April 19-25, 2021

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Welcome to the Graduate School’s listserv for sharing events, services, administrative announcements and job opportunities for graduate students. Messages are posted on Mondays. Postings must be relevant to graduate students; include the name and contact of the requesting organization or person; not exceed 150 words; not include attachments. Submissions will be edited to fit listserv style and formatting requirements. Submit postings by 5:00pm Friday before the Monday on which the posting is to appear by emailing it to grads@vt.edu with “GLC Weekly posting” in the subject line. The GLC Weekly postings are also available at https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/      

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please refer to the contact in the posting during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.      

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This Week’s Events:      

Ongoing Services – updated 2/1/21   

1. APIDA MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP: WHITEWASHING AND TOKENISM
2. GRADUATE SCHOOL REVIEW OF ETDs
3. CRAFTING A STORY OF YOUR RESEARCH
4. ILLUMINATING APIDA UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
5. CULTIVATING A CAREER: FROM SEEDS OF INSPIRATION TO A HARVEST OF DISCOVERY AND TRANSFORMATION
6. APIDAS IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
7. GLC CAFÉ 
8. SCIENCE ON TAP OF THE NRV: ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER IN ACADEMIA: RESEARCH STORIES AND SUCESSES
9. PLANNING AND MOTIVATIONAL WORKSHOP
10. FINAL GRADUATE STUDENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 
11. APIDA WOMEN’S PRESENCE IN THE WORKFORCE
12. EXPLORING DIVERSE POSTDOCTORAL CAREER PATHS
13. AN EVENING WITH MERIDIAN
14. VTUL SPRING GAME NIGHT 2021
15. HOKIE HICCUPS
16. RECOVERY COMMUNITY: LGBTQ+ RECOVERY MEETING
17. TURKISH COFFEE: A 500-YEAR JOURNEY

Administrative Announcements:   
18. PHOTO OP ON GRAD SCHOOL LAWN REGISTRATION OPEN- 2nd posting
19. GSA TRAVEL FUND PROGRAM – SPRING CYCLE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS – 2nd posting
20. GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS – 2nd posting
21. BORROW A GSA CAP AND GOWN TODAY – 2nd posting
22. FREE CLEAR FACE MASKS AVAILABLE – 3rd posting 

Jobs:  
23. FULL TIME GA OPENING WITH FISCAL TRAINING TEAM – 1st posting
24. 2021-2022 GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION – OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – 1st posting
25. GA POSITION – CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING – 1st posting
26. SCHIFFERT HEALTH CENTER GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION STARTING AUGUST 2021 – 1st posting
27. GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION IN THE WOMEN AND GENDER IN INTERNATIONL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM- 2nd posting

Volunteers and research participants sought:      
28. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AR RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting
29. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR EXPERIMENTS IN ECONOMICS TO STUDY HUMAN BEHAVIOR STUDY – 1st posting
30. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AUGMENTED REALITY USER STUDY -2nd posting
31. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A SENSORY TECHNIQUES RESEARCH STUDY – 3rd posting 
32. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR VIRTUAL REALITY IMPROVISATION STUDY – 3rd posting 
33. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR CONSUMER WEB-BASED SURVEY ON EDAMAME – 3rd posting 
34. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR EDAMAME SENSORY STUDY -3rd posting 

Upcoming Events:    
35. FAMILY YOGA – April 28
36. PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH NENGJIE JIANG – April 29
37. BUDGETING AND DEBT MANAGEMENT FOR FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS – April 29
38. COMPASSION TURNED INWARD: ANTIDOTE FOR STRESS AND ANXIETY – April 29
39. BLAMING TEACHERS: PROFESSIONALIZATION POLICIES AND THE FAILURE OF EDUCATION REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES – April 29
40. “SYSTEMS APPROACH TO DISASTER RESILIENCE” – SEMINAR BY ZAHRAA SAIYED – April 30 
41. ENGINEERING DYNAMICS INTO CELL AND GENETIC MEDICINE – April 30
42. SAVE THE DATE! GSA END OF YEAR EVENT – May 2
43. FIWGSA PANDA EXPRESS FUNDRAISER FOR HUMBLE HIKES – May 6
44. DIVERSITY SCHOLARS SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR – May 7

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. APIDA MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP: WHITEWASHING AND TOKENISM
Monday, April 19, 4pm, Zoom http://rb.gy/uvnhuy
This biweekly support group will address this week’s theme, Whitewashing and Tokenism.

2. GRADUATE SCHOOL REVIEW OF ETDs
Monday, April 19, 7pm est, Zoom 
In this presentation, we’ll go over what the Graduate School looks for when we review your Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD) for formatting. Students will receive tips on how to prepare their ETDs for submission so that they are quickly approved. https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83587230707 If the link does not work for you, please log in to Zoom and then enter the Meeting ID: 835 8723 0707

3. CRAFTING A STORY OF YOUR RESEARCH
Tuesday, April 20 and Thursday, April 22, 12-1:30pm, Zoom
The Center for Communicating Science has engaged The Story Collider to offer a series of workshops. This is a two-session sequence that will support you in developing and refining the story of your research. Click here to register for both sessions: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crafting-a-story-of-your-research-tickets-140231513231 

4. ILLUMINATING APIDA UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
Tuesday, April 20, 5-6pm, Zoom http://rb.gy/vutclp
This transdisciplinary panel features APIDA undergraduate students from Multimedia Journalism and International Relations, Civil and Environmental Engineering, English, Economics, and Business Information Technology. The panelists will share their research and their experiences as APIDA undergraduate students in their respective fields. 

5. CULTIVATING A CAREER: FROM SEEDS OF INSPIRATION TO A HARVEST OF DISCOVERY AND TRANSFORMATION
Wednesday, April 21, 1pm, Zoom
The Translational Plant Sciences Center Graduate Student Organization will be hosting Dr. Beronda Montgomery from Michigan State University at this webinar. The webinar will focus on her integrated career that supports progressive research, education and service and which requires planning, strategic and intentional engagement of mentors, and career envisioning. Following the webinar, there is an opportunity for graduate students to have an active discussion with Dr. Montgomery, although anyone is invited to attend the webinar! Please contact Will Singer (wilmsing@vt.edu) with any questions. Webinar Registration: https://forms.gle/JcRxjRAqtG47Zyjw7 Graduate Student Discussion Registration: https://forms.gle/ciDnHoc5h522u9Xg8

6. APIDAS IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
Thursday, April 22, 2 pm, Zoom http://rb.gy/faprw8
This event will feature APIDA leaders and their roles in politics. The featured presenters will share their experiences of what it means to be APIDA while highlighting their political positions and their political advocacy. 

7. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, April 22, 4-5:00pm, Zoom https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/97678968202
Pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee and join fellow grads and Grad School staff for some casual conversation and the occasional game via Zoom. If you have questions or concerns about this event, email Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu.   

8. SCIENCE ON TAP OF THE NRV: ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER IN ACADEMIA: RESEARCH STORIES AND SUCESSES
Thursday, April 22, 5:30-6:30pm, Zoom
Today, Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDA) make up roughly 6% of the population of the United States, and more than 10% of the student and faculty populations at Virginia Tech. While experiences of the APIDA community have largely been spoken about collectively, the community has roots in over 40 countries and a wide range of cultural identities. This month’s Science on Tap NRV will include a panel discussion featuring graduate students and faculty at Virginia tech. Join us to get a glimpse of the diverse, challenging, and vibrant experiences of being Asian/Pacific Islander in academia. Register at  https://bit.ly/aprsot21 Contact Cassandra Hockman with questions, chockman@vt.edu

9. PLANNING AND MOTIVATIONAL WORKSHOP
Thursday, April 22, 5:30-6:30pm, Zoom
The theme for this workshop is Prioritization & Motivation. Future dates/themes: Thursday, April 29: Maintaining Motivation & End of Semester Prep, and Tuesday, May 4: Last Minute Tips. All workshops are 5:30-6:30pm. Register here: tinyurl.com/SpringMotivation. Sponsored by Cook Counseling Center.

10. FINAL GRADUATE STUDENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING FOR ACADEMIC YEAR
Thursday, April 22, 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. Guests, please PM the GA (Dryden) via the chat window upon arriving at the meeting to indicate your attendance. Reps, please use the appropriate sign-in survey. More information about the organization can be found online at http://bit.ly/GSA_Gen_Assembly.   

11. APIDA WOMEN’S PRESENCE IN THE WORKFORCE
Thursday, April 22, 7pm, Zoom http://rb.gy/eobop5
Join the alumnae of alpha Kappa Delta Phi Sorority, Inc. – Virginia Tech Chapter, as they discuss how they have navigated challenges, microaggressions, success, and more in the workplace as APIDA women. 

12. EXPLORING DIVERSE POSTDOCTORAL CAREER PATHS
Friday, April 23,10:30am-12pm, Zoom
While many postdoctoral researchers expect their training to lead to a career in academia, the reality is that only a small fraction of this group become tenured professors. The Office for Research and Innovation is hosting a webinar with a panel of experts to provide insights about career pathways outside of academia that includes discussion of career opportunities in the government, industry, and research management sectors. Speakers, all former postdocs, have experience as leaders in federal policy, entrepreneurs, and researchers in industry and federal labs. This panel will help illuminate alternative career pathways, along with advice for current postdocs to make the jump from academia. The talk will be followed by a Q&A with audience members. For more information, visit the webpageRegister for the event

13. AN EVENING WITH MERIDIAN
Friday, April 23, 7:30pm, Zoom http://rb.gy/ITSSOF
This performance by Meridian will take you on a ride through the world of music, enlivening your eardrums with a tasteful mix of rock and roll, pop, hiphop, jazz and whatever comes in between. We’ll be bringing the energy and good tunes, so all you’ll need to do is sit down, relax and enjoy your evening. We will be writing a few songs specifically for this event, so get ready to be the first ever listeners of new Meridian originals! 

14. VTUL SPRING GAME NIGHT 2021
Saturday, April 24, 5-11:30pm, Discord
It’s time for the libraries’ annual Spring Game Night! Come join us in Discord for an evening of video games, board games, tabletop RPGs, and panels… all safely online! Register for the event and you will receive a link to the server where you can then find groups to play with and sign-up for events! Click here to register: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/calendar/events/springgamenight2021

15. HOKIE HICCUPS
Saturday, April 24, 7pm-8:30pm, Online
Ever felt like a screw up? Ever felt like an imposter? Are you operating with the belief that everyone else is navigating school perfectly? Well, the truth is: from little hiccups to epic failures, we all stumble on our path to growth. Let’s normalize it! Join us for a night of Hokies sharing their stories of struggle and resilience through videos, music, comedy, & other creative expressions. The event this year will be a mix of recorded and live performances that will be live streamed. Check out www.tinyurl.com/hiccups2021  for more information or to submit a hiccup. This event is sponsored by Hokie Wellness. Contact Swathip@vt.edu  if you have questions.

16. RECOVERY COMMUNITY: LGBTQ+ RECOVERY MEETING
Sunday, April 25, 11am, Zoom and Women’s Center
All-recovery meeting for those in the LGBTQ+ community will meet biweekly on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to join us at the Women’s Center or online over Zoom at https://virginiatech-hipaa.zoom.us/j/86530969258 [Zoom monitored by host].Please contact the Recovery Community at Virginia Tech at rc@vt.edu for more information or visit https://hokiewellness.vt.edu/students/recovery.html.

17. TURKISH COFFEE: A 500-YEAR JOURNEY
Sunday, April 25, 2-3:00pm est, Zoom  
Ready to hear the story of a 500-year-old drink? Prepare yourself for this majestic journey as the Turkish Coffee Lady, Gizem Salcigil White, unravels the 500-year quest of the world-renowned Turkish Coffee. In the program, there will also be a demonstration of the Turkish coffee brewing technique. Be sure to grab your Turkish Coffee kits to enjoy this delicate blend together! Register here: https://bit.ly/TSA-TurkishCoffee  Contact the organization at tsavirginiatech@gmail.com

18. PHOTO OP ON GRAD SCHOOL LAWN REGISTRATION OPEN- 1st posting
May 6-7 and May 10-14, times vary
To celebrate graduating graduate students, the Graduate School is hosting photo opportunities on the Graduate School Lawn for students and their guests. A diploma cover and a small gift will be provided to participants. Registration is required; see details at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate/commencement/Spring2021PhotoOp.html.

19. GSA TRAVEL FUND PROGRAM – SPRING CYCLE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS – 1st posting
Have you presented or plan to present at a conference between April 1st and June 30th, 2021? The VT GSA Travel Fund Program (TFP) will partially support the monetary costs associated with presenting at virtual conferences, including registration and abstract fees. The Spring cycle application will be open beginning April 25th.  The deadline for application is May 7th, 2020 at 11:59pm. For further details, updates, and the application, please see our website at https://gsa.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html  For questions, support, or insights, please email GSA-TFP-G@VT.EDU.

20. GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS – 2nd posting
Have you been waiting to hear about the Graduate Research Development Program (GRDP)? We will be accepting submissions from Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 23 via our online form. Full details available online on our website, gsa.vt.edu.

21. BORROW A GSA CAP AND GOWN TODAY – 2nd posting
Are you graduating this spring? Planning on taking photos or walking at the in-person ceremonies, but need a cap and gown? You might be able to borrow one from the GSA’s Cap and Gown Program – fill out the form and we will try and work with your schedule to make those memories happen! If you do borrow from us, please note that you will need to return the gown dry cleaned, with receipt.

22. FREE CLEAR FACE MASKS AVAILABLE – 3rd posting
TransparenSee is a team of MPH students and a graduate student engineer who won the TECH Together grant competition last summer and created a scalable, clear face mask to allow communication to be more effective within the deaf and hard of hearing community, with the intention of creating a more inclusive environment. Our mask is reusable, easy to disinfect, adjustable, and validated to be equivalent to a cloth face mask. Using a clear mask allows individuals to read lips and see facial features. We are distributing our FREE mask to a wide variety of community organizations within the NRV. If you are interested in receiving masks for your staff, students, or know of a business that would benefit, please share our information and contact us through Instagram: @TransparenSee or Facebook: @TransparenSeeNRV.  

23. FULL TIME GA OPENING WITH FISCAL TRAINING TEAM-1st posting
The Fiscal Training Team within the Office of Financial Management is currently accepting applications for a full time Graduate Assistant to support the development of our Fiscal Certificate Program.  A department overview, position description, job qualifications, and additional information related to this opportunity can be viewed at the following link: https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/fiscaltrainingteam/home.  Please direct all questions to Ryan Naff, Assistant Director for Financial Management, at ryann5@vt.edu.

24. 2021-2022 GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION – OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – 1st posting
The IT Office in the College of Engineering is seeking a graduate assistant to assist with day-to-day information technology operations, the setup and maintenance of computer systems and services, and workflow planning and execution. A full description of the opportunity and directions to apply can be found here: https://it.eng.vt.edu/it-staff/itspecialist.html We will begin to reviewing applications April 26th.


25. GA POSITION – CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING – 1st posting
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is seeking a graduate student with strong organization and communication skills as well as an interest in higher education pedagogy. This graduate assistantship position will involve duties related to the planning and completion of projects and events, supporting center staff, conducting research and case studies, and other duties as assigned. This position necessitates a mature and professional demeanor, a positive and approachable attitude, and the ability to communicate with diverse groups of faculty, staff, and students. For this position, strong written and oral communication skills are required. Successful candidates will be able to work both independently and in a team, have strong organizational skills, and be flexible. This is a 9-month Graduate Assistant appointment for 20 hours/week, with stipend and tuition remission. If interested, please email cover letters and CVs to Amanda Porterfield at asp@vt.edu.  Please indicate that you are applying for a graduate assistantship in the subject line of your email.

26. SCHIFFERT HEALTH CENTER GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION STARTING AUGUST 2021 – 1st posting
The SHC GA works closely with the Health Quality Outreach Manager promoting services available at the university health center and providing health education. This position is a 12-month, 20 hours/week, with stipend and tuition remission. The ideal candidate has: knowledge/experience in public health, marketing, and outreach events, is able to work independently and efficiently, demonstrates proficiency in graphic design and social media management, and can comfortably engage with student groups. Proficiency with the Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) is preferred. Roles and responsibilities include: Develop educational materials to convey health information and prevention strategies to a college population; Create graphic design materials and assist with marketing to promote university health services and events; Co-manage social media outlets; Assist with health promotion events throughout the year, including summer break, and some night and weekend activities; Ability to work independently and communicate effectively with the Health Quality Outreach Manager;  Assist with design and marketing materials for Services for Students with Disabilities and Cook Counseling as needed. Interested candidates should email their resume, cover letter, list of three references, and one work sample to Monica Goyanko at mgoyanko@vt.ed by May 7th. For further questions you may also contact Monica Goyanko via email at the above address or call (540)231-7705.

27. GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION IN THE WOMEN AND GENDER IN INTERNATIONL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM- 2nd posting
The Women and Gender in International Development (WGD) program at the Center for International Research, Education, and Development (CIRED) is looking for a Graduate Assistant for fall semester of 2021 and spring semester 2022. Under the direction of Dr. Maria Elisa Christie, the WGD program ensures a gender-sensitive approach to all CIRED projects and raises awareness at Virginia Tech about gender and international development issues. You must be enrolled in a full-time program of graduate studies in a degree-granting department at Virginia Tech. See position description for requirements and next steps before responding please. If you are interested and meet the qualifications, submit materials following instructions in position description to Maria Elisa Christie at mechristie@vt.edu.

28. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AR RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting
The Echo Lab at Virginia Tech is looking for voluntary participants for an AR research study. Participants will be introduced to and test a variety of input methods for generating virtual note objects in an augmented reality virtual environment. This experiment will use the Microsoft HoloLens 1. We will be following COVID-19 guidelines for in-person experiments and sanitizing all equipment. We are attempting to evaluate different methods for writing and sketching notes in a virtual environment. We built an algorithm for capturing physical sticky notes in an image and pulling them into the virtual environment with an augmented reality headset. In doing so, we aim to analyze the benefits of utilizing traditional physical tools in augmented reality. Participants must be 18 years or older, have normal vision (20/20) or corrected-to-normal vision (glasses or contact lenses). Participants must be able to complete a user study involving an AR device, pen and paper, and brief survey and post-study interview. Participation is on a first come first serve basis. Your participation is voluntary, will take about 45 minutes, and you will be compensated with a $12 Amazon gift card for completing the experiment. Please contact Tam Phan at tphan25@vt.edu if you have any questions regarding this study.

29. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR EXPERIMENTS IN ECONOMICS TO STUDY HUMAN BEHAVIOR STUDY – 1st posting
Virginia Tech researchers are currently seeking participants aged 18 and older for a research study: “Experiments in Economics to study human behavior. The study involves making interactive decisions on a computer and completing surveys. The study takes place in the Virginia Tech Economics Laboratory in 2088 Derring Hall. The study will take about 1 to 1.5 hours to complete. You will receive $10 for your time.  You may receive up to an additional $15 depending on choices made by you and the other participants. All compensation will be paid in cash at the conclusion of the experiment.  There is no other benefit from participating in this study. If you are interested in participating, please sign up for an experiment session at: https://vteconlab.sona-systems.com/default.aspx?p_return_eperiment_id=13, or if you have any questions, please email us at vteconlab@gmail.com.

30. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AUGMENTED REALITY USER STUDY – 2nd posting
The 3D Interaction (3DI) group is inviting you to participate in a research study with augmented reality (AR) technologies. Participants in the study will come to the Sandbox, room 160 in the Moss Arts Center. Participants will be asked to sit in front of a desktop computer or walk indoor while wearing a Magic Leap One AR headset. Participants will try out several interaction techniques, and be asked for their comments about these techniques. The entire experimental session will take about 90 minutes. The experiment will be video and audio recorded for researchers’ interpretations of user behavioral patterns. Participants need to be English speakers, at least 18 years old, have normal vision (contact lenses are fine, glasses are not supported). Participation will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. Participants’ involvement in the study will not impact their academic performance in any way. For more information, please contact Feiyu Lu at feiyulu@vt.edu to schedule a session. This experiment has been approved by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board under protocol #21-090.

31. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A SENSORY TECHNIQUES RESEARCH STUDY – 3rd posting 
The Virginia Cognitive System Engineering Lab at Virginia Tech is seeking students to participate in a Research Study (IRB #19-553) to determine what types of sensory techniques/aides in the VR Whack-a-mole game will deliver the best performance. Participants will be asked to play whack-a-mole in a Virtual Space while guarding themselves from projectiles coming from behind them. You will be wearing an HTC VIVE VR Headset as well as handle two controllers. The study should take no more than one hour per participant. You will receive a compensation of $10/hr in cash for your contribution, you will need to provide your name and signature in order to receive the payment. Please note that you must be 18+ years old and have 20/20 visual acuity (good vision) or better, you cannot wear glasses during the study. If you are interested please contact Gram Hsing (ghsing@vt.edu). 

32. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR VIRTUAL REALITY IMPROVISATION STUDY – 3rd posting
Our group in the course CS6724 (Collab, Creativity & Comp) is seeking participants for a study involving a Virtual Reality and video conferencing improvisational exercise. The exercise will be run through both VRChat and Zoom. The study will be conducted entirely online. Throughout the experiment you will be answering questions related to your experience. The experiment will take approximately 45mins to finish.  Access to a VR headset of any kind required to participate (standalone headsets such as the Quest are included). Participants must be of age 18 years or older and able to speak English to be part of the study. There is no planned compensation but we would be very grateful for your participation. If you’re interested, please contact Md Tahsin Tausif at tausiftt52@vt.edu.  

33. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR CONSUMER WEB-BASED SURVEY ON EDAMAME – 3rd posting
The VT Sensory Evaluation Lab is recruiting volunteers (18+ years old) to participate in a web-based survey study designed to better understand consumer willingness to pay for edamame (vegetable soybean) products (IRB 18-310). The survey can be accessed here: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bmG7d7h7o1fDqmx. It contains 25 questions and will take no more than 15 minutes to complete. This knowledge will be used to inform edamame researchers and domestic growers. If you would like additional information or have questions about this study, please contact Renata Carneiro (rcvc@vt.edu). 

34. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR EDAMAME SENSORY STUDY – 3rd posting 
The VT Sensory Evaluation Lab is recruiting volunteers (18+ years old) to participate in a new sensory study of edamame (vegetable soybeans)(IRB-18-310). Participants will be asked to taste edamame samples, describe their impressions, and answer a short survey. If you have allergies to soy products or are pregnant you are asked to refrain from participating. There is no compensation, but all participants are eligible to enjoy a nice snack after completing the test. Study will be on Monday, April 5th- Thursday, April 22, in the VT Sensory Evaluation Lab (HABB1 room 205, 1230 Washington St SW). Parking passes are available upon request. Time commitment is ~20 minutes. We have taken steps to reduce risk related to COVID-19 and will provide you with a summary of those steps prior to beginning the study. Questions or additional information? Please contact Rebekah Miller (rebekahm20@vt.edu). 

Upcoming Events:  

35. FAMILY YOGA
Wednesday, April 28, 12pm, GLC Lawn 
It’s been a stressful year, and practicing yoga is one proven way to help our bodies cope. If you’ve ever wanted to try yoga, or wanted your children to try yoga, please join us! Bring your kids, bring your lunch, and of course bring your masks! In Balance Yoga will be hosting a free family yoga class outside at 12:00pm. You can arrive as early as 11:30 to get your spot and enjoy some fresh air before the class begins (we will be making sure there is a safe distance between families). Please bring a yoga mat or blanket or towel for each member of your family who will be participating. While on campus, ALL persons 5 years of age and older are required to wear a face covering as per CDC guidelines. Because we have to maintain distancing, and there is only so much space, participants should sign up here. It’s okay if you have to come late or leave early, we just want to see you there! Any questions, just email childcare@vt.edu

36. PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH NENGJIE JIANG
Thursday, April 29, 9-10:15am
Please join the Community Change Collaborative members in a podcast interview with Documentarian Nengjie Jiang. In his work, Nengjie, a 35-year-old independent Chinese documentary director, producer and photographer, pays close attention to the silenced minority groups of the fast-developing, modern Chinese society.  Registration link. This is event is sponsored by the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance. For questions contact Neda Moayerian (mneda14@vt.edu).

37. BUDGETING AND DEBT MANAGEMENT FOR FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS
Thursday, April 29,12pm, Zoom
Join the Graduate School and Kevin Sutton for financial information and tips. Register at http://bit.ly/GSbudget. Spaces are limited. Questions? Email ordi@vt.edu.

38. COMPASSION TURNED INWARD: ANTIDOTE FOR STRESS AND ANXIETY
Thursday, April 29, 5:30-6:30pm, Zoom
Are you stressed and anxious? We will learn how to 1) Forgive and accept what we consider to be imperfections and failings; 2) Be a healing presence for ourselves when we are suffering; 3) Develop a loving relationship with ourselves. This workshop is hosted by Synergy: Interfaith Collective at Virginia Tech. Please RSVP at tinyurl.com/compassioninward 

39. BLAMING TEACHERS: PROFESSIONALIZATION POLICIES AND THE FAILURE OF EDUCATION REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES
Thursday, April 29, 6:30pm, Online via Zoom.
Historically, Americans have concurred that teachers were essential to the success of the public schools and nation. However, they have also concurred that public school teachers were to blame for the failures of the schools and identified professionalization as a panacea.Join Dr. Marcus Weaver-Hightower and the VT School of Education in welcoming Diana D’Amico Pawlewicz, the author of Blaming Teachers. In this Zoom presentation, D’Amico Pawlewicz will connect historical professionalization to today’s politics of education, where teachers are often ignored on key issues, from curricular decisions to pandemic reopening plans. A Q&A session will follow. bit.ly/3uHQZyq 

40. “SYSTEMS APPROACH TO DISASTER RESILIENCE” – SEMINAR BY ZAHRAA SAIYED
Friday, April 30, 12-1pm, Zoom
How does your background and training help you address some of the world’s most complex problems of disaster risk management and reduction? Where do your interests lie and how can you expand your understanding of disasters while working collaboratively with others on these ‘wicked’ problems? Zahraa Saiyed of Scyma Consulting will explore these and other questions during this exciting seminar hosted by the VT Earthquake Engineering Research Institute student chapter. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wCwsPv5Zf_7DpkFkwbkYerzc1RbcvyyoNN-ovDwIN-A/viewform?edit_requested=true and direct questions to Kaleigh Yost at kmyost@vt.edu

41. ENGINEERING DYNAMICS INTO CELL AND GENETIC MEDICINE
Friday, April 30, 4-5:15pm, Zoom https://virginiatech.zoom.us/s/88425110561
The Computational Tissue Engineering Seminar series will host a talk by Dr. Biju Parekkadan, Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University and Co-founder and Director of Sentien Biotechnologies, Inc. This seminar will address research challenges spanning the “lifecycle” of a cell therapy product from the design of a new cell therapy composition, its biomanufacture, and in vivo dynamics/efficacy. Emphasis will be placed on (1) understanding the pharmacology of these advanced medicines and creating new products that deploy drug delivery principles, (2) discovering new genetic elements, and (3) creating new bioprocess engineering tools for scalable cell manufacturing. The experience of translating these projects to industrial partners or as a new start-up company will also be shared. Please contact Zerin Khan at zerin@vt.edu for any questions. 

42. GSA SPRING SOCIAL AT THE FARM! (LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE)
Sunday, May 2, 2-5pm, Glade Road Growing / Rising Silo Brewery.
Join the GSA at the Rising Silo Brewery for an End of Year Celebration and Recognition Ceremony. This is a ticketed event, and BOTH RSVP and confirmation are required. We will provide tickets for one free drink per graduate student, and there will be door prizes provided by local businesses. Food and additional drinks will be available for purchase. Attendance is limited to 200 guests — VT Graduate and Professional Students only. Masks are required. Bring your own picnic blankets or lawn chairs to spread out! Find full details at gsa.vt.edu.    

43. FIWGSA PANDA EXPRESS FUNDRAISER FOR HUMBLE HIKES
Thursday, May 6, All-Day, Blacksburg University City Blvd Panda Express
The Fish & Wildlife Graduate Student Association (FIWGSA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is hosting a restaurant fundraiser at the University City Blvd Panda Express all-day May 6th (VT’s Reading Day).Proceeds will support the Humble Hikes program of Roanoke, VA, in covering transportation costs to and from events. The Humble Hikes program aims to expose Black youth to the outdoors and provides the chance to expand the youth’s horizons and experience the world around them in a positive and healthy way. Flyer here FLYER MUST BE SHOWN AT CHECKOUT – if ordering online, use promo code 323783 Direct donations are also being accepted to support FIWGSA DEI Initiative to purchase binoculars for Humble Hikes, a program supporting Black youth exploring the outdoors in the NRV – More Info Here.

44. DIVERSITY SCHOLARS SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR
Thursday, May 7, 3pm est, Zoom
Join the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion for a Diversity Scholars Showcase! Diversity Scholars specialize and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. Learn more about their projects and ask questions in a live chat! Registration is required. All are welcome to attend. Please register here:
https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6f0GgD1eS2i48JjB3DmguQ  Questions? Please contact Dr. Justin Grimes at ordi@vt.edu .