This Week’s Events:
0. Ongoing Services – updated 1/4/20
1. GLC FELLOW POSITION INFORMATION SESSIONS
2. SUPPORT GROUP: EXPLORING PURPOSE & MEANING – DEAN OF STUDENTS & COOK COUNSELING CENTER
3. STUDIOS NETWORK WORKSHOP SERIES
4. VIRTUAL LUNCH WITH THE DEAN
5. GRADUATE SCHOOL VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR
6. OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) WORKSHOP
7. BEAT STRESS WITH A FREE GUIDED MEDITATION
8. GLC CAFÉ
9. VIRTUAL PUBLIC TALK WITH SAGE CRUMP
10. DEEP DIVE: INTERFAITH COOPERATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS
11. GRADUATE STUDENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
12. BLACK MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS SUPPORT MEETING
13. SUPERBOWL TAILGATE/HOKIE TRIVIA
Administrative Announcements:
14. JOB SEARCH CIRCLES – 1st posting
15. CO-WORKING WITH VTGrATE FELLOWS + 2021 SPRING APPLICATION CYCLE OPEN – 1st posting
16. GRAD STUDENTS SOUGHT TO BE POD COACHES FOR UNDERGRADS- 1st posting
17. JOIN THE SCIENTISTA CHAPTER AT VIRGINIA TECH – 1st posting
18. SOLES4SOULS SHOE DRIVE – 2nd posting
19. GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM and EXPOSITION (GSARS) ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS OPEN – 2nd posting
20. GRAD 5124 – LIBRARY RESEARCH SKILLS (CRN 15860) – last day to register is January 25 – 2nd posting
21. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE (COVES) SUMMER FELLOWSHIP SEEKING APPLICANTS – 3rd posting
Jobs:
22. GLC FELLOW POSITION OPENINGS – 1st posting
Volunteers and research participants sought:
23. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON IMMERSIVE DATA ANALYTICS – 1st posting
24. PARENTS AND THEIR 7-11-YEAR OLD CHILDREN NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting
25. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR WEB APP VISUALIZING AND TRACKING OF OUTAGE SCHEDULES RESEARCH STUDY- 2nd posting
Upcoming Events:
26. MASTER YOUR FUTURE – February 11
27. RESUME, CV AND COVER LETTER WRITING – February 11
28. RESEARCH INTEGRITY AND SCHOLARLY EXCELLENCE (RISE) LECTURE SERIES – February 12
29. WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO? – February 12
30. FREE AT LAST – MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. – A DISCUSSION AND A CELEBRATION – February 12
31. HOLISTIC SKY HAPPINESS MEDITATION RETREAT – February 19-21
0. Ongoing Services – updated 2/1/21
· GRADUATE SCHOOL: In person drop-off or pick-up of documents and materials M-F 1:00-3:00pm, 120 GLC. 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. To make an appointment, visit: https://vt-ucc.titaniumhwc.com/ScheduleGraduateFirstCookConnect
· 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 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 Information about the application process can be found in the “Jobs” section of this email.
2. SUPPORT GROUP: EXPLORING PURPOSE & MEANING – DEAN OF STUDENTS & COOK COUNSELING CENTER
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
3. STUDIOS NETWORK WORKSHOP SERIES
Tuesday and Wednesday, February 2-3, Variety of times, Zoom
Newman Library offers free online workshops on a variety of topics each week. More information and registration forms are available at https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/calendar/events. Notable upcoming workshops include: Introduction to Research Data Management, Feb. 2 from 3:30-4:30pm; Building Digital Exhibits in Omeka, Feb. 3 from 2:00-4:00pm; and Introduction to Scholarly Publishing, Feb. 3 from 2:30-3:45pm.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) WORKSHOP
Wednesday, February 3, 5-6pm, Zoom
This informative workshop will walk you through the OPT application process, including eligibility requirements, timing of application, and other important details. Presented by Cranwell International Center International Student Advisors. Registration is required. Please go to https://international.vt.edu/programs/cranwellconnectionsprograms.html to register. Information about OPT is available at Optional Practical Training for F-1 Students. Future OPT workshop dates: Tuesday, February 9, 5-6pm; Friday, February 12, 12-1pm; Thursday, February 18, 5-6pm.
7. BEAT STRESS WITH A FREE GUIDED MEDITATION
Wednesdays in February, 6pm, Zoom
Come release stress and experience some inner peace with a free weekly guided meditation on Wednesdays at 6 PM EST. These meditation sessions, led by trained and experienced facilitators, are an effortless way to relax and take a break from this constant worrying
mind of ours. Register here to receive a meeting invite: https://tiny.cc/vtmeditates
8. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, February 4, 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.
9. 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)
10. DEEP DIVE: INTERFAITH COOPERATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS
Thursday, February 4, 5:30-6:30pm, Zoom
Come join Synergy and other student organizations in our Interfaith Cooperation and Civil Rights series! We will be discussing how our beliefs, values, worldviews, and societal roles can play an integral part in social justice reform. This series will be conducted via Zoom- please register to participate. https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/event/6676075 For further information contact: Michelle: michelleam@vt.edu
11. 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
12. BLACK MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS SUPPORT MEETING
February 4, 6pm, Zoom
Cook Counseling Center is co-sponsoring this meeting. Additional resources can be found here: https://ucc.vt.edu/index/Black_Mental_Health_Matters.html Attend the meeting at
https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/81781491178
13. SUPERBOWL TAILGATE/HOKIE TRIVIA
Sunday, February 7, 2-3pm, Zoom
Have questions about American football? Want to learn some VT trivia? Grab your favorite snack and come join the GLC Fellows as we start with a discussion of the basic rules of football and then enjoy a fun trivia Kahoot game, with a prize for the winner. Zoom link – https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/82811412869?pwd=VG9BVy9lL2NianZOZkZ3RWZUOTliZz09
(Meeting ID: 828 1141 2869, Passcode: 480222)
14. JOB SEARCH CIRCLES – 1st posting
The Graduate School, in collaboration with Career and Professional Development, hosts Job Search Circles to assist graduate students with their job search process and create a space for sharing resources and peer support. In spring 2021, two job search circles are available for VT graduate students: Job Search Circle: Academia and Job Search Circle: Industry/Government/NGO. More for details about these circles, and to register, visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/professional-development/JSC.html Contact Alyssa Rametta with questions at alyssarametta@vt.edu.
15. CO-WORKING WITH VTGrATE FELLOWS + 2021 SPRING APPLICATION CYCLE OPEN – 1st posting
The VT Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence Fellows are hosting several Zoom Co-Working sessions: alternating Mondays, starting Feb 1. from 1-2pm; Wednesdays from 4-5pm; & alternating Thursdays 12-1pm starting 2/4. Chat with experienced grad students, bring a question or a portfolio item (syllabus, philosophy statement, etc.) to review. The Fellows want you to join them! Visit our website http://vtgrate.org for more information, to find registration links, and/or to Ask A Fellow. Guess what else is on our website? Links to the 2021 Spring Application Cycle! We are inviting new membership and advancement within our peer-mentoring program focused on best practices in teaching and learning. Application deadline is Sunday, February 21 at midnight. And, if you’d be so kind: follow us on Twitter @VT_GrATE
16. GRAD STUDENTS SOUGHT TO BE POD COACHES FOR UNDERGRADS- 1st posting
Virginia Tech created the Pod Program “to help students expand their social circles and create closer connections, while ensuring individuals are following CDC guidelines and maintaining healthy community.” Pods are small groups of students who can interact with each other more closely and in a more relaxed and un-masked environment. The university also provides Pods with structure and resources to engage students in a meaningful Virginia Tech, including a coach for each registered pod. Pod coaches are VT community members dedicated to working with registered pods for the Spring 2021 semester, with the main goal of engaging students in their pod, connect them to university and community experiences and resources, and make sure the students feel supported for the spring semester. Pod coaches will meet virtually with students twice a month and attend a monthly pod coach meeting with other pod coaches. The time commitment is approximately 3 hours a month. If you are interested and have capacity to serve in this way (or if you know someone who would be perfect for this opportunity), please contact Ro Settle at resettle@vt.edu or Meghan Weyrens Kuhn at mweyrens@vt.edu.
17. JOIN THE SCIENTISTA CHAPTER AT VIRGINIA TECH – 1st posting
Scientista is a national organization that supports college campuses interested in creating a community for pre-professional females in STEM-related fields. We really hope that our VT chapter will be able to connect women in STEM across our campus and across different career stages to create a strong community of Hokie Scientistas. Some of our goals as a chapter include meetings where we could present seminars, host study sessions, writing sessions, workshops on career development, have socials – the possibilities are endless. Our main goal is to form a community and social support system that empowers graduate student women in STEM. If you are interested in learning more about Scientistas, becoming a member, or becoming more involved, please fill out this form (tinyurl.com/27kgatjb). Questions may be directed to Beatriz Torres (beatriztc@vt.edu) or scientistasvt@gmail.com.
18. SOLES4SOULS SHOE DRIVE – 2nd 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.
19. GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM and EXPOSITION (GSARS) ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS OPEN – 2nd 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.
20. GRAD 5124 – LIBRARY RESEARCH SKILLS (CRN 15860) – last day to register is January 25 – 2nd 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.
21. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE (COVES) SUMMER FELLOWSHIP SEEKING APPLICANTS – 3rd 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.
22. GLC FELLOW POSITION OPENINGS- 1st posting
The Graduate School and Housing and Residence Life are seeking motivated graduate students who are committed to building community for GLC Fellow positions for the 2021-2022 academic year. An ideal candidate would have previous residence life and/or event planning experience, though it is not a requirement. Applicants must submit a formal cover letter, resume, and fully complete the following application: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6tlpyqQRY7C0Thc Information about cover letter requirements is detailed in the application and the full job description can be found here: https://graduatelifecenter.vt.edu/residence-life-in-the-glc/Fellows.html Apply by midnight on Friday, February 19. Two information sessions will be held on February 2 and 3; details are in the events section of this posting. Contact Lauren Surface at lkeister@vt.edu or Stephanie Hovsepian at stephanieh@vt.edu if you have questions.
23. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON IMMERSIVE DATA ANALYTICS – 1st posting
We are conducting an in-person as well as an online user-study, and participants are needed. The study aims to evaluate how efficient it is for humans to analyze data in a 3D immersive environment compared to analyzing data on a 2D desktop screen. Participating in the in-person study will give you a chance to engage in a mixed reality environment using the Microsoft HoloLens device. Participating in the online study will allow you to experience a 3D WebGL environment. You can participate in only one of the studies. Please fill out this questionnaire to sign up for a 3D data experience: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3OEFrUgaqkcqVtr. The in-person study will take place in Experience B Studio at Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. The online study will take place over Zoom. Both of the studies will last for 60 minutes, and participants will be compensated $10 upon completion of the study. The study has been approved by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board: Protocol No. 19-118. Questions? Contact Disha Sardana at dishas9@vt.edu.
24. PARENTS AND THEIR 7-11-YEAR OLD CHILDREN NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting
We are working with families both in the US and China to understand children’s social development and family interactions. To follow public health guidelines for social distancing, parents and children may complete this study in the comfort of your home, with no face-to-face contact with us. The study involves parents completing online questionnaires and uploading audio recordings of parent-child joint activities: A) talk with each other about events that made you or your child feel angry, proud, shame/guilt, and warmth; and B) read a wordless book together. Questionnaires will take about 30 minutes and parent-child activities will take about 45 minutes. Parents will be given a $20 e-giftcard and children will be given a wordless picture book and a sticker sheet. Interested? E-mail danhuaz@vt.edu.
25. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR WEB APP VISUALIZING AND TRACKING OF OUTAGE SCHEDULES RESEARCH STUDY- 2nd 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.
Upcoming Events:
26. 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
27. RESUME, CV AND COVER LETTER WRITING
Thursday, February 12, 4-5pm, Zoom
Wondering how to make your application materials stand out from the crowd? This workshop will answer your questions on writing a cover letter, the differences between a CV and resume, and how to get your materials past an Applicant Tracking System. Questions about this workshop may be directed to Graduate School Career Advisor, Alyssa Rametta at alyssarametta@vt.edu. Register here: https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/643429/share_preview
28. RESEARCH INTEGRITY AND SCHOLARLY EXCELLENCE (RISE) LECTURE SERIES
Friday, February 12, 12-1pm, Zoom
Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance (SIRC) will host its inaugural speaker event to launch the Research Integrity and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Lecture Series. Guest speaker Dr. Ming Jack Po will be discussing the impact of bias on machine learning. Dr. Po is product manager at Google working in healthcare and machine learning. At Google, he has led teams in health, research, cloud, and search. Prior to joining Google, Po spent a decade working in different senior operating and venture capital roles in areas related to medical devices, healthcare delivery, and global health. The goal of the RISE Lecture Series is to foster ethical scholarship, explore a diversity of perspectives about the roles and responsibilities of scholars and researchers, and reflect on the ethical impact of our work in the modern world. We invite you to join this important conversation. More details and registration information can be found here: https://www.research.vt.edu/news/2021/machine-learning-at-google-ai-fairness-ethical-quandaries-research-integrity-scholarly-ethics-lecture-series.html
29. WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?
Friday, February 12, 12-1:30pm, Zoom
If you’re a new graduate student who has asked yourself this question, The Graduate School wants you to know that you are not alone! Virtually meet new and returning fellow graduate students to talk about this exciting – and often overwhelming – life adventure. Sign-up for this session here: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3U9PWAAd3FkgsaV Contact Lauren Surface at lkeister@vt.ed if you have questions.
30. 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
31. HOLISTIC SKY HAPPINESS MEDITATION RETREAT
Friday, February 19-Sunday, February 21, Online
Participants will learn a breath-based meditation practice called SKY that has been scientifically documented to increase immunity, battle stress, and relieve anxiety and depression. This 9-hour long workshop will be led by trainers with thousands of hours of experience under their belts, and is available to VT students for a discounted fee of $30.
Fill in the interest form: http://tiny.cc/vtsky Read more about SKY: