PTY Senior Summit 2025 Courses
Course Rankings
Please consider course choices carefully. While reviewing the course descriptions, scholars should rank-order three courses, knowing that they may not get placed in their first choice. While we do our best to place students in their first-choice courses, we often have to place students in their second or third courses based on availability. Students should rank only those courses that they are truly willing to take.
Link to Rank Courses: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/HgzHJvwCai
Course Overview
PTY Senior Summit instructors are drawn from the wealth of talented faculty and scholars here in the Vanderbilt University and include distinguished professors, scientists, and researchers. All instructors are carefully selected not only for achievements in their fields, but also for their commitment to excellence in classroom teaching. Our outstanding PTY Senior Summit instructors serve as academic role models, providing instruction and insights into their areas of study.
**Note: For all PTY courses, multiple perspectives (both popular and unpopular) will be examined and discussed for the purpose of building critical thinking skills and understanding or critiquing multiple viewpoints and data as well as incorporating and responding to classmates’ views and ideas. The ideas, readings and discussions are not necessarily the expressed views of the instructor, PTY, or VU. While we encourage students to engage in the orderly and civil exchange of diverse ideas and opinions, we expect that they will do so in a respectful way so that all participants feel welcome and safe.
Course Descriptions
Data in Motion: Optimizing Urban Transportation through Analytics
Instructor: Ishita Dash, Ph.D.
How can “smart mobility” be used to effectively support more sustainable and inclusive cities? What role does machine learning and AI play in forecasting urban transportation patterns and improving decision-making? How can data be used to identify underserved areas or improve accessibility for marginalized populations in urban transportation systems?
In this course, taught by a Vanderbilt Research Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, you will dive into the complex world of urban transportation systems and explore the integral role of data analytics in analyzing patterns and improving mobility in cities. As urban areas continue to expand, the demand for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions has never been more pressing. In this course you will learn how researchers and experts approach and investigate cutting-edge questions in this rapidly changing field. In order to build understanding of the field of study, you will learn how to critically examine a range of factors that shape transportation systems, including land use planning, energy efficiency, emissions control, traffic optimization, human behavior, and public policy. You will also survey key topics including public transit systems, active transportation options, infrastructure policies, universal design principles, and how to apply advanced data analytics techniques (including Python) to answer research questions in this area. As a final project, you will apply your new knowledge to develop a research proposal focused on a question of interest in the field. You will then use available data sets to begin preliminary analyses for your proposal, with expert feedback provided by your instructor along the way. By the end of the course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of approaches to researching and analyzing urban transportation dynamics and their profound societal implications. This course will prepare you to understand research method approaches that will serve you well in fields associated with civil and environmental engineering.
Ishita Dash is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University. Her expertise is in transportation safety, with a particular focus on pedestrian and bicycle safety. Dr. Dash employs advanced machine learning algorithms, computer vision techniques, and data analytics to analyze large datasets collected from various sensors, technologies, and cameras. By identifying unsafe travel behaviors and their underlying causes, she aims to develop innovative, efficient, sustainable, and safer transportation systems. Her research also explores the environmental impacts of traffic, the stress experienced by pedestrians and cyclists, heat-induced stress on construction workers, and the stress encountered by first responders. These studies seek to improve both performance and health outcomes. The implications of her work are significant for policymakers, urban planners, and transportation engineers. Dr. Dash holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University, as well as an M.S. in Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway. She earned her B.S. in Marine Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in India. In addition to her research, Dr. Dash has extensive teaching experience. She has instructed courses in Energy Systems Engineering at Vanderbilt University, successfully developed and implemented a data analytics certification and minor program, and taught Business Statistics as an Adjunct Professor at Colorado Mountain College. Furthermore, she has taught Urban Transportation and Data Analytics at the PTY Summer 2024 (VSA and Career Connections) program. She has served as a guest lecturer and teaching assistant for several courses at Vanderbilt University and has worked as a mathematics tutor for the Accelerating Scholars Program at Metro Nashville Public Schools. With over a decade of experience as a Technical Safety Engineer in the Offshore and Shipping industry, Dr. Dash brings significant practical expertise to her academic and teaching endeavors.
Design, Redesign and Modification/Making: Considerations for Assistive Technology
Instructor: Eric Spivey, Ph.D.
Individuals presenting with disabilities relative to the population at large often struggle with using devices designed for people without disabilities. People with rare or highly individualized disabilities are particularly affected by this trend, and children with disabilities are even more affected by the relative lack of available devices to stimulate growth and development. In this course, you will look at factors that drive design of Assistive Technology (AT) devices for people with disabilities, how industry meets and fails to meet their needs, and how the maker community has started to fill the gap. We will also consider government initiatives that seek to provide AT to their citizens with disabilities, and the unique need for adapted toys for children with disabilities. You will adapt a simple toy for a child as an individual project, and adapt a mobile “ride-on” toy vehicle as part of a group project. You will learn basic circuitry, basic soldering to adapt circuits, and the use of small power tools in the process of modifying the toys. All modified toys will be donated to the Tennessee Technology Access Program (TTAP) for use by children around the state.
Eric Spivey is a professor of the practice in Vanderbilt’s Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME). He has extensive research experience in design and fabrication of devices, and among other things, teaches BME lab classes that focus on developing scientific communication skills to effectively describe lab work, including the modification of toys. Eric holds a Ph.D from the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked on the design of a 3D microprinting device used to fabricate hydrogel-based cell microenvironments. Eric is also a veteran of the United States Army Medical Sevice Corps, where he served as a MEDEVAC pilot and maintenance test pilot at postings around the world.
Neuroscience Unbound: Exploring Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Brain Research
Instructor: Kimberly Rogge-Obando
Are you fascinated by brain research? Centuries of philosophers, mathematicians, clinicians have laid the groundwork for our understanding of the brain. Despite years of study, many questions about how the mind, brain, and body work together remain unanswered. The complexity of brain research requires collaboration across disciplines – from neuroscience and engineering to computer science and medicine. In this course led by a 4th PhD student at Vanderbilt in the Neuroimaging & Brain Dynamics Lab (NEURDY Lab), you will explore how multiple academic fields approach brain research and how they employ diverse methodologies to address critical questions. Throughout the course, you will learn how to read scholarly research papers in this area and you will gain skills in statistical methods, research design, and data analysis, ultimately applying this knowledge to developing your own brain research proposal with guidance from the instructor. Whether you’re curious about how the brain adapts to experiences, how diseases affect brain function, or how technology can enhance our understanding of cognition, the world of brain research offers endless opportunities for you to explore and innovate.
Kimberly Rogge Obando is a chemical engineer by training that transitioned into the field of Neuroscience with a mission to understand how different brain states explain cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Kimberly is currently a fourth year PhD student in the Neuroimaging & Brain Dynamics Lab (NEURDY Lab), a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative lab within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Computer Science within Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering. As a first-generation college student, that came from a financially disadvantaged family, Kimberly enjoys encouraging students to follow their academic aspirations. Things that keep Kimberly balanced with research and her personal life are volunteering and being active in her church, having boardgame nights, and cooking.
Sensors, Data, and AI In Movement: Creating Sports and Health Technologies to Use the Body
Instructor: Vishesh Kumar, Ph.D.
Professional sports have used statistics as a way to understand individual and team performance. As different kinds of AI systems and sensors have become increasingly affordable and accurate, this has allowed for a deeper level of analysis of athletic and team performance. Three common technologies currently used to understand athletic performance include (1) Wearables sensors that can track fitness, health, and details of movement through different activities; (2) AI systems and apps that can commercially process video even in real-time and track play information automatically; (3) Sensor-embedded equipment with the ability to track patterns of how different athletes play, which is then able to provide them with real-time as well as cumulative information about their strengths, weaknesses, and ways to improve. In this class, taught by an Assistant Professor in Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of psychology and human development, and faculty within Vanderbilt’s LIVE Learning Innovation Incubator, we will unpack how common technologies in sports performance work by exploring the integration of physical computing, data science, and AI concepts behind these technologies. As part of the course, we will use 3-D printing, create circuits, computer program, and explore approaches to data mining. You will then apply your knowledge to a final project that contributes in a unique way to area of sports technology. Some possible project areas include creating a custom wearable device to track specific areas of sport performance, develop an app or game that you can use to get better at sports, or use data mining to model and predict sports-related behaviors or actions.
Since Vishesh Kumar’s undergraduate program in design in India, he has been making games and playful tools to create fun and deep engagement across a variety of STEM disciplines. His Ph.D. journey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison deepened his interest in exploring how play and making can enable rich social learning opportunities – especially through a variety of informal experiences like museums, libraries, and even classroom games. As a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern, he gained further experience helping to create expansive computing educational opportunities for youth at sports camps, in classrooms, and in after-school programs, connecting technology and athletics. Some of Kumar’s key projects include multiplayer mixed reality games centered around sustainability education; computing and AI-based platforms and curricula for accessible complex data analytics, including gesture and body detection, as well as technological making aimed at enriching athletic spaces and experiences; collaborative tools for help seeking and giving in classrooms, libraries, and makerspaces; and multiplayer digital games for creative computing engagement in science museums.
To learn more about Vishesh Kumar’s work and research, click here.
Unlocking the Human Experience: Psychology Research Through Inquiry and Discovery
Instructor: Camille Msall
Have you ever wondered why humans behave, think, and interact the way they do? In this course led by a Vanderbilt fifth-year PhD student, you will uncover the science behind human behavior by exploring the foundational theories and research methods that psychologists use to understand our thoughts, actions, and interactions. As an emerging psychologist, you will learn how to critically read scientific articles, formulate meaningful research questions, and design, analyze, and report on a research study of your own. Through hands-on activities, engaging discussions, and real-world case studies, you will develop the tools to think like a psychological researcher and apply these insights to practical challenges. This immersive program focuses on preparing you to understand key ideas in developmental psychology while guiding you through the process of developing an original research project. From conducting a literature review to formulating research questions and hypotheses to selecting your study method, you will design and propose a study that aligns with your interests. You will also learn to effectively communicate your ideas in an APA-style research poster presentation, equipping you with valuable skills for college and beyond. By the end of the course, you will have a solid understanding of foundational psychological concepts and research methods. You will be able to think critically and creatively about topics in psychology, propose insightful research questions, and articulate your ideas with confidence to classmates, mentors, and non-experts. This experience will prepare you for future studies in psychology and allow you to develop a meaningful project that showcases your skills and interests.
Camille Msall is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. Her research focuses on early math learning, with an emphasis on supporting young children’s mathematical development before they enter school. Originally from a suburb of Chicago, IL, Camille earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cornell College in 2017. During the summer before her senior year, she worked at Northwestern University’s Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center, where she discovered her passion for understanding how young children learn. After graduation, she continued at Northwestern as a full-time lab coordinator for three years, gaining extensive experience in child development research and solidifying her aspiration to pursue a Ph.D. in developmental psychology. At Vanderbilt, Camille has served as a teaching assistant for several undergraduate- and master-level courses in psychology and statistics and has mentored students on research projects. Most recently, she had the opportunity to teach a semester-long course on developmental psychology as the instructor of record. Camille is passionate about engaging students with psychology and research, and she strives to inspire their curiosity and commitment as future scientists.
Voices for Change: Harnessing Advocacy, Civil Discourse, and Free Speech to Transform the World
Instructor: John Koch, Ph.D.
How do you advocate effectively to garner support and promote change around ideas you are passionate? What do you need to consider when advocating for a change around a polarizing issue? How do you apply the principles of civil discourse and free speech to present your arguments and recognize the importance of your own perspective while also hearing and respecting the opinions of others?
In this course, facilitated by a Vanderbilt Lecture and Director of Debate, and in partnership with Dialogue Vanderbilt*, you will learn how to navigate difficult conversations and transform conflicts into productive dialogue to mobilize communities, influence decision-makers, and create lasting social impact. As part of developing an understanding of effective rhetorical practices that have sparked societal change, you will analyze speeches, print media, and news stories related to both current and historical events. With this historical and theoretical foundation, you will engage in structured debate and dialogue experiences that are focused on complex political and societal issues. As you learn, under the guidance of context experts, to challenge assumptions and respectfully and vigorously defend positions with evidence, you will also practice facilitating both group and one-on-one conversations with your peers around issues of personal importance. In the final project for this course, you will draw on your emerging rhetorical toolkit, as well as contemporary rhetorical and community theory, to craft a compelling presentation to deliver to a panel of scholars advocating for a change related to an issue of your choice.
*Dialogue Vanderbilt, which is the university’s intentional effort to advance the university’s long-held values of free expression, civil discourse and institutional neutrality across campus and beyond. Dr. John Koch, Co-Director of Vanderbilt’s Civil Discourse Lab, will be the primary instructor for the course, but the course will include guests from other Dialogue Vanderbilt related programs such as the Future of Free Speech and StoryCorps’ One Small Step program.
Dr. John P. Koch is a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Koch uses a wide range of methods to understand and explain political and policy debates. He is interested in political campaign debates, presidential debates, policy debates, and presidential rhetoric. His research is guided by the question of how we can improve citizenship practices and debates within our political culture. He currently serves as the chair of the National Communication Association’s Committee on International Discussion and Debate. His research has appeared in various publications on academic debate, presidential debates, and presidential rhetoric. He has also been published or quoted in various news publications, including The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and Time Magazine. Dr. Koch also serves as the Director of Debate of Vanderbilt’s internationally renowned and award-winning debate team.