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 2026 – 2027
President: Chris Cummings
Vice President: Catie Duys
Academic Affairs Liaison: Sarah Ruth Shick
Treasurer: Phoebe Fechtmeyer
Administrative Coordinator: Katherine Hui
Union Liaison: Jack Nelson
BPSO Events Calendar
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 event ideas or general comments. We look forward to hearing from you!
Meet the First years
September 18, 5 – 7 pm, 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
Industry Life Sciences Panel
September 17, 5 – 6 pm, Hybrid (Location TBD)
The BU Biotech Club is hosting an informational panel with Industry Scientists from Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Hear about their experiences transitioning from academia to industry, work-life balance, career paths in industry R&D, and more. RSVP here and attend in person (location TBD) or over Zoom.
GMS/SPH Experience Fair
September 24, 3 – 6 pm, Hiebert Lounge (L-building, 14th floor)
Come check out the amazing resources available to you (student organizations and clubs, support services, career resources, wellness resources…) and get involved in the community!
2026 Graduate Resource Fair
September 9, 3 – 6 pm, GSU Metcalf Ballroom
The Graduate Resource Fair is an annual event for graduate students to connect with essential University resources, discover exciting student groups, and learn about campus activities. Learn more here.
Growing Your Professional Network/Ecosystem
Networking can feel inauthentic or dreaded. This interactive workshop has been designed to help you build meaningful (professional) connections and a support ecosystem. Attend over Zoom to hear from Assistant Professor Katelyn Carnevale and Director of Professional Development Bene Gnangnon.
Newbury Center: Graduate and Professional In-Person Welcome & Orientation
September 8, 5 – 6:30 pm, Hiebert Lounge (L building, 14th floor)
Are you a new first-generation graduate or professional student at BU? Join the Newbury Center in the Hiebert Lounge to learn about upcoming events and meet fellow first-generation students to start building your Terrier F1RSTS community! Learn more here.
[ISSO] Town Hall: New USDHS Rules for International Students & Scholars
Join the ISSO, Office or General Counsel, Federal Relations, and a Boston-based immigration attorney for a virtual town hall to learn more about new rules and how these changes will affect international students, scholars, and the departments that support them. Attend via Zoom.
Congrats Doctor!!!
Yuehan Li
Tuesday, September 22, 12:30 pm, Bakst Auditorium, AGB-101
Pharmacology
Exploring Rho-Associated Kinase Inhibitors as Potential Therapeutic Agents for Alzheimer’s Disease
Konstantinos Kontodimas
Friday, September 25, 1:30 pm, Silvio O. Conte Medical Research Building, K103
Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Program in Biomedical Sciences
Distinct Venous Endothelial Cells Contribute to the Fibrotic Remodeling of the Lung
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.
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
THANK YOU FOR READING,
YOUR BPSO EBOARD
PRESIDENT: CHRIS CUMMINGS (CHRISBC@BU.EDU)
VICE PRESIDENT: CATIE DUYS (CDUYS@BU.EDU)
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS LIAISON: SARAH RUTH SHICK (SHICK@BU.EDU)
TREASURER: PHOEBE FECHTMEYER (PFECHTME@BU.EDU)
ADMIN COORDINATOR: KATHERINE HUI (KATHUI@BU.EDU)
UNION LIAISON: JACK NELSON (JACKNEL@BU.EDU)