)