Posted on by lbarron

July 7 -13, 2025

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

This Week’s Events: 

  1. ONE HEALTH SYMPOSIUM FOR ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE RESEARCH AND STEWARDSHIP POLICY – Tuesday
  2. GRADUATE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP SERIES: STAYING GROUNDED IN UNCERTAIN TIMES – Thursday
  3. GLC CAFÉ – Thursday

Administrative Announcements:   

  1. REMINDER: EMPLOYEES (INCLUDING GA/GRA) MUST BE UP TO DATE ON IT SECURITY TRAINING BY JULY 14 – 1st posting (1/2)
  2. HOKIE WELLNESS CAREGIVING RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES QUESTIONNAIRE – 3rd posting

Jobs:
None submitted at this time

Funding Opportunities:
None submitted at this time

Volunteers and research participants sought: 

  1. RISING 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS NEEDED FOR WORD PROBLEM STUDY (IRB 25-565) – 1st posting
  2. DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE AT VT NETWORK – 1st posting
  3. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR MRI STUDY (IRB #24-646) – 2nd posting
  4. PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT FOR SPATIAL ORIENTATION TRAINING IN VIRTUAL REALITY – 2nd posting
  5. SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION MODULE LISTENING SESSION – 2nd posting (2/2)

Upcoming Events:    

  1. OPEN WRITING DROP-INHOURS-July 15 & 24
  2. GLC ICE CREAM SOCIAL-JULY 17
  3. COFFEE WITH CRANWELL – July 18
  4. GRADUATE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP SERIES: STAYING GROUNDED IN UNCERTAIN TIMES – PART 2 – July 24

 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, June 2, 2025, through August 1, 2025, walk-in hours will be held on Monday and Thursday, 11am- 3pm. 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: Drop in hours for Cook Counseling: Fridays from 1 to 3pm. Students can call 540-231-6557 to schedule an appointment with the Embedded Counselor at the GLC or the embedded counselor with their program.  
  • 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. ONE HEALTH SYMPOSIUM FOR ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE RESEARCH AND STEWARDSHIP POLICY
Tuesday, July 8, 9am- 3:30pm, Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is collaborating with Carilion Clinic and the Virginia Department of Health to host this symposium that will bring together researchers, veterinary and medical practitioners, and public health professionals to share information, build regional networks, and consider how to bridge research and policy at the institutional and state levels. Students welcome! Registration is free! Research posters can be submitted. Questions? Contact: Cassidy Rist crist6@vt.edu. Register here:

2. GRADUATE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP SERIES: STAYING GROUNDED IN UNCERTAIN TIMES – PART 1
Thursday, July 10, 11am-12pm & Thursday, July 24, GLC Room B or Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/7279001166. Graduate Student Mental Health Workshop Series: “Staying Grounded in Uncertain Times” Feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty around visas, funding, or your future? You’re not alone. This 2-part series is designed for graduate students navigating anxiety, isolation, and stress during unpredictable times. Each session offers: Tools to manage stress, anxiety, and burnout, Space for reflection and connection, Supportive, judgment-free community. Open to all graduate students — attend one or both sessions. In-person Blacksburg, GLC Room B or  https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/7279001166

3. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, July 10, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
Join us for 4th of July treats! 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. If you have any questions please, contact Lindsay Barron lbarron@vt.edu.

Administrative Announcements   

4. REMINDER: EMPLOYEES (INCLUDING GA/GRA) MUST BE UP TO DATE ON IT SECURITY TRAINING BY JULY 14 – 1st posting (1/2)
All current employees should be up to date on their required annual IT security training by July 14, 2025. If you are employed by Virginia Tech as a GA, GRA, TA, faculty, staff  or non-student wage employee, please check your development plan in the PageUp Learning Management System (https://virginiatech.pageuppeople.com) to determine if you are due to take the training. If so, the training will show up as “Annual Refresher – IT Security Training” with the label “Mandatory” on your development plan. This is a short refresher course designed to be completed in 15 minutes or less, and there is an option to test out on the initial page. For more information, visit https://news.vt.edu/notices/2025/06/reminder-IT-security-training-deadline.html.

5. HOKIE WELLNESS CAREGIVING RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES QUESTIONNAIRE – 2nd posting
Hokie Wellness is seeking information about your experience(s) with the caregiving resources/activities available to you. Please take 5 minutes to complete this questionnaire to help us assess these. Thank you so very much for providing this information!

Jobs   
None submitted at this time.

Funding Opportunities:
None submitted at this time.

Volunteers and Research Participants Sought    

6. RISING 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS NEEDED FOR WORD PROBLEM STUDY (IRB 25-565) – 1st posting
Will your child be starting 4th or 5th grade this year? This summer, researchers in the VT Learning and Development Lab are looking for rising 4th and rising 5th graders and their parents to participate in a Virginia Tech research study (IRB #25-565). Participation involves one 60-minute video-recorded session, either on the Blacksburg campus or in community-based locations in Floyd or Roanoke. Children will complete word problems and other math and reading activities. Parents complete a brief questionnaire, lasting about 15 minutes. Children must be rising 4th or rising 5th graders (i.e., starting 4th or 5th grade in Fall 2025). Parents and children must be able to speak and read English. Compensation: $20 cash; children will also receive prizes during the session. If you are interested, please fill out this form: www.bit.ly/VTMathStudy

7.  DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE AT VT NETWORK – 1st posting
Developmental Science Researchers at Virginia Tech have a new Developmental Science at VT Network, a comprehensive database connecting families interested in participating in research studies with researchers in the Psychology or Human Development and Family Science Departments. If you want to learn more about research opportunities for you and/or your child(ren), please share your information with us. Researchers will then contact you with details about studies you may be eligible for. To join the network, visit www.bit.ly/VTResearch Thank you for your interest and support in advancing science!

8. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR MRI STUDY (IRB #24-646) – 2nd posting
Researchers at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA are seeking participants for a research study on the brain and mental health. This study involves 3 sessions lasting up to 9 hours, including an MRI scan. Participants must be between the ages of 14 and 25 years of age. Compensation of up to $200 is available. Study recruitment survey available here: https://redcap.link/brain-mentalhealth

9. PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT FOR SPATIAL ORIENTATION TRAINING IN VIRTUAL REALITY – 2nd posting
The Systems Cognition Engineering Laboratory (SCEL) at Virginia Tech is seeking students to participate in a Research Study (IRB #24-1054) to determine how graphical fidelity, user perspective, and spatial ability would impact VR basketball tactic training performance. You will be asked to wear an HTC VIVE VR Headset and experience the system. The main task is to remember the basketball tactic shown to you and identify the tactic in VR.
The study should take no more than one hour per participant. You will receive a compensation of $20/hr. in cash for your contribution, you will need to provide your name and signature in order to receive the payment. Please note that you must be 18+ years old. If you are interested please contact Gram Hsing (ghsing@vt.edu).

10. SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION MODULE LISTENING SESSION – 2nd  posting (2/2)
The Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Education (SVPE) is in the process of reimagining the required online sexual assault prevention module and we would like graduate student input! It is estimated that this will be an 1 hour commitment and food will be provided for those in attendance. If interested, please fill out the survey given and we will reach out about date and times following the survey deadline. Participant qualifications: Must be a graduate student that has completed the aforementioned module. Survey: https://forms.gle/L41mS2wEWUGPqMR37

Upcoming Events   

11. OPEN WRITING  DROP-IN HOURS
Tuesday, July 15, 9am-40m GLC Room B
Thursday, July 24, 9am-4pm, GLC Room C
Need a flexible writing space? Drop in during open hours to work at your own pace in a quiet, supportive environment— no registration required! Snacks and coffee will be provided during all sessions.

12. GLC ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Thursday, July 17, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Lobby & Lawn
Summer is flying by! Stop by the GLC lobby for an ice cream social. Enjoy ice cream bars, fruit bars, ice cream sandwiches, lemonade, and coffee. Pick up your frozen treat in the lobby and head out to the GLC Lawn to enjoy and play lawn games. The Ice Cream Social will be held in place of the GLC Café. Please register here to help us plan how many frozen treats we will need: https://forms.office.com/r/t1jvjyteuT

13. COFFEE WITH CRANWELL
Friday, July 18, 3-5pm, Community Lounge (1015) in Harper Hall
Drop in for a welcoming, informal space for international students to gather over coffee and snacks. These conversations provide an opportunity to discuss questions, share concerns, and explore strategies for navigating the immigration landscape.

14. GRADUATE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP SERIES: STAYING GROUNDED IN UNCERTAIN TIMES- PART 2
Thursday, July 24, GLC Room B or Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/7279001166
Graduate Student Mental Health Workshop Series: “Staying Grounded in Uncertain Times”
Feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty around visas, funding, or your future? You’re not alone. This 2-part series (part 1 held Thursday, July 10, 11am-12pm) is designed for graduate students navigating anxiety, isolation, and stress during unpredictable times. Each session offers: Tools to manage stress, anxiety, and burnout, Space for reflection and connection, Supportive, judgment-free community. Open to all graduate students — attend one or both sessions. In-person Blacksburg, GLC Room B or  https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/7279001166