1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC
- Career advising (walk in, no appointment needed): Wednesdays 2:00-5:00pm, GLC Lobby
- Cook Counseling (walk in, no appointment needed): Thursdays and Fridays 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room
- GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursdays, Reading Room
- Statistical consulting by LISA: Weekdays, 1:00-3:00pm, GLC Videoconference Room; find out each consultant’s software expertise>>
- Writing Center support for grads: Thursdays 4:00-6:00pm, GLC Videoconference Room (additional hours are available in the Library)
2. REFLECTIONS ON ROADS LESS TRAVELLED: PANEL DISCUSSION ON STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES
Monday, Feb 11, 7:00–9:00pm, Commonwealth Ballroom, Squires Student Center
Graduate students interested in learning more about funding international research are welcome to this panel discussion featuring Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society scholarship winners. Back from their recent travels, the panelists will share experiences and lessons learned while abroad. Dr. Tom Hammett, past winner of the Alumni Award for Excellence in International Education, will moderate the discussion. More information about the scholarships and the organization is available on the website.
3. GRADUATION FAIR HOSTED BY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Wednesday, Feb 13, 11:30am-7:30pm, Holtzman Alumni Center
Get all your graduation needs at this graduation fair: caps and gowns, diploma frames, graduation announcements, and more at a one-stop shopping event. Take a tour of the beautiful Holtzman Alumni Center and learn about all the programs and services that the Virginia Tech Alumni Association has to offer.
4. INTERVARSITY GRADUATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Wednesdays, 6:30pm, GLC Room B
InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship meets weekly for a free dinner and interactive Bible discussion. All graduate students are welcome! Learn more at http://www.gcf.org.vt.edu.
5. VIRTUAL GLC CAFÉ SERIES: PREPARING FOR YOUR FINAL DEFENSE… THE PROPER STEPS
Thursday, Feb 14, 12:00-2:00pm, Lobby of vGLC
Join the Graduate School staff weekly for online chats in the Virtual Graduate Life Center (vGLC). This week’s topic: Preparing for your Final Defense…What are the Proper Steps. Get into the vGLC lobby. Using avatars they have created, visitors to the vGLC can currently visit with Graduate-School staff about general academic questions; find Grad-School forms and policy information; consult with the Graduate Student Ombudsperson; attend virtual seminars and workshops; socialize with other vGLC visitors; and explore the vGLC space, which mirrors the real-world Graduate Life Center on the Blacksburg campus. Download the software at http://openlife01.cc.vt.edu:9500/wifi. If you have questions or suggestions, please email Jodi Cromer (jodilynn@vt.edu) or Marija Telbis-Forster (mtelbisf@vt.edu).
6. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, Feb 14, 3:30-5:00pm, Graduate School Lobby
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. Forget Valentine’s Day! Have some coffee or tea!
7. KIDS’ NIGHT OUT – FREE CHILDCARE ON THU NIGHTS
Thursdays, 6:00-8:30pm, VT Women’s Center 206 Washington Street
A free weekly drop-in evening child care program for kids. Need a break? Have to study or attend a lecture? Want to catch up on work? If you are a VT student with children, bring your kids aged 2-12. No need to pre-register. Childcare provided by the women of Chi Delta Alpha sorority. KNO will be held every Thursday throughout the semester except when classes are not in session. Please note that if no children have shown, volunteers will sometimes leave by 6:30.) For more information, contact Jessie Meltsner at jmelts@vt.edu.
8. GET TO KNOW FULBRIGHT STUDENTS, SCHOLARS AND FRIENDS AT VT
Thursday, Feb 14, 6:00pm, The Cellar
Get to know fellow Fulbright students, scholars and friends at Virginia Tech and enjoy a couple of hours of conversation in a multicultural and diverse group. This is the first get together this semester. Please RSVP here. Contact Tobias (ecker@vt.edu, (202)870-9722) for questions and comments.
9. BLUE RIDGE WORKSHOP @ SOLITUDE
Fridays, 3:00-4:00pm, Solitude of Virginia Tech
Creative and literary workshop with graduate student, teacher and poet T. Byron Kelly. Email contact tbyron@vt.edu for more information.
10. SUBMISSIONS ARE INVITED FOR GLC ART, PHOTO AND WRITING CONTEST – 1st posting
The Graduate School invites submissions of art work, photography and written work by graduate students for display in the GLC during Graduate Education Week 2013 (March 25-29) and beyond. Submissions are limited to three pieces (art, photography, or written work) per graduate student. Submission deadline: Wednesday, March 20 5:00pm. Learn more>>. Contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu with any questions.
11. WANT TO BE A MENTOR, BUT DON’T HAVE TIME?
Any day, any time, any location—as convenient for you! Join the GUMP Grads-on-Demand program, and mentor undergrads only when you have time. Email gump@vt.edu with your name, degree program (MA, MSc, PhD, etc.), department, expected graduation date (roughly), and preferred email address. Your info will be added to a list of graduate student volunteers at the GUMP website (see http://www.gsa.graduateschool.vt.edu/governance/cabinet/committees/gsa-gump-committee). Whenever an undergraduate student wants to ask some questions about graduate school in your discipline, we’ll refer him/her to the list online, and s/he’ll contact you directly. Schedule one meeting that fits your schedule, or multiple meetings if you’d like. (Or just tell the undergrad, “Sorry, I’m really swamped right now,” and hope you have more time for the next one!) Help by email, phone, Skype, over coffee, in your lab… It’s up to you. It’s a huge help to undergrads considering grad school and it makes for great university service on a CV.
12. PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE JOURNAL LATEST ISSUE IS AVAILABLE NOW
Public Knowledge Journal is pleased to announce the publication of Issue 4.2 on Intervention. View the newest issue, featuring a number of contributions from members of the Virginia Tech community, including VT graduate students Brendan Halloran, Stefanie Georgakis, Quentin Stoeffler, and Sabrina Provencher, as well as an introductory essay by Dr. Max Stephenson.
13. TEACHING AND RESEARCH ACTION PHOTOS WANTED!
The Graduate School wants your teaching and research in action photos. One of the highlights of the fall and spring graduate commencement ceremony includes a presentation by Dean Karen DePauw called "Images and Reflections," which is projected on the Coliseum video board. The Graduate School wants to update its photo library and hope that you can share your digital photos in which you are engaged in some type of academic endeavor – teaching, tutoring, performing research, giving a workshop, attending a conference or professional society meeting, or any aspect that relates to your life as a graduate student. Please send digital photos to grads@vt.edu.
14. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE JOURNAL
For its fifth anniversary issue, PKJ welcomes contributions from graduate student scholars that address the topic of resilience in its myriad forms. Submissions that critically engage with and creatively examine this topic are encouraged. Details>>. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to: Resilience of the body, mind, and/or spirit; resilience of a culture, religion, or society; Resilience of a nation or people; Resilience of materials and/or resources; Resilience of systems or structures (e.g., ecosystems, economic systems).
15. WRITING SUPPORT RESOURCES
Need extra writing support? Sign up for a writing coach/partner through the Writing Center. Your coach will meet with you on a weekly basis to help you improve your writing skills. And it’s free! If you are interested, contact the Writing Center at 540/231-5436 or stop by the center on the second floor of Newman Library.
16. INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR GRADS
The Office of International Research, Education, and Development (OIRED) offers a Graduate Certificate in International Research. The program encourages a multidisciplinary approach for students already working towards a graduate degree to attain special recognition for their work on international issues. Participants must take three 5000-level courses from an approved list, with one course being outside the applicant’s department and one outside the college. The deadline to apply for students graduating in May 2013 is Feb 11; other applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. More information>>, contact Betty Watts (bettyw@vt.edu; 231-6452).
17. AEL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED – 2nd posting
Alpha Epsilon Lambda (AEL) Graduate Honor Society, the only academic excellence and leadership honor society of graduate and professional school students, is now accepting applications for new members. Graduate students may become members based on their academic achievements and leadership experiences. Apply by no later than Feb 26 by 5 p.m. through http://www.ael.graduateschool.vt.edu/application-process/. For more information visit the AEL website or contact Shernita Lee, president of AEL, at shernita@vt.edu with any questions.
18. APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY HONOR SOCIETY – 3rd posting
Iota Delta Rho, the Interdisiplinary Research Honor Society at VT is accepting membership applications starting today, Monday Jan 28 through through Friday, Feb 15. There are two different levels of honor society membership: full and associate. Access the application package. Direct questions to Tammy Parece, Vice President of Membership, at tammyep@vt.edu.
19. GET INVOLVED IN NEW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY ORGANIZATION – 3rd posting
Are you interested in learning more about how science and engineering can influence and be influenced by policy decisions? Would you like the opportunity to experience policy-related activities such as going to Washington, DC to discuss issues in science and technology with members of Congress? If yes, please fill out the following short survey at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1358358073200 so that organizers may contact you about upcoming meetings and plan events that you want! Email Amanda Shea at ashea04@vt.edu with any questions.
20. FREE STATS ASSISTANCE FOR GRADS FROM LISA
Walk-in consulting services at the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis=LISA) begin on Jan 22 and will be available until May 8 Monday-Friday 1:00-3:00pm in the GLC Videoconference Room; additional times and locations available at www.lisa.stat.vt.edu. Statistical consultants answer quick questions and help with research projects requiring less than 30 minutes of assistance. For more in-depth questions or longer projects, complete the LISA Collaboration Request Form at www.lisa.stat.vt.edu and a team of statistical collaborators will be assigned to work with you. LISA also offers short courses on various topics:
Feb 12: Regression Analysis Using JMP;
Feb 18: Introduction to R, Part I;
Feb 19: Introduction to R, Part I;
Feb 25: Introduction to R, Part II;
Feb 26: Introduction to R, Part III;
Mar 5: How to make plots to tell the story of your data;
Mar 18: Data Mining Basics;
Mar 19: Data Mining Basics;
Mar 26: Classification and Regression Trees (CART);
21. GRADUATE RESIDENTIAL FELLOW SOUGHT FOR RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE – 1st posting
The Graduate Residential Fellow is a live-in position with primary responsibility for offering mentorship to students and facilitating the creation of a strong sense of community. The four live-in Graduate Residential Fellows will make an important contribution to the leadership of The Residential College at West Ambler Johnson (RC@WAJ). Read more about the position and the application process>>. Apply by Mar 1.
22. GTA PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT – 1st posting
Are you currently a graduate teaching assistant? If so, researchers want to hear from you through a survey they developed to better understand the experiences of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) with regard to motivation and identity. The survey should not take more than 20 minutes to complete, and participants will have the opportunity to be entered into a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. If you are interested in participating, please click here. Questions about this work should be directed to Rachel Louis Kajfez at rlouis@vt.edu.
23. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR METABOLISM STUDY -2nd posting
Volunteers are needed for a study examining how diet influences muscle metabolism. Participants must be: Between the ages of 18-40; not currently taking any medications; non-smokers; without any major medical problems; willing to eat a high fat diet for 4 weeks. You will receive extensive health information. You may receive up to $500 to compensate you for your time. If you meet the above requirements and are interested in participating in this research study, please contact John Pownall at the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory at Virginia Tech at (540) 231-8299, heartlab@vt.edu.
24. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY QUESTIONNAIRE—2nd posting
Subjects aged 18-25 are needed for a study investigating the quality of physical activity questionnaires. The study will take place in either the GLC or in the Integrated Life Science Building located at 1981 Kraft Drive and will take about 1-1.5 hours to complete across a span of two weeks; subjects will be paid $20 for their participation. In 3 separate meetings participants will be given short surveys to complete, and then wear an accelerometer for two weeks. People not meeting the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity are especially needed. If you are interested, please email your name and contact information to Edith Nault at enault1@vt.edu.
25. REVIEWERS NEEDED FOR GSA GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROPOSALS – 3rd posting
Join the Graduate Research Development Program (GRDP) Panel of Reviewers and learn more about the grant proposal writing and review process. GRDP provides graduate students from any department with an opportunity to apply for funding for their research projects. The application cycle is open once per semester and graduate students from all departments are needed to review these applications. No experience is necessary. If you are interested in joining the panel, please fill out this survey. For more information, contact Amanda Shea at ashea04@vt.edu.
26. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR BALANCE/GAIT STUDY – 3rd posting
Female subjects are needed for a study investigating balance and gait. The study will take place in Kevin P Granata Biomechanics Lab in 208 Norris Hall. The study will take about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, and subjects will be paid $20 for their participation. If you are interested, please email your name, age, height, and weight to biomechanics.esm@gmail.com. Overweight individuals are especially needed.
27. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT EMOTIONAL EVENTS – 3rd posting
Do you have a 3-5 year old child (pre-kindergarten)? If so, researchers would love to see you for a fun research study with two VT doctoral students who are interested in how you and your child talk about emotional events along with your child’s understanding of emotions and their language ability. The visit will take about an hour to complete and you will receive a $10 Target gift card for participating. Child care for brothers and sisters is available if needed. For more information, please email techkids@vt.edu or call 540-231-1390.
28. UPCOMING EVENTS:
IDR MARCH SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: DR. DENIS GRACANIN
Friday, February 22, 12-1pm in the GLC Meeting Room F
Iota Delta Rho, the Interdisciplinary Research Honor Society presents Dr. Denis Gracanin, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science. He will be discussing interdisciplinary experiences from the development of Virginia Tech’s award-winning smart and sustainable LumenHaus. His talk is entitled "Sustainable Built Environments: Empowering Users to Make Sustainable Energy Choices." Come enjoy a lively talk and complimentary lunch. If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Elvington, the Social Spotlight Series Chair, esavage@vt.edu.
ORIGAMI WORKSHOP FOR GRAD STUDENTS
Monday, Feb 25, 3:00pm, Room G
Learn some basics about the art of paper folding and walk away with a piece of art you craft yourself. Supplies are provided. Space is limited to the first 20 students who sign up. Please contact Marielly Ruiz at mzruiz@vt.edu to reserve a spot. Sponsored by the GLC Fellows.
GLC BOOK CLUB: CANDIDE BY VOLTAIRE
Wednesday, Feb 27, 5:30pm, GLC Au Bon Pain
All graduate students are welcome to join this book club. Read the next selection, Candide by Voltaire, and discuss this book at the next meeting. Please contact Emily Eskew at eceskew@vt.edu with any questions. Sponsored by GLC Fellows.