Posted on by lbarron

August 25 – September 1, 2025

To see full descriptions for any item in the summary list, please click on the continue reading link below the list.

       0.   Ongoing Services – updated August 2025    

This Week’s Events: 

  1. THE NUTSHELL GAMES ARE OPEN FOR REGISTRATION! -Monday
  2. DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP COLLABORATION HOUR – Monday
  3. TEACHING WITH DIGITAL EXHIBITS: A WORKSHOP WITH DR. P. GABRIELLE FOREMAN-  Tuesday
  4. FACULTY SEARCH COMMITTEE PERSPECTIVES PANELS – Tuesday
  5. BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES FACULTY SEARCH COMMITTEE PANEL – Tuesday
  6. LYRIC THEATRE TOUR – Tuesday
  7. MEET THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES – Wednesday
  8. GLC CAFÉ – Wednesday &Thursday
  9. NEW FACULTY HIRE CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTO THOMAS – Wednesday
  10. CHI ALPHA GRADUATE STUDENT PICNIC  – Wednesday
  11. GET CAREER FAIR READY: WHAT GRADUATE STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW – Thursday
  12. RGSA WELCOME BACK SOCIAL – FREE FOOD! – Thursday

Administrative Announcements:   

  1. ASSOCIATE TEACHING PROGRAM – CIRTL AT VIRGINIA TECH – 1st posting
  2. CONNECTIONS THAT COUNT – 1st posting
  3. UPDATE ON M365 STORAGE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS – 2nd posting
  4. NEW CYBERSECURITY TRAINING REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENT EMPLOYEES – 2nd posting
  5. UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR GENERATIVE AI – 2nd posting (2/2)
  6. RAISING AWARENESS OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OMBUDS – 2nd posting (2/2)
  7. COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR GTA INSTRUCTORS OF RECORD – 2nd posting
  8. CIRTL NETWORK TEACHING-RELATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES – 2nd posting
  9. ALCE 5884 – INTERNATIONAL COURSE: SOCIAL CHANGE COMMUNICATION – 2nd posting
  10. LDRS 5464 LEADERSHIP IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY – 3rd posting
  11. GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK AND PLANNERS ARE AVAILABLE – 3rd posting

    Jobs:

    1. APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR GPSS RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CO-CHAIR POSITION FOR 2025-2026 – 2nd  posting
    2. WAGE POSITION: VIRTUAL REALITY/WEB PLATFORM INTEGRATED WITH MULTIMODAL LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL AND SYMBOLIC AI DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT – 3rd posting

    Funding Opportunities:

       None submitted at this time

    Volunteers and research participants sought: 

    1. RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS: USER STUDY ON LLM-SUPPORTED GRAPHIC REPORTING SYSTEM – 1st posting (1/2)
    2. CALL FOR SCIENCE WRITERS: FOOD, WATER, COMMUNITIES STORYMAPS – 1st posting
    3. SEEKING PARTICIPANTS FOR AN EDUCATIONAL AI RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting (1/2)
    4. SEEKING SOIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS TO COMPLETE 5-MINUTE SURVEY  – 1st posting (1/2)
    5. LOOKING FOR SECOND AND FIFTH GRADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A VIRGINIA TECH LEARNING STUDY (IRB PROTOCOL #24-1349) – 2nd posting
    6. RECRUITING FOR A PAID RESEARCH STUDY ON USING GESTURES FOR LEARNING – 2nd posting
    7. RIPPLES OF CHANGE ARTIST CALLS FOR ONLINE GALLERY – 2nd posting
    8. SEEKING PARTICIPANTS FOR AN ONLINE USER STUDY ON EVALUATING QUESTION-ANSWER PAIRS – 2nd posting
    9. MENTHOL SMOKING STUDY – 2nd posting
    10. AN EXPLORATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISABILITIES & SEXUALITIES – 3rd posting

    Upcoming Events:    

    1. LET’S MAKE LUNCH – September 2
    2. GET YOUR RESUME READY: ESSENTIALS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS – September 2
    3. FINDING RESOURCES FOR LITERATURE REVIEWS IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES – September 2
    4. ALL-DAY WRITING RETREAT – September 3
    5. INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL MAPPING AND ARCGIS ONLINE – September 3
    6. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT – September 3
    7. DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP COLLABORATION HOUR – September 8
    8. TIPS & TRICKS FOR LITERATURE REVIEWS IN ENGINEERING – September 9
    9. GEARUP! CLIFTON STRENGTHS SESSION – September 10
    10. GRADUATE STUDENT RESOURCE FAIR – September 11
    11. NON-ACADEMIC CAREERS IN HIGHER ED – September 12
    12. COMPS, QUALS, & PRELIMS, OH MY! – September 15
    13. HANDS-ON DIGITIZING TEXTS WITH MACHINE LEARNING AND AI – September 16
    14. INTRO TO R AND RSTUDIO  – September 18
    15. DEFENSE PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS  – September 19
    16. FLIP THE FAIR 2025 – September 25
    17. OMBUDS FORUM: SETTING EXPECTATIONS- OCTOBER 22

             0. Ongoing Services – updated May 2025 

            • GRADUATE SCHOOL: Graduate School 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, walk-in hours Monday – Friday , 9am- 4pm. 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.
            • COOK COUNSELING: Students can call 540-231-6557 to schedule an appointment with the Embedded Counselor at the GLC or the embedded counselor with their program.  
            • FOOD SHARE PANTRY: Located in GLC Wellness Room (Room G). Accessible to graduate students 24/7 byswiping in with Hokie Passport
            • WRITING CENTER SERVICES: Schedule an appointment at https://vt.mywconline.com/   
            • GRADUATE OMBUDSPERSON: contact for appointment at gradombud@vt.edu, 540-231-9573   

            This Week’s Events   

            1. THE NUTSHELL GAMES ARE OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!
            Monday, August 25, 8:00am, Online registration
            Attention all graduate researchers! Do you want to share your work with the world? Do you want an opportunity to win $500? Registration is open for the Nutshell Games, the fun and fast-paced presentation competition hosted by the Center for Communicating Science. The Games will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, with a preparatory workshop on Thursday, October 2, 5-8 p.m. After finishing their 90-second talks about their research “in a nutshell,” five winners will be selected by judges to receive $500 for the winner’s use in program-sanctioned research costs or conference participation. Each participant receives a professionally recorded video of their presentation. We can only accommodate 30 talks, so register soon! https://forms.office.com/r/NxMJyPSH5U

            2. DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP COLLABORATION HOUR
            Monday, August 25, 12-1pm, recurring every Monday, Newman Library, Room 126, or Zoom
            Are you working on a Digital Humanities or Digital Scholarship project? Are you looking to upgrade your scholarly toolbox? Want to learn more about digital scholarship and media production resources at VT? Join us for the weekly Digital Scholarship Collaboration Hour in the Athenaeum Collaboration Room, Newman Library 126, every Monday, 12–1pm. All are welcome to come chat, collaborate, and work with an interdisciplinary group of scholars with interests in the diverse fields of digital humanities and digital scholarship. Join in person or via Zoom by registering on the Library Events page here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/15043499.  Please reach out with any questions you might have about the Collaboration hour or Digital Humanities and Digital Scholarship more broadly to dhlibsupport@vt.edu.

            3. TEACHING WITH DIGITAL EXHIBITS: A WORKSHOP WITH DR. P. GABRIELLE FOREMAN
            Tuesday, August 26, 10am-12:30pm, Newman Library room 101S
            In this workshop, Dr. P. Gabrielle Foreman, literary historian, digital humanist, and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, will lead VT faculty, graduate students, and staff though an exploration of interactive online exhibits featured at ColoredConventions.org. The workshop will highlight how building online exhibits teaches students to engage with primary sources, images, and data visualizations. Participants will discuss how students respond to rigorous scholarship in a variety of formats and how exhibits can be incorporated into classrooms and research. Participants will need a computer to complete the workshop. (Computers can be provided for a limited number of participants.) Preview exhibits at ColoredConventions.org/exhibits. Learn more about Dr. Foreman at pgabrielleforeman.com/. Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/yWtLEs7Aqz

            4. FACULTY SEARCH COMMITTEE PERSPECTIVES PANELS
            Tuesday, August 26, 11am-12:30, Zoom, (additional panels will be held on September 5 & 8)
            Come hear from Virginia Tech faculty members who have served on faculty search committees regarding what they look for when evaluating applicants. We will hold three separate panels themed around faculty careers in the biological & biomedical sciences, engineering, and physical sciences. https://www.research.vt.edu/about/postdoctoral-associates/postdoctoral-events-programs/2025/faculty-search-committee-perspectives-panels.html

            5. BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES FACULTY SEARCH COMMITTEE PANEL
            Tuesday, August 26, 11am-12:30pm, Zoom
            This isthe first in a 3-part Search Committee Panel series. Engineering Panel planned for Sept 5 & Physical Sciences Panel planned for Sept 8. Join faculty from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Biomedical Sciences and Pathology Department, School of Neuroscience, and Department of Biological Sciences who will share their observations and advice as former assistant professor search committee members at Virginia Tech. Learn more about what search committees look for in competitive faculty applicants. Register here: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/DH17xIY5Qnu_DnRJl1ZETg

            6. LYRIC THEATRE TOUR
            Tuesday, August 26, 3:30-4:30pm, The Lyric Theatre 135 College Ave., Blacksburg
            Join us for this tour of the historic Lyric Theatre.  Learn about the 1930’s design of the theatre and opportunities to volunteer. Everyone who attends will receive a free movie pass.  Please arrive five to ten minutes before the start of the tour. Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/scbWEBuxcz

            7. MEET THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
            Wednesday, August 27, 3:30-4:15 Zoom
            Who can help at the library? What kinds of technology is available? How can I get something the library doesn’t own? Learn the answers to these questions and more! Register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/14919880

            8. GLC CAFÉ
            Wednesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 28, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
            Enjoy free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of your grad student and Grad School colleagues. Relax, network, and load up on caffeine and/or carbs. Bring your own mug if you can. Questions? Contact Lindsay Barron (lbarron@vt.edu).

            9.  NEW FACULTY HIRE CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTO THOMAS
            Wednesday, August 27, 4-5pm, Zoom
            Christo K. Thomas is an incoming assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Prior to this, he served as a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. In this session, he will share his experience on the faculty job market. Come with your questions! Register here: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/zVnnlSraS0mIUngpirZXbw

            10. CHI ALPHA GRADUATE STUDENT PICNIC
            Wednesday, August 27, 6:00pm,Nellie’s Cave Park (1900 Grissom Ln, Blacksburg, VA 24060)
            Join us for a picnic dinner to kick off the semester! Come enjoy good food, fellowship, and a chance to connect with other grad students! We’ll be meeting at Nellies Cave Park on Wednesday (8/27) at 6:00 PM. Please RSVP if you need a ride. We’d love to see you there! We’d appreciate it if you can RSVP! https://forms.office.com/r/5B74r4HyQe. For more information on who we are, checkout our website! https://vtxa.com/. Submitted by Graduate Student Victor Lopez Lopezvic924@vt.edu

            11. GET CAREER FAIR READY: WHAT GRADUATE STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW
            Thursday, August 28, 11am-12pm, Zoom
            Fall career fairs start September 3rd—are you ready to stand out? This workshop will walk you through how to research employers, craft your pitch, and make a confident first impression. You’ll leave with practical tips to help you navigate career fairs like a pro. https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1778762/share_preview

            12. RGSA WELCOME BACK SOCIAL – FREE FOOD!
            Thursday, August 28, 11:30-1:30pm, FBRI 4 Riverside Circle, Classroom 1102, Roanoke, VA
            Join the Roanoke Graduate Student Association in kicking off the school year! New or returning graduate and professional students are invited to join us for an afternoon of pizza, drinks, and games. Relax and mingle with fellow students while learning about the upcoming events that RGSA will be hosting on the Roanoke campus! Submitted by Graduate Student Erica Guelfi (ericaguelfi@vt.edu).

            Administrative Announcements   

            13. ASSOCIATE TEACHING PROGRAM – CIRTL AT VIRGINIA TECH – 1st posting
            The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) at Virginia Tech Associate Teaching Program is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral associates to learn about effective teaching practices. Participants will engage in programming focused on foundational knowledge about teaching and complete a teaching philosophy activity. Upon program completion, participants will receive a CIRTL at Virginia Tech Associate digital badge. The program is open to graduate students and postdoctoral associates regardless of teaching experience or responsibilities. Multiple options for program completion are available. To be eligible for the program, you must be a current graduate student or postdoctoral associate at Virginia Tech, and an application is required. For more information about the program and to apply, visit https://cirtl.vt.edu/teaching-program.html.  To learn more about CIRTL and its network of 45 research universities, visit https://www.cirtl.net/.

            14. CONNECTIONS THAT COUNT – 1st posting
            Connections that Count: Intro to the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education (. SVPE)The SVPE mission is to promote a culture of respect and safety at Virginia Tech by cultivating healthy and supportive relationships on an individual and collective level. Ways you can connect with us:
            • Interactive workshops for organizations and classes on topics related to healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, and bystander intervention
            • Follow us on Instagram: @SVPE_VT
            • Email svpe@vt.edu for more information

            15. UPDATE ON M365 STORAGE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS – 2nd posting (2/2)
            The Division of IT (DoIT) has been engaged with graduate students via the Graduate and Professional Student Senate and the Graduate School to identify a way to improve cloud storage availability in the M365 service (e.g.: OneDrive). A path to increase storage for graduate students has been identified and the DoIT is hoping to implement the increase early in the Fall 2025 semester. That increase will be from 10G to 50G of storage, which is in line with employee storage allocations. Look for announcements in the VT Daily News Email. While this is great news, we also want to underscore that, for shared work, graduate students are encouraged to work with their faculty to identify/create departmental shared resources, such as Microsoft Teams, to house and maintain their data. This would also ease the transition of data over time, which is a common need for research data. **Please note that we mistakenly stated the storage should increase from 10G to 100G in our initial email. The correct quota will be from 10G to 50G.

            16. NEW CYBERSECURITY TRAINING REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENT EMPLOYEES – 2nd posting (2/2)
            We are sharing this information from the IT Security Office Team to increase your awareness and ask that you help ensure that your graduate student employees (whether on an assistantship or wage) complete the required training. You can review the full announcement at https://news.vt.edu/notices/2025/08/it-cybersecurity-training-student-employees.html. The student training-compliance dashboard shows whether your student employees have completed their required cybersecurity training: https://metrics.iso.vt.edu/studentSecurityTraining. Current FERPA training is required to access the student dashboard. Please contact the IT Security Office at itso@vt.edu with questions about the training, dashboard functionality, or dashboard request link.

            17. UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR GENERATIVE AI – 2nd posting (2/2)
            There has been much discussion about the potential appropriate uses of generative AI by graduate students and how faculty may proactively address it. TLOS provides some general guidelines on their website at https://tlos.vt.edu/resources/generative-ai.html, and we have added an updated Graduate School statement to it: https://tlos.vt.edu/resources/generative-ai/graduate-school-statement.html.  Please visit these sites as you prepare for the 2025-26 academic year and discuss program-level standards and expectations with faculty and graduate students.

            18. RAISING AWARENESS OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OMBUDS – 2nd posting (2/2)
            Connecting face-to-face with students and the faculty they work with is one of the best ways for individuals to learn about the services the Ombuds Office offers. A 10-minute presentation during your orientation program for first-year students is sufficient to introduce this service to your students, including an introduction to the role, the types of support available, and current initiatives of the office. Longer sessions may include skill-building topics such as managing difficult conversations or working successfully in teams are also a possibility. The Ombuds is also available to speak during a faculty meeting. If you would like to schedule a session or discuss other opportunities to connect with your students and faculty, please contact Bryan Hanson at bryanh76@vt.edu.

            19. COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR GTA INSTRUCTORS OF RECORD – 2nd posting
            The GTA Instructor of Record Community of Practice (CoP) is co-hosted by the Graduate School and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) to provide time to connect with other GTA instructors of record from across campus. If you are a GTA instructor of record with full teaching responsibility for a course and would like to engage in discussions about effective teaching and shared experiences with your colleagues in a university-wide community, this CoP is for you! If you are a GTA with significant course responsibilities under the supervision of a faculty member instructor of record, you are also welcome to join. Additional details about the CoP, including fall semester meeting times, are available on the CoP sign-up form at https://forms.office.com/r/YpUi1T8qgB. If you have questions about the CoP, contact CETL at (teaching@vt.edu).

            20. CIRTL NETWORK TEACHING-RELATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES – 2nd posting
            Virginia Tech is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network, which offers teaching-related professional development opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral associates. This fall, CIRTL Network programming includes workshops, non-credit-bearing courses, and an event series for graduate students and postdoctoral associates preparing for higher education teaching careers. Fall 2025 CIRTL Network programming is available online and at no cost. Participants from CIRTL institutions receive priority registration for capped programming, which typically reaches capacity quickly. The full CIRTL Network fall programming schedule, including descriptions and registration information, is available at https://cirtl.net/events/. To learn more about CIRTL and its network of 45 research universities, visit https://www.cirtl.net/. For more information about CIRTL at Virginia Tech, visit https://cirtl.vt.edu/  or email cirtl@vt.edu.

            21. ALCE 5884 – INTERNATIONAL COURSE: SOCIAL CHANGE COMMUNICATION – 2nd posting
            Taught by Dr Van Crowder in collaboration with faculty at the Ghana University of Media, Arts, and Communication and the University of Cape Coast, the course has guest presenters from a range of development organizations and covers social change theories, strategies, and campaigns; culture, politics, gender, youth; traditional media, new media, internet access, and digital divides; and communication in international development, agriculture, food security, rural livelihoods, and environment. VT students participate in-person and Ghana students remotely. Submitted by faculty member Loy Van Crowder vcrowder@vt.edu.

            22. LDRS 5464 LEADERSHIP IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY – 3rd posting
            Are you interested in expanding your leadership worldview in a global, multicultural context? Consider enrolling in LDRS 5464: Leadership in a Global Society, offered this fall.
            Why take this course? LDRS 5464 is designed to help you:
            • Understand how culture influences leadership styles.
            • Adapt your leadership and communication strategies across diverse cultural contexts.
            • Critically evaluate global leadership theories.
            • Engage in meaningful reflection and discussion on leadership in today’s interconnected world.
            What to expect:
            • Interactive workshops and peer-led discussions.
            • Guest facilitators from a variety of contexts.
            • Diverse assignments including video reflection blogs (i.e., “vlogs”), film case studies, and article critiques.
            • A final group project where you’ll design and facilitate a workshop for fellow students and faculty.
            Class meets Fridays, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM in Litton-Reaves Hall 232.
            Submitted by faculty member Dr. Austin Council (adc@vt.edu)

            23. GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK AND PLANNERS ARE AVAILABLE – 3rd posting
            Come pick up your 2025/2026 Graduate Student Handbook and planner in GLC 120. GLC 120 is open Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm.  

            Jobs   

            24. APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR GPSS RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CO-CHAIR POSITION FOR 2025-2026 – 2nd posting
            Prior to the event, held March 25th, co-chairs will work together to hire a speaker for the event, handle the bulk of necessary planning, and coordinate the event. Planning will include coordinating the keynote speaker, providing food for attendees, collecting abstracts, finding judges, and marketing the event. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate education program and able to complete work over two semesters: Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, the period of appointment runs September 15- April 1. Applicants must be able to attend the Graduate Research Symposium (March 25th). This position is not an assistantship but does offer a stipend. To apply: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hGiVYK0Q-kCGPU8yweOjemwoOeWNbx9Gj4WZgb_1I_xUQkNRT1YwMVpIOENZTzNSWkVTNUM0V0owQi4u

            25. WAGE POSITION: VIRTUAL REALITY/WEB PLATFORM INTEGRATED WITH MULTIMODAL LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL AND SYMBOLIC AI DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT – 3rd posting
            The candidate would support the development of proof of concept and build a VR/web-based platform integrated with symbolic AI and multimodal large language models for human-robot collaboration in construction. The role may also include additional related responsibilities as assigned.
            Multimodal Large Language Models (e.g., GPT-4o, LLaVA, Claude, Gemini)
            • Symbolic AI and knowledge representation techniques
            • Web and VR development (e.g., Three.js, WebXR, Unity)
            • Prompt engineering, API integration, and lightweight prototyping
            • Programming languages: HTML, CSS, Java, and Python.
            • Database management.
            The role is available for immediate start and will continue through the end of the semester. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please contact Ebenezer Olukanni to apply: (ooebenezer@vt.edu)

            Funding Opportunities:

            None submitted at this time

            Volunteers and Research Participants Sought    

            26. RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS: USER STUDY ON LLM-SUPPORTED GRAPHIC REPORTING SYSTEM – 1st posting (1/2)
            The InfoViz group invites you to participate in a research study on Large Language Model (LLM) technologies. Our team is investigating how to enhance LLM-supported analysis report writing through visual workspaces similar to Miro. Study will take place in Room 466, Data and Decision Sciences, 727 Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Participants will be given two tasks involving LLM-supported report writing of intelligence analysis and travel planning. The participants will try to solve the cases with an LLM-powered system while seated in an indoor environment within 90 minutes. Compensation $20 for upon completion of the study. Participant qualifications: Proficient in reading and writing in English; at least 18 years old; No known recent exposure to, or symptoms of COVID-19. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Xuxin Tang at xuxintang@vt.edu to schedule a session. The project is supervised by Dr. Chris North in Computer Science Department. VT IRB #24-803.

            27. CALL FOR SCIENCE WRITERS: FOOD, WATER, COMMUNITIES STORYMAPS – 1st posting
            Have a story to share about a community and natural resources? Looking for a science communication opportunity to share said story to a wide audience? The editor of the Food, Water, and Communities blog, sponsored by the VT’s Center for Communicating Sciences, is currently recruiting graduate students to share their stories about a community that has faced a natural resource challenge, and which have inspired their graduate work. Interested writers should email Bria Weisz, bria@vt.edu, by Friday, September 12th with a 3-5 sentence description of their story. If selected, writers will be contacted to contribute a 500-700 word story for the StoryMaps. Open to graduate students at Virginia Tech. For more information and to view previous stories, visit https://arcg.is/10aLCi or email Bria Weisz at bria@vt.edu with any questions.

            28. SEEKING PARTICIPANTS FOR AN EDUCATIONAL AI RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting (1/2)
            We are seeking graduate students with teaching experience to participate in a study evaluating different tools for configuring AI tutoring agents. This research aims to understand how educators can effectively set up and validate AI teaching agent to match their pedagogical teaching style. During this study, participants will: Configure an AI tutoring system using different tools/methods. Test their AI configuration to ensure it matches their teaching style. Complete surveys about their experience and confidence in the AI system. Participate in a brief interview about the configuration process. Time commitment: 60-75 minutes via Zoom. Compensation: $25 upon completion. Participant qualifications: Graduate students with teaching experience (TA, instructor, or tutoring experience).To sign up please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXfd8K6DPyv7NEfNYBhd5joekhOaA-ovfL-4H1W-DNUINx8Q/viewform?usp=dialog Submitted by Graduate Student David Barron dbarron410@vt.edu.

            29. SEEKING SOIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS TO COMPLETE 5-MINUTE SURVEY  – 1st posting (1/2)
            The VT Soil Survey Laboratory is seeking graduate students and professionals with a soil or environmental science background to complete a 5-minute survey regarding the color requirements for mollic and umbric epipedon classification. Anyone with experience performing soil descriptions is encouraged to participate. The survey can be found here: https://forms.office.com/r/Cz1S1dbFKA Submitted by Graduate Student William Hernandez whernandez@vt.edu

            30. LOOKING FOR SECOND AND FIFTH GRADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A VIRGINIA TECH LEARNING STUDY (IRB PROTOCOL #24-1349) – 2nd posting
            Participants needed for Virginia Tech Human Development and Family Science study (IRB # 24-1349). This research is to learn more about second and fifth graders’ literacy, math, self-regulation, executive function skills, how those skills are related to each other, as well as the role stress plays in the development of those skills so educators and/or parents can better support children’s development and literacy and math learning. Eligible individuals will participate in one 60-minute in-person video recorded session either on the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus, their home, or a community-based location in Roanoke. Participant qualifications: Parent/guardians of a rising second grader or rising fifth grader during the 2025 summer, both parent/guarding and child are able to speak and read English. Compensation: $20 upon completion of the session and surveys. For more information: https://bit.ly/VTLearningStudy. Submitted by graduate student Isabel Valdivia isabelvl@vt.edu.

            31. RECRUITING FOR A PAID RESEARCH STUDY ON USING GESTURES FOR LEARNING – 2nd posting
            The Mind Music Machine Lab at Virginia Tech is seeking individuals to participate in a study to determine how gestures can improve the acquisition of algorithmic interpretation skills. During this study, participants will: Complete a demographic survey. Learn an algorithmic language either with or without accompanying hand gestures over the course of three 30 minute sessions. Take two tests in a fourth 30 minute session which assesses acquisition of various algorithmic interpretation skills. Take a short 10 minute semi-structured interview. Compensation of $20 will be given for participating in the four 30 minutes sessions (2 hours total, divided across at least four days). Qualifications: Are over 18 years old; Have normal hearing, vision (or correct-to-normal vision) and fine motor skills; Cannot program without significant help. For more information please contact Jacqueline Bruen jacquelineb@vt.edu.

            32. RIPPLES OF CHANGE ARTIST CALLS FOR ONLINE GALLERY – 2nd posting
            We are calling for artists to submit their work to @ripplesofchangeart on instagram! Send us a photo of your work plus a description that supports the following mission: This gallery brings together art and science communication in an interdisciplinary showcase that highlights the innovative and inspiring work happening at local, regional, and global levels in environmentalism, environmental justice, and global change. Our goal is to spark connection, motivation, and action – inviting our community to celebrate and build upon the incredible efforts of individuals and groups already making a difference.
            We are accepting art of all media! Photographic, paintings, video, sculpture, etc. https://www.instagram.com/ripplesofchangeart/. Submitted by graduate student Maria Popescu mariapopescu100@vt.edu.

            33. SEEKING PARTICIPANTS FOR AN ONLINE USER STUDY ON EVALUATING QUESTION-ANSWER PAIRS – 2nd posting
            A research study focused on evaluating Question-Answer pairs generated by large language models (LLMs) and traditional search methods. Your insights as someone with experience in academic content, particularly theses and dissertations, will be valuable for this research. If you are interested in participating, please complete the form. Participant qualifications: Current graduate students, undergraduate students with research experience, faculty members, or researchers; Adults(18+). Compensation: $15 Amazon gift card. Participation interest survey:   https://forms.office.com/r/AvHCLci5Ut

            Submitted by graduate student Satvik Chekuri satvikchekuri@vt.edu

            34. MENTHOL SMOKING STUDY – 2nd posting
            We are seeking volunteers for a study on menthol use and tobacco. Participant qualifications: Be 21+, smoke menthol cigarettes. Up to $75. Link to screen: https://freitaslemoslab.ripplescience.com/survey/66nezxFQyKkg8nEon/qQMGvv1B6mTaK0zpB/form

            Submitted by graduate student Laure Bruckner laurab99@vt.edu.

            35. AN EXPLORATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISABILITIES & SEXUALITIES – 3rd posting
            Our study, “An Exploration into the Relationship Between Disabilities and Sexualities”, is looking for individuals interested in participating in research based on lived experiences! The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the different ways that disabilities and sexualities can intersect and/or influence one another across people’s lifetimes. This can mean many things as both sexualities and disabilities have multiple ways of impacting individuals! Participants will participate in a 60-90 minute Zoom interview. Individuals must be 18+ years old, identify with at least one disability, and have had previous experiences with romantic/sexual relationships. Participants will receive a $30 electronic gift card after participation! If you are interested in participating in a Zoom interview, please fill out this brief survey to see if you are eligible: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/VT25644Diss. Submitted by graduate student Madelyn Toman (maddie99@vt.edu).

            Upcoming Events   

            36. LET’S MAKE LUNCH – COOKING DEMO WORKSHOP FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
            Tuesday, September 2, 12-2pm, Wallace Hall Kitchen, Room 403
            Are you looking for easy & cheap recipes? In this hands-on cooking workshop for absolute beginners, or more   experienced cooks, you will make an inexpensive and delicious vegetarian one-pan pasta recipe. At the end of the workshop, we will enjoy a simple meal , or you can take your portion to go to enjoy later! Registration is required and space is limited! https://forms.office.com/r/sJ9J19r6DU

            37. GET YOUR RESUME READY: ESSENTIALS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
            Tuesday, September 2, 1-2pm, Zoom
            A well-polished resume is an important step toward getting an interview. Start preparing early to be ready for both career fairs and the job search. This workshop will provide tips for crafting an effective resume. The session will also include information on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the use of generative AI tools to support your writing process. https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1778763/share_preview

            38. FINDING RESOURCES FOR LITERATURE REVIEWS IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
            Tuesday, September 2, 3:30-4:30pm, Zoom ‘
            You’ve been assigned to write a literature review in the social sciences…but how do you get started? What kinds of literature reviews are there? Where should you search? How do you know what search terms to use? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this interactive workshop. By the end of this session, you’ll be able to: Identify different types of literature reviews; Find relevant databases; Create effective search terms. This workshop will focus on research in the social and behavioral sciences, such as education, communication, human development, psychology, and sociology. Register here:  https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/14919882

            39. ALL-DAY WRITING RETREAT
            Wednesday, September 3, 9am-4pm, Graduate Life Center of Virtual
            Designed for graduate students in a writing phase at any level!
            This series offers a variety of structured and flexible sessions to support your writing journey. Whether you’re seeking a structured writing period, a focused environment, or the freedom to drop in as needed, our offerings cater to diverse needs. From facilitated workshops and Pomodoro sessions to quiet, open writing spaces, this series allows you to develop skills, boost productivity, and bring your ideas to life. Embrace the chance to write, connect, and grow in a community dedicated to creative and academic excellence. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hGiVYK0Q-kCGPU8yweOjeq4qEKlDQiJMsd9rTXxrMuZUMFpQNjRCSEk4Mzg1UFFRV0hKOTZCMDE0Ry4u

            40. INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL MAPPING AND ARCGIS ONLINE
            Wednesday, September 3, 2-4pm, Zoom
            The Introduction to Geospatial Mapping and ArcGIS Online session will focus on introducing the concept of geospatial mapping covering the basics of what Geographic Information Systems (GIS), geospatial data, and geospatial mapping are. It will also cover geospatial data types, sources, and file formats, and introduce participants to different types of geospatial mapping tools and software. The presentation will demonstrate and walk you through the steps on how to create your own maps using ArcGIS Online, add data layers, visualize information effectively, and share your creations (maps) with others within Virginia Tech or outside! The session caters to anyone, whether you are a student, faculty, researcher, or simply curious about mapping. No prior experience is required. https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/browse/teachingandlearning/courses/lib173-090325

            41. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT
            Wednesday, September 3, 3:30-4:30pm, Zoom
            You’re about to collect or already have data for your research project…now what? How do you manage it? What do you name the files? How do you share it? Learn the answers to all of these questions and more in this session, which will present an introduction to research data management, including the following topics:  Data management planning; File naming conventions/organization; Backing-up research data; Documentation (metadata); Data sharing; Data security; How the library can help. Register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/14919883

            42. DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP COLLABORATION HOUR
            Monday, September 8, 12-1pm, recurring weekly on Mondays, Newman Library 126, Athenaeum Collaboration Room or on Zoom
            Are you working on a digital humanities or digital scholarship project? Are you looking to upgrade your scholarly toolbox? Want to learn more about digital scholarship and media production resources? All are welcome to come chat, collaborate, and work with an interdisciplinary group of scholars with interests in the diverse fields of digital humanities and digital scholarship. Join in person or via Zoom by registering on the Library Events page, https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/15043501
            Please reach out with any questions you might have about the collaboration hour or digital humanities and digital scholarship more broadly to dhlibsupport@vt.edu and check out the Digital Humanities Library Guide at https://guides.lib.vt.edu/dh

            43. TIPS & TRICKS FOR LITERATURE REVIEWS IN ENGINEERING
            Tuesday, September 9, 3:30-4:30pm, Zoom
            You need to write a literature review for your research or project… but how do you get started? What type of review do you need? What about AI tools to save time? We will go through the answers to these questions and more in the workshop! By the end of the workshop, you will learn how to: Get started on your own literature review; Be effective and efficient in searching engineering literature; Use tools to help you throughout the process; Whether you are new to literature reviews or even outside of engineering, all are welcome to attend this workshop! Register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/14919932

            44. GEARUP! CLIFTON STRENGTHS SESSION
            Wednesday, September 10, 2-3:30pm, Gilbert 2101
            Join us for a Clifton Strengths training to determine your leadership and work styles and how to apply them in various collaborative settings. This session is interactive, and is intended to encourage self-reflection around your participation in professional environments. Registration is required https://forms.office.com/r/eXPfmjSuye

            45. GRADUATE STUDENT RESOURCE FAIR
            Thursday, September 11, 3-5pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
            Are you interested in free food, free raffle prizes, and free VT resources? Drop in to the Fall Graduate Student Resource fair on Sept. 11th in the GLC! More than 25 VT organizations will be sharing resources for graduate students. Snacks and drinks will be provided as a replacement for GLC Cafe. Also, come play Bingo to win one of many raffle prizes! Click this link for the flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k3FFWBiUYmAXG69GqtgWjhsz2OobaIlS/view?usp=sharing

            46. NON-ACADEMIC CAREERS IN HIGHER ED
            Friday, September 12, 11:30-1:30pm, Black Cultural Center
            This event is meant to expose students to non-academic professions in higher education. Positions like finance, administration, or even program coordination are crucial to the workings of higher education institutions. Students will learn about the diversity of career paths in the field and speak with mentors about their journeys into the professional space. Please register at the link provided. https://forms.office.com/r/UfAK37D7TG

            47. COMPS, QUALS, & PRELIMS, OH MY!
            Monday, September 15, 3-4pm, GLC F and virtual (additional monthly sessions offered)
            Students defending in Fall 2025 are invited to present a 20-minute practice version of their final defense to a small group of Graduate School staff, other students, and faculty from a variety of programs and receive constructive feedback from them. Those attending the session and providing feedback may or may not know the presenter(s) and may or may not be from a related field or discipline, so feedback is focused less on content and more on presentation structure, clarity, style, coherence, etc. Spots are limited, so please only register for one date and we will let you know the details once your participation is confirmed. Virtual and in-person options. Contact the Graduate School at grads@vt.edu if you have any questions. Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/45fTzWDXuJ

            48. HANDS-ON DIGITIZING TEXTS WITH MACHINE LEARNING AND AI
            Tuesday, September 16, 9am-12pm, Newman Library 207AAre you interested in extracting text from scanned images—even poor-quality images—and learning more about new advances in optical character recognition (OCR)? Join us on Tuesday, 16 September, 9am–12pm for a 3-hour workshop on utilizing machine learning and large language models to programmatically OCR images of text. The workshop will take participants through running Python code in collaborative notebooks to access a variety of tools used to OCR texts, including texts that might be poorly scanned or otherwise difficult to read. This is a participatory workshop, and you will have the opportunity to practice along with the instructors, as well as applying skills in exercises on your own. The workshop is open to all VT community members. Some experience with Python is recommended. Register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/15041273

            49. INTRO TO R AND RSTUDIO
            Thursday, September 18, 9am-12pm, Zoom
            Interested in improving your data and computing skills for conducting open and reproducible research? Join us for hands-on workshops for data analysis in R on Zoom. The Library is hosting a set of two workshops on getting started with data analysis and visualization in R on 18 and 25 September. You can take the workshops as a series or choose one that best fits your experience and needs. The workshops are open to all VT community members. You do not need any experience with the software to participate, but you will need access to a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. Register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/15078686

            50. DEFENSE PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS 
            Friday, September 19, 10am-12pm, In-person and virtual location options, additional dates offered throughout the semester. Students defending in Fall 2025 are invited to present a 20-minute practice version of their final defense to a small group of Graduate School staff, other students, and faculty from a variety of programs and receive constructive feedback from them. Those attending the session and providing feedback may or may not know the presenter(s) and may or may not be from a related field or discipline, so feedback is focused less on content and more on presentation structure, clarity, style, coherence, etc.  Spots are limited, so please only register for one date and we will let you know the details once your participation is confirmed. Virtual and in-person options. Contact the Graduate School at grads@vt.edu if you have any questions. Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/jRM4gCf3LR

            51. FLIP THE FAIR 2025
            Thursday, September 25, 8am-2pm , Melrose Branch Library, Roanoke, VA
            Join us for Flip the Fair 2025! Flip the Fair is a flipped science fair where graduate students and post-docs present their research science-fair-style on tri-fold poster boards, and 5th graders judge them! Prizes awarded to the best presenters! This year’s event will be held at the Melrose Branch of the Roanoke Public Library on Sept. 25th from 8am-2pm.  As added value, presenters also are given the opportunity for communication skills training at a professional development workshop in preparation for the event.
            Want to participate but don’t have time to do a poster?  Sign up to volunteer at the event instead! We are looking for undergraduates, graduates, post-docs, faculty, and staff to assist at the event. There are several shifts to choose from. Questions? Contact (amandaah@vt.edu).

            52. OMBUDS FORUM: SETTING EXPECTATIONS – INTEREST FORM
            Wednesday, October 22, 12pm, location TDB, This Ombuds Forum is a community-based space to share common issues affecting graduate students, including funding and financial wellness, advisor relationships and agreements, and interpersonal dynamics. Please fill out the interest form below to indicate your questions and time preferences for this event. https://forms.office.com/r/6AU7Tv9CnR