May 23-29, 2011

1. GRADUATE SCHOOL SUMMER HOURS
Graduate School will operate with summer hours, opening at 9:00am each day and closing at 4:00pm starting May 16 and ending July 29. The Graduate Life Center will remain accessible 24/7 to all graduate students with a valid Hokie Passport: just use the card readers at the Bookstore side entrance or at the Otey Street entrance.

2. LISA WALK-IN CONSULTING
Monday-Friday, May 23-Aug 12, 1:00-3:00pm
Closed: May 30th (Memorial Day) and July 4th (Independence Day).
Summer walk-in consulting will be available from next week: a statistical consultant is available to answer your quick questions or to help with research projects requiring less than 30 minutes of assistance. For more in-depth questions or longer projects, complete the LISA Request Form and a team of statistical collaborators will be assigned to work with you. Note: LISA does not assist with class projects or homework. More information about LISA’s services>>.

3. YMCA OPEN UNIVERSITY SUMMER CLASSES
Registration started May 16
If you are looking for activities to do this summer, take a class in pottery, art, photography, music, gardening, fitness and more! New workshops in pottery techniques, glass fusing weekend intensives, fitness classes such as Zumba, Body Groove and Water Aerobics, or learn to grow a salad garden or how to start
composting.  Get the schedule and register for classes here. If you have any questions, contact graduate student Erik Olsen.

4. EVENING SHORT COURSES IN STATS THIS SUMMER

LISA (Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis) is providing a series of evening short courses to help graduate students use statistics in their research.  The focus of these two-hour courses is on teaching practical statistical techniques for analyzing or collecting data.  Registration and more information. Summer 2011 Schedule:
— Jun 13: What LISA Can Do for You and a Tutorial in T-Tests and ANOVA*;
— Jun 21 & 22: Introduction to R;
— Jun 28 & 29: Linear Regression and Structural Equation Models;
— Jul 5 & 6: Generalized Linear Models;
— Jul 11: Mixed Models and Random Effects*;
*Course to be held in Fralin Auditorium. Other courses will be in 3060 Torgerson Hall.

5. SUMMER TOUR GUIDES SOUGHT – 1st posting

The Office of Graduate Recruitment and Diversity Initiatives is seeking summer tour guides. One hour of training is required; you must have a driver’s license and have a familiarity with campus and Blacksburg. Compensation is given for each tour. Please contact Dannette Beane if you’re interested.

6. FULL TIME GRA SOUGHT FOR 2011-12 ACADEMIC YEAR – 1st posting
Virginia Tech Information Technology’s Enterprise GIS unit, in
conjunction with the Blacksburg Electronic Village, is searching for
graduate students with an interest in developing GIS-based web applications as a full-time GRA in the Fall and Spring (11-12) semesters. Full position description.  Interested candidates should forward resumes and cover letters to egisjobs@bev.net.

7. GTA OPENINGS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION – 2nd posting
Graduate students in the College of Engineering may apply. Must have interest in teaching first-year engineering students; GPA ≥3.4; previous employment at VT and knowledge of contemporary issues in engineering preferred. Submit cover letter, statement of purpose, resume and two references. Read more about requirements and application procedures here.

8. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY OVER SUMMER 2011 – 1st posting
Doctoral student Marc Christian is performing a study to investigate the effect of spinal compression on biomarker responses. Biomarkers are chemicals produced by the body in response to tissue loads and damage. This study involves three 2.5-hour sessions, during which you will have spinal compression induced for one hour followed by an hour of rest.  Several blood samples will be taken to allow researchers to measures the levels of three biomarkers. Compensation for your time will be $10/hour. The protocols used in this study have been approved by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board (IRB #11-442).  If you are interested please contact Marc Christian, 236 Durham Hall. 

9. OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRST-TIME PARENTS – 3rd posting

The Mindful Transition to Parenthood Program is currently enrolling participants. This 4-week program is focused on supporting couples in the transition to parenthood through a variety of mindfulness and relationship enhancement activities. Participants meet for 2 hours each week. Learn how to be happy partners and parents, and to meet other couples who are going through the same life transition. This program is part of the doctoral research of Laura Gambrel in the human development department. All participants will have the opportunity to win a $250 gift card or several smaller prizes. Enrollment is free and space is limited, so sign up now! The next group will begin Tuesday, May 31, 6:30pm; deadline for registration is May 24. To register or find out more information visit www.lauragambrel.com or e-mail lauraeg@vt.edu.

10. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR VIDEO VIGNETTES – 3rd posting

The VT Office of Emergency Management is developing a series of approximately 10 video vignettes – each between 5 to 10 minutes – on a variety of emergency preparedness topics from outdoor safety to evacuation in an emergency and more. The final deliverables will be presented on the Office of Emergency Management’s new website (to be launched Summer 2011) and will be discussed at many national presentations on emergency preparedness. Though there won’t be any monetary compensation, these videos will be seen throughout the VT and Blacksburg communities as well as at other colleges and universities nationwide.  Both the exposure and the experience can be great resume builders. If interested in participating, contact Jeff Dalton.  The level of involvement is flexible: from minor rolls (roles) in cut-scenes (edited scenes) to the onscreen narration of an entire chapter.  Filming will be taking place throughout the summer months and potentially into the Fall semester.  Please direct question or concerns to either Jeff Dalton or Kendall Woodard.

11. SUBMIT IDEAS/REQUESTS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMMING
If you wish to see any particular kind of programming this summer (social/entertainment, personal or professional development or anything else), please email your idea(s) to Graduate Student Services, and we’ll see what we can do. Your input matters!