This Week’s Events:
0. Ongoing Services – updated 1/4/20
1. A CONVERSATION WITH SANKOFA DANZAFRO
2. VIRTUAL WRITING SERIES – YOU CAN WRITE IT
3. UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING YOUR ASSISTANTSHIP
4. COMMUNITY CHANGE COLLABORATIVE WELCOME MEETING
5. VIRTUAL DANCE WORKSHOP WITH SANKOFA DANZAFRO
6. VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR SUCCESS
7. GLC CAFÉ
8. GENERAL BODY MEETING: SCIENCE POLICY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY CLUB (SPEAC) AT VT
9. SCIENCE ON TAP:”EMBODYING EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TO SCIENCE THROUGH THEATRE”
10. GRADUATE STUDENT BOARD OF VISITORS REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION SESSION
Administrative Announcements:
11. SOLES4SOULS SHOE DRIVE – 1st posting
12. GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM and EXPOSITION (GSARS) ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS OPEN – 1st posting
13. GRAD 5124 – LIBRARY RESEARCH SKILLS (CRN 15860) – last day to register is January 25 – 1st posting
14. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE (COVES) SUMMER FELLOWSHIP SEEKING APPLICANTS – 2nd posting
15. RESEARCH TOOLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKSHOP SERIES – REGISTER NOW! – 3rd posting 16. VTGrATE INVITES MEMBERSHIP AND ADVANCEMENT APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2021 – 3rd posting
Jobs:
17. FULL-TIME GRA OPENING FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2021 – 3rd posting
Volunteers and research participants sought:
18. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR WEB APP VISUALIZING AND TRACKING OF OUTAGE SCHEDULES RESEARCH STUDY- 1st posting
19. GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM – 2nd posting
20. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR PERCEPTIONS OF AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) IN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS STUDY – 3rd posting
Upcoming Events:
21. VTGrad PAINT GRAB-N-GO – Register now! – February 2
22. SUPPORT GROUP: EXPLORING PURPOSE & MEANING – DEAN OF STUDENTS & COOK COUNSELING CENTER – Register now! – February 2
23. GLC FELLOW POSITION INFORMATION SESSIONS – February 2 and 3
24. VIRTUAL LUNCH WITH THE DEAN – February 3
25. GRADUATE SCHOOL VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR – February 3
26. VIRTUAL PUBLIC TALK WITH SAGE CRUMP – February 4
27. GRADUATE STUDENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING – February 4
28. FREE AT LAST – MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. – A DISCUSSION AND A CELEBRATION – February 12
29. MASTER YOUR FUTURE – February 11
0. Ongoing Services – updated 1/4/21
· GRADUATE SCHOOL ADVISING: No walk-in advising. 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.
· WRITING CENTER SERVICES: Schedule an appointment at https://vt.mywconline.com/
· GRADUATE OMBUDSPERSON: contact for appointment at gradstudentombud@vt.edu, 540-231-9573
1. A CONVERSATION WITH SANKOFA DANZAFRO
Monday, January 25, 2pm Est
Free; registration required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-conversation-with-sankofa-danzafro-registration-135742053135 Featuring artistic director Rafael Palacios and Yndira Perea. Moderated by Nestor Alejandro Santa Cano. Hosted by the Moss Arts Center.
2. VIRTUAL WRITING SERIES – YOU CAN WRITE IT
Tuesday, January 26, 12-1pm, Zoom
The Graduate School Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion, is hosting this virtual writing series led by Dr. Monique Dufour, Assistant Professor in the Department of History, and Dr. Justin Grimes, Assistant Director of the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion. You will have opportunities to learn about ways to enhance your writing skills. These FREE events (registration required) will be virtual (via Zoom) from 12-1 pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the Spring semester with the first event on January 26th. Registration for the event at http://bit.ly/VTVWR21.
3. UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING YOUR ASSISTANTSHIP
Tuesday, January 26, 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_dhYXeo1GHyRaiWx
4. COMMUNITY CHANGE COLLABORATIVE WELCOME MEETING
Tuesday, January 26, 4-5pm
The Community Change Collaborative (CCC) is eager to have new members! The CCC is an interdisciplinary graduate student group overseen by the VT Institute for Policy and Governance (VT-IPG). For over a decade, CCC members have gained a network and experience via world class speakers’ engagements, leadership in local and international community-based research projects, graduate student-run Community Change Journal, faculty forums, film screenings, podcast series and more. We welcome members from all backgrounds who are curious or passionate about community change and development. Interested in joining? Contact Neda Moayerian (mneda14@vt.edu) and we can add you to our list-serv so you don’t miss out!
5. VIRTUAL DANCE WORKSHOP WITH SANKOFA DANZAFRO
Tuesday, January 26, 7pm Est
Join members of Sankofa Danzafro from the comfort of your home to learn numerous Afro-Colombian dance styles, including bullerengue, abozao, currulao, tamborito, and salsa choque. This virtual workshop is open to all skill levels. Wear comfortable clothes, make some space to move, have water nearby for hydration, and bring an open mind to experience something new! Register at https://artscenter.vt.edu/experiences/virtual-workshop-salsa-choque.html This event is free. Registration is required. Hosted by the Moss Arts Center.
6. 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
7. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, January 28, 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.
8. GENERAL BODY MEETING: SCIENCE POLICY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY CLUB (SPEAC) AT VT
Thursday, January 28, 5:00-6:00 pm, Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/84754447042
Curious about science policy? Attend SPEAC’s next meeting! We will be discussing the legislative process and how to track and support proposed legislation, particularly as the Virginia General Assembly is currently in session. For more information or to join our Listserv, email speacvt@gmail.com. Also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook (@speacvt).
9. SCIENCE ON TAP:”EMBODYING EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS TO SCIENCE THROUGH THEATRE”
Thursday, January 28, 5:30pm, Zoom
Daniel Bird Tobin, Theatre Specialist at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire and Faculty Fellow with Virginia Tech’s Center for Communicating Science, will share some innovative approaches to science communication. We’ll be taking a trip to the beach, assessing an archaeological artifact, doing some productive ranting, and more! This event is open to the public free of charge, but registration is required.
10. GRADUATE STUDENT BOARD OF VISITORS REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION SESSION
Thursday, January 28, 7pm, Zoom
This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about how you can serve your graduate student body. The Board of Visitor Representative represents graduate students at the highest level of university governance. This includes meeting with administrators, advocating for issues, and working with student leaders to bring forth change at Virginia Tech. More information and the Zoom link for the call can be found here – https://bov.vt.edu/studentreps.html
11. SOLES4SOULS SHOE DRIVE – 1st posting
The Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion, in coordination with Soles4Souls (https://soles4souls.org/) is hosting a shoe drive. Gently used/new men’s, women’s, and children’s shoes in any size are welcome for donation! Drop-off bins may be found in the following locations: Graduate Life Center Lobby, McComas Hall Lobby, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, and Blacksburg Baptist Church. Donations will be collected through Friday, February 26, 2021. Bags and sanitizing equipment are available on site. Join us for this fun and safe service event! Questions? Please contact ordi@vt.edu.
12. GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM and EXPOSITION (GSARS) ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS OPEN – 1st posting
Start crafting your submissions for the Graduate Student Assembly’s 37th Annual Research Symposium and Exposition, which will be held virtually March 22nd through the 24th! This theme for the 2021 GSARS is “Research Carries On!”. ALL graduate and professional degree programs are welcome to submit an abstract before the deadline: February 12th, 2021 at 11:59 pm. Our GSA webpage will have details regarding submission types, scheduling, the keynote panel, and more as we approach the event. Contact the GSA Research Symposium email, gsars-g@vt.edu, with any questions you have.
13. GRAD 5124 – LIBRARY RESEARCH SKILLS (CRN 15860) – last day to register is January 25 – 1st posting
GRAD 5124 is an online, Health Sciences / Biomedical section of this elective, pass / fail, 1-credit course on offer this Spring 2021. You are welcome to join regardless of your disciplinary or degree focus; however, you will get the most out of it if you have a research interest related to health or biomedical sciences. This course is designed to increase successful completion of comprehensive literature reviews and project proposals. Identify key information sources, use advanced searching skills and citation management tools, and explore important research planning topics such as: building professional identity, evidence-based practice, data management, sharing research results, and authorship. Feel free to reach out to Ginny Pannabecker, vpannabe@vt.edu with any questions you have about the course.
14. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE (COVES) SUMMER FELLOWSHIP SEEKING APPLICANTS – 2nd posting
The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week full-time summer fellowship program (May 17-August 6) operated by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (the Academy) and open to STEM graduate students. During the program, fellows will receive training in science policy and science communication, spend time in legislative offices, executive agencies companies or nonprofits in the state, and will be paired with an Academy mentor and involved in briefings, meetings and the Academy’s annual summit in August. The program begins with a week-long boot camp on science policy, governance and policy making in Virginia. Thereafter, fellows spend their time with the entity with which they are matched, and also are paired with a mentor. The program includes a stipend. The Graduate School will submit three finalists for the fellowship program to the Academy, which will then choose one to represent the university in the program. More information about the program, information session dates, and to access the application materials, visit the COVES Fellowship webpage on the Graduate School website. The application deadline is March 1.
15. RESEARCH TOOLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKSHOP SERIES – REGISTER NOW! – 3rd 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.
16. VTGrATE INVITES MEMBERSHIP AND ADVANCEMENT APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2021 – 3rd 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.
17. FULL-TIME GRA OPENING FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2021 – 3rd 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.
18. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR WEB APP VISUALIZING AND TRACKING OF OUTAGE SCHEDULES RESEARCH STUDY- 1st posting
Participants are needed for a research study to support the design and evaluation of a web application that visualizes and tracks scheduling in outages of nuclear power plants. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the design features of the web application to determine ease-of-use and gather feedback on the designs. The experiment will be conducted in Whittemore 529. You will be compensated at $15 for your time (~75 mins total). The research protocol for this study is approved by VT Institutional Review Board – Project No. 18-825. This study is funded by the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) of the Department of Energy. Eligible participants are current Virginia Tech students 18 years of age or older, with normal or corrected to normal vision. If interested, please contact Anirudh More by email [anirudh1@vt.edu] or phone [540-449-8793] to schedule a time for the data collection.
19. GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM – 2nd posting
Are you interested in supporting international undergraduate students? Do you recognize the unique challenges that face international students when they begin their studies in the United States? If so, you may be interested in serving as the graduate student representative for the International Student Support Team, ISST. Established within the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, CEED, three years ago this organization focuses on the immediate needs of the engineering international students at Virginia Tech. This organization has a leadership team of 9 undergraduate students across a variety of engineering disciplines, and the graduate student representative provides support to the team in many ways. One of the major roles for this position is serving as the liaison between administration or faculty and the undergraduate leadership team. This position would start immediately with time to shadow the current graduate representative and would run through May 2022. Please email the current graduate student in this role, Tawni Paradise, at tawnip92@vt.edu for more information about this position and to express interest.
20. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR PERCEPTIONS OF AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) IN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS STUDY – 3rd posting
If you have experience working in industrial environments such as factories, pre-fabrication, manufacturing, supply chain, 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
Upcoming Events:
21. VTGRAD PAINT GRAB-N-GO – Register now!
Tuesday, February 2, 2-3pm, Zoom
There is always time to have fun. Remember the first time you picked up a brush and paint. Let’s recreate that moment. The Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion has reserved some paint Grab-N-Go kits for graduate students. Students must click here to register to participate. Selected participants will receive an email with pick-up instructions for their campus location and join others on February 2nd from 2-3 pm who will also be painting via Zoom.
22. SUPPORT GROUP: EXPLORING PURPOSE & MEANING – DEAN OF STUDENTS & COOK COUNSELING CENTER – Register now!
Tuesday, February 2, 3:30-5pm, Zoom
Safe space for students to talk about personal experiences and thoughts & explore together questions of purpose and meaning in life. Opportunity to reflect about diverse worldviews and values, and engage in creative activities to develop an active pursuit of life goals. Sessions via Zoom every other Tuesday 3:30-5pm, from Feb 2 to Apr 27. More info and registration at dos.vt.edu/purposegroup
23. GLC FELLOW POSITION INFORMATION SESSIONS
Tuesday, February 2, 5:30-6:30pm and Wednesday, February 3 10-11am, Zoom
Housing and Residence Life and the Graduate School are seeking motivated graduate students who are committed to building graduate community, for GLC Fellow positions for the 2021-2022 academic year. Join the current GLC Fellows plus their supervisors at one of these information sessions to learn more about the position. You can find more details, as well as the Zoom links here: https://graduatelifecenter.vt.edu/residence-life-in-the-glc/Fellows.html
24 .VIRTUAL LUNCH WITH THE DEAN
Wednesday, February 3, 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_ddkBthDS4rSgWiN
25. GRADUATE SCHOOL VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR
Wednesday, February 3, 1-4pm, Online
The Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion, is hosting a FREE virtual resource fair to directly connect you to support services! Learn valuable information regarding future programming, family and academic support, mental health services, and more! Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to participate and will need to sign-up in Brazen https://app.brazenconnect.com/a/vt-grad-school/e/0Zovv. Campus units interested in hosting a booth will be sent a link individually. Questions? Please contact Dr. Shernita Lee at ordi@vt.edu.
26. VIRTUAL PUBLIC TALK WITH SAGE CRUMP
Thursday, February 4, 4-5pm, Online
The Community Change Collaborative and School of Performing Arts are proud to host a virtual public talk with Ms. Sage Crump. Sage is an artist, culture strategist and facilitator who supports cultural workers/arts organizations involved in social justice to build social movements. The event is free and open to the public. Please register via the RSVP link. For questions contact Neda Moayerian (mneda14@vt.edu)
27. GRADUATE STUDENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
Thursday, February 4, 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
28. FREE AT LAST – MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. – A DISCUSSION AND A CELEBRATION
Friday, February 12, 6:30-8:00pm, Online via Zoom.
Join us for guided discussion of the PBS Special Documentary “Free at Last – Martin Luther King, Jr.” We ask that attendees watch the video before attending to fully participate. Stay and share cultural artifacts if you’d like (you have the option of sharing food/recipes, beverages, art, poetry, music, etc.) as we expand our dialogue to examine our collective cultural souls. As an outcome, we hope to create a meaningful archive reflecting the meaning and purpose of cultural identity in the Virginia Tech Community. This event is free and is hosted by the VT School of Education. For further details and to register, visit http://bit.ly/SOE2021_MLK
29. MASTER YOUR FUTURE
Thursday, February 11, 12-1pmMaster Your Future is a series of professional development workshops designed to help students successfully navigate graduate school and their professional development. Brought to you by the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) and College of Engineering Research & Graduate Studies. Future dates are March 11 and April 8. Register at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_blMiaZMwIQkWO0Z For More Information, Contact Dr. Trey Waller – twaller@vt.edu