Frist Center For Autism And Innovation

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced the election of Keivan Stassun, Stevenson Professor of Physics and professor of astronomy, computer science and management, and director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at the School of Engineering. Stassun and María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Cornelius Vanderbilt… Read More

Keivan Stassun, Stevenson Professor of Physics and Astronomy and director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation in Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering, was appointed to the National Science Board by President Joe Biden on Jan. 13. Keivan Stassun (VU/John Russell) The National Science Board created the… Read More

Applications are open for the Neurodiversity Inspired Science and Engineering (NISE) graduate trainee program. NISE engages students across STEM disciplines in the development, deployment and commercialization of future of work at the human technology frontier approaches and devices that support neurodiverse individuals, and/or that are inspired by their… Read More

Frist Center grand opening (John Russell) By Marissa Shapiro The American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity announced that the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation will receive the Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award at the association’s annual awards ceremony in October. The Edward M. Kennedy Award… Read More

Applications are now open for the Neurodiversity Inspired Science and Engineering (NISE) graduate trainee program. The deadline to apply is June 15. Sponsored by an NSF Research Traineeship grant, the NISE program takes a novel approach to the training of engineers and scientists engaged in advancing the future of work… Read More

NSF grant aligns with school’s Inclusion Engineering focus The National Science Foundation has awarded a highly competitive $5 million grant to Vanderbilt University that greatly expands a School of Engineering-led project for creating novel AI technology and tools and platforms that train and support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in… Read More

This past November, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation communications coordinator Claire Barnett spoke at TEDxVanderbilt about autistic employment. Her talk, titled “Why autistic unemployment is so high – and what we can do about it,” explores several reasons that autistic adults struggle to obtain meaningful work. Barnett… Read More

Left, Nilanjan Sarkar, professor of mechanical engineering, is the lead investigator on a significant new NSF convergence grant. He, Joshua Wade, a senior staff research scientist, Michael Breen, an intern on the project, and Claire Barnett, communications coordinator at the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, work an interactive prototype,… Read More

Vanderbilt University will train a new generation of engineers and scientists to develop innovations that connect 21st-century workforce needs to the talents and abilities of neurodiverse individuals, such as those living along the autism spectrum. A $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation will establish a first-of-its-kind graduate traineeship… Read More

The ribbon-cutting of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation with (l to r) Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affair Susan R. Wente, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering Philippe Fauchet, Jennifer R. Frist, BS’93, William R. “Billy” Frist, Frist Center for… Read More