Feb. 26, 2024
Welcome to the Virginia Tech Graduate School’s D.C. Area weekly newsletter for graduate students. We share events, services, administrative announcements, and job opportunities.
The newsletter is published on Mondays. When the university is closed for a holiday on Monday, the newsletter will be emailed on Tuesday.
You’ll find posts under the following headings:
- This Week’s Events and Activities
- Administrative Announcements
- Job Opportunities
- External Funding Opportunities
- Upcoming Events
- Volunteers and research participants sought
- Ongoing Services
This Week’s Events and Activities
1. GSA KICKSTART EVENT
Monday, Feb. 26, 2:30-3:30 p.m. NVC Campus, Room 200, Falls Church
Join us for the GSA Kickstart Event this February, marking the beginning of an engaging and empowering year ahead for all Virginia Tech graduate students in the D.C. metropolitan area. This special occasion is dedicated to introducing you to the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA).
At this kickstart event, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the GSA’s objectives, upcoming events, and various ways you can get involved to make the most out of your graduate experience. It’s a great chance to meet the GSA team and connect with fellow graduate students. We’re spicing up the event with pizza, and fun and interactive games. Registration form: https://forms.office.com/r/6T09xbgR3i
GSA information can be found here:
https://virginiatech-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/umabhargavi_vt_edu/ETUqcfM1hV1FmwF-o_qhTfYBFJWgMDa7vZbLMcM_ha0f5g?e=Qv87lc
2. INTRODUCTION TO SCHOLARLY ONLINE PRESENCE
Monday, Feb. 26, 2:30-3:45 p.m., Virtual
LinkedIn, ORCID, ResearcherID, ResearchGate, Google Scholar Profile–how do you choose which sites you should create professional and scholarly profiles for? This interactive workshop provides an introduction to creating an online scholarly presence. Learn how to create and maintain your unique author identifier to ensure you get credit for your work, link your profiles together for ease of use, and track research impact metrics and online engagement of your research.
https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/11751379
3. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER WEEK EVENTS
Monday, Feb. 26, 3-7 p.m. (and every day through March 1), Hybrid
Come learn about how to apply for a co-op or internship, what you need to think about if you’re considering a work visa like an H-1b, or how to search for a job in the United States. This is a week dedicated to international undergraduate and graduate students wanting to learn about U.S. work options and navigating the U.S. job market.
Registration is required for each event, and these hybrid events will be held both in-person and online. Here is the registration link, which includes information about the planned events: https://international.vt.edu/student_experience/international-student-career-week.html
4. LINKED IN AND NETWORKING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Virtual
This session will offer tips for optimizing both your LinkedIn profile and your online presence. Additionally, the session will address the questions “What is networking, why does it matter, and how do you do it?” The workshop will also cover how to utilize LinkedIn for both networking and the job search. Learn more and register at this webpage:
https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1449851/share_preview
5. GRADUATE SCHOOL DROP-IN ADVISING, CAMPUS TO CAMPUS
Thursday, Feb. 29, 1-5 p.m., In-person, Room 2-304 (second floor), Arlington Campus- VT-RC
The Graduate School advisors will be onsite for “In-person” sessions to assist with the following student advising needs for Spring 2024. No appointment is necessary. Please stop by for a brief advising appointment with staff to discuss any of the following:
Student record issues
Plan of study discussion & review
Assisting with prelim and final exams
iThenticate/ ETD questions
Commencement information
Checking degree completion status for Spring 2024 & Summer 2024
6. PROMOTING YOUR SCHOLARLY WORK ONLINE
Thursday, Feb. 29, 2:30-3:45 p.m., Virtual
You’ve published an article…now what? How do you share your scholarly work with others online? This interactive workshop will cover best practices for scholars to promote their work online. Learn how to use the emerging science communication tool, Grow Kudos, to write nontechnical titles and summaries of your research in order to engage broader audiences; learn how to effectively use Twitter and other social media channels to promote your work; and finally, learn how to track usage statistics and metrics to assess and improve your promotional efforts. Register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/11751393
7. BLACK AFFINITY GROUP WILL CO-HOST VA/DC AREA NETWORKING EVENT
Thursday, Feb. 29, 4:30-6:30 p.m. In person: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
The Black Affinity Group in collaboration with Black Graduate Student Associations (BGSA) at American University, Georgetown University, George Mason University, and Howard University will host a networking event at Busboys and Poets, located at 2021 14th St., N.W., Washington, DC. This is the third collaboration between these universities designed to build an enhanced sense of community and foster an environment of support for Black graduate student leaders. All graduate students are invited to attend. Members of the BGSA organizations are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Chontrese Hayes at chontresehayes@vt.edu.
Administrative Announcements
8. STUDENT ADVISING APPOINTMENTS WITH D.C. GRADUATE SCHOOL TEAM VIA NAVIGATE
The Graduate Admissions and Advancement team has transitioned its advising appointment scheduling for graduate students to Navigate for students in the D.C. Metro Area. The Graduate School staff can be reached for In Person and Virtual Appointments to discuss various topics under admissions and academic progress. Students should use our webpage to access the link to schedule appointments directly and select Northern Virginia for an advising appointment and select the service needed. Visit this site to schedule an appointment via Navigate: https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/gsso.html.
9. GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED
Deadline: March 4
Did you miss the original deadline for submitting an abstract to the 40th Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) Graduate Research Symposium? The GPSS has extended the deadline to Monday March 4, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Hopefully this will help anyone who wanted to submit an abstract but got busy with mid-semester assignments, exams, grading, and assistantship responsibilities. The symposium is scheduled for Wednesday, March 27, at the Graduate Life Center. Presenters will be provided with lunch and dinner.
Differences between the presentation formats can be found on our website and on the abstract submission form. Contact Jennifer (jennphill@vt.edu) or Niveda (niveda@vt.edu) with any questions!
Submission Site: https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/gsars.html
10. SURVEY FOR COMMUNICATING SCIENCE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
Deadline: Feb. 27
The Center for Communicating Science is in the early stages of planning a graduate certificate in communicating science and collaborating across disciplines and differences, and we’d love to have your input! If you have any interest in such a certificate, please fill out the survey linked below at your earliest convenience—it should take no more than 5 minutes of your time—and help us shape this certificate program to fit your needs. Deadline: Feb. 27. You’ll find the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/yLTK36TzPp
11. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Interested in being involved in student governance? Please consider applying to serve as the Graduate and Professional Student Representative to the Board of Visitors for 2024-25. Learn more and apply here: https://bov.vt.edu/Student-Reps-Apply
12. ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR CAREER FAIRS FROM GSA
Get ready to excel at upcoming career fairs with essential tips from the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA Spring 2024). Discover how to make the most out of your experience in just three simple steps. Learn the importance of pre-fair preparation, including researching companies and polishing your resume for maximum impact. During the event, master the art of engaging with recruiters confidently and professionally. Afterward, solidify connections by following up promptly and exploring additional job opportunities.
Access our comprehensive list of upcoming career fairs and mark your calendars to stay ahead in your career journey. Elevate your career fair game with expert guidance from GSA Spring 2024.
Career Tips Link: http://tinyurl.com/yapwktnh
Join the GSA for learn more about events: http://tinyurl.com/2czzdhxx
13. INTERNSHIP FOR THE VOICE OF AFRICA TRADE INVESTMENT AND TOURISM FORUM
Deadline: March 6
The Voice of Africa Trade Investment and Tourism Forum is hiring an intern. The unpaid position provides the intern with hands on international relations experience and the opportunity to assist with real-life investor project opportunities, shaping global policy initiatives, access to VIP events, and the chance to be featured in the media. The start date for the position is March 18.
Applicants must be currently pursuing a degree in a relevant field (communications, marketing, business, etc.). with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Proven research skills with a strong attention to detail are a must, as is the capability to synthesize information from diverse sources.
Application materials can be found here: www.tvoaforum.org/internship . For more information, contact Kadmiel Van Der Puije at info@tvoaforum.org
Job Opportunities
NO JOB POSTINGS AT THIS TIME.
Funding Opportunities
All external funding opportunities that we are aware of can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships.html
14. SIGMA XI GRANTS IN AID OF RESEARCH
Deadline: March 15
Sigma Xi, a research honor society, is awarding grants to assist graduate students with their research. The amounts range from $500-$5,000. Information about the grant opportunities can be found on this webpage, which includes links to tips on applying for a grant and application resources: https://www.sigmaxi.org/programs/grants-in-aid-of-research
15. National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship Program Accepting Applications
Deadlines: April 10 and 17
NIJ’s Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program supports doctoral research with relevance to criminal or juvenile justice in the United States. This includes criminology, forensic science, technology for law enforcement, and more. Applications from all science and engineering fields are welcome.
Students must be enrolled full time in a Ph.D. program in a science or engineering field and propose dissertation research relevant to improving criminal or juvenile justice practice or policy in the United States. Applications are submitted by the university, which must be an accredited academic institution in the United States or its territories. The fellowship provides up to three years of support within a five-year period and includes:
- $41,000/year student salary
- $16,000/year cost of education allowance
- $3,000/year research expenses
To learn more and see profiles of past and present GRF fellows, visit https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/fellowships/graduate-research-fellowship-program.
The grants.gov deadline is April 10 and the JustGrants deadline is April 17, 2024.
16. SUMMER CUNNINGHAM FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE
Deadline: May 1.
In combination with the Cunningham Doctoral Scholarship and the Graduate School Annual Fund, we are delighted to announce the availability of summer fellowships in the amount of $7,500 each. This supplement will be awarded as a lump sum fellowship (see note below) at the beginning of the summer. This is a one-time award, cannot be renewed, and is awarded without the expectation of any additional work on your part. Awardees must be current Ph.D. students who are working on their dissertations during the summer months. This award cannot be combined with other Virginia Tech funding sources. Priority will be given to those toward the end of their program. Financial need will be considered as a secondary factor.
Applications will be accepted until May 1. Awards will be announced soon thereafter. For more information and to apply, use this form: https://forms.gle/6vYKM9AHizoAgKeN8
NOTE: Fellowships are not considered employment. No taxes are withheld and you will not receive a W2 form at the end of the year. Fellowships will show on your 1098-T from the university and may have to be reported to the IRS on your 1040 form. However, different tax rules apply to international students. For them, the university is required to collect taxes on the fellowship and to report those amounts at year-end to the IRS on form 1042S. For more information, see IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Education.
17. DOE OFFICE OF SCIENCE GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS
Deadline: May 1.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science is accepting applications for the 2024 solicitation 1 cycle for its Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program. Applications are due on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
The award program is open to current Ph.D. students in qualified graduate programs at accredited U.S. academic institutions, who are conducting their graduate research in targeted areas of importance to the DOE’s Office of Science.
https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships/dept-of-energy-office-of-science-research-grant.html
The SCGSR program provides supplemental awards to U.S. graduate students to conduct part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE national laboratory or facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist. The goal of the program is to prepare graduate students for scientific and technical careers critically important to the mission of DOE’s Office of Science. Supplemental awards are intended to cover incremental costs associated with living and travel expenses during the award period.
Two application assistance workshops on Zoom are scheduled to assist students. The first will be on Saturday, March 9, 2-3:30 p.m. The second will be on Saturday, April 20, 2-4:30 p.m.
The first workshop will provide a general overview of the program and the application requirements. It and will also include a time for discussing potential research topics with the program managers; register here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItdeqhrj8tG70eb-wK0GmooGB_T6WNTcI#/registration
The second workshop will guide attendees through the application process, answer general questions, provide guidance on proposal writing, and feature discussions with scientists and former awardees; register here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscu6rqT4oGzObcYFT24tieAsFM-vAHqg#/registration
More information on the SCGSR program can be found at by visiting the SCGSR program website: https://science.osti.gov/wdts/scgsr. You’ll also find information on this webpage: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships/dept-of-energy-office-of-science-research-grant.html
Upcoming Events
18. APPLYING FOR NSF FUNDING: AN OVERVIEW FROM THE SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES
Tuesday, March 12, 2 p.m., Virtual for D.C. Area students
The Center for Future Work Places and Practices hosts Dr. Alan Tompkins, NSF acting division director, social and economic sciences, and directorate for social, behavioral, and economic sciences, will talk about the NSF grant process and provide tips for writing a competitive proposal and will discuss different types of grants. There will be time for questions. The event is part of the center’s speaker series. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-zBJRxFBNrpSV4G9JtjDpvUlzKUrwE9190lAsPT-w84VTBg/viewform
19. 3M RISE RESUME AND RESEARCH STATEMENT WORKSHOP
Monday, March 18, 8 a.m. Virtual
Students who are applying to the 3M RISE symposium have the opportunity to sign up for a Resume and Research Statement Workshop. The workshop aims to help students avoid common mistakes that are seen in resumes and answer any questions they may have about research statements before they apply to RISE. Information and registration can be found here:
20. INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Monday, March 18, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Virtual
Virginia Tech’s Patent and Trademark Resource Center presents a workshop intended for anyone interested in learning more about the different forms of intellectual property (IP). This introductory workshop will be especially helpful for those who are own or looking to start their own business, or those who have an invention they would like to patent.
Attendees will learn about the four main types of intellectual property (trademarks, patents, copyright, and trade secrets), including examples and how to get started with applying or registering their IP. Register for the workshop here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/12111505
21. SPRING STUDENTS’ POP-UP PANTRY
Thursday, March 21, 3-6 p.m. Northern Virginia Center, room 471, Falls Church
The DC Metro Black Caucus will hold a pop-up pantry at the Northern Virginia Center campus, offering food and toiletries free to all Virginia Tech graduate students in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Students must present a valid Virginia Tech student ID (known as a Hokie Passport).
The Northern Virginia Center is located at 7054 Haycock Road and is accessible via the Metro system.
22. COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Thursday, March 21, In person at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.
The Arts &Sciences Graduate Center and the Charles Center for Academic Excellence at William & Mary invite doctoral and master’s degree students in Arts & Sciences disciplines from Virginia universities to present their research at an interdisciplinary symposium at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, March 21-22, 2024. Learn more here: https://www.wm.edu/as/graduate/graduate-symposium/
23. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT SENATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Wednesday, March 27, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Graduate Life Center on the Blacksburg campus, with opportunities to present research virtually.
The symposium theme is Horizons of Tomorrow: Innovation, Diversity, Collaboration, and Advancement. There will be an opportunity for virtual flash-talk presentations and travel awards may be available. Students are encouraged to present abstracts for virtual flash talks by March 4. Projects can be fully complete with analyses, proposed studies, or research that has been started but not complete.
More information about the symposium and the events can be found on the GPSS website: https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/gsars.html
Contact the co-chairs with any questions: jennphill@vt.ed, and niveda@vt.edu
Volunteers and research participants sought
24. POKEMON GO USAGE AND PLAY STYLE SURVEY
A research team in Industrial & Systems Engineering is surveying to understand the way people engage with and play PokémonGo. If you have thoughts or opinions you’d like to share, please check out our survey: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/pokemongo
It should take no more than 20-35 minutes and is anonymous. All questions (except the age confirmation) can be skipped. If you have any questions, please contact Cassidy Nelson via cassidynelson@vt.edu.
You must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
This work is a Virginia Tech research study approved under IRB 23-630. If you have any concerns you’d prefer to speak with someone else about, please contact irb@vt.edu
25. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING SURVEY
The Virginia Tech Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) graduate students are competing in the Solar Decathlon. This project involves a fictional proposal and design for student housing next to the WAAC, and we would love to get some feedback from the student body in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area to collect data on student housing for our project. The survey is 13 multiple-choice questions and will take just a few minutes to complete. The requirement for participating is to be a registered graduate student. If you have questions, contact jaminec@vt.edu.
The link to the survey is here: https://forms.office.com/r/hJ4kgRXQsJ
26. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A STUDY OF SONS OF SINGLE MOTHERS STUDY
The Relationship Experiences Strengths and Strains (REST) Lab is recruiting men who were raised by single mothers to participate in 1.5-2 hour interviews about their lived experiences, definitions of masculinity, and how personal experiences shaped masculine identities.
Participants must identify as a man who was raised by a single mother without a residential father figure (biological, step, adoptive, etc.) and be willing to complete a 1.5-2 hour long qualitative interview. Compensation, if applicable, will be a $25 Amazon gift card. More details and application information can be found here: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AVVVtZ1Yr4
27. U.S. DRONE SOCCER COMPETITIONS NEED VOLUNTEERS
In partnership with Boeing, Virginia Tech is hosting three US Drone Soccer competitions in the D.C. area for middle- and high-school students. These events will showcase the skills and agility of remotely operated drones in a soccer-like game. See more about Drone Soccer programs here: https://www.dronesoccer.us/u19-youth. As a volunteer, your assistance will be invaluable in ensuring the smooth running of the events and providing a memorable experience for all participants. Event dates are March 16, April 27, and April 28. Information and the volunteer form may be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2u-xcmUcj9Y1VfAKMusBy-yUpJ_YOIbHFWaRtGeP1Xu-nEw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0
Ongoing Services
- GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C. METRO AREA: Schedule an in-person or virtual advising appointment with a Graduate School Academic Progress and Admissions advisor at https://rb.gy/80frn or send your questions to gssoncr@vt.edu. Offices are located on the fourth floor of the Northern Virginia Center (NVC) in Falls Church. Drop-in hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11 a.m. and 3-4:30 p.m. No appointment needed to meet with an advisor for Drop-In hours.
- CAREER ADVISING: Schedule a career advising appointment via https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake.html
- COOK COUNSELING: Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with the Northern Virginia Embedded Counselor, Julie Kaplan, Ph.D. by emailing jskaplan@vt.edu or calling 703-635-9957.
After hours support can be found by calling 540-231-6557 or visiting ucc.vt.edu/timelycare
- SERENITY SPACE: The Cook Counseling Center has created the Serenity Space at the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church (NVC) in room 489, a peaceful, calm space for all graduate students to use, to take a break in the day, and to de-stress. All students can use this room 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Please contact Julie Kaplan, Ph.D., at jskaplan@vt.edu, if you have any questions related to this space.
- CRANWELL INTERNATIONAL CENTER: Schedule an appointment by emailing international@vt.edu or calling 540-231-6527.
- GRADUATE OMBUDSPERSON: The ombudsperson provides information about institutional policies and works to help individuals effectively navigate conflicts through informal, confidential conversations.
Contact for a virtual appointment at gradombud@vt.edu or call 540-231-9573.
AFFINITY GROUPS: The affinity groups are:
Asian Affinity Group
Black Affinity Group
First-Generation Affinity Group
GRAD Parents Affinity Group
Latinx Affinity Group
Veterans Affinity Group
Women in TECH Affinity Group
Join an affinity group here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdW61FGWCbuhwUhsSF2NK0rqtjSxzqz_eTFhhpJf8W74ykaKA/viewform. For more information, contact Dr. Hayes at chontresehayes@vt.edu
- NORTHERN VIRGINIA RESOURCE CENTER LIBRARY: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday, 10a.m.-6p.m.; Saturday, 10a.m.-5p.m.; Sunday, Closed
- HOKIE ONE STOP: Online links to additional resources and services available to graduate students in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area and Northern Virginia campuses. https://dcarea.vt.edu/hokieonestop.html
- WRITING CENTER: Virginia Tech Libraries house The Writing Center, a free service for all students, faculty, and staff at the university.
The center offers real-time, face-to-face online synchronous sessions as well as online asynchronous sessions. For more information: https://lib.vt.edu/study-learn/writing-center.html
About the Newsletter and How to Submit a Post
Posts must be relevant to graduate students in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area and other Northern Virginia campuses.
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Please submit post requests by 3 p.m. Friday before the Monday on which the post is to appear using this Google form: https://gs.vt.edu/weeklylistserv.
The D.C. Area Weekly newsletters are also available at:
https://dcareaweekly.graduateschool.vt.edu/.
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Have a great week!