D.C. Area Weekly

February 20, 2024March 11, 2024

Feb. 19, 2024 D.C. Area Weekly Newsletter for Virginia Tech Graduate Students

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. LEARN MORE ABOUT CITATION MANAGERS

Monday, Feb. 19, 4-5 p.m. Virtual

Citation managers like EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero are powerful tools that can help you save, organize, and cite your references. Their use can also help improve your workflow and make the research process easier and less stressful.

This session will focus on ways to get the most of your citation manager. By the end of the session, you’ll be able to integrate citation managers into your existing workflow, identify personal best practices for using citation managers, and use advanced features of the citation manager of your choice to streamline your research workflow.

This session will assume that you are already using and are familiar with a citation manager like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley.

2. SPRING 2024 CONNECTION JOB FAIRS

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Virtual (Brazen platform)

Virginia Tech’s Career and Professional Development Center is hosting a job and career fair for Virginia Tech graduate students in all majors and degree levels. After registering, students can view the positions and employers in advance. The fair includes opportunities for internships and post-graduation jobs. Find out more and register at https://app.joinhandshake.com/login

Visit this webpage to learn about preparing for the career fair: https://career.vt.edu/job-search/meet_employers/career-fair-prep.html

If you have questions or need more information, contact Ashley Roberts at ashleylr@vt.edu.

3. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN FOR CAREER EXPLORATION AND NETWORKING

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 12-1 p.m. Virtual

This workshop, targeted toward graduate students and postdocs, will focus on leveraging LinkedIn to aid in your career exploration and networking. Part 2 of a 3-part series taking place on the third Tuesday of each month, January to March. Learn more and register here: https://www.research.vt.edu/about/postdoctoral-associates/postdoctoral-events-programs/2024/leveraging-linkedin-series.html

4. LITERATURE REVIEWS AND DATABASE SEARCHING FOR ANIMAL & LIFE SCIENCES

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 3:30-4:45 p.m. Virtual

You’ve been assigned to write a literature review, but how do you get started? What kinds of literature reviews are there? Where should you search? How do you know what search terms to use? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this workshop. By the end of this session, you’ll be able to identify the type of literature review to be conducted, find relevant databases to search in the life sciences, and create effective search strategies. Learn more and register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/11734443

5. BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 5 p.m. In person (Meet at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture group entrance)

Join the Graduate School, Office for Equity & Accessibility and the DC Metro Area Black Caucus while they host a day at the museum during Black History Month. Tour the four-level Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture by exploring different collections and exhibitions such as: Civil Rights; Black Lives Matter; 1690; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Art, Culture, History, Community; and Music, just to name a few. RSVP required. Register here: https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/event/9686818

6. HOW GRADUATE STUDENTS CAN LEVERAGE AI IN THE JOB SEARCH

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 4-5 p.m. Virtual

This session will discuss how to leverage AI to your advantage in the job search. Tools like ChatGPT can be helpful for drafting application documents, preparing for an interview, and optimizing your online presence. Learn more and register at this webpage:

https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1449846/share_preview

7. VIRGINIA TECH GIVING DAY

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 12 p.m.-Thursday, Feb. 22, 12 p.m. Virtual

For 24 hours, beginning at noon on Feb. 21, Hokies across the university campuses and alumni and friends of VT around the world will join together to support programs and students they love in the spirit of Ut prosim. You can make a gift of any size, and we do mean any size. All gifts make a difference. You’ll see announcements in your social media feeds during the 24 hours with URLs and instructions. Choose the programs you want to support.

We hope you will consider supporting the Graduate School with a small gift, as ALL funds from Giving Day go to helping graduate students, and we have three challenges that will bring in an additional $22,500 if we meet them. If you wish to make a donation, use this link give.vt.edu/supportgradschool. And thank you!

8. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO DISSERTATIONS: KEY STEPS FOR QUALITY RESEARCH AND A SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE

Thursday, Feb. 22, 1-2:30 p.m. Virtual

The Women in Industrial and Systems Engineering (WISE) community at Virginia Tech is hosting a virtual conference to explore the implementation of a systematic methodology to organize your dissertation work. The session will cover the essential tasks required to attain robust scientific results and successfully defend your thesis, all while optimizing your time investment. Receive guidance on leveraging research outcomes effectively, especially if uncertain about their application or facing doubts about your topic. If you sense your work reaching an impasse, we’re here to assist you in navigating through these challenges.
Attending this conference enables you to participate in accompanying workshops designed to kickstart your journey and deliver tangible results for your dissertation.

Please register for the conference following the link below: https://forms.gle/NbTS87s6f2mYCJrs6

Administrative Announcements

9. 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.

10. HOKIE WELLNESS SURVEY

Hokie Wellness has a survey live currently to learn more about our students’ preferences on health and well-being topics and mechanisms of delivery of content. As a thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, we are offering a chance to win prizes. Prizes could include a variety of items, such as T-shirts, tumblers, etc. Winners will be randomly selected from the pool of survey respondents and awarded throughout the spring semester of 2024.

The link is: https://baseline.campuslabs.com/vpiasu/hwpreferences

11. 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

12. CALL FOR EDITORS COMMUNITY CHANGE JOURNAL

“Community Change” is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, graduate student journal that explores multiple approaches to democratic community development and change. The journal is currently seeking dedicated graduate students for its editorial board. Connect with fellow graduate students, learn about the publication process in a supportive environment, and sharpen your editing skills through this valuable opportunity. If you are interested, please fill out this brief form: https://forms.office.com/r/dwqpL2YpYV

13. 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

14. 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

15. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GOOGLE SHARED DRIVES

As part of the university’s changes to Google services, Google Shared Drives that have not been claimed by a department will become read-only on Feb. 15 and deleted starting April 3. This includes Shared Drives managed solely by students. It is highly recommended that you download a copy of any files/folders you wish to keep from your Shared Drives. If you are a member of a Shared Drive that a university department needs to maintain, please contact the faculty or staff member most-closely connected to the contents of the drive to discuss how that drive should be managed. For more information, visit https://it.vt.edu/shared-drives

Job Opportunities

No job Opportunities at Present

Funding Opportunities

All external funding opportunities that we are aware of can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships.html

16. 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

17. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

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.

18. 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.

19. DOE OFFICE OF SCIENCE GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS

Deadline: May 1, 2024

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

20. 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=Qv87lcG

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. SPRING STUDENTS’ POP-UP PANTRY

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 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.

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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.

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=xMPK-qXiV0KvdiBcioId202SyahOKoBGsgbqizwTK3xUOFNYQ0pDTlBMQVFEUzRFN04xWFBFTDkzOS4u

28. SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Thursday, March 21, IN PERSON at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

29. 40TH ANNUAL GPSS RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM- CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Wednesday, March 27, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Graduate Life Center in Blacksburg, with opportunities to present research virtually.

Abstract deadline: Late February

If you like free food, swag, and hearing about all of the cool and interesting research being done by your colleagues, consider submitting an abstract to the Graduate Research Symposium at Virginia Tech. This year’s research symposium, will be held on Wednesday March 27 from all departments across Virginia Tech.

Abstracts for both symposia, flash talks, and posters will be welcomed and should be between 250-500 words in length. Inclusion of two graphics (two tables, two figures, or one of each) is encouraged, but not required. All graduate students at both the Virginia Tech Blacksburg and Northern VA campuses are welcome to submit abstracts. Projects can be fully complete with analyses, proposed studies, or research that has been started but not complete. Flash talks may be presented virtually.

Visit our website for more information: 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A STUDY OF SONS OF SINGLE MOTHERS STUDY

The Relationship Experiences Strengths and Strains (REST) Lab is recruiting men who wee 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

33. 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.

Posts must include the name and contact information of the requesting organization or person; not exceed 150 words; and not include attachments, QR codes or embedded links (no fliers or photos). Submissions will be edited to fit newsletter style and formatting requirements.

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/.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact the reference in the posting at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VTGradSchoolDC

Instagram: @hokieonestopdc

Have a great week!

February 12, 2024

Feb. 12, 2024 D.C. Area Weekly Newsletter for Virginia Tech Graduate Students

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. GETTING STARTED WITH ENDNOTE

Monday, Feb. 12, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Virtual

EndNote is one of the most powerful citation managers available. In this interactive University Library workshop, you will learn the basics of EndNote, including adding references to your library, organizing your library, and using EndNote to cite references within a document.

Learn more and register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/11734360

2. Talks in Tech Spring 2024 Seminar Series

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1-2 p.m., Virtual

The Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Council is sponsoring a series of discussions by mechanical engineering Ph.D. student Leila Amanzadeh, who has experience at Tesla, Neocis, and RoboDuels. The series, Talks in Tech aims to bridge academia and industry. Industry experts, from tech giants to startups, share insights in free online seminars, offering career advice, interview tips, and research perspectives. The seminars will be recorded and available the Talks in Tech’s YouTube channel.

Register and subscribe on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@talks_in_tech. This series also connects you with recruiters. Upcoming speakers include Google Chief of Staff, Neocis CEO, and NVIDIA Senior Deep Learning Software Engineer.

Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14dMfMzxHcBNqIuxJ1hU9wkZyt_OFX-lxFRYZbBZstLQ/edit#gid=0

3. SELF-CARE AND DESSERT BUFFET

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2-3 p.m. VTRC-Arlington, second floor Falls Church Room

This Valentine’s Day is “All About You” and we are celebrating with a self-care workshop and dessert buffet co-sponsored and led by Gennelle Chatman, Equity Manager; Chontrese Hayes, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs and Student Success; and Julie Kaplan, of the Cook Counseling Center, and me, from Cook Counseling Center. . RSVP requested so they know how much dessert to prepare: https://forms.gle/bV43wmC8KrbSeNbq9

4. COVER LETTER WRITING

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2-3 p.m. Virtual

This workshop is designed to help students write an effective cover letter. The session provides a cover letter checklist and addresses how to tailor your cover letter to each position.

Learn more and register at this Handshake webpage: https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1449840/share_preview

Administrative Announcements

5. STUDENT ADVISING APPOINTMENTS WITH D.C. GRADUATE SCHOOL TEAM VIA NAVIGATE

6. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GOOGLE SHARED DRIVES

7. HOKIE WELLNESS SURVEY

8. GRADUATE STUDENTS’ AFFINITY GROUP MEMBERSHIP IN THE DC AREA

The graduate school has established seven affinity groups for the expanded campuses in the Washington, DC area to foster environments of support and assist with degree completion and professional development outcomes. The overarching goal is to build an enhanced sense of community and provide a forum for an exchange of ideas on issues of common interest for students who identify with these communities. 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

9. SURVEY FOR COMMUNICATING SCIENCE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

Deadline: Feb. 27

10. CALL FOR EDITORS COMMUNITY CHANGE JOURNAL

11. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

12. GPSS TRAVEL FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Deadline: Feb. 12

Graduate students presenting research conducted at Virginia Tech are eligible to apply for the Spring 2024 Travel Fund Program. Grants may cover registration, lodging, meals, abstract fees and other costs of presenting at an in-person or virtual conference with a start date from April 1-June 30. Students from all disciplines are invited to apply, even if your conference abstract has not been officially accepted. Applications due Feb. 12 at 11:59 PM.

Please e-mail Aran Garnett-Deakin at cgarnet@vt.edu with any questions, and visit https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html for full details and instructions.

Job Opportunities

No job Opportunities at Present

Funding Opportunities

All external funding opportunities that we are aware of can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships.html

13. SUMMER CUNNINGHAM FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE

Deadline: May 1.

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

14. National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship Program Accepting Applications

Deadlines: April 10 and 17

$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.

15. DOE OFFICE OF SCIENCE GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS

Deadline: May 1, 2024

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

Upcoming Events

16. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN FOR CAREER EXPLORATION AND NETWORKING

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 12-1 p.m. Virtual

17. BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 5 p.m. In person (Meet at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture group entrance)

18. How Graduate Students Can Leverage AI in the Job Search

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 4-5 p.m. Virtual

https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1449846/share_preview

19. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO DISSERTATIONS: KEY STEPS FOR QUALITY RESEARCH AND A SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE

Thursday, Feb. 22, 1-2:30 p.m.

Please register for the conference following the link below: https://forms.gle/NbTS87s6f2mYCJrs6

20. LINKED IN AND NETWORKING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Virtual

https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1449851/share_preview

21. SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Thursday, March 21, at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

22. 40TH ANNUAL GPSS RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM- CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Wednesday, March 27, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Graduate Life Center in Blacksburg, with opportunities to present research virtually.

Abstract deadline: Late February

Visit our website for more information: 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

23. POKEMON GO USAGE AND PLAY STYLE SURVEY

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

24. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING SURVEY

25. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A SURVEY FOR ASSESSING EMOTIONS IN MUSIC PIECES

The Mind Music and Machine Lab at Virginia Tech invites participants for a study (IRB# 23-1154) to assess the emotional impact of eight six-minute music pieces.

This one-hour remote study offers $10 compensation via cash or payment apps, or course credit for eligible students. Contact Ziming Fang (joannafg@vt.edu) for details. Supervised by Dr. Myounghoon Jeon (myounghoonjeon@vt.edu).

Requirements: Have none of the following impairments: Visual, Hearing, Fine motor, Intellectual.
You are eligible if your hearing/vision is not at the level requiring device correction, or if you have successful device correction that you can bring and use during the study (e.g., eyeglasses, hearing aid).

If you are interested, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAKqvxYw7QMkLxI2wqI6x79T5gjuVgYo5M4fZAneMnJb8R7w/viewform?usp=sf_link.

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: Contact Assistant Dean Chontrese Hayes at chontresehayes@vt.edu for information about these student groups.

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.

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/.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact the reference in the posting at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VTGradSchoolDC

Instagram: @hokieonestopdc

Have a great week!

February 5, 2024

Feb. 5 D.C. Area Weekly Newsletter for Virginia Tech Graduate Students

Feb. 5, 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. CVs AND THE ACADEMIC JOB SEARCH

Monday, 2-3 p.m. Virtual

This workshop offers tips for structuring your CV and suggestions for approaching the academic job search. The session will also address how to begin writing application materials like teaching and research statements. Learn more and register at the Handshake webpage: https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1449829/share_preview

2. GETTING STARTED WITH MENDELEY

Monday, Feb. 5 4-5 p.m., Virtual

Mendeley is a free, easy-to-use citation manager that can help researchers save time and frustration. In this interactive University Library workshop, you will learn the basics of Mendeley, including adding references to your library, organizing your library, and using Mendeley to cite references within a document. Find out more and register here: https://guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops

3. BOARD OF VISITORS GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE INFO SESSION

Monday, Feb. 5, 8-9 p.m., Virtual

Come learn about being a Graduate and Professional Student Representative to the university Board of Visitors and find out how to apply to serve as one for the 2024-25 academic year. Current BOV Graduate and Professional Student Representative Emily Tirrell will give an overview of the position, share her experiences during the first semester, and share tips on how to apply. https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/88291950639

4. DEAN SUPRENANT’S MENTORING BROWN-BAG LUNCH SERIES

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 12-1 p.m., Northern Virginia Center room T-3 and Virtual

Graduate School Dean Aimee Surprenant is hosting a roving brown-bag lunch series intended to create and cultivate a community of practice with discussions around Mentoring: challenges, opportunities, experiences. To identify those who would be interested in entering into these conversations, the Dean has reserved space around the university to get the conversation started. On Feb. 6, she will host the brown-bag lunch at the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church.
Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend one, two, or all of the lunches. These conversations include discussions about challenges, opportunities, experiences, and successes. Bring your lunch and participate or just eat and listen.

Additional dates: March 18, Steger Hall conference room 118, 12-1:15 pm; April 16, 3310 Torgersen Hall, 12-1:30. Both will be available virtually as well as in person. Use https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/81155274212

5. DC METRO AREA Q*MMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1-2 p.m. Northern Virginia Center room 401, Falls Church

This support group welcomes Virginia Tech graduate students, faculty, and staff in the DC Metro Area who identify as LGBTQ+, as well as those who are exploring their gender and/or sexuality. For any questions, please contact Julie Kaplan at jskaplan@vt.edu

6. INTRODUCTION TO LATEX WITH OVERLEAF

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 3:30-5 p.m., Virtual

Come learn how to get started with this popular coding tool for writing technical papers! LaTeX (pronounced Lay-tech or Lah-tech) is a free typesetting system designed for technical publications that can be used for many writing projects. In this University Library workshop, we’ll cover how to create your first article, how to add content including text, figures and citations, where to learn more about using LaTeX, and how to get the most out of Overleaf. All are welcome to attend no matter your field or LaTeX experience level. Learn more and register here: https://guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops

7. VETERANS AFFINITY GROUP MEETING

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 6:30-7 p.m. Virtual

The Veterans Affinity Group will host a virtual meeting on Tuesday, February 6th 6:307 p.m. Stay engaged with the graduate student Veterans and military-connected community in the greater D.C. metro area.
For more information and to register, contact chontresehayes@vr.edu.

8. COMPETING NARRATIVES ABOUT CASTE

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 12-1 p.m. Virtual for DC Area students

Last year, California nearly passed a bill (HB 403) banning caste discrimination in the state. In Maryland, the tallest statue of B. R. Ambedkar, the champion of anti-casteism, was unveiled. How might caste power dynamics operate on a US University campus, including Virginia Tech? Come hear findings from the “What is Caste?” focus groups and interviews conducted on our campus, as well as personal reflections on confronting competing stories about caste. This event is organized by Dr. Ambedkar International Mission (AIM) at Virginia Tech, APIDAs, and the center for Women’s and Gender Studies at Virginia Tech. Please contact poorvesh@vt.edu for more details. To register, use this link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EkkCViHJTyiW0VZNwvzLtw#/registration

9. WELLNESS WEDNESDAY AT THE WAAC

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 12:30-1:30 p.m., in the 1021 Big Room, WAAC Architecture campus, Alexandria.

This event will focus on enhancing academic success and mental health wellbeing goals. Please join Dr. Chontrese Hayes (Graduate School) and Dr. Julie Kaplan (Cook Counseling) for a power lunch with pizza and soft drinks.

10. GRADUATE SCHOOL WRITING GROUPS

Thursday, Feb. 7, 5-7 p.m. (weekly through the semester), Virtual

Join our Spring Semester Graduate Writing Group for a relaxed and supportive space to enhance productivity. We meet virtually on Thursdays. Hosted by the Diversity, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships (DISP) team, this writing group emphasizes a laid-back community. Whether you’re working on research papers, theses, dissertations, or other writing projects, our group provides a comfortable and encouraging environment. Walk-ins are always welcome, but RSVPs are appreciated. Register here: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/DISPGSwritingSessionsInfoSheet

Join us to be part of a writing community that supports your academic goals in a low-pressure setting.

11. INTRODUCTION TO SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING

Thursday, Feb. 8, 3:30-4:45 p.m. Virtual

Are you ready to publish? Are you wanting to publish but uneasy about the process? Are you uncertain about all the different types of publishing and copyright policies? Are you wary about how to select a journal? Are you confused about author rights?

This University Library introductory workshop will take you step-by-step through the scholarly pre-publishing process to help you identify “predatory journals,” understand author rights, find journal copyright policies, negotiate your rights during submission and acceptance, understand the different Open Access (OA) types, learn how OA benefits you, find high quality journals in your field (OA or subscription), and potentially secure funding when publishing in an OA journal. Learn more and register at this webpage: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/11751388

Administrative Announcements

12. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GOOGLE SHARED DRIVES

13. HOKIE WELLNESS SURVEY

14. GRADUATE STUDENTS’ AFFINITY GROUP MEMBERSHIP IN THE DC AREA

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

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

15. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

16. U-PASS METRO CARD PROGRAM

Virginia Tech has entered into an agreement with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) that allows eligible students to participate in the University Pass (U-Pass) Program. U-Pass provides full-time Virginia Tech students who are taking in person classes in the Greater Washington, D.C., Area unlimited access to Metrorail and Metrobus throughout the semester, for about $1 per day. The mandatory fee is included as part of the comprehensive fees package for students.
Eligible students will be notified to complete a DocuSign agreement and instructions on picking up their card from the NVC Library in Falls Church.

If you think you should be included but have not been notified, please contact gettingaround@vt.edu for more information. This is not available for part-time students per WMATA policy.

17. FREE INDIVIDUALIZED NUTRITION COUNSELING SESSIONS

Seeking nutrition guidance? Are you interested in learning how to make food choices that support a healthy lifestyle? Maybe you need help with skills for shopping and cooking to help you reach your wellness goals. If you have any of these concerns or others, graduate-level nutrition and dietetics students are here to help.

The Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise Department at Virginia Tech offers free one-on-one nutrition counseling services (In-person or Zoom) to interested students, faculty, or staff and is now accepting new clients for the spring semester. Visit: https://www.hnfe.vt.edu/nutrition_counseling.html to learn more about the service and to register.

18. GPSS TRAVEL FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Deadline: Feb. 12

Please e-mail Aran Garnett-Deakin at cgarnet@vt.edu with any questions, and visit https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html for full details and instructions.

Job Opportunities

No job Opportunities at Present

Funding Opportunities

All external funding opportunities that we are aware of can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships.html

19. VIRGINIA SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM GRADUATE RESEARCH STEM FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline: Feb. 9, 2024

The consortium provides fellowships of $6,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, be enrolled full-time in a program of study in STEM, have a specific faculty-mentored research project that has NASA or aerospace relevance, and are not graduating sooner than May 2025. For more information and to apply, visit https://vsgc.odu.edu/graduatefellowships/

20. SUMMER CUNNINGHAM FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE

Deadline: May 1.

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

21. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

$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.

Upcoming Events

22. GETTING STARTED WITH ENDNOTE

Monday, Feb. 12, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Virtual

Learn more and register here: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/11734360

23. COVER LETTER WRITING

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2-3 p.m. Virtual

This workshop is designed to help students write an effective cover letter. The session provides a cover letter checklist and addresses how to tailor your cover letter to each position.

Learn more and register at this Handshake webpage: https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1449840/share_preview

24. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN FOR CAREER EXPLORATION AND NETWORKING

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 12-1 p.m. Virtual

25. BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 5 p.m. In person, meeting at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture group entrance

26. SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Thursday, March 21, at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

Volunteers and research participants sought

27. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING SURVEY

28. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A SURVEY FOR ASSESSING EMOTIONS IN MUSIC PIECES

The Mind Music and Machine Lab at Virginia Tech invites participants for a study (IRB# 23-1154) to assess the emotional impact of eight six-minute music pieces.

If you are interested, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAKqvxYw7QMkLxI2wqI6x79T5gjuVgYo5M4fZAneMnJb8R7w/viewform?usp=sf_link.

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: Contact Assistant Dean Chontrese Hayes at chontresehayes@vt.edu for information about these student groups.

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.

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/.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact the reference in the posting at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VTGradSchoolDC

Instagram: @hokieonestopdc

January 29, 2024

Jan. 29 D.C. Area Weekly Newsletter for Graduate Students

Jan. 29, 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. GETTING STARTED WITH ZOTERO

Monday, Jan. 29. 2:3-3:45 p.m. Virtual

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use citation manager that can help researchers save time and frustration. In this University Library workshop, you will learn the basics of Zotero, including adding references to your library, organizing your library, and using Zotero to cite references within a document (both Word and Google Docs). Register here: https://guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops

2. OVERVIEW OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONDUCTING HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Virtual

All research that involves human participants, including their data and specimens, must be reviewed and approved by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board or receive a determination from the Human Research Protection program. The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of the requirements for conducting research involving human participants at Virginia Tech. This session will educate researchers on the requirements that must be met before research is initiated, including the type of training that is required and who is eligible to serve as a principal investigator. The session will also include an overview of the different types of submissions, how to submit a project for review, and the ongoing requirements after approval or authorization is received.

Learn more and register here: https://www.research.vt.edu/events/2024/overview-of-the-requirements-for-conducting-human-subjects-resea.html?utm_source=cmpgn_rievents&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=_DM1607559

3. LITERATURE REVIEWS AND DATABASE SEARCHING FOR ENGINEERS

Thursday, Feb. 1, 2-3 p.m. Virtual

You need to write a literature review for your research or class, but how do you get started? What kinds of literature reviews are there? Where should you search? How do you search efficiently and effectively? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this interactive University Library workshop. By the end of this session, you’ll be able to identify different types of literature reviews, find relevant engineering and related databases, and create effective searches.

This workshop will focus on research in engineering, including computer science. Participants from other disciplines are welcome, but should be aware of the disciplinary focus of this workshop. Learn more and register here: https://guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops

Administrative Announcements

4. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

5. U-PASS METRO CARD PROGRAM

6. FREE INDIVIDUALIZED NUTRITION COUNSELING SESSIONS

7. CIRTL NETWORK SPRING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

Virginia Tech is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network, which offers a variety of programming opportunities available to graduate students and postdoctoral associates at institutions in the CIRTL Network at no cost.

This spring, the CIRTL Network schedule includes programming on a range of topics, including evidence-based teaching fundamentals, academic professional development, science communication, and teaching-as-research. Registration is open for most spring CIRTL Network programs.

You can find the full CIRTL Network spring programming schedule, including descriptions and registration information, at https://cirtl.net/events/. To learn more about CIRTL, visit the network’s website at https://www.cirtl.net/. If you have questions about CIRTL at Virginia Tech, email cirtl@vt.edu.

8. GPSS TRAVEL FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Deadline: Feb. 12

Please e-mail Aran Garnett-Deakin at cgarnet@vt.edu with any questions, and visit https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html for full details and instructions.

Job Opportunities

9. Outreach Assistant, Cook Counseling Center in the DC Metro Area

Application Deadline: Feb. 1

Position Summary: The Outreach Assistant (OA) will work in collaboration with the Cook Counseling Center Embedded Counselor in the Greater Washington Area, Julie Kaplan, PhD, on outreach events for students. The Outreach Assistant will help to coordinate and support outreach events for students. The OA will help to plan, schedule, and facilitate outreach events for students. Duties will include setting up food, drinks, and materials for Outreach Events, setting up technology for Outreach events, assisting with Outreach events, and helping to clean up after these events. The OA will be a welcoming presence during Outreach events, and will help with answering student questions and with the flow of the events. The OA will assist in obtaining feedback from students after Outreach events, including emailing students for feedback.

The OA will create flyers for outreach events, post flyers on campus, and help to publicize outreach events to students. The OA will also work on maintaining and updating Cook Counseling Center outreach projects, such as the post-it project. The OA will also help to maintain the Serenity Space at the NVC.

Work Schedule Requirements: This position will be 5-10 hours per week through the semester. This is an in-person position. There is no option for remote or hybrid work. The primary location for this work is the Northern Virginia Center (NVC) in Falls Church, and also at events at the Arlington campus and Alexandria campus (WAAC) several times per semester. Outreach events are generally scheduled from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Other Requirements: Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills; ability to work independently and with a team; creativity and flexibility; ability to problem-solve and handle unanticipated changes and needs; energy and enthusiasm for the job; knowledge of use of standard office equipment and computer software applications, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

Compensation: This is a student wage position, and the OA will be paid $15 per hour. The hours are 5-10 per week, and vary with the outreach event schedule.

To Apply: Submit materials through this Google Form (VT login required): https://forms.gle/yH6omhXsshdzqSCi8

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

External Funding Opportunities

All external funding opportunities that we are aware of can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships.html

10. VIRGINIA SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM GRADUATE RESEARCH STEM FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline: Feb. 9, 2024

The consortium provides fellowships of $6,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support.

Upcoming Events

11. GETTING STARTED WITH MENDELEY

Monday, Feb. 5 4-5 p.m., Virtual

12. BOARD OF VISITORS GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE INFO SESSION

Monday, Feb. 5, 8-9 p.m., Virtual

13. DEAN SUPRENANT’S MENTORING BROWN-BAG LUNCH SERIES

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 12-1 p.m., Northern Virginia Center room T-3 and Virtual

14. DC METRO AREA Q*MMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1-2 p.m. Northern Virginia Center room 401, Falls Church

15. INTRODUCTION TO LATEX WITH OVERLEAF

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 3:30-5 p.m., Virtual

16. Wellness Wednesday at the WAAC

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 12:30-1:30 p.m., in the 1021 Big Room, WAAC Architecture campus, Alexandria.

17. GRADUATE SCHOOL WRITING GROUPS

Thursday, Feb. 87, 5-7 p.m. (weekly through the semester), Virtual

Join us to be part of a writing community that supports your academic goals in a low-pressure setting.

18. SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Thursday, March 21, 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. Graduate students interested in presenting their research in a talk or poster session must submit an abstract no later than January 15, 2024. Accepted abstracts to the Symposium may also be eligible to vie for awards recognizing excellence in scholarship. See the GHRS webpages (linked below) for details on abstract submission and registration. Questions may be directed to grs@wm.edu or Dr. Sarah Glosson (sgglos@wm.edu). Learn more here: https://www.wm.edu/as/graduate/graduate-symposium/

Volunteers and research participants sought

19. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING SURVEY

20. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A SURVEY FOR ASSESSING EMOTIONS IN MUSIC PIECES

The Mind Music and Machine Lab at Virginia Tech invites participants for a study (IRB# 23-1154) to assess the emotional impact of eight six-minute music pieces.

If you are interested, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAKqvxYw7QMkLxI2wqI6x79T5gjuVgYo5M4fZAneMnJb8R7w/viewform?usp=sf_link.

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: Contact Assistant Dean Chontrese Hayes at chontresehayes@vt.edu for information about these student groups.

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.

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/.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact the reference in the posting at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VTGradSchoolDC

Instagram: @hokieonestopdc

January 22, 2024

Jan. 22, 2024 D.C. Area Weekly Newsletter

Jan. 22, 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. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT

Monday, Jan. 22, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Virtual

You’re about to collect or already have data for your research project…now what? How do you manage it? What do you name the files? How do you share it? Learn the answers to all of these questions and more in this workshop, which will present an introduction to research data management, including the following topics: Data management planning, file naming conventions/organization, backing-up research data, documentation (metadata), data sharing, data security, and how the library can help.

To register and learn more, visit: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/11734207

2. GIVING DAY PREP RALLIES

Monday, Jan. 22, 5-6 p.m., Northern Virginia Center main lobby

Stop by in the main lobby of the Falls Church campus to meet our alumni, grab some snacks and swag, and learn about the upcoming Giving Day Event! Giving Day (givingday.vt.edu) is Virginia Tech’s annual 24-hour celebration of the Hokie Spirit and the power of giving back! All students, alumni and friends are invited to sign up to be an ambassador, support the event and earn Hokie swag! Watch this video to learn more now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFdOzd-ZOx4

3. WARM UP TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 4-5 p.m., Northern Virginia Center, Room 200, Falls Church

The workshop will feature a panel of continuing graduate students, staff, and alumni discussing the key differences between undergraduate and graduate school. Start your semester by enjoying snacks and warm winter beverages! Mix and mingle with new and continuing graduate students! All are welcome! New students are encouraged to attend!

4. JOIN THE HOKIE HOUR FOR YOUR WELLNESS

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 7-8 p.m., Virtual
Join us for Episode 01 of the VIRTUAL Hokie Hour! Presented by the Virginia Tech MBA Advisory Board, this event offers an opportunity for Hokies and Hokie friends to learn and engage from the comfort of your own space as experts offer insights to support mental health for all. Register at the link and invite your friends to join, too! https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m0pgCTD9QvuDhfqQfIOB_A#/registration

5. WORKSHOP: LITERATURE REVIEWS AND DATABASE SEARCHING FOR SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2-3:15 p.m. Virtual

You’ve been assigned to write a literature review in the social sciences, but how do you get started? What kinds of literature reviews are there? Where should you search? How do you know what search terms to use? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this interactive workshop. By the end of this session, you’ll be able to identify different types of literature reviews, find relevant databases, and create effective search terms.

This workshop will focus on research in the social and behavioral sciences, such as education, communication, human development, psychology, and sociology. For information and to register: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/11734229

6. HOKIE MBA HALF-HOUR HANGS

Jan. 25, 12:30 p.m., Virtual (Zoom)

Join us for our Spring Series – Hokie MBA Half-Hour Hangs. This is your chance to connect, swap brilliant ideas, and discover the Hokie way of navigating the business landscape. Hokie Half-Hour Hangs happen the last Thursday of the month. The Zoom Link for every session is: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/81851274169.

Here’s the schedule:

Jan 25 – Networking Skills
Feb 29 – Resume Building
Mar 28 – Post Grad Promotions
Apr 25 – Changing Careers

Administrative Announcements

7. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

8. U-PASS METRO CARD PROGRAM

9. NEW STUDENTS OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS

The DC Metro Area Graduate School staff will like to encourage all new students to come to the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays for our Weekly Drop-in Hours to submit official transcripts as the new semester starts.
Hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-11 a.m. and 3-4:30 p.m.

10. FREE INDIVIDUALIZED NUTRITION COUNSELING SESSIONS

11. CIRTL NETWORK SPRING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

12. RESEARCH TOOLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKSHOP SERIES

There’s a lot to learn in graduate school, and the library can help. This spring, the library will offer a series of free workshops (offered live via Zoom) to help you develop the research skills you need to succeed in graduate school. Learn about literature reviews and database searching, citation management, data management, developing your scholarly presence, and more. For registration links and detailed information about each workshop, visit https://guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops.

13. RESEARCH SKILLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLINE COURSE

Take your research to the next level! GRAD 5124 (Research Skills for Graduate Students) is an asynchronous, one-credit, fully-online course offered by the University Libraries in Spring 2024. Students will develop skills that will prepare them for research in graduate school and beyond. Two discipline-specific sections are offered, so students should be sure to sign up in HokieSPA for the one that relates to their subject area. Questions should be directed to Lisa Becksford at lisab5@vt.edu.

14. SPRING WRITING SESSIONS WITH THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

The Graduate School is considering hosting Writing Groups and Writing Workshops in the Spring semester and we would like your input on various aspects of the development of this program.

Please share your feedback in this short (2 minute) anonymous survey related to format, modality, time and days, and other information: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AYic7Z0xpW.

This survey will remain open until Feb. 1.

15. GRADUATE SCHOOL DC METRO AREA DROP-IN HOURS FOR SPRING SEMESTER

The Graduate School staff in the Washington, D.C. metro area will again offer graduate students in the region “Drop-In Hours” weekly on the fourth floor of the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church.

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.

Students who want to have a face-to-face session with an advisor but cannot visit the NVC during Drop-In hours can make an appointment via this link: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/9dfaf3a7.

16. GPSS TRAVEL FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Deadline: Feb. 12

Please e-mail Aran Garnett-Deakin at cgarnet@vt.edu with any questions, and visit https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html for full details and instructions.

17. THE INTERLOPER, VIRGINIA TECH’S QUEER MAGAZINE

The Interloper was a student-run queer literary magazine at Virginia Tech originally published from 2014 to 2019, and we are looking to get it started again. Whether you are a writer, an artist, or just want to support the project, there are lots of ways to get involved.
If you are interested in helping bring The Interloper back to campus, please fill out this interest form at bit.ly/InterloperInterestForm by Jan. 26. If you have questions, contact haleighwallace@vt.edu.

Job Opportunities

18. OUTREACH ASSISTANT, COOK COUNSELING CENTER IN THE DC METRO AREA

Application Deadline: Feb. 1

maintain the Serenity Space at the NVC.

Compensation: This is a student wage position, and the OA will be paid $15 per hour. The hours are 5-10 per week, and vary with the outreach event schedule.

To Apply: Submit materials through this Google Form (VT login required): https://forms.gle/yH6omhXsshdzqSCi8

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

External Funding Opportunities

All external funding opportunities that we are aware of can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships.html

19. VIRGINIA SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM GRADUATE RESEARCH STEM FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline: Feb. 9, 2024

The consortium provides fellowships of $6,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support.

Upcoming Events

20. WELLNESS WEDNESDAY AT THE WAAC

Wednesday, Jan. 31, 12:30-1:30 p.m., in the 1021 Big Room, WAAC Architecture campus, Alexandria.

21. SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Thursday, March 21, at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

Volunteers and research participants sought

22. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A SURVEY FOR ASSESSING EMOTIONS IN MUSIC PIECES

The Mind Music and Machine Lab at Virginia Tech invites participants for a study (IRB# 23-1154) to assess the emotional impact of eight six-minute music pieces.

If you are interested, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAKqvxYw7QMkLxI2wqI6x79T5gjuVgYo5M4fZAneMnJb8R7w/viewform?usp=sf_link.

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

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: Contact Assistant Dean Chontrese Hayes at chontresehayes@vt.edu for information about these student groups.

· 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.

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/.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact the reference in the posting at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VTGradSchoolDC

Instagram: @hokieonestopdc

January 22, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024 D.C. Area Weekly Newsletter

Jan. 16, 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. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN: CRAFTING AN EFFECTIVE LINKEDIN PRESENCE

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 12-1 p.m., Virtual (Zoom)

Will run monthly, January-March, on third Tuesday, 12-1 p.m.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool to build one’s professional brand. In this session, attendees will learn about the basic components of a LinkedIn profile and how to craft an effective one that resonates with recruiters. First in a monthly series on Leveraging LinkedIn. Learn more and register here:

https://www.research.vt.edu/about/postdoctoral-associates/postdoctoral-events-programs/2024/leveraging-linkedin-series.html

2. GRADUATE STUDENT GAMES MIXER

Friday, Jan. 19 3-5 p.m., Community Café, Northern Virginia Center, Falls Church

All students are welcome to come together for games and important information about student services in the DC Metro Area. Light refreshments will be provided. No registration necessary.

Administrative Announcements

3. NEW STUDENTS OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS

The DC Metro Area Graduate School staff encourages all new students to come to the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays for our Weekly Drop-in Hours to submit official transcripts as the new semester starts.
Hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-11 a.m. and 3-4:30 p.m.

4. CIRTL NETWORK SPRING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

5. CIRTL AT VIRGINIA TECH ASSOCIATE TEACHING PROGRAM

The CIRTL at Virginia Tech Associate Teaching Program is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral associates to connect and associate with effective teaching practices.

Participants will engage in programming focused on foundational knowledge about teaching and complete a teaching philosophy activity to start building their teaching portfolios. Upon program completion, participants will receive a digital badge recognizing their achievement of program requirements.

The program is open to graduate students and postdoctoral associates regardless of teaching experience or responsibilities. Multiple options for program completion are available. To be eligible for the program, you must be a current graduate student or postdoctoral associate at Virginia Tech.

Program requirements must be completed during your time as a graduate student or postdoctoral associate at the university. For more information and the online application form, visit https://cirtl.vt.edu/teaching-program.html.

6. RESEARCH TOOLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKSHOP SERIES

There’s a lot to learn in graduate school, and the library can help! This spring, the library will offer a series of free workshops (offered live via Zoom) to help you develop the research skills you need to succeed in graduate school. Learn about literature reviews and database searching, citation management, data management, developing your scholarly presence, and more. For registration links and detailed information about each workshop, visit guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops.

7. RESEARCH SKILLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLINE COURSE

8. SPRING WRITING SESSIONS WITH THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

The Graduate School is considering hosting Writing Groups and Writing Workshops in the Spring semester and we would like your input on various aspects of the development of this program.

Please share your feedback in this short (2 minute) anonymous survey related to format, modality, time and days, and other information: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AYic7Z0xpW.

This survey will remain open until Feb. 1.

9. GRADUATE SCHOOL DC METRO AREA DROP-IN HOURS FOR SPRING SEMESTER

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.

10. BOUCHET GRADUATE HONOR SOCIETY APPLICATIONS Application deadline Jan. 16, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST

The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.

You may learn more here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/bouchet-society.html

For questions from the Greater Washington D.C. Metro Area, please reach out to Dr. Chontrese Hayes, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Success, at chontresehayes@vt.edu.

11. GPSS RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Application deadline: Jan. 19, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate is accepting applications for the senate’s Graduate Research Development Program.

Master’s students are eligible to receive $1,000 and doctoral students are eligible to receive up to $1,500. Funds may be requested for travel, lab analyses, supplies and other expenses incurred for degree-contingent research. $10,000 will be distributed.

Application materials and full instructions can be found here: https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/grdp.html. Please e-mail Aran Garnett-Deakin at acgarnet@vt.edu with any questions.

12. GPSS TRAVEL FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Deadline: Feb. 12

Please e-mail Aran Garnett-Deakin at cgarnet@vt.edu with any questions, and visit https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html for full details and instructions.

Job Opportunities

13. CLASSROOM AV ASSISTANT, WAGE POSITION

Application Deadline: Jan. 19

Classroom Audio Visual Services provides reliable resources and technical support to faculty and students in the general assignment academic (centrally scheduled) classrooms. Our team installs and maintains A/V equipment in general assignment classrooms and assists users with operation of A/V equipment in classrooms.

Requirements:

1. Must be reliable and timely in the performance of the work.

2. Must be organized and able to work independently.

3. Collaborates with team members to accomplish tasks.

4. Must be able to lift 50 lbs.

5. Ability to climb and work off ladders.

6. Knowledge of basic computer software and operations. Apple or Windows based systems.

7. Must qualify for the Federal Work Study program and be a full time VT student.

Contact Diego Romero, rdiego@vt.edu and cc: jmurph@vt.edu

14. OUTREACH ASSISTANT, COOK COUNSELING CENTER IN THE DC METRO AREA

Application Deadline: Feb. 1

The OA will be a welcoming presence during Outreach events, and will help with answering student questions and with the flow of the events. The OA will assist in obtaining feedback from students after Outreach events, including emailing students for feedback.

maintain the Serenity Space at the NVC.

Work Schedule Requirements: This position will be 5-10 hours per week through the semester.

This is an in-person position. There is no option for remote or hybrid work. The primary location for this work is the Northern Virginia Center (NVC) in Falls Church, and also at events at the Arlington campus and Alexandria campus (WAAC) several times per semester. Outreach events are generally scheduled from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Compensation: This is a student wage position, and the OA will be paid $15 per hour. The hours are 5-10 per week, and vary with the outreach event schedule.

To Apply: Submit materials through this Google Form (VT login required): https://forms.gle/yH6omhXsshdzqSCi8

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Priority deadline is February 1, 2024.

15. GRADUATE ASSISTANT POSITION WITH ONEOP

Application deadline: Jan. 31

Spring/Summer graduate assistantship available to students pursuing a graduate degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, or sociology. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is the hiring department.

The position is for OneOp, a grant network for providers who serve military families. The GA will work closely with supervisors on all aspects of adult online education development and delivery, program evaluation, event coordination support, content review/proofreading, and other staff support areas for a federal grant.

We seek demonstrated proficiency in the following areas: social social services; clinical and family support; conducting literature reviews; social media trends; writing, editing, and proofreading. Additional sought-after skills include proficiency in Qualtrics, working knowledge of military families, online education, and project management.

This is a fully remote position with the opportunity for long-term networking and growth for the right candidate. For consideration, please email a current resume/CV and cover letter to Kalin Goble at kmgoble@vt.edu by December 22, 2023.

More information can be found at this website: https://oneop.org/

External Funding Opportunities

All external funding opportunities that we are aware of can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/scholarships-and-fellowships.html

16. VIRGINIA SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM GRADUATE RESEARCH STEM FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline: Feb. 9, 2024

The consortium provides fellowships of $6,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support.

Upcoming Events

17. WARM UP TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 4-5 p.m., Northern Virginia Center, Room 200, Falls Church

18. HOKIE MBA HALF-HOUR HANG

Jan. 25, 12:30 p.m., Virtual (Zoom)

Join us for our Spring Series – Hokie MBA Half-Hour Hangs with our first event on Jan 25 at 12:30 PM EST! This is your chance to connect, swap brilliant ideas, and discover the Hokie way of navigating the business landscape. If you’re curious about the magic of networking and how it could shape your career, let’s explore it together! Register https://applyto.graduateschool.vt.edu/register/?id=abbb51d7-d4b7-4461-8b9c-105221e50ef7

19. SAVE THE DATE: COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Thursday, March 21, at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

Graduate students interested in presenting their research in a talk or poster session must submit an abstract no later than January 15, 2024. Accepted abstracts to the Symposium may also be eligible to vie for awards recognizing excellence in scholarship. See the GHRS webpages (linked below) for details on abstract submission and registration. Questions may be directed to grs@wm.edu or Dr. Sarah Glosson (sgglos@wm.edu). Learn more here: https://www.wm.edu/as/graduate/graduate-symposium/