January 11-17, 2021

This Week’s Events:    

0. Ongoing Services – updated 1/4/20    
1. GLC CAFÉ   

Administrative Announcements:    

2. RESEARCH TOOLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKSHOP SERIES – REGISTER NOW! – 1st posting 
3. VTGrATE INVITES MEMBERSHIP AND ADVANCEMENT APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2021 – 1st posting 
4. GRADUATE STUDENTS INVITED TO SUBMIT WRITING (SPRING 2021) – 2nd posting 
5. HOLIDAY TIPS OF SUPPORT – 3rd posting  
6. FINANCIAL WELLNESS COACHING – 3rd posting  

Jobs:  
7. FULL-TIME GRA OPENING FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2021 – 1st posting 

Volunteers and research participants sought:    

8. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR PERCEPTIONS OF AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) IN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS STUDY – 1st posting 
9. CHINESE PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AN ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION STUDY – 3rd posting  

Upcoming Events:    
10. UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING YOUR ASSISTANTSHIP – January 20 
11. VIRTUAL LUNCH WITH THE DEAN – January 21 
12. GRADUATE STUDENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING – January 21 
13. 10th ANNUAL MLD SEMINAR: “INTELLIGENCE PLUS CHARACTER – EDUCATION AS FORCE FOR LIBERATION” – January 22 
14. VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR SUCCESS – January 27 

0. Ongoing Services – updated 1/4/21    
· GRADUATE SCHOOL ADVISING: No walk-in advising during Fall 2020. Request one-on-one assistantship or academic advising by using our online request form to set-up a Zoom session.   
· CAREER ADVISING: schedule virtual career advising appointment via https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake.html     
· COOK COUNSELING: Drop-in Zoom hours, Tuesdays 10am-12pm and Thursdays and Fridays 3pm-5pm, Zoom links found here. (Starts first week of class)    
· WRITING CENTER SERVICES: Schedule an appointment at https://vt.mywconline.com/      
· GRADUATE OMBUDSPERSON: contact for appointment at gradstudentombud@vt.edu, 540-231-9573     

1. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, January 14, 4:00pm, Zoom https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/97678968202
While the pandemic put a stop to our in-person café, we want to keep the GLC café running so that students may continue to meet informally and share their experiences. Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and join fellow grads and Grad School staff for some casual conversation and the occasional game. If you have questions or concerns about this event, email Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu

2. RESEARCH TOOLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKSHOP SERIES – REGISTER NOW! – 1st posting
There’s a lot to learn in graduate school, and the library can help! This spring, the library will offer a series of free workshops (offered live via Zoom) to help you develop the research skills you need to succeed in graduate school. Learn about literature reviews and database searching, citation management, data management, scholarly publishing, and developing your scholarly presence. For registration links and detailed information about each workshop, visit guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops. Questions? Email Lisa Becksford at lisab5@vt.edu. 

3. VTGrATE INVITES MEMBERSHIP AND ADVANCEMENT APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2021 – 1st posting
The VT Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence invites applications from all graduate students interested in achieving excellence in teaching and joining the ranks of exemplary graduate students and alumni. Application requirements for the three levels of membership are based on prior experience i.e., member, associate, and fellow and are available on our website. The application cycle closes on February 21, 2021 (Sunday) at midnight. Questions about the application process may be directed to our email vtgrate@vt.edu or through our Ask a Fellow page. 

4. GRADUATE STUDENTS INVITED TO SUBMIT WRITING (SPRING 2021) – 2nd posting 
The online platform for graduate student essays, RE: Reflections and Explorations, offered through the VT Institute for Policy and Governance (VTIPG), is a great vehicle to share your research ideas and work with a broader audience and to hone your analytical and writing capabilities too. All VT graduate students are eligible to offer essays as long as they address a policy, politics or governance issue or concern. Graduate students in Agricultural, Leadership and Community Education, ASPECT, Government and International Affairs, Human Development, Natural Resources, Public Administration and Public Affairs, Planning, Governance and Globalization, Political Science, Rhetoric and Writing, Science and Technology Studies, Sociology and Urban Affairs and Planning are particularly encouraged to submit essays. Please read the submission guidelines here.To find examples of past topics, please review archived essays or see the published volumes that have thus far arisen from the series;  (1 and 2). Dr. Max Stephenson, Professor of Public and International Affairs and Director of VTIPG, serves as editor and final arbiter of all submissions. Sign up now for a time slot for publication that suits your schedule using this Google Spreadsheet. When you sign up, please also send a brief 100-150-word abstract outlining what topic or concern you believe you will be considering in your submission to Heather Parrish (parrish1@vt.edu). That effort should provide a working title and clearly treat what policy or governance issue you expect to consider and suggest why it is significant. Available dates will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Questions? Please contact Ms. Parrish at the Institute for Policy and Governance. 

5. HOLIDAY TIPS OF SUPPORT – 3rd posting  
Check out Cook Counseling Center’s holiday care package for tips of support through the holiday season https://ucc.vt.edu/content/dam/ucc_vt_edu/self_help_support_stategies/HolidayCarePackage.pdf  

6. FINANCIAL WELLNESS COACHING – 3rd posting  
Financial questions or stress? Set up an appointment to discuss your financial wellness. Kevin Sutton, the Assistant Director of Financial Wellness on the Hokie Wellness team, presents and meets with both graduate and undergraduate students to discuss topics such as budgeting, credit scores, debt management strategies, financial stress, and short-term financial planning. Some potential topics for discussion during this time include how to maximize your credit score without carrying a credit card balance as well as making a financial plan for experiences you want to have in 2021 and beyond. You can contact Kevin @SuttonKL@vt.edu to schedule an appointment around your schedule.  

7. FULL-TIME GRA OPENING FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2021 – 1st posting 
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) seeks a full-time GRA to assist with several ongoing projects including autonomous vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things, 5G and Beyond, AI/ML in wireless network, broadband communication, and new radio systems. Qualified candidates will have: a background in wireless communication and/or computer network; a good understanding of wireless communications, including signal processing, digital modulations, channel estimation, radio frequency; and experience with Python, C++; Hands on experience with Software Defined Radio devices and IoT devices; be familiar with LTE and 5G technologies in 3GPP standards; be familiar with open source environment development and have experience with computational tools. For more information or if interested in applying, contact Dr. Aloizio DaSilva (CCI 5G Testbed Director) aloiziops@vt.edu or  Dr. Ying Wang (Lead 5G Engineer) ywang06@vt.edu. This could lead to a Fall/Spring 21- 22 contract. 

8. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR PERCEPTIONS OF AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) IN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS STUDY – 1st posting
If you have experience working in industrial environments such as factories, pre-fabrication plants in construction, or similar, you are invited to complete a survey about the feasibility of using Augmented Reality (AR) for doing work in these environments. The survey asks you about your experiences working in these environments and how a proposed AR system called “The Mobile Office” might impact workers’ productivity. The survey takes about 15 minutes to be completed and participation is confidential and completely voluntary. There is no compensation for completing the survey. The contact for this project is Daniel Linares (dlinares@vt.edu). This study was reviewed by the VT IRB under protocol IRB-20-954. To complete the survey please visit: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55ceBuovq3NG7yZ 

9. CHINESE PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AN ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION STUDY – 3rd posting
Native Chinese speakers who are 18 years of age and older are needed to participate in this online 40 – 60-minute study. During the session, you will be asked to complete a brief survey, to listen to several English lectures, and to answer listening comprehension questions. You will need a computer with a web browser and speakers/headphones. Participation is confidential and completely voluntary. There is no compensation for completing the survey. The study contact is Jingjing Huang (hjingjing@vt.edu). If you are interested in obtaining more information about this study, please visit: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6g54HPnCiQKnR89  

Upcoming Events:  

10. UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING YOUR ASSISTANTSHIP 
Wednesday, January 20, 12-1pm, Zoom 
Learn about benefits, rights and responsibilities associated with your new assistantship position and how to get the most out of your assistantship experience. Register here: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8J3F6npnDfUzuYJ 

11. VIRTUAL LUNCH WITH THE DEAN
Thursday, January 21, 12-1pm, Zoom
Meet Dr. Karen DePauw, Vice President and Dean for Graduate Education, and ask any questions you may have. Feel free to eat your lunch while chatting with Dr. DePauw and other grad students. Register now: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8prXRBwHiskFI3j 

12. GRADUATE STUDENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
Thursday, January 21, 5:30-7:00pm, Online via Zoom
As a graduate student enrolled at Virginia Tech, you’re automatically a member of GSA, and are welcome to attend our General Assembly meetings. These meetings are not just for delegates – there is an open forum for our community to voice concerns of which the delegate body may not be aware. Please PM the GA and VP arriving at the meeting to indicate your attendance. More information about the organization can be found online at http://bit.ly/GSA_Gen_Assembly 

13. 10th ANNUAL MLD SEMINAR: “INTELLIGENCE PLUS CHARACTER – EDUCATION AS FORCE FOR LIBERATION”
Friday, January 22, 12-1pm, Zoom/YouTube
Martin Luther King said that “the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education”. In this address we will explore the full meaning of this holistic view of the education process, and the ways in which if internalized, it grants us opportunities to shape our own futures. This seminar will be led by Dr. Bryan Dewsbury, Associate Professor in Biological Science at University of Rhode Island. For more information about this event and to find the Zoom/YouTube links, visit Tenth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Webinar | Biological Sciences | Virginia Tech (vt.edu) This event is hosted by the Biological Sciences Diversity Committee.  

14. VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR SUCCESS
Wednesday, January 27, 4-5pm, Online
All VT career fairs will be on Brazen this semester. Learn how to navigate this platform, how to prepare for a virtual career fair, and how to stand out in a virtual fair as a graduate student. Questions about this workshop may be directed to the Graduate School Career Advisor: alyssarametta@vt.edu. Sign-up now: https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/643415/share_preview