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 cheerful post-daylight savings! 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.
GMS Events Calendar Highlights
F31 specific aims faculty review session
Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 4:00pm-5:00pm
PhD students currently working on their F31 proposals can receive feedback from faculty members who have served as F31 reviewers for the NIH. Deadline to submit specific aims is 5:00pm on Wednesday, 5 November 2025. Email Benedicte Gnangnon at bgnan@bu.edu to submit your draft and get more details!
BUSPN Science Policy Writing Course
Saturday, 8 November 2025, 9:00am-1:00pm, Zoom
NSPN is holding a 1-day intensive science policy writing course, open to all interested graduate students! Participants will learn to draft compelling policy briefs, position papers, factsheets, talking points for speeches, and op-eds, honing their writing skills while building a portfolio tailored to connect with policymakers and broader audiences. Students who attend will receive a certificate.
Nucleate Boston Industry Leaders Networking and Roundtable
Tuesday, 11 November 2025, 6:00pm-8:30pm, L403
Join Boston University’s Biological Design Center, Nucleate Boston, and the Inflammation Research Association for an evening of career advice and networking! Following career talks, engage in small, focused Roundtable Discussions with experts from local biotech and pharma companies across diverse fields, including Research Operations, Medicinal Chemistry, Proteomics, Corporate Media Affairs, and Immunology. Free food and drinks will be provided!
Upcoming Defense
Are you defending soon? Let us know so we can help advertise your defense!
Congrats Doctor!!!
Dr. Kara Vasilew
Thursday, 16 October 2025
Microbiology
Polyphosphates Interfere with the Host Immunity in Legionella Infection
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)