Postdoctoral Researcher Attends 'Hill Day' in Washington D.C.

Audrey Vasauskas, a postdoctoral researcher in the USA College of Medicine biochemistry department, poses in front of the Capitol with her colleague Carter Holland, a graduate student at Mississippi State. Vasauskas was selected to attend "Hill Day" in Washington D.C.

Audrey Vasauskas, a postdoctoral researcher in the USA College of Medicine biochemistry department, recently attended “Hill Day.” The event was sponsored by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. For “Hill Day,” 20 students and postdocs from across the nation are selected to go to Washington D.C. to meet with their Congressional representatives.

This year’s Hill Day took place on Sept. 9, where participants took part in a “Policy 101” training session. After the training session, the students and postdocs broke down into smaller group for Congressional meetings. Not only do these young researchers get involved in science advocacy, the experience also exposes them to how the government works.

“I was extremely honored to have been selected to advocate for biomedical research with ASBMB through Hill Day.  I not only learned a great deal regarding the way in which Congressional meetings are held, I feel that I really had a chance to have my voice heard on behalf of the University, the state of Alabama, and for biomedical research in general,” said Vasauskas.

Vasauskas met directly with Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana regional senators and representatives throughout the day. Issues facing biomedical research today were discussed, particularly the economic and social benefit that the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation have on these regions and the need to increase the budget for biomedical research though these agencies.