Welcome to the Graduate School’s weekly newsletter for D.C. area graduate students. The newsletter is published on Mondays. When the university is closed for a holiday on Monday, the newsletter will be emailed on Tuesday. 

This Week’s Events and Activities

  1. Career Fair Prep for Graduate Students (Rescheduled from 8/29) • 9/3 • 3:30-4:30pm • ZOOM 
    Are you ready? Fall career fairs begin September 4th! This workshop will cover how to prepare for and navigate a career fair. The session will also include tips for in-person and virtual career fairs. For more information, please visit,  https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1566044/share_preview

  2. Engineering Expo Career Fair Prep Workshop • 9/3 • 5:30-6:30pm • ZOOM 
    Need guidance on preparing for and navigating Engineering Expo and all the other career fairs this fall? Attend Career & Professional Development’s (CPD) career fair prep workshop and employer panel on September 3rd at 5:30 pm! During this session, you'll learn how to navigate career fairs, prepare your elevator pitch, and make a positive impression. Employers participating in Engineering Expo will also share their advice on successfully connecting with recruiters at a career fair. 
     
    Featured employers: Advansix, NAVAIR Fleet Readiness Center East, Urban Design Partners, & Volvo  
    Please register using the link on this page, where you'll also be able to submit questions to the employer panel! https://app.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1574999

  3. Resume Writing for Graduate Students • 9/4 • 10-11am • ZOOM 
    Having a well-polished resume is a critical step toward getting an interview. Start preparing early to be ready for Fall career fairs. This workshop will provide tips for crafting an effective resume. The session will also include information on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the use of generative AI in crafting your resume. You can register for this event in Handshake. https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1566045/share_preview  

  4. APIDA and Indigenous Women Identifying Support Group • 9/4 • 12-1pm • ZOOM 
    How we communicate to others and receive communication from those in our lives is unique. It is important to recognize how communication in all its forms influences our wellbeing. September’s Wellness events will focus on the theme of communication and how we can assert our boundaries. Join the APIDA and Indigenous Women Identifying Support Group to discuss how the role of communication plays in our lives. Registration Link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtf-CgrDIqH9yoMtxWRUkDGpmgB4HuCmqC  

  5. New Faculty hire Conversations • 9/4 & 9/25 • 12-1pm • ZOOM 
    Two more new faculty hire conversations are planned for September. Join us on Zoom for these informal conversations with former Virginia Tech postdocs who have recently transitioned to faculty positions. Come with your questions about navigating the faculty job market, being a new faculty member, and more!  For more information, visit https://www.research.vt.edu/about/postdoctoral-associates/postdoctoral-events-programs/2024/new-faculty-hire-conversations-series-2024.html. 

  6. Inner Peace Assn. Kick-Start Meditation Event • 9/5 • 3:30-4:30pm • NVC Room 200 
    Join us for a journey of mindfulness at the Inner Peace Assn. Kick-Start Meditation Event! Experience guided meditation, breathing exercises, and gratitude practices designed to help you achieve inner calm and clarity. Enjoy healthy snacks and receive self-care resources afterward to support your wellness journey. Open to everyone—whether you're new to meditation, a seasoned practitioner, a graduate/PhD student, or VT staff. For questions, contact rashmi.kulkarni@vt.edu. We look forward to seeing you there! 
    RSVP here to secure your spot
    Join Inner Peace Assn.

  7. Game Night • 9/5 • 5-7pm • NVC Café 
    Join the Graduate School and NVC Library/Resource Center for a Game Night event. This is the perfect opportunity to interact and mingle with classmates as well learn about the Graduate School & Northern Virginia Resource Center services. The most important part of the event is that it allows students the opportunity to build on their social skills, create a community through cultural exchange and relieve symptoms of anxiety during the beginning of the Fall semester.  

    Register to attend on Gobbler Connect. You must have a Gobbler Connect account to RSVP. Contact dcgradschool@vt.edu with any questions. 

  8. Meet with the Graduate & Professional Student Senate • 9/5 • 5-7pm • ZOOM 
    Come let your voice be heard at the Graduate and Professional Student Senate meetings, from 5-7pm every other Thursday all year! Open to all graduate students. We still need senators from many departments, please consider signing up to represent your department. Meetings occur biweekly. 
    Sign up to attend on Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0oduGprj8oHdZKaxJ6rzXPYMSniOv8w7vL  
    Email gpss@vt.edu with any access needs. 

Looking Forward

  1. Getting Started with Zotero • 9/9 • 2:30-3:45pm • ZOOM 
    Zotero is a free, easy-to-use citation manager that can help researchers save time and frustration. In this 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). To get the most out of the session, you should have Zotero downloaded to your computer already. Information on how to download the software is available at guides.lib.vt.edu/citationmanagers/Zotero. Register at  https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/12699284  

  2. Tips and Tricks for Literature Reviews in Engineering • 9/11 • 2:30-3:45pm • ZOOM 
    You need to write a literature review for your research or project... but how do you get started? What type of review do you need? What about AI tools to save time? We will go through the answers to these questions and more in the workshop! By the end of the workshop, you will learn how to get started on your own literature review, be effective and efficient in searching engineering literature, and use tools to help you throughout the process. Whether you are new to literature reviews or even outside of engineering, all are welcome to attend this workshop! Register at: https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/12699295

  3. APIDA and Indigenous Mixed Race Support Group • 9/11 • 3:00-4:00pm • ZOOM 
    Please join us for the APIDA and Indigenous Mixed Race Support Group. This support group focuses on the experiences of students with multiple racial identities but is open to all students. The theme for September centers around communication. This meeting will provide an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences, provide support, and learn from one another. Zoom link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEldeqrrTkiGtGzh3wmcSXnbFNa2kRnYL5X

  4. Women and Gender in Developemnt Discussion Series • 9/12 • 12:30-1:30pm • ZOOM 
    This is the first Women and Gender in Development Discussion Series event (virtual) for Fall 2024 featuring Ms. Sidra Khalid from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The title of her talk is “Who is more water insecure? Gendered evidence from urban Pakistan.” The event is free, but prior registration is required. Visit https://rb.gy/1w1x3i for more information. Sidra is an experienced international development practitioner and researcher in gender and social inclusion. She is based in Pakistan working with IWMI and has led projects across diverse sectors, including WASH, reproductive health, livelihoods, and women’s empowerment, championing gender equity and social inclusion.  

  5. Hokie One Stop Open House • 9/12 • 2-4pm • NVC Room 495
    Come meet the friendly faces behind the Hokie One Stop during our Open House. This is an opportunity to learn more about the student services offered in the D.C. Metro Area and meet our newly hired Student Services Associate. Light refreshments will be provided. Email dchokieonestop@vt.edu with questions.

  6. Master Your Future: PhD: Patiently Hoping for a Degree • 9/17 • 12-1pm • Virtual 
    Master Your Future is a series of professional development workshops designed to help students successfully navigate graduate school and their professional development. https://shorturl.at/OjMVH

  7. Tech on Tap • 9/17 • 6-8pm • Virginia Tech Innovation Campus HQ, 3000 Potomac Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305 
    Join us for a discussion on Virginia Tech’s place in Alexandria’s past, present, and future! The discussion will be led by Susan Piedmont-Palladino, director of the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, and Sven Shockey, Virginia Tech alum and leader of the design team for Innovation Campus Academic Building One in Potomac Yard. Registration is $10 and includes a $5 gift to the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center. Your registration also covers appetizers and a drink ticket. We will be serving Hardywood Fightin' Hokies Lager and Hardywood Pils, as well as other beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Tech on Tap is typically attended by alumni and locals in industry. Join us for an illuminating evening, steps from the new building! https://www.alumni.vt.edu/events/2024/09/tech-on-tap.html

  8. Flip the Fair 2024 • 9/26 • 8:30am-2pm • Roanoke, VA  
    Flip the Fair is a flipped science fair where graduate students present their research science-fair-style on tri-fold poster boards, and 5th graders judge them! Prizes awarded to the best presenters. This year’s event will be held at the Melrose Branch Library in Roanoke. 
    - Sign up to present: https://forms.gle/K18YMj24aViy1oaWA   
    - Sign up to volunteer: https://forms.gle/kQvn7ub3ifkhBZFTA    
    Sponsored by the Roanoke Public Libraries, Roanoke City Public Schools, VSOP, VT Global Change Center, VT Center for Communicating Science, VT Office of Inclusion & Diversity, The Graduate School, FBRI@VTC, VT College of Sciences, and FLSI.  
    Questions: Contact the organizing team: gatespalissery@vt.edu, amandaah@vt.edu, megane97@vt.edu

  9. Master Your Future: Thriving in Grad School: Enhancing Well-Being and Success through Mindfulness and Psychological Safety • 10/22 • 12-1pm • Virtual 
    View the series flyer. Register: https://shorturl.at/OjMVH  

  10. Master Your Future: Moving from Conflict to Collaboration • 11/26 • 12-1pm • Virtual 
    View the series flyer. Register: https://shorturl.at/OjMVH  

Job Opportunities

  1. Graduate School Student Assistants, D.C. Area • apply ASAP, position will close on 9/6 
    The Graduate School in the D.C. metro area is seeking two student assistants to provide in-person support and planning for events and various projects throughout the academic year, including Orientation and Commencement.  
    https://vt.joinhandshake.com/jobs/9235901 
     
    Assistant responsibilities include:

    • Assist with planning and logistics for large and small scale events, everything from game nights to Commencement
    • Onsite event support as needed for events
    • Creation of collateral for events including flyers, social media posts, etc
    • Administrative duties including but not limited to front desk support for the Hokie One Stop, storage room organization and inventory, and general assistance in preparation for moving to the Innovation Campus
       

  2. Communications and Marketing Intern, D.C. Area • apply ASAP, open until filled 
    An internship with the D.C. area communications and marketing team will provide hands-on experience for a student to learn about content creation for various communication channels, including social media platforms and the D.C. area website, as well as other marketing and communications projects as assigned.  
    https://vt.joinhandshake.com/jobs/9210491 
     
    Internship responsibilities include:

    • Brand review and compliance for D.C. area collateral
    • Social media content creation, collaboration, and coordination across the D.C. area platforms
    • Website content updates and communications support
    • Newsletter content and social media coordination for student communications
    • Media relations support to promote D.C. area research, faculty expertise, and student success
    • Onsite event support as needed
    • Monitoring and tracking of communications metrics and reporting
    • Assist with project management and execution of D.C. area communications initiatives

Administrative Announcements

  1. University Council Meeting – Sept. 16, 2024 at 3:30pm 
    Interested in formulating and implementing university policies, join the University Council meetings. The 2024-25 University Council meetings will be in a hybrid format starting at 3:30pm. In-person meetings will take place at 2420 North End Center. For zoom meeting, reach out to April Myers (abmyers@vt.edu) for the Zoom link. This month's University Council Meeting will take place on September 16th at 3:30pm. For more information about University Council, visit https://governance.vt.edu/BodyDetails/UC.

  2. Course Materials Affordability Solutions 
    Course materials can be expensive. The University Libraries offers the following solutions for Graduate and Undergraduate students: Library-owned eTextbooks list aligned to Fall 2024 courses, access strategies, sources for open educational resources (OER), and an anonymous student feedback form to share course material experiences. Visit https://bit.ly/2-expensive for more information.  

  3. University Libraries’ Long-Term Technology Lending Available for Fall 2024  
    The University Libraries' long-term technology loans are now open for fall 2024! Application deadline is Sept. 5. 
     
    The Studios Technology Lending Desk has equipment available for semester-long special research, teaching, and personal projects. Requesters will fill out the form for equipment, and if there are more requests than equipment available, the decision for who will receive the equipment will be made via weighted random lottery. 
     
    Research or teaching projects and projects involving a library or TLOS partnership carry more weight. For priority consideration and inclusion in the lottery, requests should be submitted by Sept. 5, 2024. Others will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Equipment pickup will begin the third week of the semester and must be returned within a week of the semester's end. 
     
    Apply for equipment: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScN9TxiC4V_t4fBuk54Kxwyn4-j7ExJKIsLbZr-NA9tknkYPQ/viewform 
    Questions? Email techlending@vt.edu. 

View more ongoing services

Ongoing Services

View current information from this section, Ongoing Services, and ongoing but previously posted Administrative Announcements on the website at https://dcarea.vt.edu/students/newsletter/ongoing.  

Volunteers and research participants sought

  1. Participants needed for a study investigating essay writing and ChatGPT 
    We are looking for participants who will be asked to write a paper with the assistance of ChatGPT. Participants will also answer a pre- and post-study survey. The findings from these surveys will be used to better understand the query process behind using ChatGPT in the context of essay writing. The study was reviewed and accepted by the IRB (# 24-325) and is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Sang Won Lee (sangwonlee@vt.edu).  
     
    Participants must be 18 years or older. If you are interested in participating, please start the study at the following link: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/GPTWritingPreSurvey.    
     
    If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Jelson at jelson9854@vt.edu. The research team will enter the essays into a random drawing and compensation will be given to approximately twenty percent of participants as a $10 gift card. Odds of being selected will be maintained as 1 in 5. The participants will be contacted separately. 

  2. Master’s endurance and ultra-endurance athletes needed for a research study 
    We are examining the relationship between physical activity and total number of calories expended each day (IRB #21-567). This study will require 1 virtual meeting and 2 visits to the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory at Virginia Tech, which will take approximately 6 hours. Participant qualifications:

    • Highly Active Masters' Athletes (60 years of age or older)
    • Has an average weekly mileage of 35 miles or more
    • Stable body weight over the past year (±5 lb.)
    • Free of cardiovascular, lung, metabolic, kidney disease or cancer
    • Has competed in a marathon or ultramarathon with the past year
    • Has not had any recent injuries that have affected training volume 

    Participants will be entered in a drawing for $25 cash. (Odds of being selected 1 in 5) 
     
    View the flyer. For questions, contact: Aubrey Johnson aubreyleahj@vt.edu  

     

Have a great week! 

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External Funding Opportunities

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