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. NEUROETHICS SEMINAR FEATURING AUDRA VAN WART
Tuesday, Dec 10, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room C Join the Science and Technology Policy Initiative (STPI) for their last seminar of the semester. Audra Van Wart, the Director of Education and Training at VT-Carilion Research Institute, will be discussing cognitive enhancements, neuroethics, and policy implications, which is one of the hottest topics in science right now with the implementation of Obama’s BRAIN Initiative. Bring your lunch and join a lively discussion on one of the most interesting current debates in science and ethics. Email Amanda Shea (ashea04@vt.edu) with any questions.
3. STUDY BREAK EXTRAVAGANZA
Wednesday, Dec 11, 11:00am-2:00pm, McComas Hall Lobby
The Cook Counseling Center (CCC) is co-sponsoring a “Study Break Extravaganza” to help students cope with the stress of finals. Stop by for healthy snacks and hot drinks and visit with CCC therapy dogs. Learn study tips for finals and how to relax in 15 minutes. Free cycle class 12:20-1:20pm in McComas. A list of free classes during exam week will be available at the Recreational Sports table. The program is co-sponsored by Schiffert Health Center, Health Education, Rec Sports, HNFE, the Women’s Center, Student Success Center and ACTIVE Minds. All participants may enter a raffle drawing for 2 pre-paid visa cards. For additional information contact Charlotte Amenkhienan at camen@vt.edu or 231-6557 and Jon Fritsch healthed@vt.edu.
4. COOKIE DECORATING
Thursday, Dec 12, 1:00-4:00pm, GLC Room C
Take a break from studying and decorate (and eat) a cookie with other stressed out graduate students. Cookies, decorating supplies, and drinks will be supplied. Also, help decorate the GLC Wish Tree by writing a wish for the new year on a snowflake. The snowflakes will be placed on a tree in the GLC Lobby. Sponsored by the GLC Fellows.
5. GLC CAFÉ: ONE BEFORE LAST CAFÉ OF 2013
Thursday, Dec 12, 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. And hot chocolate with mini marshmellows this week!
6. FREE EXAM WEEK OF GROUP X CLASSES
Friday, Dec 13 – Thursday, Dec 19
Take a break from studying and sweat it out with a group x class instead of stressing out! All classes are FREE for students, faculty and staff during exam week to help Hokies relieve stress and boost energy. Learn more at recsports.vt.edu.
7. END-OF-SEMESTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
Check out Student Centers and Activities at http://www.studentcenters.vt.edu/ for a listing of events, services and techniques that can help you get through the last and possibly most stressful week of the semester.
8. JOIN NRV SINGLES FACEBOOK GROUP – 1st posting
Join the New River Valley Singles Group on Facebook – a place where you can post event information and welcome others to join you, or look for events and meet new people. The group is open to all people in the area, not just Hokies, and there is no speed dating or formality behind it, just a way to get to know others. View the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/nrvsingles/. This invitation is posted on behalf of grad student Chris Frisina, chrisfrisina@gmail.com.
9. VEHICLE REPAIR GROUP – 1st posting
Got a vehicle to repair? This group works on them about once a month, and eat and drink while they do it. From water pumps to timing belts; from head gaskets to oil changes, there are vehicles, and they need work here and there. Chris has the majority of the tools, diagnostics tools, with some specialty ones, and connections to those that have the real oddball ones. Start a discussion or get advice! View the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/vtcarrepair/. This invitation is posted on behalf of grad student Chris Frisina, chrisfrisina@gmail.com.
10. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH DAY POSTER SESSION – 1st posting
The Interdisciplinary Research Honor Society (IDR) invites you to submit a 400-word abstract to take part in a poster session during the Annual Interdisciplinary Research Day, to be held at The Inn at Virginia Tech on Feb 27, 2014. Abstracts will be selected primarily based on the integration of interdisciplinary research into the author’s work. Submission deadline: Jan 25, 2014. To submit an abstract, fill out the form at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1386293281414. Instruction for abstracts is available in this link. Abstract notifications will be sent on Feb 8. Contact Shelley Cooke (slcooke@vt.edu) or Souvick Chatterjee (souvick8@vt.edu) with any questions.
11. NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS NOW OPEN – 2nd 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 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.
12. CALL FOR SURVEY PARTICIPATION ON ADVANCED IN-VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY USE – 1st posting
The Center for Sustainable Mobility at VT Transportation Institute initiated a survey to help with their research on future in-vehicle technology development. The survey is live at http://bit.ly/csmsurvey2013; please take a few minutes to complete it. Contact researchers at 540-231-8777 or via email (rkishore@vt.edu) if you have any questions or comments about the survey. Estimated survey burden is 3 to 5 minutes. All survey participants must be at least 18 years old.
13. CALL FOR RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM WEBSITE DESIGNER – 2nd 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.
14. DEANS FORUM ON GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT SURVEY – 3rd 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.
15. RESEARCH SUBJECTS NEEDED FOR TRIP, FALL AND CATCH STUDY – 3rd 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.
16. SURVEY ON RELATION BETWEEN TRAFFIC CONTROL TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL IMPACTS – 3rd 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 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iQY_Y1DaU9PHhC8chehn6N4S81KQRMr6DF2OBOtPEXk/viewform. 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
BOOKS SWAP AND CAFÉ – NOTE SPECIAL LOCATION!
Thursday, Dec 19, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Lobby Celebrate the end of the semester and the end of the year with the final café of 2013, combined with a book swap. Bring books and take some, or just take books to read during the break. Share your favorite titles with grad students and Grad School colleagues over coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hot cider, and cookies. Bring your own mug if you can.
FREE GRANT-WRITING WORKSHOP — sign up now!
Friday, Jan 31, 2014, 1:00-4:00pm
Learn more about this introductory workshop at http://www.engage.vt.edu/event/free-grant-writing-workshop/, sponsored by Remember-Serve-Learn initiative. It is open to students and community partners interested in learning more about the grants process. In addition to grant writing, the process of finding and applying for grads will be covered, and available local grants will be discussed. Don’t wait to register! Space is limited to 30 people. For more info, contact Jessi at JessiLP2@vt.edu or (540) 231-0691. www. engage.vt.edu.