Commencement 2026: Biomedical sciences graduates challenged to be ‘opportunity detectives’

Summary: Vanderbilt University just celebrated its 2026 graduating class of 105 biomedical science PhD students! During the ceremony, the dean told the graduates to be "opportunity detectives." This means finding chances to grow and succeed even when things get tough or uncertain.

One graduate, Jade Stanley-Jefferson, studied how certain cells in the pancreas affect diabetes. She used a special career program to learn how to negotiate her salary and find a great teaching job near her family in Alabama. Another graduate, José Zepeda, studied addiction and the brain. He realized that grad school didn't just teach him science; it also taught him amazing organizing skills. He even did an internship at a big drug company to see how science works in the business world.

These hardworking students published an average of six research papers each! Most are now going on to do more advanced research to help solve big medical mysteries.

For more details, see Vanderbilt University Medical Center News at news.vumc.org/2026/05/13/commencement-2026-biomedical-sciences-graduates-challenged-to-be-opportunity-detectives/ (opens in new tab)