August 23-29, 2021

This Week’s Events:       
0. Ongoing Services – updated 8/23/21  
1. GAME CHANGER WEEK
2. UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING YOUR ASSISTANTSHIP
3. FARMER’S MARKET TRIP
4. GLC CAFÉ
5. SCIENCE ON TAP OF THE NRV: THE POETRY OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION WITH KRISTIN ROSE JUTRAS
6. HOKIE SHUFFLE: ICE CREAM SOCIAL
7. OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (0PT) WOKSHOPS
8. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT SENATE (GPSS) MEETING
9. GRADUATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (INTERVARSITY) FIRST MEETING
10. ICE CREAM SOCIAL AT BSC

Administrative Announcements:    
11. VIRGINIA TECH GRADUATE ACADEMY FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE (GrATE) SEEKING APPLICATIONS – 1st posting
12. ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM: THE MARKET OF VIRGINIA TECH – 2nd posting
13. INVOLVEMENT ADVISING – 2nd posting
14. REGISTER NOW FOR FALL 2021 LEADERSHIP COURSES – 3rd posting

Jobs:   
15. GRADUATE ASSISTANT–DATA AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR LARGE SCALE STUDY- 2nd posting
16. GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION IN VT CARILION SCHOOL OF MEDICINE – 2nd posting

Volunteers and research participants sought:  
17. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY ABOUT WEARABLE BACK EXOSKELETONS – 1st posting
18. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GREEN TAILGATING PROGRAM – 3rd posting
19. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR EDUCATION-MEDITATION STUDY – 3rd posting

Upcoming Events: 
20. LUNCH WITH THE DEAN – August 31
21. UNDERREPRESENTED/MINORITIZED STUDENT LUNCHEON – September 1
22. EXPECTATIONS FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION: FACULTY PERSPECTIVES
23. GRADUATE SCHOOL VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR – September 2
24. GOBBLERFEST – September 4

0. Ongoing Services – updated 8/23/21       

  • GRADUATE SCHOOL: In person drop-off or pick-up of documents and materials M-F 9:00-4:00pm, 120 GLC. Request one-on-one assistantship or academic advising by using our online request form to set-up a Zoom session. Graduate Life Center meeting rooms and lobby are still closed for repair.    
  • CAREER ADVISING: schedule virtual career advising appointment via https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake.html ; Drop-in advising every Wednesday, 2-5pm – starting September 8 in the Graduate School.         
  • 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 (Students must pay the summer health fee or daily use fee which can be reimbursed through Aetna. Students must be in Virginia) 
  • WRITING CENTER SERVICES: Schedule an appointment at https://vt.mywconline.com/         
  • GRADUATE OMBUDSPERSON: contact for appointment at gradstudentombud@vt.edu, 540-231-9573        

1. GAME CHANGER WEEK
August 23-27, Corporate Research Center
Game changer week will bring together industry disruptors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers for a variety of online and in-person events.  Events include webinars, happy hours, start-up mentoring, special guests, open houses, and more! Game Changer Week allows attendees to explore a variety of events specific to tracks such as game changer resources, aerospace and defense, university (VT), biotechnology, software, design and technology, and startups/early seed. Find more details, including how to register, here: https://www.vtcrc.com/about/marketing/gamechangers/

2. UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING YOUR ASSISTANTSHIP
Tuesday, August 24, 2-3pm, GLC and Zoom
Monday, August 30, 3:30-4:30pm, GLC and 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 for the August 24 workshop. Register for the August 30 workshop.

3. FARMER’S MARKET TRIP
Wednesday, August 25, 2pm, Meet outside GLC
Walk with Graduate School staff and other graduate students to the Farmer’s Market in Blacksburg – just a short walk from the Graduate Life Center (GLC). Meet outside of the GLC on the Otey Street side.

4. GLC CAFÉ
Wednesday and Thursday, August 25 and 26, 3:30-5pm, Grad School Lobby
Enjoy free coffee, tea, and cookies and socialize with your fellow graduate students.  Bring your own mug if you can. Occurs every Thursday and the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month.

5. SCIENCE ON TAP OF THE NRV: THE POETRY OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION WITH KRISTIN ROSE JUTRAS
Wednesday, August 25, 5:30-7pm, Rising Silo Brewery-2351 Glade Road Blacksburg
Join us at Rising Silo to explore science haikus and make a community poem! If possible, please bring your favorite scientific peer reviewed article with language you admire. This event is free and open to the public. If you have questions, contact scienceontapnrv@gmail.com

6. HOKIE SHUFFLE: ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Wednesday, August 25, 6-8pm, Dietrick Lawn
Network with organization leaders and learn about involvement resources and opportunities – while enjoying delicious ice cream from Big Lick Ice Cream. RSVP to attend on GobblerConnect.

7. OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (0PT) WOKSHOPS
Thursday, August 26 and Wednesday, September 8, 5pm, Zoom
The Cranwell International Center is hosting two special virtual OPT workshops on Aug. 26th and Sept. 8th at 5 PM. USCIS is making a special exception for the fall 2021 semester for F-1 students to apply earlier. Students graduating in Fall 2021, may apply for OPT up to 120 days before their December program end date. For more information on registering, please visit: Events and Workshops | Cranwell International Center | Virginia Tech (vt.edu).

8. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT SENATE (GPSS) MEETING
Thursday, August 26, 5:30-7pm, Owens Ballroom/Zoom
Join GPSS at their first meeting of the semester in Owens Banquet Hall–also available via Zoom. Please check to see who your department’s senators are and join us so you can have a voice! We want to be as transparent and democratic as possible. There will be free food at the meeting and a lot to talk about. We will be discussing 6 resolutions for our first meeting, which will always be posted on our website two weeks before each meeting, and many more after that. If you are interested in supporting our work directly (whether or not you’re a senator) please fill out this form to sign up to work on a committee and fight for more money and democratic decision making.

9. GRADUATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (INTERVARSITY) FIRST MEETING
Thursday, August 26, 6pm, Zoom
All are invited to Graduate Christian Fellowship’s first meeting of the semester. We look forward to welcoming you to our vibrant community of faith and love. Please visit the website for the meeting link:  www.gcfvt.org

10. ICE CREAM SOCIAL AT BSC
Friday, August 27, 3-4pm, Bradley Study Center
The Bradley Study Center is hosting this ice cream social at 104 Faculty Street. Come eat ice cream, and meet some fellow Christian grad students in the VT community. The BSC is a Christian study center at Virginia Tech which exists to cultivate a thoughtful exploration of the Christian faith at VT. Questions should be directed to James Depret-Guillaume at james@bradleystudycenter.org

11. VIRGINIA TECH GRADUATE ACADEMY FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE (GrATE) SEEKING APPLICATIONS – 1st posting
Graduate students are invited to become members of GrATE and advance within the peer-mentoring program focused on best practices in teaching and learning.  The application deadline is September 20, 221, at midnight. Visit vtgrate.org for info and to submit your application.  http://vtgrate.org/membership/application-and-review/ You can also follow us on Twitter @VT_GrATE and Facebook at Graduate Academy of Teaching Excellence @VTGrATE.

12. ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM: THE MARKET OF VIRGINIA TECH – 2nd posting
The Market of Virginia Tech is a free program that provides fresh and nutritious food each week during the spring and fall semesters to up to 75 students on the Blacksburg Campus, supporting students who have difficulty obtaining regular, healthy meals. The program is available to both enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Students can sign up beginning on Monday, August 9. Learn more about the program and enroll at https://dos.vt.edu/food.html, or contact the Dean of Students’ office by emailing themarket@vt.edu, or by calling (540)-231-3787.  

13. INVOLVEMENT ADVISING – 2nd posting
Student Engagement and Campus Life offers involvement advising, which allows students a chance to receive personalized recommendations for involvement opportunities and to meet with an experienced student about the process of getting involved. Students can get started by submitting the Involvement Advising Questionnaire on GobblerConnect. If you have questions, contact Morgen Snowadzky at morgen@vt.edu

14. REGISTER NOW FOR FALL 2021 LEADERSHIP COURSES – 3rd posting
All graduate students are invited to enroll in the following Leadership courses for the Fall 2021 semester:  LDRS 5454 (CRN 91412) virtual: Leadership Diverse Contexts Identification and definition of leadership in formal and non-formal education settings, communities, & organizations. LDRS 5534 (CRN 86596) virtual: Cognitive Problem Solving Pref for Change Theoretical perspectives, processes and techniques utilized in problem solving, both adaptively and innovatively. Individual cognitive preference for working within a prevailing paradigm in order to effect change in institutional structures. Utilizing coping behavior to successfully work within the context of cognitive diversity and organizational change. LDRS 5544 (CRN 86597) virtual: Leading Teams through Change Theory and techniques for leading tactical, creative, and problem-solving teams through change. Role of social capital and adaption-innovation theories. If you have questions about these courses, contact Jerald Walz at jhwalz@vt.edu.

15. GRADUATE ASSISTANT–DATA AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR LARGE SCALE STUDY- 2nd posting
A research team in the School of Education is seeking support for data management and analysis of a large data set. The project is an externally funded study in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and Virginia Department of Education. This position will be responsible for technical aspects of managing large datasets for a state-wide survey of teachers, staff, and students. General duties include: technical aspects of data collection, storage, and analysis and generating data-driven reports for external stakeholders. Preferred Qualifications include experiences with: computer programming language (e.g., Python, Java, C++, Julia), statistical software (e.g., SAS, SPSS, or R) with proficiency with R highly desired, data visualization techniques and software, and survey software such as Qualtrics. Interested applicants may submit their resume and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and interest in the position to David Kniola (dkniola@vt.edu). Application materials will be reviewed beginning immediately.

16. GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION IN VT CARILION SCHOOL OF MEDICINE – 2nd posting
VTCSOM is looking to hire a 20-hour graduate assistant (GA) for Academic Year 2021-2022. The successful candidate will support the educational mission of VTCSOM by helping administer high-quality student assessments and program evaluations to inform institutional decision-making. The successful candidate must be able to work from the Roanoke campus and contribute at a high level by: Helping with all stages of the assessment and evaluation process. This includes instrument development (e.g. surveys, rubrics, exams), administration, proctoring (NBME), aggregating data, performing item quality analyses, and creating reports; interacting with clinical/non-clinical faculty and administrators; learning to problem-solve with curricular software platforms; supporting institutional quality and research projects; demonstrating a high level of interpersonal skills, flexibility, and teamwork in a dynamic working environment; demonstrating quantitative skills with one or more statistical software packages. Experience with or the ability to learn measurement/psychometric skills is a plus. Interested students should send a resume to Jamie Hollimion at jamieh11@vt.edu.

17. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY ABOUT WEARABLE BACK EXOSKELETONS – 1st posting
The Occupational Ergonomics & Biomechanics Labs at Virginia Tech is evaluating trunk support exoskeletons for construction.  Eligible participants must be age 18-55 years and have no current/recent history of musculoskeletal disorders that limit daily activities. Back support exoskeletons (BSEs) are an emerging technology that has the potential to prevent injuries among construction workers. However, more research is needed to understand the usability of BSE in the construction industry, to promote BSEs as an ergonomic intervention in the field. In this study, you will be asked series of tasks such as donning and doffing exoskeletons, squatting, and shoveling. We will record some performance metrics and photographs/video (with your permission) during the session which will last for approximately 3 hours. If interested, please contact Aanu Ojelade at aanu@vt.edu. The study has been approved by Virginia Tech IRB (IRB# 21-435).

18. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GREEN TAILGATING PROGRAM – 3rd posting
Are you passionate about Hokie football and sustainability? Do you enjoy making a difference on campus and greening our planet? If so, then look no further: the Green Tailgate Team needs your help! Our mission is to encourage tailgaters to recycle during home game tailgates. This is done by meeting fans in the tailgating lots and handing out recycling bags. We also inform the tailgaters what can and cannot be recycled (We recycle plastics #1-2 and metal cans). Volunteers will spend an hour to an hour and a half and finish an hour or two before kickoff begins so there is still plenty of time to make it to the game and enjoy some tailgating yourself! Beyond making a difference, volunteers will also receive an awesome Green Tailgate Team t-shirt for free! Sign-up here to pick what day(s) you’re willing to help out: https://forms.gle/DBPpoWrNUd6umuR89

19. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR EDUCATION-MEDITATION STUDY – 3rd posting
Do you have a desire to learn more about how to use mindful meditation to cultivate greater focus and emotional control? Join us in a combined neuroscience education and mindful meditation program. Dr. Julia Basso and Sarah Lynn, in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech are hosting a study exploring education and meditation. As a participant, you will take a series of questionnaires and tasks before and after a month of pre-recorded, 10 minute online education and mindful meditation videos. The pre and post questionnaires and tasks will take approximately an hour each. As compensation, you will receive the education and meditation program at no cost along with up to a $25 gift card for completion of all program components. If you are interested, please contact Sarah Lynn at mindful.movement.research@gmail.com. VT IRB Protocol # : 20-799

20. LUNCH WITH THE DEAN
Tuesday, August 31, 12-1pm, GLC Room (TBA)
Meet new Dean for Graduate Education, Aimee Surprenant, and graduate student leaders at a free lunch.  Learn about the latest in graduate education and share your perspectives in a casual setting. In order to attend this lunch you must register here: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cUtqeJJit1AUpgO  Attendance is limited.

21. UNDERREPRESENTED/MINORITIZED STUDENT LUNCHEON
Wednesday, September 1, Noon-1pm, Hybrid-Owens Hall/Zoom
The Graduate School’s Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion invites all underrepresented and/or minoritized students for a hybrid-style lunch to connect racial/ethnic minorities, sexual/gender minorities, and others who identify as a minority in graduate education. Student group leaders, faculty/staff mentors, and community allies are invited to be present at the luncheon to offer guidance and encouragement to new students. Registration is required and in-person spaces are limited. Participation is FREE and lunch will be provided. All are welcome to attend. Please register here: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7a1MLI8K1oVWOua Questions? Please contact Dr. Shernita Lee at ordi@vt.edu.

22. EXPECTATIONS FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION: FACULTY PERSPECTIVES
Wednesday, September 1, 2:30-4pm, Zoom
Learn from award-winning faculty about how to build a productive relationship with your academic advisor; chart the course of your graduate studies and navigate the ups and downs; and have a successful graduate experience. Sign-up here: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsal9CKpqPy6Ckm

23. GRADUATE SCHOOL VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR
Thursday, September 2, 11:00am-3:00pm, Virtual/Brazen
The Graduate School’s Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion will host a virtual resource fair to directly connect all campuses and extensions to various opportunities. Learn valuable information regarding future programing, family and academic support, mental health services, and more! Registration is FREE for participating students and departments/programs. Students may register here: https://app.brazenconnect.com/a/vt-grad-school/e/nOERg. If you are seeking to host a booth, please contact Dr. Shernita Lee at ordi@vt.edu.

24. GOBBLERFEST
Saturday, September 4, 2-5pm, Drillfield
All students are encouraged to take advantage of this event to meet over 500 student organizations, in addition to local businesses and a variety of campus departments. Learn more here: https://campuslife.vt.edu/Student_Orgs/gobblerfest.html