1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC
Our weekly services are on hiatus and will return when the spring semester begins on Jan 21. However, the GLC Café is still on on Thursdays 3:30-5:00pm, Reading Room
2. GLC CAFE
Thursday, Jan 9, 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. Bring your own mug if you can. This week’s special: hot chocolate!
3. REGISTER FOR GRAD COURSES FOR SPRING – 1st posting
The Graduate School offers a number of interdisciplinary courses that broaden graduate students’ perspective on various subjects. Register now for a course on Academic integrity and plagiarism (GRAD 5014) Career development for the future professional (GRAD 5304) Research in international contexts (GRAD 5404) or other courses. See full list and descriptions at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/node/5857.
4. REGISTER FOR RAPE AGGRESSION DEFENSE SYSTEM COURSE – 1st posting Cranwell International Center and VT Police Department have partnered to offer a practical self-defense program taught by all female instructors. The Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) System is a 12 hour course for women only and is a comprehensive course that includes both classroom and practical components. In the classroom you will learn important information about awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance. The practical component of the course teaches the basics of hands-on defense training. The RAD System is dedicated to teaching women defensive concepts and techniques against various type of assault, by utilizing easy, effective and proven self-defense/martial arts tactics. This class is taught over three days: Jan 27, Feb 3, and Feb 6, 6:30–9:30pm. To register for the RAD course, sign up at: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1386796002692.
5. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR FOREST RESOURCES/ENVIRON CONSERVATION GRAD SYMPOSIUM – 1st posting
Held on Apr 1, 2014, the 6th annual forest resource and environmental conservation research symposium brings together graduate students from VT and other colleges and universities to communicate within and across disciplines and to build relationships with future colleagues and potential employers. Accommodations will be provided for presenters at the Inn at Virginia Tech. Abstracts are invited in the following areas: Forest Biometrics and Geomatics; Forest Ecology and Silviculture; Forest Economics and Policy; Urban Forestry; Forest Operations and Business; Forest Soils and Hydrology; Human Dimensions; Forest Genetics and Biotechnology. Submission deadline: Midnight, Jan 10, 2014. Abstracts can be up to 250 words and should include objectives and methods and will be judged based on relevancy to the symposium. Visit http://frec.vt.edu/grs/ for further information. Abstracts can be submitted through the website or at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K7BKJ5H. Contact Beth Avera at bavera@vt.edu with any questions.
6. REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR PAYROLL DEDUCTION OF COMP FEES FOR GRAD ASSISTANTS – 2nd posting
The registration system for paying comprehensive fees through payroll deduction for spring 2014 is now open. Graduate students on an assistantship must either pay their comprehensive fees or enroll for payroll deductions by the payment deadline set by the Bursar’s Office. To enroll in payroll deductions, login to Hokie SPA, choose University Account Information menu, and click on Graduate Students on Assistantship, enroll in Payroll Deduction. You must enroll in payroll deduction each semester in which you wish to take advantage of this opportunity.
7. NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS OPEN UNTIL JAN 31
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.
8. JOIN NRV SINGLES FACEBOOK GROUP – 3rd 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 – 3rd 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 – 3rd 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. VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR KIDS’ TECH UNIVERSITY PROGRAM – 1st posting
The Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia 4-H, and other members of the VT community are asking for volunteers to assist with logistics of the spring 2014 Kids’ Tech University program (http://kidstechuniversity.vbi.vt.edu/), which brings about 450 kids ages 9-12 to VT to spark their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM disciplines). Volunteers are needed on any or all of the following days: Jan 25, Feb 22, Mar 22, and Apr 5, 2014 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. In the morning, there will be an interactive session followed by Q & A, a lunch break, then hands-on activities. If you can only be there for a portion of the time please let organizers know. If interested in volunteering, fill out this survey: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1381347633696. Contact KTU’s volunteer coordinator, Ms. Maria Laubenbacher, maria@vbi.vt.edu, with questions.
12. CALL FOR RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS FOR LIFESTYLE AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH STUDY – 1st posting
Men and women 18-35 years old, who are sedentary or recreationally active are invited to participate in a cross-sectional study examining how lifestyle factors influence arterial health. 1-2 lab visits for a total of ~2 hours would be required. Measures include anthropometrics and body composition, surveys, a blood draw, and measurement of arterial health with an ultrasound and a small probe. Participants receive $50 upon study completion. E-mail Tanya (tanyamh@vt.edu) for more information.