Aspirnaut

February 25, 2026

Billy Hudson named 2026 Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient

Leaders in government, business, military, media and technology will be honored with the prestigious Ellis Island Medals of Honor on May 16 during gala on Ellis Island.

By Craig Boerner and Bill Snyder
July 31, 2025

High school researchers at VUMC glimpse the future

They were part of the Aspirnaut program, which prepares high school and college students, primarily from rural areas, for careers in the STEM fields.

By Bill Snyder
March 31, 2025

$5 million gift from Springer-Lu Family Foundation to support VUMC’s Aspirnaut program

Aspirnaut is a K-20 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) pipeline that supports immersive summer research experiences for talented high school and undergraduate students.

By Sarah Wolf
The 2024 Aspirnaut Undergraduate Summer Research Interns. Front row, from left, Dolma Choenzom, Kimberly Hoang, Martina Gergis, and Marquala Whitman. Second row, from left, Eun Jun Wang, Anna Ruth Madera, Adrian Castañeda, and Shawn Jamison. Third row, from left, Freddiemae Thompson, Jalen L. Smith, Colton Miller, and John Bister. Fourth row, from left, Ryan Anderson, Emma Meihofer, and Kyle Vallone. (photo by Susan Urmy)
August 8, 2024

Aspirnaut research interns reach for the stars

The next day, the students, interns in the 16th summer research session of the Aspirnaut STEM pipeline program for diversity, were bound for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

By Bill Snyder
The 2023 Aspirnaut summer research interns, flanked by the program’s co-founders, Julie Hudson, MD, left, and Billy Hudson, PhD, back row, right. (photo by Susan Urmy)
July 25, 2024

Aspirnaut Summer Research Program symposium set for July 30

The presentations will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 202 Light Hall and are open to the public. 

July 10, 2024

Aspirnaut Summer Research Symposium is July 12

Now in its 17th year, the Aspirnaut pipeline offers a summer research program at VUMC primarily for rural and diverse high school and undergraduate students.

By Bill Snyder
October 12, 2023

Student researchers at VUMC earn accolades for their report

A research paper co-authored by 23 high school and undergraduate students participating in Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Aspirnaut summer research program has been selected as one of the “Editor’s Picks” by the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
By Bill Snyder
July 19, 2023

Summer program gives high schoolers taste of discovery

Since the Aspirnaut high school summer research internship program was launched in 2009, 334 students from 34 states have participated. To date, nearly 90 of them have gone to earn MD degrees, PhDs, or both.
By Bill Snyder
July 11, 2023

Aspirnaut scientific symposium set for Friday, July 14

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center community is invited to attend a scientific symposium on Friday, July 14, presented by high school participants in the Aspirnaut K-20 STEM pipeline for diversity and wellness.
By Bill Snyder
March 2, 2023

VUMC’s Aspirnaut program to install science lab at Wynne High School in Arkansas

A chemical biology research lab fit for an academic medical center is being installed at Wynne High School (WHS) in Wynne, Arkansas, as part of a pilot project of Aspirnaut STEM pipeline at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Craig Boerner
August 3, 2022

VUMC’s Aspirnaut program celebrates 15th anniversary, and NBC News returned to highlight its students

A link to the video story and an inside look at the taping and some of this year's participants
By Bill Snyder
August 3, 2022

Science career “pipeline” garners national attention

Vanderbilt's Aspirnaut STEM pipeline for diversity and wellness recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a daylong scientific symposium, followed by a feature on the program broadcast Aug. 2 on NBC Nightly News.
By Bill Snyder
August 29, 2019

Aspirnaut education program reaches decade mark

Ten years on, a unique summer research program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center designed primarily for rural high school students with limited resources is achieving its goal of increasing the number of the nation’s scientists and engineers.
By Bill Snyder