December 2-8, 2013

1.  WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC

  • Career Services walk-in advising: Wednesdays 2:00-5:00pm, GLC Lobby
  • Cook Counseling walk-in services: Thursdays and Fridays 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room
  • GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursday, Reading Room – year round!
  • Graduate School business hours: M,Tu,Th,F: 8:00am-5:00pm; W: 9:30am-5:00pm
  • Writing Center walk-in assistance:  Thursdays 2-5pm, GLC Room D (additional hours available in the library)

2. EARN YOUR AMATEUR/HAM RADIO LICENSE
Tuesday, Dec 3, 7:00pm, Dogwood Room of Squires Student Center
The VT Amateur Radio Association (VTARA) will be giving amateur radio license exams for a fee of $15. For more information, visit http://www.vtara.org.vt.edu/?q=node/5 or contact Nathaniel Frissell at nafrissell@vt.edu. If you want to learn more about ham radio in general, visit http://www.arrl.org.

3. GLC GAME NIGHT WITH CUPCAKES
Tuesday, Dec 3, 8:00pm, GLC Student Lounge
This is going to be a night of fun, games, more fun, and more games. If none of those appeal to you, then there will be cupcakes too. Come ready to make some friends, play games, and eat cupcakes. If you think you’ll be able to stop by, please sign up at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1385092153597 to help organizers estimate food amounts.

4. DOCUMENTARY FILM: SOMM
Wednesday, Dec 4, 7:00pm, theater in West Ambler Johnston
The Phi Beta Delta international honor society will show a documentary movie about four sommeliers who attempt to pass the Master Sommelier exam, a test with one of the lowest pass rates in the world. Following the screening there will be an international wine tasting at the Continental Divide. Both events are free but attendance is limited to 50 participants, so reservations are necessary. Please email Betty Watts at bettyw@vt.edu to RSVP or if additional information is required.

5. GLC CAFÉ: NOTHING SPECIAL THURSDAY
Thursday, Dec 5, 3:30-5:00pm GLC Reading Room
The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues.

6. NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS NOW OPEN – 1st posting
A number of prestigious awards are granted to graduate students each year, carrying a monetary prize ($200-$1000 each) and award certificate. Discuss the possibility of your nomination by your advisor, department or fellow student for any of the following awards that will be given out during the Graduate School’s annual awards banquet on March 27, 2014:

  • Outstanding Dissertation in (1) math, sciences and engineering, and (1) in social sciences, business and humanities
  • Preston Society Master’s Thesis Award
  • Graduate Student Teaching Excellence (1) for GTA instructor of record (1) GTA instructor assistant
  • Graduate Student Service Excellence
  • Graduate Student of the Year (up to three awards given)
  • Outstanding master’s and doctoral student in each college and in interdisciplinary programs

More information about criteria, forms, and process for nomination are at: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/awards.

7. CALL FOR RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM WEBSITE DESIGNER – 1st posting
The GSA is looking for a web designer for the research symposium website.  Candidates should be proficient in Drupal and PHP coding and must be a VT student. Submit your resume and cover letter to Mordecai Harvey at mordie02@vt.edu by the end of Dec 9, 2013. 

8. START-UP CLASS FOR STUDENTS AND STUDENT TEAMS – 3rd posting
The StartUp Class is a semester-long course for teams of students who are interested in learning to become technology leaders and innovators through a structured curriculum that focuses on the development of a business model through customer discovery and assessment of product market fit. Teams will receive structured mentoring and have the opportunity to connect to professionals and fellow entrepreneurs.  This is not a lecture class; participants work on or form their own start up idea. This is a 3-credit elective for those who want to learn more about their own startup/business, open to any major and both grad and ugrad students. Offered Wednesdays, 4-7pm at the new incubator space in Collegiate Square (below the Next Door Bakery). If you are interested, contact startup@vt.edu.

9. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR AEL NATIONAL GRAD HONOR SOCIETY – 3rd posting
Alpha Epsilon Lambda (AEL) was founded in 1990 specifically to honor academic excellence and leadership among graduate students.  The mission of AEL is to: confer distinction for high achievement; promote leadership development and scholarship; encourage intellectual development; enrich the intellectual environment of graduate education institutions; and encourage high standards of ethical behavior. Qualifications for membership are: (1) academic achievement in the top 35th percentile of the member’s degree program; (2) successful completion of 12 graduate credits and active enrollment in a degree program; (3) demonstrated leadership through involvement in on-campus or off-campus activities while a graduate student. Download application form at http://www.ael.graduateschool.vt.edu/application-process/ and email it to Marwa Abdel Latif at mka3@vt.edu. Submit your completed application by Jan 20.

10. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR XCALIBER AWARD – 3rd posting
The XCaliber award recognizes faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and teams (faculty/ staff/ students) who have made notable contributions to integrating innovative technology in teaching and learning in a course or in a significant technology-enriched project. All graduate students and faculty are eligible for the award. If you know of someone who has done outstanding technology-enriched teaching and learning in 2013, or if you know of a group of individuals who have contributed to a significant technology-enriched project, please complete the online nomination form by Dec 6, 2013. Self-nominations are also welcome. For more information and to access the online nomination form, visit http://tlos.vt.edu/xcaliber_awards/.

11. DEANS FORUM ON GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT SURVEY – 2nd posting
The Deans’ Forum on Global Engagement will be held March 25–27, 2014. Because this overlaps with the GSA’s Research Symposium on March 26, the Deans’ Forum organizing committee is looking to partner with the GSA by providing a parallel session focused on international careers. Organizers of the forum invite you to complete a short survey regarding your potential interest in a parallel session; your input will help guide the planning of the program. Access the survey at: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8HvS9KdeUJIGsER. For questions or feedback, contact: Kim Lester at kimml61@vt.edu.

12. RESEARCH SUBJECTS NEEDED FOR TRIP, FALL AND CATCH STUDY – 2nd posting
Graduate student researchers are conducting a study to investigate tripping during normal walking while carrying a tool, and the subsequent fall. The study will take approximately 2 hours and will involve walking while carrying a load and a randomly induced trip. Separately, participants will fall onto a padded mat while their movements are recorded with motion tracking cameras. Finally, subjects will fall a short distance onto a hard surface to study how people catch themselves. Preferred qualifications are 35-60 years old, BMI >25, and able to carry a 40lb tool in hands. Additional participants outside of the parameters will also be accepted as space allows. Exclusion criteria are any chronic wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries or any injuries to the wrist, elbow, or shoulder in the past year. Participants will be compensated $10 per hour. The protocols in this study have been approved by the VT IRB (13-505). If you are interested, please contact Peter Fino, 559 Whittemore Hall, fino@vt.edu.

13. SURVEY ON RELATION BETWEEN TRAFFIC CONTROL TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL IMPACTS – 2nd posting
You are invited to complete a short survey about the relation between traffic control technology (e.g., traffic light) and social impacts (e.g., the effect on fulfilling your needs, the effect on fulfilling your rights, etc.). The information will be used for research purpose only, to help researchers determine social perspectives for designing control technology for self-driving vehicles. The survey should take you approximately 7 minutes and is available online. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary, and there are no more than minimal risks associated with participation. Your survey responses will be anonymous and confidential. Participants must be at least 18. If you have questions, contact Milos at 540-553-5949 or via email milosm@vt.edu.

14. MCPS SCHOOL LUNCH SURVEY FOR PARENTS OF K-5 CHILDREN – 3rd posting
If you are a parent of a child who attends public elementary school (pre-K through 5th grade) in Montgomery County, researchers are interested in your opinions about school lunches and packed lunches and how they affect your decision to participate in the National School Lunch Program. Complete the following short on-line survey at:  http://tinyurl.com/MCPSlunch, and you will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift-card to Target or Wal-Mart.  For questions/comments please contact Alisha Farris at alisha@vt.edu or 501-358-9264. 

15. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON MOTHERS AND CHILDREN – 3rd posting
Are you a mother who sometimes worries or has fears? Do you have a child between 7 and 12 years of age? An ongoing study is investigating how mothers and children interpret situations in their day-to-day lives. The study is being conducted at the Child Study Center at 460 Turner Street, Suite 207, Blacksburg. For more information please contact Kristin Austin at momanxiety@vt.edu or call 540-231-8276. Compensation: $50.