To explore and advocate for art as a science communication tool, we established ArtLab as a cross-disciplinary program in 2017. The overarching goal is to support visual science communication approaches and outreach. ArtLab is supported by multiple internal institutional funding sources from Vanderbilt, including The Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy; The Wond'ry, Vanderbilt Center for Innovation, The Communication of Science and Technology program, and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Basic Sciences. ArtLab has become a hub for cross-disciplinarity activity across the Vanderbilt campus. In 2019, we initiated the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation (VI4)-ArtLab Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program, connecting undergraduate artists with research laboratories to create artwork that visually represents the latest research carried out by esteemed laboratories at Vanderbilt. The program is a 10-week summer program open to undergrdaute students.

This program is entirely virtual. Undergradute artists are matched with laboratories and the AiR leadership hosts a virtual orientation meeting. The purpose of the orientation is to begin building community relationships, provide expectations for both the students and the faculty about the program, and to begin brainstorming project ideas. The hosting labs will be asked to assign an artist to a scientific mentor who can orient the artist to the laboratory's projects and approaches. These program mentors serve as the primary contact persons for the program. The artist will be asked to participate in at least some of the laboratory's meetings virtually. If the laboratory meetings happen in person, the laboratory contact will make accommodations such that the student artist will have the option to attend virtually. Throughout the summer, the artist will be asked to create at least two art pieces that are representative of the laboratory. One of the art pieces will be abstract, exploring the overall scientific research area. This abstract piece can be used as a cover art submission. The second piece of artwork can either be another abstract piece or more concrete, like a graphical abstract representing a specific research discovery. Both pieces must be submitted by the end of the program in late August. This artwork will be collected by the AiR leadership, who will assemble the works in a digital magazine and schedule a virtual art exhibit. All AiR participants from current and past years will be invited to participate in the virtual art exhibit. We will work hard to ensure broad participation from others outside of the program.

We have expanded our program! All faculty who generally study infection, immunology, and inflammation are invited to participate. We are particularly interested in recruiting assistant professors that bring multidisciplinary approaches to study human infectious diseases. Our goal is to support early investigators, to promote and highlight their work on the point at which the systems of humans and potentially infectious agents connect. Ideally this program would bring increased attention to the science behind issues which as colonization, infection, commensalism, and other relationships at levels ranging from molecular interactions to systemic ones.

Once faculty have been selected in January, application and recruitment for undergraduate student artists will begin. Ideally, undergraduate artist participants should have completed basic biology courses and submit statement demonstrating their passion for research and knowledge of the scientific process. Most importantly, the ideal candidate has intellectual curiosity, drive, and perseverance to explore the cross-disciplinarity between science and art. Students will be asked to submit samples of their work, a personal statement, and a program proposal that identifies the skills and experiences that the student wishes to cultivate as part of their experience. Applications will be reviewed by an advisory panel that selects the final students. We are interested in a cohort that is diverse in background, talent, experience, and personalities.