1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC
All weekly services are on hiatus for spring break, except GLC Café, which never stops
– GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursdays, Reading Room
2. SPRING BREAK PITY PARTY: LUNCH! – register by Monday, 3/11
Tuesday, Mar 12, 11:30am-1:00pm (or until the food lasts), GLC Multipurpose Room
You are not alone on campus during spring break! Join others who are working through spring break and enjoy a home-cooked lunch with vegetarian and meat soup options, brought to you by Graduate School staff who play cooks for a day. Please register by 3pm on Monday, 3/11 to give us an idea of how much food to prepare.
3. GLC CAFÉ – PIE DAY
Thursday, Mar 14, 3:30-5:00pm, Graduate School Lobby
The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea, maybe hot chocolate, and definitely cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. This week’s special: PIE! You don’t have to love numbers to love pi.
4. SIGN UP FOR GRAD ED WEEK DESIGN CONTEST!
Graduate student teams are invited to sign up for this light-hearted Graduate Education Week (GEW) activity to put their creativity and experience to test by designing a graduate life center using fun and random materials provided by the Graduate School. No prior design experience is necessary. Form your team of 3-4 people; at least one of whom must be a graduate student. Grand prize: $50 gift certificate to local restaurant. Teams must pre-register. Accepted registrations will be confirmed by email. Questions? Contact Tara at tara@vt.edu.
5. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT GRANT – 1st posting
VT Engage is accepting proposals for the John E. Dooley Student Engagement Grant (JEDSEG). This grant is looking to fund highly motivated students who plan to invest in their community by creating an opportunity for active civic engagement. Two awards of $750 each are available. For more information and to access the application materials, please visit www.engage.vt.edu or email Lauren Kennedy at kennedy0@vt.edu. Submit application by Mar 29, 5pm.
6. GSA TRAVEL FUND PROGRAM CYCLE II OPENS 3/25 – 1st posting
The Graduate Student Assembly strives to address the needs of VT graduate students. The GSA Travel Fund Program (TFP) is designed to meet some of these needs by providing graduate students financial assistance for presenting at conferences and scientific meetings, travel expenses, registration fees, lodging, meals, and other various expenses. The program also can be used to support international travel. The program is sponsored by the Graduate School and the Research Foundation of Virginia Tech. Master’s students are eligible for awards from $150-$350; doctoral students are eligible for awards from $200-500. Find out more>> .
7. 2013 GOVERNOR’S FELLOWS PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED NOW – 2nd posting
Governor McDonnell is encouraging top notch students from across Virginia to apply for the 2013 Governor’s Fellows summer program. The historic Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program offers a select group of outstanding and highly motivated individuals the opportunity to experience firsthand the administration of state government in the Commonwealth. Fellows will apply their creative ideas to find practical solutions to major public policy issues. Qualified applicants must be rising or graduating college seniors, or enrolled as degree candidates in a graduate or professional school. They must also demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skill, and a strong commitment to public service. Apply by: Mar 15, 2013 at http://1.usa.gov/ZeeDhm.
8. NSF INNOVATION CHALLENGE FOR STEM GRAD STUDENTS – 2nd posting
Have you ever thought of ways to improve STEM graduate education? Do you have a creative idea regarding graduate training? If so, NSF wants to hear from you! The National Science Foundation Innovation in Graduate Education Challenge is calling for entries from currently enrolled STEM graduate students and teams about ideas with the potential to improve graduate education and professional development. Ideas can be directed toward students, faculty, departments, institutions, professional societies, and/or federal agencies. Winning ideas will be shared widely and winners will receive prizes between $1000-3000. More information>>. Deadline: Apr 15.
9. GSA RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT – 2nd posting
The Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) for the Cure Team needs your contribution and help! The GSA is hoping this year to achieve more than its set goal of $1500. Last year with your help they raised a little over $2000. The Relay For Life of Virginia Tech event will be held on Apr 19, 2013. View and/or donate for the team>>. For more information/questions contact Shaimaa Abdallah, shaimaa@vt.edu GSA Team Captain 2012-2013.
10. GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – 3rd posting
The 29th Annual GSA Research Symposium will be held on Mar 27 as part of Graduate Education Week. All graduate students are invited to submit an abstract of their research for either an oral or poster presentation to compete in one of several categories matching the various areas of research within the university. Submission period: Mar 8-15 at 5:00pm. Abstracts will be reviewed by a panel of reviewers, and applicants with accepted abstracts will then be notified and will make their poster or oral presentation to faculty judges on Mar 27. Following the event, winners will be selected for each category and will be invited to the awards ceremony where prizes will be announced. Graduate students serving as abstract reviewers may not submit abstracts for competition in the symposium. Submit applications between Mar 8-15. For more information, please visit the symposium website or contact George Batten, Research Symposium Chair at gsaRSchair@gmail.com.
11. GA POSTION OPEN IN WOMEN AND GENDER IN INTL DEVELOPMENT PROG 2013-14 – 3rd posting
The Women and Gender in International Development (WGD) program is seeking a master’s student GAto support the WGD program, which ensures a gender-sensitive approach to all (OIRED) projects and raises awareness about gender and development issues at VT. The GA will also conduct field research. Applicants should have a background in geography, anthropology, sociology, agricultural economics, gender studies, or a related field. Experience in the developing world and proficiency in Spanish or French preferred. The GA begins fall 2013 for one academic year. Summer research and stipend may be covered. The position may be extended for a second year. Send cover letter, resume, example of disciplinary writing, and a copy of academic transcript (photocopy/PDF is acceptable) to Laura Zseleczky (lauraz@vt.edu). Use “WGD Graduate Assistant” in the subject heading of your email. We will contact only the most qualified applicants. Application deadline: March 31, 2013. More information about this position>>.
12. FACILITATORS SOUGHT FOR LEADERSHIP TECH – 1st posting
Leadership Tech is a multi-year, co-curricular development program designed to cultivate strong leadership skills in VT students. Participants are members of small groups facilitated by two students who demonstrate and are passionate about effective leadership. Graduate students are sought to serve as facilitators for the 2013-14 school year, to lead junior-level students in creating community engagement projects based on the theme areas of society & environmental sustainability, global social change, multicultural communities, and health and wellness. More information>>; for applications visit https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/form/start/19504. Contact Mitchell Holston at mah0020@vt.edu if you have any questions.
13. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR MATE SELECTION STUDY – 1st posting
Researchers are conducting an IRB-approved cross-cultural survey on how never-married heterosexual adults choose their future spouses. If you are a never-married heterosexual (self-identified) adult 18-39, a citizen and resident of either America or China, you are invited to complete this short survey. Your responses will be anonymous and you may participate in a lottery for two $50 and four $25 Amazon gift cards. If you wish to receive the survey summary and/or participate in the lottery, leave your email at the end of the survey. No response will be linked to an individual respondent. You may skip any item, not complete or withdraw from the survey at any time. The completion of the survey signifies your voluntary willingness to participate. Participate in this study. If you have any questions, contact Ruoxi Chen: ruoxic@vt.edu.
14. GTA’s AND GA’s WITH DISABILITY SOUGHT FOR STUDY – 2nd posting
A doctoral student in special education and disability studies at Syracuse University is seeking participants for an IRB-approved research study to better understand the experiences of teaching assistants and graduate assistants with disabilities in higher education. If you are a teaching assistant or graduate assistant with a disability and are willing to talk about your experiences, please contact the researcher. Your personal information will be kept confidential. The interview will take about one hour and disability accommodations or alternatives to speaking over the phone can be made. If you would like more information about this study, please contact Michelle Damiani at mldamian@syr.edu.
15. COUPLES SOUGHT FOR STUDY – 2nd posting
Couples, Talk and Technology: You are invited to participate in a study to investigate and explore how people talk about things that matter to them with their partners. Researchers ask you and your partner to talk about something you disagree about, in one of several technological conditions. Available 2-hour time slots are listed here: http://poet.cs.vt.edu/couple_study/ Simply email Samantha Yglesias at ygles07@vt.edu for more information, to request any of the available slots, or to request a different time slot. The study takes place in McBryde 106A. Participating couples will be compensated $20.00 per person (that’s $40.00 per couple).
16. UPCOMING EVENTS:
BLUE RIDGE FULBRIGHT CHAPTER SPRING MEETING – register by 3/18!
Friday, Mar 22, 6:30pm, Holiday Inn
The Blue Ridge Chapter of the Fulbright Association invites Fulbright Grantees and Alumni to its spring chapter meeting, Friday March 22, 2013, 6:30 pm at the Holiday Inn. The dinner event with speaker VT Professor Dr. Wokutsch is free for current Fulbright grantees. For registration or questions please email Dr. George Santopietro, gsantopi@radford.edu and Dr. Myrl Jones mjones@radford.edu.
CELEBRATE THE PERSIAN NEW YEAR: NOWRUZ – register now!
Saturday, Mar 23, 7:00-11:00pm, Owens Banquet Hall
The VT Iranian Society invites the VT community for its celebration of the Persian New Year, Nowruz, commemorating the arrival of spring and new beginnings. There will be entertainment including stand-up comedy, Persian and Middle Eastern dancing, and live classical and pop music. Plated dinner and dessert will also be served (Halal and Vegetarian options available). Learn more about Persian culture and enjoy a night with your Iranian neighbors. Semi-formal attire is suggested. Please visit http://www.iranian.org.vt.edu/ for updates and information on ticket sales.
IDR PRESENTS: ROLE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AS SEEN BY AEP RESEARCHER
Friday, Mar 29, 10:00-11:00am, GLC Room F
Iota Delta Rho, the Interdisciplinary Research Honor Society presents a March speaker spotlight on Dr. Laura E. Jackson, a biology researcher at the US Environmental Protection Agency who studies healthy communities. Dr. Jackson will be discussing the role of interdisciplinary research in the context of her study of the effect that land cover development has on the risk of Lyme disease incidence. Enjoy a lively talk and complimentary snacks. If you have any questions, contact Elizabeth Elvington, the IDR Social Spotlight Series Chair, esavage@vt.edu.