June 24-30, 2024

       0.   Ongoing Services – updated 5/13/24  

This Week’s Events:   

  1. GLC CAFÉ – Thursday 
  1. SCIENCE ON TAP – READING THE ROCKS – Thursday 

Administrative Announcements: 

  1. FREE INDIVIDUALIZED NUTRITION COUNSELING – 2nd posting 
  1. 2024 FUTURE FACULTY DIVERSITY PROGRAM –2nd posting 
  1. GPSS FALL 2024 GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM – 3rd posting 
  1. SPECIALIZED GRADUATE WRITING SUPPORT – 3rd  posting 

Jobs: 

  1. GA POSITION IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES – 1st posting 

Funding Opportunities: 

  1. FULBRIGHT POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR U.S. CITIZENS – DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 

Volunteers and research participants sought: 

  1. WILDLIFE VIEWER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY – 1st posting 
  1. RESEARCH STUDY ON SUSTAINABLE DIETS – 1st posting  
  1. INVESTIGATING SENSITIVITY TO VIBROTACTILE STIMULATION DURING DYNAMIC WORK TASKS: TOWARDS AN EFFECTIVE ERGONOMIC INTERVENTION [IRB #: 21-1022]  – 2nd posting 
  1. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A VIRTUAL REALITY RESEARCH USER STUDY – 2nd posting 
  1. GRANATA BIOMECHANICS LAB RECRUITING FOR RESEARCH STUDY UNDERSTANDING BIOMECHANICAL PERFORMANCE DURING CHILD CARE RELATED ACTIVITIES – 3rd posting 
  1. RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS FOR A RESEARCH STUDY OF UNDERSTANDING USER PERCEPTIONS OF DARK PATTERNS WHILE USING SOFTWARE – 3rd posting 

Upcoming Events: 

 0. Ongoing Services – updated 08/28/23     

  • GRADUATE SCHOOL: Graduate School summer hours: In-person advising, drop-off or pick-up of documents and materials, and a space to study and take a break! Visit 120 GLC, summer walk-in hours will be held on Monday and Thursday 9:00-4:00pm. The Graduate School offices will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. for the summer. Staff will be available by phone 540 231-8636 or email grads@vt.edu.  If you prefer Zoom advising: request one-on-one assistantship or academic advising by using our online request form to set-up a Zoom session. 
  • CAREER ADVISING: Schedule career advising appointment via https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake.html ; GLC drop-in hours in GLC 120 will not be held in the summer and  will resume Fall 2024. 
  • COOK COUNSELING: COOK COUNSELING: Drop-in hours for Summer: Tuesdays 10 am to 12 pm. Location: Room 49 at the GLC. For consultations by Zoom e-mail hkatie19@vt.edu. Students seeking services can schedule a triage appointment by calling 540-231-6557.  
  • WRITING CENTER SERVICES: Schedule an appointment at https://vt.mywconline.com/ 
  • GRADUATE OMBUDSPERSON: contact for appointment at gradombud@vt.edu, 540-231-9573 

       0.   Ongoing Services – updated 5/13/24  

This Week’s Events 

1. GLC CAFÉ  
Thursday, June 20, 3:30-5pm, GLC Reading Room 
GLC Café will be held on Thursdays only during the summer. Casual drop-in social hour for graduate students to take a break! Enjoy coffee, tea, cookies and conversation with graduate students and Graduate School staff. Bring your own mug if you can.  

15. SCIENCE ON TAP – READING THE ROCKS 
Thursday, June 27, 5:30-7pm, Rising Silo Brewery  
Join us for Science on Tap: “Reading the Rocks: What rocks tell us about the history of the Earth, in the NRV, and beyond,” on June 27th at 5:30 p.m. at Rising Silo Brewery in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech graduate student Amy Hagen will describe how scientists use rocks to learn about the history of the Earth and how you can apply the same tools to rocks in your own backyard. After seeing some examples of local rocks and fossils, try your hand at ‘reading’ some mystery rocks! This event is free and open to the public and is hosted by the Center for Communicating Science and the VT Sigma Xi chapter. Science on Tap is held monthly of 4th Thursdays of the month. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact scienceontapnrv@gmail.com at least ten days before the event. 

Administrative Announcements 

2. FREE INDIVIDUALIZED NUTRITION COUNSELING – 2nd  posting 
Seeking nutrition guidance? Are you interested in learning how to make food choices that 
support a healthy lifestyle? Maybe you need help with skills for shopping and cooking to help you reach your wellness goals. If you have any of these concerns or others, upper-level nutrition students are here to help. The Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise Department at Virginia Tech provides FREE one-on-one nutrition counseling services (In-person or Zoom) to any interested students, faculty, or staff and is now accepting new clients for the fall semester. Visit: https://www.hnfe.vt.edu/nutrition-counseling.html to learn more about the service; and use the following link to sign up: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=PjXR/MidYPoECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D 

3. 2024 FUTURE FACULTY DIVERSITY PROGRAM – 2nd posting 
FFDP is designed to advance Inclusive VT (the institutional and individual commitment to Ut Prosim in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence). It offers a dynamic professional development and outreach program to encourage graduate students and post-doctoral scholars to consider current or future faculty positions at Virginia Tech. FFDP administrators aim to identify graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who, through their backgrounds, experiences, and achievements, can demonstrate their ability to: Work with diverse communities of faculty, staff, and students, Contribute to InclusiveVT; Support Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community; Exhibit their potential to succeed as a faculty member at Virginia Tech based on their research and teaching experience. Transportation, lodging, and food expenses are covered by Virginia Tech for invited scholars. For more information: https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/Programs/FDP/FFDP.html  

5. GPSS FALL 2024 GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM – 3rd  posting 
The GPSS Fall 2024 Graduate Research Development Program (GRDP) is now taking applications! Master’s students are eligible for up to $1000 in funding and doctoral students are eligible for up to $1500 in funding. Past and future GRDP guidelines will differ. Please submit applications by August 5, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST. If you have already submitted an application and would like to amend it, if you have any questions, or if you need an extension, please contact Julia Shapiro juliams22@vt.edu before the application deadline. Apply here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hGiVYK0Q-kCGPU8yweOjeqI0_MNCpRNGsmooGXbKsw9UNFVRMFcxVEI1RDJLN0NWMFNJMk83NFQ0WS4u.  

6. SPECIALIZED GRADUATE WRITING SUPPORT – 3rd posting 
Graduate students, meet your writing goals this summer! We are offering online services this summer, starting May 20 and ending August 9. Our summer staff consists of all PhD student coaches.  Make your appointment today  We offer Synchronous Tutoring Live Online Writing Consultations and Asynchronous Tutoring: 24 hrs. Later Written Feedback. For more information please visit https://vt.mywconline.com/ For more information about the Writing Center, please contact Jennifer Lawrence, at jlwrnc@vt.edu or Travis Webster, twebster2@vt.edu.        

Jobs 

GA POSITION IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES – 1st posting 
Duties include: Analyze bibliometric and publication data for collaborative projects between the Office of Research and Innovation and the University Libraries; Analyze bibliometric, publication, grant and patent data from a variety of sources including: Scopus, SciVal, Web of Science, Dimensions; Develop scientific network visualization maps using tools such as VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and/or Gephi; Support workshops given by the Research Impact and Intelligence Department and the Patent & Trademark Resource Center; Author conference and/or journal articles related to the above work (expected one publication per academic year) . Qualifications:  

– Advanced coding capability in modern language(s) such as Python and/or R 
– Experience conducting searches in academic databases 
– Knowledge of the scholarly publishing environment 
– Excellent oral and written communication skills  To view job posting or apply on Handshake: https://app.joinhandshake.com/emp/jobs/9055145. Application deadline: July 3, 2024  

Funding Opportunities 
Funding opportunities sponsored by the graduate school can be found here: 
https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html 
All external funding opportunities that we are aware of can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships.html

9. FULBRIGHT POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR U.S. CITIZENS – DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 
Fellowships are open to researchers in all academic disciplines and support research programs in Israel for up to 20 months (two academic years). These are the primary benefits of the fellowship:  $95,000 scholarship ($47,500 per academic year).  Basic health insurance for the grant, Reimbursement of up to $1,700 for airfare expenses for Fulbright fellows (and spouses), Partial reimbursement of education expenses for children.  Visit the program page: https://fulbright.org.il/USPostdoc. For further information or inquiries, please contact: Noa Turgeman, USprograms@fulbright.org.il 

Volunteers and Research Participants Sought 

WILDLIFE VIEWER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY – 1st posting 
Do you observe, feed, or photograph wildlife? Do you identify as disabled and/or neurodivergent? If so, researchers at Virginia Tech invite you to be part of a 90-minute online group discussion to share your experiences with wildlife viewing, and your thoughts on increasing inclusion. Participants will be provided with up to a $50 honorarium to participate in this research project. Visit this link to learn more: https://tinyurl.com/WildlifeViewing or email wildlifeviewing@vt.edu.  

RESEARCH STUDY ON SUSTAINABLE DIETS – 1st posting 
Two-part, audio recorded focus group interviews at Virginia Tech during Summer 2024. 2 hours maximim for each focus group. Share your views about what motivates your dietary choices, graphic food-based dietary guidelines and sustainable diets. Lunch or dinner will be provided. This study (IRB 23-147) was determined to be exempt from VT’s IRB in March 2023. Participants must be 18-25 years old, studying at Virginia Tech and living in Blacksburg, VA. https://forms.office.com/r/FAtj99PSyy

INVESTIGATING SENSITIVITY TO VIBROTACTILE STIMULATION DURING DYNAMIC WORK TASKS: TOWARDS AN EFFECTIVE ERGONOMIC INTERVENTION [IRB #: 21-1022]  – 1st posting 
The main objective of the proposed study is to investigate sensitivity and spatial acuity in perceiving vibrotactile stimuli at different sites on the body during a variety of movements, including static vs. isometric force exertion vs. dynamic movement (e.g., walking, construction work tasks). For the dynamic movement tasks, you will be asked to shovel or lift up to 5lbs of load each time. Your participation will require one visit that may take up to 2.5 hours. During your visit, you will be asked to perform maximum voluntary exertions, perform static to dynamic work tasks, and answer for a few questionnaires. Results from this study will support the effective adoption and implementation of vibrotactile feedback in construction workspace. Note that your participation is voluntary, and you can choose not to participate in the interview at any time. Participant qualifications: 18 – 45 years old; Right-handed, and; Have no self-reported current or recent (past 12-months) musculoskeletal problems or injuries. Compensation: $10 per hour. For more information on how to participate please contact: Ajit Gopal at ajitagm@vt.edu.  

11. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A VIRTUAL REALITY RESEARCH USER STUDY – 1st posting 
You are invited to participate in a research study using virtual reality technologies. Our team is investigating the effectiveness of different window management techniques when working with virtual monitors. The study will use state-of-the-art VR technologies, such as the Meta Quest Pro headset. (IRB #24-439). Participants must be at least 18 years old, fluent English speakers, have normal vision (contact lenses and glasses are not supported; strabismus and color blindness are not supported), have normal mobility of arms and hands (to use a mouse and keyboard), and use the Windows operating system for their daily work. For more information on how to participate, please contact: Leonardo Pavanatto at lpavanat@vt.edu

12. GRANATA BIOMECHANICS LAB RECRUITING FOR RESEARCH STUDY UNDERSTANDING BIOMECHANICAL PERFORMANCE DURING CHILD CARE RELATED ACTIVITIES – 2nd posting 
The Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Lab at Virginia Tech is recruiting women who have given birth in the last 6 – 12 months (postpartum) and women who have never been pregnant, for a biomechanical performance study (protocol number 22-1085). Study participation will involve a single 2-hour visit and includes questionnaires, six clinical assessments, and a series of lifting and loading conditions, of a 33 lb. portable car seat, as your movements are tracked. All participants must: be between ages of 18 and 35, not be currently pregnant, not diagnosed with: a postural stability condition affects balance, or a neurologic disorder, not sustained an injury in the last two months that limited physical activity for more than two days, have not had a prior serious leg injury or surgery, and can perform daily tasks of loading and lifting. Eligible postpartum participants need to have given birth in the last 6 months to 1 year, had a vaginal delivery, and have not experienced a grade 4 perineal tear. Participants will have their choice of a Fire Tv Stick or Echo Dot 3rd Gen for their time and effort upon completing the study. For more information or to participate, contact Theresa Libera at theresal@vt.edu.  

13. RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS FOR A RESEARCH STUDY OF UNDERSTANDING USER PERCEPTIONS OF DARK PATTERNS WHILE USING SOFTWARE – 2nd posting 
Researchers at Virginia Tech are looking for participants to fill out a brief survey (IRB #24-138) about dark patterns in online environments. Dark patterns are user interface design choices crafted to manipulate, deceive, or trick users into taking actions that they might not otherwise choose to do. We are interested in users’ awareness and reaction to different examples of dark patterns commonly used online. The survey link is available below and should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. After finishing the survey, participants will be compensated with a $10 Amazon gift card. Please contact Huayu Liang at huayu98@vt.edu with any questions or for more information. Access the survey through: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBdK4UAEdYj8sxG2ySDvRZfcBc2j5STjDVtIqyuXACw7QXIA/viewform  

Upcoming Events 

None at this time