Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Science Day - Tuesday, October 15, 2025

2024 Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Science Day will take place Tuesday, Oct. 15, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Vanderbilt University Student Life Center. Posters will be hung in the Commodore Ballroom from 10:00-11:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Commodore Ballroom. Science Day festivities will include lunch, two poster sessions, a keynote, and a Data Blitz, closing with a wine/cheese reception. Find updates for Science Day at the VKC Science Day webpage here: https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc/scienceday/.

2024 VKC Science Day Keynote: Intervention Research: Charms, Challenges and Change
We're excited to longtime Vanderbilt Kennedy Center researcher Ann Kaiser, Ph.D., as our 2024 VKC Science Day keynote speaker. Dr. Kaiser serves as Susan Gray Chair in Education and Human Development and professor of Special Education and Psychology within Peabody College.

UPDATE: The Call for Poster Abstracts for 2024 Science Day has now closed.

Poster Submission Deadlines:

There are two deadlines to consider when preparing a poster abstract for submittal:

• The submission deadline for poster presenters wishing to enter the Poster Competition and be considered to present during the Data Blitz is 11:59 p.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 Submissions received after that deadline may still be eligible to present at Science Day but will not be considered for award contention. NOTE: Presenters may opt out of competition at any time through the final abstract submission deadline.
• The submission deadline for ALL Science Day poster abstracts is 11:59 p.m. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6. The submission portal will close after that time, and no additional posters will be accepted. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

Advance registration from everyone -- including presenters and faculty judges -- is needed for accurate estimates toward catering and materials. Register to attend by the TUESDAY, OCT. 1, deadline. Walk-on registration will be available for those who missed advance registration.

A Tradition With Innovation:

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center supports basic/molecular, applied, and clinical research and training. The VKC has more than 300 faculty researchers, staff, and affiliate members working together across disciplines to create basic and clinical scientific discoveries, to translate research into best practices, and to train the next generation of researchers and practitioners. The ultimate goal is to make positive differences in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Poster Sessions:

More than 100 posters will be presented by undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research faculty, and research staff conducting research in labs or research programs of VKC members. Poster submittals are divided among three Science Day research themes:

• Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience
• Clinical, Behavioral, Educational, & Intervention Research
• Systems Neuroscience

Following Science Day, all poster presenters (first authors) are eligible to submit a request for VKC travel award funding ($250 maximum) to present at a scientific or professional conference before the next Science Day (date TBD). Posters presented at other scientific or professional meetings within the last year are eligible for submission.

Science Day Poster Competition:

Presenters who opt into in the Poster Competition will have two faculty judges visit their poster during their assigned poster session to review the poster and ask questions. Judges will issue scores based on PRESENTATION QUALITY and COMPREHENSION OF THE RESEARCH. Scores will be tabulated by the end of the second poster session.

Up to seven winners will be chosen: one graduate and postdoctoral presenter from each of the three themes (Systems Neuroscience; Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience; and Clinical, Behavioral, Educational, & Intervention Research), as well as one overall undergraduate presenter. The winners will each receive a $250 Warren Lambert Award, in the form of a cash prize or supplemental travel funds to present their research at a scientific meeting during the year.

Data Blitz Consideration:

Presenters who enter the Science Day Poster Competition also submit their abstract for consideration for the Science Day Data Blitz. Following the Aug. 23 deadline, Science Day Program Committee members will review the submitted abstracts in each theme and, based on ABSTRACT QUALITY, will select in advance a small number of presenters to share brief research presentations with the Science Day audience, with time for Q&A.