November 8-14, 2021

This Week’s Events:       

0. Ongoing Services – updated 10/04/21  
1. CRITICALLY APPRAISING LITERATURE FOR EVIDENCE SYNTHESES REVIEWS 101
2. STARTING YOUR ETD
3. 8TH ANNUAL LITTLE HOKIE ™ HAND-ME-DOWN
4. GLC CAFÉ
5. MID-TERM DE-STRESS WORKSHOP FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
6. GRADUATE STUDENT FORUM FOR CONFERENCE PREPARATION
7. CONFLICT COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP: GET UNSTUCK – HOW TO STOP TALKING PAST EACH OTHER AND START TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER
8. KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
9. QUEER GRADS, PROFESSIONALS AND ALLIES MEETING
10. GAME NIGHT AT HOME
11. WOMEN IN TRANSPORTATION SEMINAR (WTS) TOUR AT TORC ROBOTICS AND SOCIAL HOUR AT EASTERN DIVIDE BREWING

Administrative Announcements:    
12. FALL 2021 GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY – 1st posting
13. NOMINATION PERIOD OPEN FOR 2022 DIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM – 1st posting
14. GEOSCIENCES STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CROWDFUND CAMPAIGN – 1st posting
15. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – COMMUNITY CHANGE JOURNAL – 1st posting
16. BOUCHET GRADUATE HONOR SOCIETY NOMINATIONS—NOW OPEN! – 2nd posting
17. PANELISTS SOUGHT FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S LUNCH PRESENTATION – 2nd posting

Jobs:   
18. GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP POSITION FOR SPRING 2022 – 1st posting
19. UJIMA, LLC GRADUATE STUDENT WAGE POSITION – 1st posting
20. HOURLY TA POSITION OPEN FOR SPRING 2022 – 1st posting

Volunteers and research participants sought:  
21. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR LIMB LOADING ASYMMETRY STUDY – 1st posting
22. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR RACE DIFFERENCES IN FOOT LOADING AND ENGAGEMENT STUDY – 1st posting
23. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY INVOLVING THE USE OF AI IN THE DETECTION OF DEFECTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS – 1st posting
24. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED: RESEARCH STUDY – DRIVING SIMULATOR STUDY ON AUDITORY DISPLAYS AT RAIL CROSSINGS – 1st posting
25. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AN AUGMENTED REALITY USER STUDY – 1st posting
26. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY TO UNDERSTAND USER NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES AROUND CONTENT WARNINGS AND TRIGGER WARNINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA – 1st posting
27. ENDURANCE AND ULTRA-ENDURANCE ATHLETES NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting
28. LITTLE HOKIE™ HAND ME DOWN (LHHMD) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – 2nd posting
29. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED: RESEARCH STUDY ON EVALUATING INTERACTION METHODS OF NON-DRIVING-RELATED TASKS IN DRIVING CONTEXTS – 2nd posting
30. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY ABOUT HEALTHY WEIGHT GAIN IN ATHLETES – 2nd posting
31. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEMS AND VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS – 2nd posting
32. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH ON AUGMENTED REALITY STORYTELLING – 2nd posting
33. PARENTS OF CHILDREN AGED 3-5 NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY – 2nd posting
34. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON AUGMENTED REALITY VIRTUAL MONITORS – 2nd posting
35. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ABOUT USER NEEDS FOR POST-MORTEM FUNCTIONALITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS – 2nd posting
36. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR PARENT/CHILD STUDY ON POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES AS CHILDREN GROW – 3rd posting
37. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ABOUT THE EFFECT OF SEMANTIC KNOWLEDGE AND ITS DELIVERY ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS – 3rd posting
38. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING STUDY – 3rd posting
39. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY INVESTIGATING GAZE-BASED ALARM ACKNOWLEDGMENT – 3rd posting

Upcoming Events: 
40. DIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION – November 16
41. GUAC TALK WITH THE DEAN – SIGN UP NOW! –  November 17
42. GRADUATE STUDENT GRATITUDE CONNECT LUNCH – November 17
43. SCIENCE ON TAP OF THE NRV – EXPLORE FROG MICROBIOMES – November 17
44. VIRGINIA TECH GRADUATE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE INFORMATION SESSION – November 18

  0. Ongoing Services – updated 10/11/21       

  • 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 or come by during our office hours. 
  • CAREER ADVISING: schedule career advising appointment via https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake.html ; In-person drop-in advising every Wednesday, 2-4pm in the Graduate School (120 GLC). 
  • 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. CRITICALLY APPRAISING LITERATURE FOR EVIDENCE SYNTHESES REVIEWS 101
Monday, November 8, 2- 3:30pm, Online via Zoom
Critical appraisal is a universally useful skill, applicable during a literature review, while assessing an article you’ve found. In this 1.5-hour session, we’ll introduce you to why critical appraisal is important, specifically in the context of evidence synthesis reviews. Participants will be introduced to several critical appraisal tools to evaluate the risk of bias in individual studies and larger evidence synthesis reviews. We’ll also discuss how you may consider approaching critical appraisal in your own review, including how to find and create appropriate risk of bias tools. To sign up and learn more, go to the library events page: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/7989684 | To sign up and receive PDN credit, go to the PDN events page: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/browse/researchdiscovery/courses/lib33-110821 

2. STARTING YOUR ETD
Monday, November 8, 7pm, Zoom
Learn how to format and structure your Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD) so that you can submit it after your defense and best meet Graduate School formatting guidelines. This presentation is aimed at students in the early stages of writing their thesis or dissertation but is relevant to students at any stage of the process. Zoom link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83655463064 Meeting ID: 878 0236 7719

3. 8TH ANNUAL LITTLE HOKIE ™ HAND-ME-DOWN
Tuesday, November 9, 12-5pm and Wednesday, November 10, 10am-2pm, Owens Ballroom
Graduate students will be able to pick-up new/gently used items for children ages 0-10 for free at this event. Sponsored by the Graduate School, Women’s Center and Graduate and Professional Student Senate. Learn more here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/student-services/spouses-partners-and-children/littlehokie-handmedown.html

4. GLC CAFÉ
Wednesday, November 10 and Thursday, November 11, 3:30-5pm, Grad School Lobby
In place of this week’s GLC Café – please attend our fall preview of the SHIP space, 120 GLC. See the blurb directly under this one! We will still have coffee, tea and snacks!

5. MID-TERM DE-STRESS WORKSHOP FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Wednesday, November 10, 4-5pm, Graduate Life Center Meeting Room B
Join the workshop with Cook Counseling Center and Cranwell International Center to understand stress better and learn techniques that help manage stress. Snacks will be provided.

6. GRADUATE STUDENT FORUM FOR CONFERENCE PREPARATION
Wednesday, November 10, 7pm, Zoom
The Center for European Union, Transatlantic, and Trans-European Space Studies is presenting this conference. Link to meeting registration: Here Contact Caleb Gore, cgore3@vt.edu or Hannah Gignoux, hgignoux@vt.edu with questions.

7. CONFLICT COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP: GET UNSTUCK – HOW TO STOP TALKING PAST EACH OTHER AND START TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER
Thursday, November 11, 12-1:30pm, Zoom
Communication begets understanding, understanding begets collaboration, and collaboration begets respect. The major challenge to respect is obstructed quality communication. To meet this challenge, answers to the following questions are needed: What are the underlying reasons for obstructed communication, what are some examples of obstructed communication, and what can be done to either preempt or dissolve obstructions. This virtual workshop is open to up to 30 graduate student participants. To ensure participants walk away with answers to the aforementioned questions and a basic understanding of skills capable of helping one get unstuck, participants will engage in two short practical exercises. To that end, participants will be randomly paired with one another in groups of two or more. This workshop is facilitated by Robert Polanco, practicum student in the Graduate School’s Office of the Ombuds. Robert is completing his MS in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Creighton University. Register:https://bit.ly/3jv15PW

8. KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
Thursday, November 11, 6:30-8pm, VT Women’s Center
Please join us for an evening of fun free childcare for kids age 2 (potty trained) to 10. There will be toys, games, activities, and sitters with lots of energy. Location is at VT Women’s Center, 206 Washington Street. KNO is held every Thursday during the semester from 6:30 to 8. Please share this information with those who would be interested. Details at the sign up at: https://doodle.com/poll/w995iw75hhreiyha?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

9. QUEER GRADS, PROFESSIONALS AND ALLIES MEETING
Thursday, November 11, 8-9:30pm, Squires Student Center – Williamsburg Room, Zoom option
Come meet fellow queer members of the VT grad and professional community. We will go over announcements, have some small group and large group discussions, and play some games. Feel free to bring some games to the meeting. All are welcome! 😊 Feel free to reach out to our new member coordinator Kelsey (she/they/any pronouns) at kjennings@vt.edu to get information about the organization and how to join our discord server. Zoom Meeting ID: 868 6198 5858 | Zoom Link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/86861985858?pwd=UnIzZEpjSzhmaFlJQ2ZZMkg1dVR2QT09 | Zoom Passcode: QGPAgroup

10. GAME NIGHT AT HOME
Thursday, November 11 – Sunday, November 14, Studios Technology Lending Desk, Torgersen 3320
For one weekend only, when you check out a board game, tabletop game, or videogame console from the Studios Technology Lending Desk, you’ll also snag a Game Night at Home snack bag to share with your friends (or your adventuring party). https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/8494560

11. WOMEN IN TRANSPORTATION SEMINAR (WTS) TOUR AT TORC ROBOTICS AND SOCIAL HOUR AT EASTERN DIVIDE BREWING
Friday, November 12, 3pm, 405 Partnership Dr SE Blacksburg
The Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) at Virginia Tech is pleased to announce a very exciting opportunity for networking and learning more about businesses involved in the transportation industry! We are hosting a tour and Q&A at Torc Robotics. There will also be a social hour at Eastern Divide Brewing right after the event at 4pm. Eastern Divide is a 4-minute walk from Torc Robotics and has food and drinks available for purchase (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Please note that transportation will not be provided. Everyone attending the tour MUST wear close-toed shoes for the entirety of the event. Masks are required as well and will be provided by Torc for anyone who forgets one. If you plan on attending please fill out this quick questionnaire (https://forms.gle/r8GerPNxHDmEyzcE8) — registration is free, we’re just looking to get a headcount. We look forward to seeing you there!

12. FALL 2021 GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY – 1st posting
The fall 2021 Graduate School commencement ceremony is scheduled to be held in-person on Friday, December 17th at 2:30pm in Cassell Coliseum. All graduates wanting to participate should complete the Commencement Intentions form through their HokieSPA degree menu no later than December 1st. Doctoral students wanting to participate must meet the participation deadlines listed at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate/deadlines-for-academic-progress.html. There is no limit to the number of guests a graduate may invite to attend and the Graduate School ceremony will be live streamed on the University website as well. Additional information on the fall ceremony can be found online at https://vt.edu/commencement.html. Questions may be directed to Graduate Admissions and Academic Progress staff at grads@vt.edu.

13. NOMINATION PERIOD OPEN FOR 2022 DIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM – 1st posting
Diversity scholars are graduate students who specialize in and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. If interested, the application process and timeline is listed at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/diversity-scholars.html. Nominations (self or by others) are due by Dec. 3rd and applications are due by Dec. 17th. For questions or additional information, please email the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion at ordi@vt.edu.

14. GEOSCIENCES STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CROWDFUND CAMPAIGN – 1st posting
Geosciences Student Research Symposium (GSRS) is an annual conference showcasing the research conducted by graduate and undergraduate students in the Department of Geosciences. In 2022, we will be celebrating the 27th edition! GSRS is entirely led and organized by grad students, and is primarily funded through crowdfunding. Please consider donate and support student research through the VT crowdfund platform: https://crowdfund.vt.edu/project/27682

15. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – COMMUNITY CHANGE JOURNAL – 1st posting
Community Change’s fourth issue seeks submissions that speak to the what, why, and how of transmission in community change. For more information about the call for papers, please visit: https://www.communitychange.ipg.vt.edu/announcement/ Community Change Journal will publish this issue on a rolling basis.  Rolling Deadlines: November 30, 2021; January 31, 2022; February 28, 2022.  Final Submission Deadline: March 31, 2022.  For more information about submission requirements, please visit: https://www.communitychange.ipg.vt.edu/about/submissions/

16. BOUCHET GRADUATE HONOR SOCIETY NOMINATIONS—NOW OPEN! – 2nd posting
The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (Bouchet Society) recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promote a diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who serve as examples of the five pillars, scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy. The deadline for department nominations is November 29, 2021. You may learn more here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/bouchet-society.html Questions? Please contact Dr. Shernita Lee at ordi@vt.edu.

17. PANELISTS SOUGHT FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S LUNCH PRESENTATION – 2nd posting
International graduate students who identify as women are sought for a panel discussion in honor of International Women’s Day to take place on March 1, 11:30 – 1:00 in Owens Banquet Room.  The event is being called Our Bodies, Ourselves and will focus on sexual freedom, gender roles, sexual expression, sex education, rights/laws, and access to OBGYN healthcare. We are seeking 5 – 6 students representing different cultural perspectives. Panelists will be asked to share a personal comparative perspective on the gender challenges and opportunities they have experienced and are aware of both in their home country and here. If you are interested in contributing to the dialogue as a panelist, or would like to find out more about this event, contact Dr. Pamela Serota at the Cranwell International Center, pamelas@vt.edu.  We are hoping to select student panelists by the end of November.  

18. GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP POSITION FOR SPRING 2022 – 1st posting
Outreach and International Affairs (OIA) seeks a full-time (20 hours/week) 9-month Graduate
Assistant reporting to the Associate Vice President for International Affairs. The successful candidate
will receive tuition remission and a graduate assistantship stipend for spring 2022 with future semesters contingent on the availability of funding. The closing date for applications is November 19, 2021. To view the full position description and apply, go to https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NTz9fRsnMEkitE. If you have questions about the position, please contact Don Hempson, dhempson@vt.edu, 540-231-7888.

19. UJIMA, LLC GRADUATE STUDENT WAGE POSITION – 1st posting
The Graduate Assistant for the Ujima Living-Learning Community (LLC) is a professional position within the Office of Inclusion and Diversity. The Graduate Student will oversee the Ujima LLC mentorship programs, coordinate community engagement opportunities, and cultivate relationships with community partners. This position is for 10 months at 10 hours a week at $20/hour. If interested, email shernita@vt.edu to receive the full position description and to send your resume. Resumes must be sent by Friday, November 12th at 12pm.

20. HOURLY TA POSITION OPEN FOR SPRING 2022 – 1st posting
An hourly teaching assistant is needed for a spring 2022 class, “GIS for Designers.” The position might also go through the summer as well. It would be about 5 hours a week. The student should be familiar with QGIS, as well as Mapbox and Javascript/ Leaflet, and basic web programming. The class will focus on story mapping as a way to study and communicate social arguments. Please reach out to architecture department professor, Miranda Shugars, if you’re interested: mshugars@vt.edu

21. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR LIMB LOADING ASYMMETRY STUDY – 1st posting
The Granata Biomechanics Lab at Virginia Tech is recruiting participants between the ages of 18 and 35 for a single visit (1-hr) biomechanics research study (protocol number 21-747). This study aims to examine symmetry differences within an individual throughout different daily functional tasks. These tasks include level walking, standing up from a chair, and ascending and descending stairs. Participants will be asked to wear their own athletic clothing and will be provided with a pair of shoes (ranges between a men’s 6-11.5 or a women’s 7.5-11) that are compatible with our in-shoe force sensors. These flat and flexible in-shoe force sensors cover the bottom of each foot, pair via Bluetooth with an iPad, and measure the resultant force between the foot. Please fill out this short form if you are interested in participating. If you would like more information about the study, please contact Jill Streamer at jills5@vt.edu.

22. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR RACE DIFFERENCES IN FOOT LOADING AND ENGAGEMENT STUDY – 1st posting
The Granata Lab at Virginia Tech is looking for participants in a research study (Protocol 21-479). This research study aims to determine the impact of race and other factors on foot loading and research engagement. Once consented participants will complete three questionnaires and ten walking trials while barefoot. Participation consists of one visit that lasts approximately 30 minutes. Compensation is $10 for full study participation. Eligible participants will be healthy young adults ages 18-30, identify as either African American or White American, have had no injury in the past 6 months that limited physical activity for more than 2 days, have no history of lower extremity surgery, and must be comfortable walking without assistance. If you are interested in participating, please contact Julia Brisbane at juliabris@vt.edu

23. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY INVOLVING THE USE OF AI IN THE DETECTION OF DEFECTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS – 1st posting
Virginia Tech researchers in the departments of Structural Engineering and Industrial and Systems Engineering are recruiting participants for a research study. The purpose of this research study is to determine how the use of artificial intelligence and performance feedback can help remote infrastructure inspectors better analyze various infrastructure elements during an inspection. Participants, who need to be 18 years of age or older, will be helping to shape how AI is used in the future of inspections and will be compensated $15. The study should last roughly 2 hours. The dates of the study are Nov. 15th and Nov. 16th. If you are interested please sign up here! (https://forms.gle/ytEoFikLcwQ6ojkC9)

24. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED: RESEARCH STUDY – DRIVING SIMULATOR STUDY ON AUDITORY DISPLAYS AT RAIL CROSSINGS – 1st posting
The Mind Music and Machine Lab at Virginia Tech is seeking individuals to participate in a study to determine the effects of in-vehicle auditory alerts on driver behaviors at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings (HRGCs) on driver response. During the study, you will be asked to drive in a driving simulator environment and react to in-vehicle alerts when approaching rail crossings. This project protocol was reviewed by the Virginia Tech Human Research Protections Program (#19-643). The eligibilities are 1) active driver with a valid license, 2) age 18+ with good health, and 3) normal vision and hearing. The study will last approximately one hour. Each participant will receive a compensation of $10 for participation. For more information, please contact Chihab Nadri (cnadri@vt.edu). This study is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Myounghoon Jeon (myounghoonjeon@vt.edu).

25. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AN AUGMENTED REALITY USER STUDY – 1st posting
The 3D Interaction (3DI) group is inviting you to participate in a research study with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies. Participants in the study will come to the Moss Arts Center, and will be asked to walk around indoors while wearing an AR headset. Participants will be asked for their comments about some novel interaction techniques. The entire experimental session will take about 45 minutes. The experiment will be audio recorded for researchers’ further interpretations and analysis 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 yet unfortunately). Participants’ involvements in the study will not impact their grades or 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, as required, by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board under protocol #21-843.

26. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY TO UNDERSTAND USER NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES AROUND CONTENT WARNINGS AND TRIGGER WARNINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA – 1st posting
The study consists of a survey and an optional interview. To participate in this study, it is required that you use at least one social media platform. The survey questions will ask about your experiences with different social media sites/apps and their trigger warnings, content warnings, and content moderation. Some questions will collect demographic information and the amount of time you spend on various platforms. At the end of the survey, you may opt-in for a follow-up interview. Participation is voluntary and all responses that you provide will be kept confidential. The survey will take approx. 15-30 minutes to complete. If at any point, it becomes too difficult to continue, you may opt out of the study. We are compensating one of the participants of the survey with a $50 Amazon gift card! Anyone who completes the survey will be entered in a raffle to win! Please find the survey here: https://forms.gle/DiditNp5qBQcYpaRA. If you have additional questions, please contact Muskan Gupta (muskan@vt.edu) or Emily Altland (emilya99@vt.edu).

27. ENDURANCE AND ULTRA-ENDURANCE ATHLETES NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting
Highly active athletes (18-60 years of age) are needed for a study examining the relationship between physical activity and total number of calories expended each day (IRB #21-567). Participants must be non-pregnant, vaccinated for Covid-19, with a stable body weight over the past year (±5 lb), and free of cardiovascular, lung, metabolic, kidney disease or cancer. We look for endurance athletes who was completed in marathons, ultra-marathons or Ironman triathlons in the past year, with sustained high level of training for the past 6 months and with no recent injuries or other reasons that have changed the training volume. This study will require 1 virtual meeting and 2 visits to the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory at Virginia Tech, which will take approximately 6 hours. You will receive information on your body composition, aerobic capacity, and other health information. Please, if you are interested in participating or want more information, contact to Kristen or Olalla by email at vtultrahipl@gmail.com

28. LITTLE HOKIE™ HAND ME DOWN (LHHMD) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – 2nd posting
We still need volunteers for LLHMD! Please consider signing up to help with set-up or tear down. Little Hokie ™ Hand Me Down is a free event for people who need children’s items to take what they need. Thanks so much for volunteering! Volunteers are needed on these dates: Monday, November 8th: 5:00pm-7:30pm (FREE PIZZA & SODA) and Tuesday, November 9th: 8am-Noon (FREE BAGELS & COFFEE)
Please email Emily Burns at emilyb16@vt.edu with access needs or questions. 

29. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED: RESEARCH STUDY ON EVALUATING INTERACTION METHODS OF NON-DRIVING-RELATED TASKS IN DRIVING CONTEXTS – 2nd posting
Volunteers needed for the Mind Music Machine Lab’s study on “Evaluating Interaction methods of non-driving-related tasks in driving contexts”. During the study, you will be conducting the simulated driving tasks and non-driving related tasks (e.g., menu navigation) using gesture-based interaction with different auditory feedbacks. This project protocol was reviewed by the Virginia Tech Human Research Protections Program (#19-923). If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please contact Moustafa Tabbarah at tabbarah@vt.edu.

30. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY ABOUT HEALTHY WEIGHT GAIN IN ATHLETES – 2nd posting
Volunteers needed for a study evaluating the effect of a 10-wk diet and exercise regimen designed to promote healthy weight gain (IRB # 21-561). Participants must be: 18-40 years of age, interested in gaining at least 5 pounds of body weight, willing to participate in a supervised 10-week strength training program, not taking medications or dietary supplements that influence the study results, non-smokers, not pregnant, without any major medical problems (including high blood pressure or coronary heart disease) and without any allergies to legumes, peanuts, nuts or tree nuts. If you meet the above requirements and are interested in participating in this research study, please contact the Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism Laboratory at Virginia Tech by email: NEMLab@vt.edu or by phone: 540-231-1025.

31. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEMS AND VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS – 2nd posting
The Distributed Virtual Environments Lab (DVE Lab) is looking for participants to complete a study on presence and engagement in virtual environments and video conferencing systems. This study will comprise of a single session which will be held at 2202 Kraft Drive, Blacksburg, 24060. The study seeks to understand the differences in engagement, attention and the feeling of being “present” in video-conference-based and virtual-environment-based meetings. During the study you will be asked to perform three virtual meeting room tasks on Zoom and in Mozilla Hubs. Your participation will help us better understand the utility and the effectiveness of these two platforms in remote collaboration. To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years old and you must be a student at Virginia Tech. Participation is voluntary and all responses that you provide will be kept confidential. You will be provided with a $10 Amazon gift card as compensation for your participation in this study. If you are interested in participating in this study or would like more information, please contact Mark Manuel at mmark95@vt.edu. This study is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Denis Gračanin from the Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech. This study has been approved, as required, by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board (IRB 20-841).

32. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH ON AUGMENTED REALITY STORYTELLING – 2nd posting
An interdisciplinary team from the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology at Virginia Tech is looking for participants for an Augmented Reality (AR) study that aims to better understand multi-user experiences in AR storytelling. In the study, you will wear the Microsoft HoloLens AR headset to experience three narrative stories. Afterwards, we will ask you to provide feedback. This research study will be held in The Cube at the Moss Arts Center and will take about 45 minutes (Nov 10, 11, or 12th). The study will include two participants, so pairs are encouraged, although not required. No compensation will be provided for those who complete the experiment. Your participation is voluntary. Participation will be on a first come first serve basis. For more information, please contact ericcades@vt.edu. This research study has been reviewed by the Virginia Tech IRB (#21-788).

33. PARENTS OF CHILDREN AGED 3-5 NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY – 2nd posting
The Learning and Development Lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at VT is looking for parents of preschool-aged children (3-5-year-old children who have not started Kindergarten) to participate in a new research study focusing on the home math environment of children with and without disabilities. Participants can choose to receive a $10 Amazon gift card if they meet the eligibility criteria and complete the survey. If there is a secondary caregiver at home they are eligible to be added to a drawing of a $10 Amazon gift card at the completion of the survey. To receive more information or a unique link for this survey email our lab at learnlab@vt.edu

34. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON AUGMENTED REALITY VIRTUAL MONITORS – 2nd posting
You are invited to participate in an “Augmented Reality Virtual Monitors” study at the Moss Arts Center (IRB 21-773). Participants in the study will have a chance to experience a Microsoft HoloLens 2, while performing a few tasks on a computer, which include reading, finding information, and filling out forms and questionnaires. The experiment is expected to take around 1 hour and 30 minutes. If you’re interested in more information about being a participant, please contact Leonardo Pavanatto at lpavanat@vt.edu. Or schedule the appointment directly by answering the screening questionnaire available at the following link: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8rkuseyef5JPtGe

35. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ABOUT USER NEEDS FOR POST-MORTEM FUNCTIONALITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS – 2nd posting
You are invited to participate in an interview about how you want your social media account to be managed when you pass away. The interview will be conducted via Zoom. Only the audio of the interview will be recorded, and only the researchers involved will have access to the audio files. This study is for a graduate class and its findings will not be published. Participants are required to be 18-25 years of age and regularly use 3 social media platforms. All participants will receive compensation of a $10 Amazon e-gift card at the end of the study. If you are interested in participating or have additional questions, please contact Mia Taylor taylormr@vt.edu.

36. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR PARENT/CHILD STUDY ON POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES AS CHILDREN GROW – 3rd posting
The CALMER Lab located at the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech is conducting a research study for children and adolescents (ages 4-15) and their families (IRB #19-834). This study focuses on how parents can help foster more positive development of social and emotional competencies as children grow. Participants in the study will complete ratings and behavioral tasks on two occasions, approximately one year apart (visit lengths = ~2.5 hours), and parents will complete daily ratings for a two-week period following the visits. Parent questionnaires involve questions on their child’s social, emotional, behavioral, and medical functioning, and their own stress, emotions, and parenting practices. Families will be provided with feedback and a report detailing the findings of the mental health and academic evaluation following the visits (30-minute feedback visits). Your family will be compensated up to $200 for completing all parts of the study, and your child will be given a small prize at each visit. If you would like to learn more about the study, please contact the CALMER Lab at calmerlab@gmail.com or 540-231-8511.

37. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ABOUT THE EFFECT OF SEMANTIC KNOWLEDGE AND ITS DELIVERY ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS – 3rd posting
You are invited to participate in a usability study about how information affects the productivity of workers doing assembly tasks with a voice information system. The usability study asks you to perform a set of simulated construction activities at the BuildLab at Bishop Favrao Hall at Virginia Tech. The usability study takes between 60 and 90 minutes of your time to be completed, including preparation, experiment, surveys, and a quick interview.  Eligibility is for students older than 18-years old and capable of providing consent to participate in the study. No risks are associated while participating in this study. If you agree to take part in this research study, we will reimburse you $10 in total for your time and effort for the in-person session. This study was reviewed by the VT IRB under protocol IRB-21-204. To express interest in participating in this study, please contact Daniel Linares at dlinares@vt.edu.

38. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING STUDY – 3rd posting
Are you interested in an entirely remote 5-week research study to help learn about continuous blood glucose monitoring? Would you like to receive compensation up to $500 for completion? If yes, please complete the screen online at https://redcap.vtc.vt.edu/surveys/?s=PWKFM9DKJR to learn if you are eligible! Please note that participation includes wearing a continuous blood glucose monitor,
wearing a physical activity monitor and computer assessments and brief dietary recalls over Zoom. Eligibility criteria include: adults with prediabetes or at risk of type 2 diabetes and having a body mass index of 25 or greater. For more information, please call (540) 739-5101 or email vtmindd@gmail.com. IRB 19-899.

39. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY INVESTIGATING GAZE-BASED ALARM ACKNOWLEDGMENT – 3rd posting
Under the supervision of Dr. Nathan Lau, the VACSE laboratory is conducting a study to develop a greater understanding of the effects of gaze-based alarm acknowledgement in reducing nuisance alarms (IRB #21-005). Participants will be asked to monitor parameters of a chemical plant simulator located on a computer monitor and indicate any impending alarm to occur. Participants’ eye movements will be collected using a remote eye tracking device. Qualifications needed to participate are being 18 years or old, having normal or corrected-to-normal vision, and no history of photosensitive epilepsy. No prior knowledge or experience of industrial operations is needed! The study will last approximately 90 minutes. Participants will receive compensation of $15 at the end of the study. If you are interested in participating or have additional questions, please contact tkatherine19@vt.edu

40. DIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION
Tuesday, November 16, 2pm, Zoom
Do you want to know more about the Diversity Scholars program and about the application process? Get the details at this virtual info session. Register at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvdO2hqDoiHtMeHU4chFOXduUdPTt_VpNo. For questions or additional information, please email the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion at ordi@vt.edu.

41. GUAC TALK WITH THE DEAN – SIGN UP NOW!
Wednesday, November 17, 12-1pm, GLC Room F/Zoom
Don’t miss out on our first Guac Talk with Dean Surprenant! Come enjoy a FREE Qdoba chicken taco bar and ask Dean Surprenant about any questions or concerns you have! If you will attend in person, please RSVP by Friday, November 12th at 9:00am. If you plan to attend on Zoom, please register by 11:30am on Wednesday, November 17th to receive the Zoom link and meeting ID. Hosted by the Graduate and Professional Student Senate. Please email Emily Burns at emilyb16@vt.edu with access needs or questions.

42. GRADUATE STUDENT GRATITUDE CONNECT LUNCH
Wednesday, November 17, 12:00 pm–1:00 pm, Graduate Life Center, Room B.
The Graduate School’s Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion cordially invites you to the Graduate Student Gratitude Connect Lunch! Learn gratitude and mindfulness practices while encouraging and supporting fellow graduate students, faculty, and staff. Lunch will be provided for in-person participation. The event is free and all are welcome to attend. Please register at  https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PFI4cDl6dyhnUO. For accommodations related to disabilities, please contact Dr. Shernita Lee at ordi@vt.edu at least 72 hours in advance of the event.

43. SCIENCE ON TAP OF THE NRV – EXPLORE FROG MICROBIOMES
Wednesday, November 17, 5:30-7pm, Rising Silo Brewery 2351 Glade Rd. Blacksburg
Graduate student Korin Jones is studying frog conservation by looking at the microbes living on their skin that can protect them from disease. We’ll kick things off with a lit game of trivia and then Korin’s going to show us what he’s figuring out about how these microbial communities work. Free and open to the public.  If you have questions, contact Science on Tap at scienceontapnrv@gmail.com.


44. VIRGINIA TECH GRADUATE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE INFORMATION SESSION
Thursday, November 18, 2pm, Zoom
Learn about graduate certificates, the application process, and benefits of its pursuit. Register at: 

https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udOusqzguGdXSK9onQoENTEKIg1VCwA4R For questions or additional information, please email the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion at ordi@vt.edu.