July 23 – 29, 2018

Weekly Events:
1. WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES
2. WEEKLY RECURRING EVENTS
3. GLC CAFÉ: CUCUMBER SANDWICHES EDITION
4. GLC CAFÉ: CUBICLE FARM TIRAMISU EDITION

Administrative Announcements:
5. GRADUATE SCHOOL SUMMER HOURS TO END 8/3 – 1st posting
6. HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT JUL 16-SEP 10 – 1st posting
7. CHECK YOUR RESIDENCY STATUS FOR IN-STATE TUITION – 1st posting
8. SIGN UP FOR PAYMENT PLAN FOR COMP FEES AND CFE FEE – 1st posting
9. REGISTRATION AVAILABLE FOR FIW 6004: PEDAGOGY FOR THE SCIENCES – 1st posting
10. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE – 3rd posting

Jobs:
11. GRADUATE ASSISTANT WITH VIRGINIA TECH TRIO PROGRAMS – 1st posting
12. LAB RESEARCH ASSISTANTS\HELPERS NEEDED – 1st posting
13. GRADUATE ASSISTANT CAPITAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT – 2nd posting
14. FULL-TIME GA FOR FINANCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (FIT) – 3rd posting
15 GA FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT – 3rd posting

Volunteers and research participants sought:
16. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR AN OVERNIGHT SLEEP STUDY – 2nd posting
17. 9-10-YR-OLDS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY – 2nd posting
18. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON SCHOOL READINESS IN PRESCHOOLERS – 3rd posting

Upcoming events:
19. MINI-VACATION AT THE GLC: BEACH BALL ON THE LAWN

Weekly Events
1. WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES:
– Career Advising: On hiatus for summer. See the Grad Students Career Ops blog for more info on career opportunities: https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/gradcareeropportunity/
– Cook Counseling: On hiatus for summer.
– Graduate School hours: MTThF 9:00-4:00pm, W 9:30-4:00
– Immigration advising hours: MWF 1:00-4:00pm, TTh 9:00am-12:00pm Room 120
– Summer graduate writing assistance: see Writing Center website at  https://www.lib.vt.edu/spaces/writing-center.html

2. WEEKLY RECURRING EVENTS:
– Writing strategies consultations: Mondays 10:30-12:00pm, GLC Room A (https://www.lib.vt.edu/spaces/writing-center.html )
– Grad mindfulness: On hiatus for summer.
– Conversational English Support for Graduate Students in GLC: Community volunteers will help you practice conversational English in a group setting from 2:30-3:30 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more information (and to sign up), see Writing Center website: https://www.lib.vt.edu/spaces/writing-center.html

3. GLC CAFÉ: CUCUMBER SANDWICHES EDITION
Wednesday, Jul 25, 3:30-5:00pm, Reading Room
Celebrate a summer afternoon with cucumber sandwiches and tea. The usual coffee and cookies will also be served.

4. GLC CAFÉ: CUBICLE FARM TIRAMISU EDITION
Thursday, Jul 26, 3:30-5:00pm, Reading Room
Enjoy free coffee, tea and cookies in the company of your grad student and Grad School colleagues. Relax, network, and load up on caffeine and/or carbs. Bring your own mug if you can. This week’s special is the GLC’s signature dessert just for grads: cubicle-farm tiramisu. If you’ve never had it, here is your chance to try it; it is American junk food at its best!

Administrative Announcements:
5. GRADUATE SCHOOL SUMMER HOURS TO END 8/3 – 1st posting
The Graduate School’s offices in the GLC will operate with summer hours, 9:00am-4:00pm daily, with student services opening at 9:30 on Wednesdays until Friday, Aug 3. Regular hours of 8:00am-5:00pm with 9:30 opening on Wednesdays will resume on Monday, Aug 6.  he Graduate Life Center remains accessible 24/7 to all graduate students with a valid Hokie Passport. A secure drop box immediately outside GLC 120 is available for form submissions outside our business hours.

6. HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT JUL 16-SEP 10 – 1st posting
The open-enrollment period for the 2018-19 university-sponsored student health insurance plan by Aetna will end Sep 10. Review the insurance plan and enrollment details at https://risk.controller.vt.edu/studentmedicalinsurance.html and sign up by the deadline if you don’t have insurance coverage yet.

7. CHECK YOUR RESIDENCY STATUS FOR IN-STATE TUITION – 1st posting
If you believe you are considered an in-state resident, please check your Hokie Spa account to make sure that your correct residency is reflected. This info can be found under “View your General Student Information.” New graduate students who are Virginia Tech undergraduates are not automatically coded as in-state. To receive in-state residency, students must fill out a Graduate In-State Tuition Request form. For more information on In-state tuition eligibility, please go to https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/tuition-and-costs/in-state-tuition-and-residency.html.

8. SIGN UP FOR PAYMENT PLAN FOR COMP FEES AND CFE FEE – 1st posting
Graduate students on assistantship appointment may pay their comprehensive and CFE fees through a payment plan during the fall and spring semesters. Enrollment is managed through Hokie SPA and you must sign up each semester if you wish to take advantage of this opportunity. The payment plan allows you to pay your comprehensive and CFE fees over the course of the semester.  The plan debits coincide with university payroll dates and adjust seamlessly with changes to your account balance.

9. REGISTRATION AVAILABLE FOR FIW 6004: PEDAGOGY FOR THE SCIENCES – 1st posting
This fall semester, Dr. Brian Murphy is offering FIW 6004: Pedagogy for the Sciences for the last time. This 2-credit P/F course was mistakenly left out of the Fall online schedule. Intended as an introduction and reflective consideration of a variety of topics in modern teaching and learning theory and practice. Past participants have been students who definitely intend to pursue a teaching career in higher education, students who are curious about effective approaches to any teaching situation (e.g., public outreach), and students who are curious about various aspects of teaching and learning as it may relate to their possible career paths.  Both M.S. and Ph.D. students are welcome. Course qualifies for credit “in your field” for the Graduate School’s ‘Future Professoriate Certificate’ (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/transformative-graduate-education-experience/future-professoriate/future-professoriate-certificate.html). Meets at a time, to be selected, that is amenable to all participants for 2.5 hours weekly for 10 weeks to facilitate deep discussion. Course will start the week of August 27 to accommodate those who will be attending the American Fisheries Society Annual meeting in Atlantic City Aug 19-23.

10. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE – 3rd posting
UC Davis Global Affairs is seeking abstracts for poster presentations from graduate and professional students for the 2018 International Research Conference at UC Davis on September 17 and 18, 2018. The two-day conference, “Innovation within Changing Political and Research Environments,” will include university leaders, scholars, and representatives of foundations, foreign governments and industry from throughout the globe. For more info, go to https://globalaffairs.ucdavis.edu/international-conference/graduate-call.

Jobs:
11. GRADUATE ASSISTANT WITH VIRGINIA TECH TRIO PROGRAMS – 1st posting
Virginia Tech TRIO Programs is hiring a 9 mo (Aug – May) 20 hr/wk Graduate Assistant for the 2018-2019 academic year to assist the Upward Bound programs for Roanoke City, Salem, and Southwest VA. The federally-funded educational opportunity programs help high school students overcome academic, social, and cultural barriers to postsecondary education. Participation in TRIO Programs tutorials, which occur one Saturday per month on the main campus, will be required. May also be additional travel or evening activities assigned, as needed. Candidates must successfully pass a criminal background check and possess a valid driver’s license. Mileage or state vehicles are provided for travel to target high schools to meet with students and families. To apply, email cover letter, resume, and list of 3 references to UpwardBound@vt.edu.

12. LAB RESEARCH ASSISTANTS\HELPERS NEEDED – 1st posting
The Rhizosphere and Soil Microbial Ecology lab has an ongoing research project exploring the association between soybean and helper microbes living in root-zone. Project has an opening for students to help graduate students in field and lab work. Fieldwork will take place until mid-October. It will include taking plant measurements, collecting plant samples and harvesting. Lab duties include, but are not limited to, preparation of bacterial cultures and DNA sequencing libraries. Familiarity with a biology lab setting is preferred. Pay is $9/hr. If interested, please send your resume to markwill@vt.edu.

13. GRADUATE ASSISTANT CAPITAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT – 2nd posting
Aid the Strategic Initiatives and Business Analysis team in the development of a university analytics unit by providing expertise in the field of statistics. 9 mo.position, 20 hrs/wk during the hours of 9:00am-5:00pm. with opportunity for renewals and potential for summer work as well. Possess a strong statistics or other mathematics background; experience in statistical software packages (e.g. R, SAS); possess excellent oral and written communication skills; proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; ability to collaborate with clients and to work as part of a team. Experience using visualization tools (e.g. Tableau, MicroStrategy); interest in data science, analytics, and/or business administration and an interest in applied statistics preferred. If interested, please send your resume and a cover letter to dcrotts@vt.edu.

14. FULL-TIME GA FOR FINANCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (FIT) – 3rd posting
FIT seeks a full-time (20 hr/week) Graduate Assistant to support various cybersecurity initiatives that aim to enhance the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and technology assets throughout the VP for Finance senior management area. This is a 9 mo. appointment Aug 15, 2018 – May 15, 2019. Will work closely with the Information Security Manager and perform a variety of tasks to support both ongoing initiatives as well as implementation projects for new or improved security-focused solutions for reducing risk throughout the division. Prefer familiarity with common cybersecurity and cyber risk management concepts, familiarity with computer hardware and software configuration and relevant tools, basic Windows system administration and computer networking skills, and strong customer service and problem solving abilities. If interested, please forward a current resume and cover letter to rorren@vt.edu.

15. GA FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT – 3rd posting
Seeking GA with statistical background to assist the enrollment management data analyst with a  number of data analysis projects for 2018-19 academic year.   Must have strong Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency in other Microsoft Office suite applications; have knowledge of best practice for electronic reporting, overall basic statistical concepts; be able to analyze data, interpret results, and make recommendations; be able to complete FERPA training, to keep student data secure; have a good attention to detail; be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Submit cover letter, resume/CV, and contact information for three references via email to Bennu Guntoro, bguntoro@vt.edu by August 9, 2018.

Volunteers and research participants sought:
16. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR AN OVERNIGHT SLEEP STUDY – 2nd posting
The Neural Dynamics and Neural Engineering Lab in the School of Neuroscience is looking for participants for an overnight sleep study on mental imagery and dreaming. The participant will perform a mental imagery task consisting of watching five-second videos with missing audio or visual components. The participant will then sleep in the lab overnight. Throughout the task and sleep, the participant will be wearing an EEG cap with saline gel. The study lasts for one session of one night. Volunteers should have no history of neurological, psychological, or sleep disorders. Please contact proan13@vt.edu for more information.

17. 9-10-YR-OLDS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY – 2nd posting
The C.A.P. Lab in the Psychology Department at VT is looking for 9-10 year old children for a new study focusing on children’s ability to learn how to regulate their emotions and its impact on memory. Subjects must be healthy, born after a full-term pregnancy, and weighed at least 6 pounds at birth. During this visit, subjects will watch some short video clips, some for memory and others to elicit specific emotions, play some word and computer games. In addition, we are interested in collecting information about the physiological components of these abilities. Subjects will wear a stretchy EEG cap to collect brain wave activity and ECG electrodes to collect heart rate activity. The visit should last about 1.5 hours. $20 Target gift card for parents and a toy for children. Childcare for siblings can be provided.  If interested, contact Tatiana Garcia-Meza at 231-2320 or tgarcia@vt.edu.

18. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON SCHOOL READINESS IN PRESCHOOLERS – 3rd posting
The iLEAP Lab in the Psychology Dept. is conducting a new study focusing on school readiness in preschoolers, and the predictability of different cognitive development factors in monolinguals and bilingually exposed children. The study will comprise of two visits, 1 year apart. During this visit, a variety of tasks will be administered in play-like interactions, lasting about an hour and 15 minutes. Data will be collected again one year later. Looking for preschool children (about 3 years old) who speak English only, but especially for those who speak and hear a different language at home. We offer a $15 compensation at each session for filling out the demographic and language questionnaires. If interested, contact vtlanguagelab@gmail.com, or call 540-231-3972 (iLEAP Lab) or 540-231-0973 (Vanessa Diaz, PI).

Upcoming events:
19. MINI-VACATION AT THE GLC: BEACH BALL ON THE LAWN
Friday, Aug 3, 2:00-3:30pm, Graduate School patio
If you can’t get away for a vacation this summer, take at least an hour and a half off and enjoy some summer refreshments and games on the Grad School lawn and patio. Wear your Hawaiian shirt, drink some virgin mojito or margarita, and play some games. Reserve your flight at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bg3OafeoxHNBg6V.