SSD Keynote Lecture and Reception

Keivan G. Stassun, PH.D. Stevenson Professor of Astrophysics, Director, Frist Center for Autism & Innovation, Vanderbilt University 

Stassun holds the Stevenson chair in Astrophysics, and holds secondary appointments in Computer
Science and in Management, at Vanderbilt University, where he has received an NSF CAREER award, a
Cottrell Scholar award from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, an HHMI Professor
award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and a Ford Foundation Fellowship from the National
Academy of Sciences. Stassun is a member of the leadership team for NASA’s Ultraviolet Explorer (UVEX)
and Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) space telescope missions, served as a co-investigator for
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, chairs the executive committee of the Sloan
Digital Sky Survey, serves on the National Academy of Sciences Space Studies Board and Divisional
Committee for Engineering & Physical Sciences, and recently served on the National Academy of
Sciences Decadal Steering Committee for Astronomy & Astrophysics. An elected Fellow of the American
Physical Society, the American Astronomical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, Sigma Xi, and an elected Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, his research on
stars and exoplanets has appeared in more than 600 peer-reviewed journal articles, with an emphasis
on understanding the fundamental physical properties of stars and extrasolar planets. From 2004 to
2016, he served as founding director of the Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program, which has
become one of the nation’s top producers of PhDs to underrepresented groups in the physical sciences.
Having trained more than fifty PhD students and postdoctoral scholars from diverse backgrounds,
Stassun is a leader and advocate and exemplar for training the next generation of American talent in
STEM fields. He has served on NSF’s Committee for Equal Opportunity in Science and Engineering, is a
recipient of the American Physical Society’s Nicholson Medal for Outreach, has been named Mentor of
the Year by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has been honored with a
Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Since 2017,
Stassun serves as founding director of the Frist Center for Autism & Innovation in Vanderbilt’s School of
Engineering, focused on advancing science and engineering through the engagement and workforce
development of autistic individuals and those with other forms of neurodiversity, and has awarded
more PhDs to autistic scientists and engineers than any other program. In 2023, Stassun was appointed
to a six-year term on the National Science Board, in 2024 was named a MacArthur Fellow, and in 2025
received the National Medal of Science.

Your Research, Your Future: Employer Panel and Networking Breakfast

The Employer Panel and Networking Breakfast is a special event within Student Scholars Day that connects students with employers who actively seek candidates with undergraduate research experience. The panel will highlight local employers committed to hiring students engaged in research and offer valuable insights into how research skills translate to key workplace competencies. Additionally, the event provides a unique opportunity for students to network with potential employers while hearing inspiring success stories from former students who have successfully transitioned from research to professional roles in the community. The Employer Panel is on April 9, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at the Kirkhof Center, Pere Marquette 2204. Career Services sponsors this event.

SSD Presentations, Exhibits, and Workshops

SSD Presentations from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Mini-Zine located on the 1st floor of the Mary Idema Pew Library
• Extended Sessions and Sessions located in the Russel H. Kirkhof Center
• Oral Presentations located in the Russel H. Kirkhof Center
• Poster Presentations are located in the Henry Hall Atrium and the Grand River Room in the Russel H. Kirkhof Center

Virtual Climate Change Student Symposium from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
The 4th Annual Virtual Climate Change Student Symposium (VCCSS) is an extended virtual session showcasing student research and creative activities focusing on climate change, its causes, impacts, science/policy interface, and mitigation and adaptation solutions. VCCSS is a multi-disciplinary synchronous online event hosted on GVSU Zoom Webinar platform. It is a joint ongoing initiative of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship and GVSU Climate Change Education Solutions Network.

*The link to the VCCSS symposium event on YouTube is now available. Please enjoy!

Workshop - Going Public: Sharing Research with Zines from 2:30-5:00 p.m. in the Knowledge Market on the 1st floor Mary Idema Pew Library

Join CLAS Society, Technology, and Environment cluster members to share research ideas and create your DIY publication. Bring your creativity, and we’ll provide the supplies. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to join us for a zine workshop in the Knowledge Market on the 1st floor Mary Idema Pew Library, Allendale Campus.

SSD Performances

Throughout the Month of April, 2026, SSD Art Exhibit

SSD Art Exhibition
Artist Reception: Thursday, April 9 at 5:00 p.m., Calder Art Center

During the 2026 Student Scholars Day event, the Department of Visual and Media Arts will curate exhibits that highlight the high standards of student scholarship in the department. Showcased in the atrium gallery of the Calder Art Center will be exceptional drawing work from a variety of classes. The exhibit will be on display throughout the month of April.

Promotional Materials Request

We can help you get the word out to your students! We would be happy to send you flyers, pluggers, and/or a Power Point file so that you can promote SSD to your student.

Submit your request online.