Month: May 2015

1.  WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – break schedule; updated 5/18

• Career Services advising: on hiatus until fall
• Cook Counseling: Fridays 1:00-5:00pm in the summer, starting 5/29, Green Room 
• GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursday, Reading Room – continues through summer
• Graduate School summer hours May 18-Jul 31: 9:00am-4:00pm
• LISA Statistical Consulting: Tuesdays,10:00-12:00 in Room A
• Writing assistance: on hiatus until fall

2. BOLLYWOOD DANCE CLASSES THIS SUMMER
Mondays and Tuesdays, 3:00-4:00pm, War Memorial Dance Room
Want to look really cool and learn something new at the same time? Join Bollywood Dance Classes this summer and surprise your friends once the semester starts. The classes will cover many other Indian dance forms and are free and open to all. It’s time to grab your dancing shoes! This message is posted on behalf of grad student Garima Malhotra, garima@vt.edu.

3. INTERVARSITY GRADUATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: SUMMER BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm, 107 Church St. SE (3 blocks from GLC)
Meet weekly for an interactive Bible discussion. All are welcome! For directions and more information visit http://gcfvt.wordpress.com/.

4. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, May 28, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room or side patio
The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. If it’s sunny and not too warm, we might be on the side-patio (near Bookstore side entrance behind the shrubs).

5. STATISTICAL CONSULTING BY LISA – 1st posting
A statistical consultant will be available Mon-Fri 1-3pm in the Old Security Building to answer quick questions or help with research projects requiring less than 30 minutes of assistance. Walk-in consulting is also available 10-12pm on Tuesdays in GLC Room A and from 10-12 pm on Wednesdays in 403-J Hutcheson. For more in-depth questions or longer projects, complete the LISA Collaboration Request Form at http://www.lisa.stat.vt.edu  and a team of statistical collaborators will be assigned to work with you. Note: LISA does not assist with class projects or homework. For more information about walk-in consulting and LISA’s other services, visit http://www.lisa.stat.vt.edu.

6. VT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC. OFFICE HOURS – 2nd posting
The VT IP, Inc. is holding weekly office hours in the university library for any students who have questions about IP and commercialization; developing and protecting intellectual property;  navigating the technology transfer process; refining your business strategy for rapid growth; tapping into other entrepreneurial resources; building and financing a startup company. Hours are Wed & Thu 1:00 – 5:00pm in Port: Digital Research Commons, Room 3320 Torgersen Hall; Fri 9:00am–12:00pm at VTIP’s CRC office, 2200 Kraft Drive, Suite 1050. Walk-ins are welcome, or schedule an appointment at vtip.appointy.com to guarantee your time slot.

7. PROVIDE FEEDBACK ABOUT INCLUSIVE-VT INITIATIVES – 2nd posting
Grad students are invited to provide feedback and comments about the InclusiveVT initiatives and efforts.  Your input is valuable.  To provide feedback, go to www.inclusive.vt.edu where you can view a summary report of the initiatives and progress made.  The title of the document is 2014-2015 Initiatives and Progress report. Please provide any feedback by Jun 2 at    https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6W53WBiAiMXSCC9.

8. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR VIRTUAL REALITY STUDY – 1st posting
Researchers from the 3D Interaction Group are recruiting participants to help in a study regarding VR display systems. You will be asked to answer a few questions after looking into the tracheal system of a beetle on either a four-sided CAVE or a head mounted display (HMD). The study takes around 75m and you must be over 18 and have no knowledge of biomechanics to participate. Please email Wallace Lages at wlages@vt.edu if you are interested.

9. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR VISUALIZATION USER STUDY – 2nd posting
Participants are needed for a study analyzing high-dimensional data through interaction.  Participants will be asked to analyze a dataset about animals using a tool developed by researchers who are interested in how the tool supports the analytical process and aids in finding interesting insights about the data.  Participation in the study is about one hour in Torgersen 3160; compensation is $10. Visit the calendar at https://www.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUE3N0NUcTJtX1l5fGRlZmF1bHR8MmRlYzA2ZTQyNGM5OWFhNzY3MzQ5MDdiMTlkNTI5YTE to sign up for a session. Appointments have been scheduled for the next few weeks. If you do not find a time that suits, please contact jzself@vt.edu. If you were/are enrolled in any of the following courses (CS 6724 Visual Analytics in Fall 2013; CS 5764 Information Visualization in Fall 2014; CMDA/CS/STAT 3654 Intro to Data Analytics and Visualization in Spring 2015), or are under 18 years of age, you are not eligible for the study. If you took the course in a different semester or are taking the course in the future, you are still eligible! Please contact Jessica Zeitz Self (jzself@vt.edu) with questions.

10. MOTHERS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON STRESS MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHY EATING – 3rd  posting
Participation in this study involves attending four weekly meetings lasting 1.5 hours, a focus group, and a phone interview four weeks later. Participants will be asked to fill out surveys about their eating behavior and experience of stress at the beginning and end of the study, along with saliva samples and body measurements. The weekly sessions will focus on managing stress, slowing down, and healthy food. The focus group and interview will help researchers learn more about your experience in the program. Eligibility requirements: must be a mother 18 or older with a child 5 years or younger living in your home; not currently pregnant or breastfeeding; not participating in a weight loss program or diet. Participants will receive $10-85 based on level of participation. Date and time of program will be determined upon convenience for majority of participants. For more info contact Lauren by calling/texting (540)808.5358 or emailing slowdownvt@gmail.com.

11. 9-15-YEAR-OLD PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY – 3rd posting (note modified age requirements)
The Third Lab at Virginia Tech is interested in 9-15 year-olds, their friendships, communities, and whether and how they listen to music. Researchers are conducting a study, and may publish the results. Participating 9-15 year-olds will be asked to complete a short (5-10 minute) questionnaire each day for 14 days. Please email Michael Stewart at tgm@vt.edu to express interest, get more information or enroll your child in this 14-day study. Participants will be compensated. Your child’s participation is voluntary and confidential.

1.  WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – break schedule; updated 5/18

• Career Services advising: on hiatus until fall
• Cook Counseling: Fridays 1:00-5:00pm in the summer, starting 5/29, Green Room 
• GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursday, Reading Room – continues through summer
• Graduate School summer hours May 18-Jul 31: 9:00am-4:00pm
• Writing assistance: on hiatus until fall

2. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, May 21, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room or side patio
The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. If it’s sunny and not too warm, we might be on the side-patio (near Bookstore side entrance behind the shrubs).

3. VT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC. OFFICE HOURS – 1st posting
The VT IP, Inc. is holding weekly office hours in the university library for any students who have questions about IP and commercialization; developing and protecting intellectual property;  navigating the technology transfer process; refining your business strategy for rapid growth; tapping into other entrepreneurial resources; building and financing a startup company. Hours are Wed & Thu 1:00 – 5:00pm in Port: Digital Research Commons, Room 3320 Torgersen Hall; Fri 9:00am–12:00pm at VTIP’s CRC office, 2200 Kraft Drive, Suite 1050. Walk-ins are welcome, or schedule an appointment at vtip.appointy.com to guarantee your time slot.

4. PROVIDE FEEDBACK ABOUT INCLUSIVE-VT INITIATIVES – 1st posting
Grad students are invited to provide feedback and comments about the InclusiveVT initiatives and efforts.  Your input is valuable.  To provide feedback, go to www.inclusive.vt.edu where you can view a summary report of the initiatives and progress made.  The title of the document is 2014-2015 Initiatives and Progress report. Please provide any feedback by Jun 2 at  https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6W53WBiAiMXSCC9.

5. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CISO BOARD MEMBERSHIP – 2nd posting
Nominations are accepted until May 15 for Council of International Student Organizations (CISO) Board Members. CISO represents and promotes international student organizations and their interest both individually and collectively; serves as a liaison between the intl student organizations and the university administration, campus organizations, wider university, and the Blacksburg community; provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and dissemination of information; coordinates collective activities of the international community; supports the integration of international students within the university campus. Apply/nominate at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1430519274240. To be eligible, a candidate must be one of the following: A student in one of CISO’s member organizations and/or a non-immigrant student visa holder, in good academic standing who will be enrolled for the full-time for the 2015-16 academic year. Self nominations accepted. Open offices: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Event Coordinator, Public Relations Officer and Webmaster. Nominees will be contacted at the conclusion of the nominating period and asked to participate in the ballot by offering a written statement of their candidacy. For more info contact Lyndsy Manz, ljmanz@vt.edu.

6. HOKIES FOR NEPAL EARTHQUAKE FUNDRAISING – 3rd posting
The VT Nepalese Student Association invites you to join their fundraising efforts in response to the recent earthquake that killed more than 7000 people and injured over 13,000. Millions of affected people are in dire need of food, medical supplies and shelter. Learn more about the effort and/or donate at http://www.nepal.org.vt.edu/nepalearthquake2015/.

7. GA POSITION FOR 2015-16 IN DIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (DDI) – 1st posting
The DDI is searching for an experienced trainer to fill a ten-month graduate assistant position and serve as a member of the Diversity Education and Training team, participating in the planning, delivery, and assessment of diversity-focused professional development programming for VT faculty and staff. Specific responsibilities include: serving as a Principles of Community trainer; administering DDI assessments, including building course evaluations in Qualtrics, distributing evaluations, summarizing evaluation data, and sharing results; extending diversity education materials to broader audiences, including adapting presentations and maintaining Scholar sites and learning modules. Inquiries and applications may be directed to: Michele C. Deramo, 231-8596 or deramo@vt.edu.

8. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR VISUALIZATION USER STUDY – 1st posting
Participants are needed for a study analyzing high-dimensional data through interaction.  Participants will be asked to analyze a dataset about animals using a tool developed by researchers who are interested in how the tool supports the analytical process and aids in finding interesting insights about the data.  Participation in the study is about one hour in Torgersen 3160; compensation is $10. Visit the calendar at https://www.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUE3N0NUcTJtX1l5fGRlZmF1bHR8MmRlYzA2ZTQyNGM5OWFhNzY3MzQ5MDdiMTlkNTI5YTE to sign up for a session. Appointments have been scheduled for the next few weeks. If you do not find a time that suits, please contact jzself@vt.edu. If you were/are enrolled in any of the following courses (CS 6724 Visual Analytics in Fall 2013; CS 5764 Information Visualization in Fall 2014; CMDA/CS/STAT 3654 Intro to Data Analytics and Visualization in Spring 2015), or are under 18 years of age, you are not eligible for the study. If you took the course in a different semester or are taking the course in the future, you are still eligible! Please contact Jessica Zeitz Self (jzself@vt.edu) with questions.

9. MOTHERS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON STRESS MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHY EATING – 2nd posting
Participation in this study involves attending four weekly meetings lasting 1.5 hours, a focus group, and a phone interview four weeks later. Participants will be asked to fill out surveys about their eating behavior and experience of stress at the beginning and end of the study, along with saliva samples and body measurements. The weekly sessions will focus on managing stress, slowing down, and healthy food. The focus group and interview will help researchers learn more about your experience in the program. Eligibility requirements: must be a mother 18 or older with a child 5 years or younger living in your home; not currently pregnant or breastfeeding; not participating in a weight loss program or diet. Participants will receive $10-85 based on level of participation. Date and time of program will be determined upon convenience for majority of participants. For more info contact Lauren by calling/texting (540)808.5358 or emailing slowdownvt@gmail.com.

10. 10-15-YEAR-OLD PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY – 2nd posting
The Third Lab at Virginia Tech is interested in 10-15 year-olds, their friendships, communities, and whether and how they listen to music. Researchers are conducting a study, and may publish the results. Participating 10-15 year-olds will be asked to complete a short (5-10 minute) questionnaire each day for 14 days. Please email Michael Stewart at tgm@vt.edu to express interest, get more information or enroll your child in our 14-day study. Participants will be compensated. Your child’s participation is voluntary and confidential.

1.  WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – break schedule; updated 5/11

• Career Services advising: on hiatus until fall
• Cook Counseling: Thursdays and Fridays 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room 
• GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursday, Reading Room – continues through summer
• Graduate School summer hours May 18-Jul 31: 9:00am-4:00pm
• Writing assistance: on hiatus until fall

2. SNACKS & CHATS PICNIC
Wednesday, May 13, 12:00-1:00pm, Grassy lawn adjacent to Harper Hall
The Cranwell International Center invites all international graduate students to take a break for some snacks and chats!  There will be a picnic-style celebration outside of Cranwell International Center at Harper Hall, complete with free food and lawn games. Celebrate the end of the school year with international friends and say goodbye to those who will be leaving Blacksburg. For more info contact Lyndsy Manz, ljmanz@vt.edu.

3. GLC CAFÉ: END OF SEMESTER SPECIAL!
Thursday, May 14, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room side patio
The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. To celebrate the end of the semester, there will be sweet and savory refreshments and fresh lemonade in addition to the usual coffee, tea and cookies. If it’s sunny, we might be on the side-patio (near Bookstore side entrance behind the shrubs).

4. GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Friday, May 15, 12:00pm, Cassell Coliseum
The Graduate School invites all graduating graduate students and their families to its spring commencement ceremony. The event will be streamed live on VT’s website. Doctoral candidates and their hooding professors should report to the Spring Road side of Cassell Coliseum to check in between 10:30-11:30am. Master’s, education specialist, and certificate candidates who are eligible to participate in Commencement should report to Cassell Coliseum between 10:30-11:30am and follow the signage to the check-in location in Gym 213. Lear more about commencement ceremonies at http://www.vt.edu/commencement/.

5. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CISO BOARD MEMBERSHIP – 1st posting
Nominations are accepted until May 15 for Council of International Student Organizations (CISO) Board Members. CISO represents and promotes international student organizations and their interest both individually and collectively; serves as a liaison between the intl student organizations and the university administration, campus organizations, wider university, and the Blacksburg community; provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and dissemination of information; coordinates collective activities of the international community; supports the integration of international students within the university campus. Apply/nominate at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1430519274240. To be eligible, a candidate must be one of the following: A student in one of CISO’s member organizations and/or a non-immigrant student visa holder, in good academic standing who will be enrolled for the full-time for the 2015-16 academic year. Self nominations accepted. Open offices: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Event Coordinator, Public Relations Officer and Webmaster. Nominees will be contacted at the conclusion of the nominating period and asked to participate in the ballot by offering a written statement of their candidacy. For more info contact Lyndsy Manz, ljmanz@vt.edu.

6. HOKIES FOR NEPAL EARTHQUAKE FUNDRAISING – 2nd posting
The VT Nepalese Student Association invites you to join their fundraising efforts in response to the recent earthquake that killed more than 7000 people and injured over 13,000. Millions of affected people are in dire need of food, medical supplies and shelter. Learn more about the effort and/or donate at http://www.nepal.org.vt.edu/nepalearthquake2015/.

7. GRADUATE SCHOOL SUMMER HOURS
Starting Monday, May 18, the Graduate School’s student service area (120 Graduate Life Center) will be open Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm. Summer hours are in effect until Friday, Jul 31.

8. GRAD ASSISTANTSHIP OPENING IN LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN IN TLOS – 3rd posting
Learning Experience Design (LED), a unit of Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) is seeking a Graduate Assistant to help design and develop media-rich, high quality courses that incorporate active learning through technology. The GA will serve as part of a team of instructional designers, instructional support specialists, graphic and media designers, etc. who work with faculty to design and develop content, learning activities and assessments for online, hybrid, flipped, traditional and multi-modal classrooms both on campus and for distance learning. Must have a strong background in instructional design, educational media or related field and have experience working with faculty to complete projects. Experience teaching in higher education is not required but is preferred. If interested, email Dr. Lujean Baab at laab@vt.edu to respond with an indication of why you would like to join the LED team, the skills and experience you could contribute, etc. and attach a current resume/CV.  

9. MOTHERS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON STRESS MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHY EATING – 1st posting
Participation in this study involves attending four weekly meetings lasting 1.5 hours, a focus group, and a phone interview four weeks later. Participants will be asked to fill out surveys about their eating behavior and experience of stress at the beginning and end of the study, along with saliva samples and body measurements. The weekly sessions will focus on managing stress, slowing down, and healthy food. The focus group and interview will help researchers learn more about your experience in the program. Eligibility requirements: must be a mother 18 or older with a child 5 years or younger living in your home; not currently pregnant or breastfeeding; not participating in a weight loss program or diet. Participants will receive $10-85 based on level of participation. Date and time of program will be determined upon convenience for majority of participants. For more info contact Lauren by calling/texting (540)808.5358 or emailing slowdownvt@gmail.com.

10. 10-15-YEAR-OLD PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY – 1st posting
The Third Lab at Virginia Tech is interested in 10-15 year-olds, their friendships, communities, and whether and how they listen to music. Researchers are conducting a study, and may publish the results. Participating 10-15 year-olds will be asked to complete a short (5-10 minute) questionnaire each day for 14 days. Please email Michael Stewart at tgm@vt.edu to express interest, get more information or enroll your child in our 14-day study. Participants will be compensated. Your child’s participation is voluntary and confidential.

11. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR ETD-PLUS PROJECT – 3rd posting
VT grad students are invited to participate in the nationwide ETDplus (http://educopia.org/etd) project in collaboration with the Educopia Institute and University of North Texas, Purdue, Univ of North Carolina, Univ of Louisville, Carnegie Mellon Univ, UT Knoxville, Oregon State Univ, Penn State, Morehouse School of Medicine Libraries, and Indiana State Univ. Participation is voluntary; all responses will be confidential. Aggregated results will only be shared with parties in a manner that will not personally identify you or Virginia Tech. All participants must be at least 18 years old. The ETDplus project is creating tools, workshops, and documentation to better prepare universities to manage theses and dissertations and their supplementary materials. The survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete. Take the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WRZ35H6. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Gail McMillan at gailmac@vt.edu or (540) 231-9252, or Nick Krabbenhoeft at nick@educopia.org or (917) 409-7907.

12. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR MAP-COLORING STUDY – 3rd posting
Want to help developing more intuitive map coloring? Participants are sought for a study that evaluates color use in map reading, which will be used to choose the best locations farmers can plant their crops. In each trial you will be presented with a colored map, all of which show soil types but differ in how they show the amount of available water. Each map has two candidate areas of land; you will be asked to choose which area has more water and therefore is more suitable for planting. If you are 18 years or older and interested in participating, take the survey using your personal computer: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3PMWmeJXM08Vh3v. The session will last approximately 30 minutes. Upon submitting a complete survey, your email will be entered in a random drawing for five $20 VT gift cards. For more information, contact Ayat Mohammed at maaayat@vt.edu.

1.  WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – many end when classes end!

• Career Services advising: Wednesdays 2:00-5:00pm, GLC lobby
• Cook Counseling: Thursdays and Fridays 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room 
• GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursday, Reading Room
• Statistical consulting by LISA: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 10:00am-12:00pm, Room A
• Writing assistance: Thursdays 5:00-8:00pm, Room A

2. THESIS/DISSERTATION-WRITING SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesdays bi-weekly, May 4, 12:00-1:30pm, GLC Room D
Do you need some support with staying on track with your writing? Share some of your experiences with fellow grad students who are going through the same process and take advantage of a safe place to decompress from the stress of your thesis/dissertation. Join this dissertation support group and see how it may support your progress. Bring your own lunch!  Contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu for more information.

3. PIZZA AND MOVIE: LOVE IS A VERB
Tuesday, May 5, 5:30pm, Brush Mountain A in Squires Student Center
The Intercultural Understanding Club (ICUC) invites you to watch this award-winning film by Terry Spencer Hesser. It is a 55-minutes documentary about Sufi-inspired social movement (Hizmet) that began in Turkey. This is a great oppportunity to clear your mind and socialize before the finals. Arrive early to enjoy free pizza, first-come first served. More info about the event: http://www.icuc.org.vt.edu/pizza-movie-love-is-a-verb/. Contact ICUC for any question: icuc.vt@gmail.com.

4. INCLUSIVE-VT STUDENT FORUM
Wednesday, May 6, 5:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
President Timothy D. Sands would like to hear from you! What should the President’s Inclusion and Diversity Executive Council be considering for new InclusiveVT initiatives? What’s already working well? What will success look like? Learn more about this event at http://www.inclusive.vt.edu/. Please register at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8f9qR8NAxNETZ1X if you plan to attend, so organizers can plan appropriately. If you have questions, email to inclusivevt@vt.edu.

5. GLC CAFÉ: READING DAY SPECIAL – CUBICLE-FARM TIRAMISU!
Thursday, May 7, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. To celebrate Reading Day, we are bringing the cubicle-farm tiramisu back! If it’s sunny, we might be on the side-patio (near Bookstore side entrance behind the shrubs). Bring your own mug if you can.

6. HOKIES FOR NEPAL EARTHQUAKE FUNDRAISING – 1st posting
The VT Nepalese Student Association invites you to join their fundraising efforts in response to the recent earthquake that killed more than 7000 people and injured over 13,000. Millions of affected people are in dire need of food, medical supplies and shelter. Learn more about the effort and/or donate at http://www.nepal.org.vt.edu/nepalearthquake2015/.

7. GRAD ASSISTANTSHIP OPENING IN LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN IN TLOS – 2nd posting
Learning Experience Design (LED), a unit of Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) is seeking a Graduate Assistant to help design and develop media-rich, high quality courses that incorporate active learning through technology. The GA will serve as part of a team of instructional designers, instructional support specialists, graphic and media designers, etc. who work with faculty to design and develop content, learning activities and assessments for online, hybrid, flipped, traditional and multi-modal classrooms both on campus and for distance learning. Must have a strong background in instructional design, educational media or related field and have experience working with faculty to complete projects. Experience teaching in higher education is not required but is preferred. If interested, email Dr. Lujean Baab at laab@vt.edu to respond with an indication of why you would like to join the LED team, the skills and experience you could contribute, etc. and attach a current resume/CV.  

8. GRA OPENING FOR GIS WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPER FOR 2015-16 – 2nd posting
The Enterprise GIS and Blacksburg Electronic Village units of VT’s central IT seek a highly-motivated graduate student with programming, GIS and web design skills to develop GIS-related web applications as assigned in a technical team environment, using an evolving set of best-practice tools, libraries and techniques. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing web mapping applications that interface with IT’s GIS server infrastructure, performing mapping and analysis tasks and supporting high-visibility mapping initiatives. Required experience: Web application programming: HTML, CSS, JavaScript. Other relevant experience in descending order of preference:      Working in a distributed team environment; Tools and APIs related to the ESRI ArcGIS platform; REST/SOAP Services-Oriented Architecture; JavaScript libraries, especially Dojo; Bootstrap and mobile-first design principles; Revision control, especially git; ESRI GIS software, including ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Online; Python; Open-source GIS server tools (e.g., GeoServer, PostGIS, Geoportal Server); Security, safety and/or facilities management application domains; SQL ( MySQL/ PostgreSQL /Oracle); PHP. Candidates with a subset of the preferred skill set that can demonstrate web application development proficiency and a willingness to learn the geospatial aspects of the work are encouraged to apply. This is a full-time, 12-m GRA (20 hr/wk) Aug 2015-Aug 2016. Renewal beyond that is contingent on funding availability, continued interest of the student, and the supervisors’ assessment of student’s performance. If interested, submit a current resume and cover letter explaining interest in and qualification for the position as soon as possible to egisjobs@bev.net. Position will remain open until filled.

9. SUMMER GA OPENING IN ADVANCED RESEARCH COMPUTING – 3rd posting
Advanced Research Computing ( www.arc.vt.edu ) has an open graduate research assistant position for user support / help desk in support of High Performance Computing resources. The position begins Summer 2015. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in research projects undertaken within ARC. The GRA is responsible for holding weekly office hours for user support and questions regarding HPc resources, handling and resolving trouble tickets via the ARC website, and building and optimizing software modules on ARC’s clusters.  More information can be found at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/sites/default/files/u12/GA-ARC.pdf  . If interested, please send a resume to Brian Marshall at mimarsh2@vt.edu.

10. GA OPENING FOR THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: WEB CONTENT/DESIGN ASSISTANT – 3rd posting
Apex Systems Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is looking for a dynamic, self-motivated individual with experience and skills in web content management, writing and editing for the web, graphic design and site management for the 2015-2016 academic year. The web content/design assistant will provide support for maintaining the CIE’s digital presence. In addition to copywriting, editing, and proofreading site content, this person will also work closely with staff and communications team to maintain site standards, craft site promotions, email newsletters, and online outreach campaigns. Tasks require a strong attention to detail and ability to work under tight deadlines. Deadline is June 1, 2015. More details and contact info can be found at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/sites/default/files/u12/GA_Center_for_Innovation_Entrepreneurship.pdf

11. GA OPENING FOR THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: GRANT WRITER– 3rd posting
Apex Systems Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has a GA opening for a grant writer for the 2015-2016 academic year.  Under general direction, the GA will facilitate research, development, review, and edit departmental and/or institutional grant proposals; conduct basic research for potential funding sources and maintain databases and support faculty and administration in developing proposals. Deadline is June 1, 2015. More details and contact info can be found at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/sites/default/files/u12/GA%20Description-%20GrantWriter.pdf.

12. GA OPENING FOR THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: INNOVATE LLC– 3rd posting
The Graduate Assistant for the Apex Systems Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship position maintains, monitors, and assists with programming for the Innovate Living Learning Community (LLC). The Innovate LLC has been established to provide distinctive settings where student academic success is supported through residential experiences and programs. Innovate brings academics into the residence halls through on-site classes, advising and referral services, mentors, tutors, and special opportunities to work with faculty. The Innovate living-learning community brings together a diverse group of committed and driven students into a high-energy learning environment.  Innovate will provide an opportunity for students to gain insights into the entrepreneurial process, interact with successful entrepreneurs, and learn from Virginia Tech faculty and community partners with expertise in areas related to developing an entrepreneurial mindset. The Living-Learning Communities range from first-year experiences and academic disciplines to a second, third and fourth year experience. The individual(s) in this position report directly to the Executive Director of the Apex Center while maintaining a strong working relationship with the Residence Life Coordinator of the residence hall in which the individual is assigned. Deadline is May 7, 2015. More details and contact information can be found at: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/sites/default/files/u12/GA%20Description-%20Innovate%20LLC.pdf

13. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR ETD-PLUS PROJECT – 2nd posting
VT grad students are invited to participate in the nationwide ETDplus (http://educopia.org/etd) project in collaboration with the Educopia Institute and University of North Texas, Purdue, Univ of North Carolina, Univ of Louisville, Carnegie Mellon Univ, UT Knoxville, Oregon State Univ, Penn State, Morehouse School of Medicine Libraries, and Indiana State Univ. Participation is voluntary; all responses will be confidential. Aggregated results will only be shared with parties in a manner that will not personally identify you or Virginia Tech. All participants must be at least 18 years old. The ETDplus project is creating tools, workshops, and documentation to better prepare universities to manage theses and dissertations and their supplementary materials. The survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete. Take the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WRZ35H6. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Gail McMillan at gailmac@vt.edu or (540) 231-9252, or Nick Krabbenhoeft at nick@educopia.org or (917) 409-7907.

14. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR MAP-COLORING STUDY – 2nd posting
Want to help developing more intuitive map coloring? Participants are sought for a study that evaluates color use in map reading, which will be used to choose the best locations farmers can plant their crops. In each trial you will be presented with a colored map, all of which show soil types but differ in how they show the amount of available water. Each map has two candidate areas of land; you will be asked to choose which area has more water and therefore is more suitable for planting. If you are 18 years or older and interested in participating, take the survey using your personal computer: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3PMWmeJXM08Vh3v. The session will last approximately 30 minutes. Upon submitting a complete survey, your email will be entered in a random drawing for five $20 VT gift cards. For more information, contact Ayat Mohammed at maaayat@vt.edu.

15. U.S. & INTL STUDENT PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR OPEN-ACCESS SURVEY – 3rd posting
The open access movement is an international effort regarding the free access to academic publishing. As such, researchers are interested in attitudes and opinions of international audiences, including international students in the U.S.  Graduate students, both international and U.S. citizen, are invited to participate in this survey about the open access movement and share their attitudes and opinions about this important research topic. Access the survey at bit.ly/OA_COMM. The survey results will be used for a graduate student paper on open access, which will be available to participants at the end of the academic semester if they are interested in the results.

16. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR WINE CONSUMER PREFERENCE TEST – 3rd posting
Participants 21 and over are invited to participate in a consumer preference test of Cabernet franc and Petit verdot wines as part of a Ph.D. project.  The testing will be on Tuesday, May 5 (Cabernet franc) and Wednesday, May 6 (Petit Verdot), anytime between 9am and 5pm at the Human Agricultural Biosciences Building, room 205 HABB1.  Each test will take approximately 15-20 minutes and participants are asked to attend both days.  Please bring identification to verify age.  Participants must not have any known allergies to alcohol, sulfites, or any other compound in wine and it is required that you are a consumer of red wine at least once a week. Please contact Cain Hickey at can1@vt.edu to rsvp or if you have questions.

17. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR CAMPUS REPORTING SURVEY – 3rd posting
Jonathan Waldron, M.S., and Susan White, PhD, of the Department of Psychology and Amie Schry, Ph.D., of the Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center are recruiting participants for the “Campus Reporting Survey.” All Virginia Tech faculty and staff members, including administrative staff and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs), are invited to complete an on-line survey asking about thoughts on hypothetical situations related to reporting sexual harassment incidents to university administrators. Graduate students who are not currently teaching classes are not eligible for the study. The survey will be open until May 6th, the last day of classes. The survey is estimated to take 10-15 minutes to complete, and all data will be anonymous. This study has been approved by the VT IRB (Protocol #: 13-078). To complete the survey, please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CampusReporting_Faculty. If you have any questions, please contact Jonathan Waldron at jwaldron22@vt.edu.