Vice Provost for Graduate Education and International Affairs

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August 2023 Newsletter

The Graduate Center's New Home

Dear Students,

I hope that you are enjoying a productive summer while also taking some time to unwind.

As you work on your schedule for the 2023–24 academic year, please note the many opportunities for engagement and development for graduate and professional students. We have highlighted just a few below so that you may begin your planning now.

For our graduate and professional students with families, I would like to recommend you take a look at the Child and Family Care Resources and attend the August 15 virtual session on Childcare Resources in the St. Louis Area (detailed below).

Finally, I am excited to share that The Graduate Center relocated to the Ann W. Olin Women’s Building (featured above). The new space includes a large commons space, a large conference room, a small meeting room, and a private interview room—all available for reservation. The new location, directly accessible from the heart of campus, will position The Graduate Center to be a visible hub serving the graduate and professional student population across the university. I encourage you to stop by the new space this semester!

I hope you continue to enjoy the summer and look forward to seeing you soon.

Warm regards,

—Vijay K. Ramani, vice provost for graduate education and international affairs

Present Your Research in 3 Minutes for a Chance to Win Prizes up to $1000

The McDonnell International Scholars Academy invites you to enter their Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition, specially designed to feature the thematic work of graduate students.

The 3MT® event challenges graduate students to articulate their complex research clearly and concisely to non-specialist audiences in three minutes or less. Adapted for an upcoming Symposium, 3MT® presentations will be focused around one of the thematic areas: the environment, social innovation, global health, and digital transformation.

This opportunity is open to active graduate student (PhD and master’s degree) at WashU or a McDonnell International Scholars Academy partner institution enrolled in a full-time graduate degree program.

Details can be found here. Submission deadline is August 15, 2023.

Engagement Opportunities 2023–24

As you begin to establish goals for the academic year, please keep the following opportunities for engagement and development in mind. Opportunities listed are open to all graduate and professional students across all programs unless noted.

University-wide Graduate Student Groups: There are many ways for graduate and professional students to get involved in the WashU community and beyond! The Student Groups listed here are open to graduate and professional students across all schools, and provide cultural, academic, and social programming.

Pivot 314 Program: This year-long program presented by The Graduate Center and the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship is designed for mid-career PhD students to explore possible career pathways outside and alongside of the academy, through engagement with the St. Louis entrepreneurial community. The program runs for one calendar year beginning in January and includes an experiential learning opportunity through a 10-week paid internship with an early-stage startup in St. Louis. The application opens in September. Learn more about the Program here. Note: This opportunity is for students in PhD programs.

Bouchet Graduate Honor Society: The Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, established in 2005 by Yale University and Howard University, recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement. WashU Chapter inductees attend the Annual Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education in the year that they are inducted into the Society. Learn more about the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, including application and eligibility information. This opportunity is for students in PhD programs.

2024 Graduate Research Symposium: WashU’s Graduate Student Senate hosts an annual Graduate Research Symposium each year open to graduate and professional students of all disciplines and fields that seek to showcase the breadth and depth of graduate research being produced at WashU. Details about this year’s event is forthcoming, but students can review last year’s program here for more information.

Below is a select list of upcoming events hosted by a variety of campus partners. Please visit The Graduate Center’s calendar for a list of additional upcoming events.

OTM Office Hours: Intellectual Property 101

@4240 - OTM, Suite 110

August 10 (3–4 p.m.)

OTM Office Hours is a series from WashU's Office of Technology Management covering current topics in tech transfer and innovation. A panel of OTM experts will cover intellectual property basics, including how the process works at WashU. Learn how to submit a disclosure, what makes something patentable, and what factors can affect the journey to receiving a patent.

Childcare Resources in the

STL Area

Virtual

August 15 (11 a.m.–12 p.m.)

Join Lisa Eberle-Mayes, MA, the Child and Family Care Facilitator for WashU, to learn about the childcare landscape in the St. Louis area and options for your families. Bring your questions! Perfect for new parents or new graduate/professional students at WashU.

rsvp to receive zoom link

Center for Teaching and Learning

Graduate Student Mentored Teaching Experience (MTE) Orientation

August 15–24

Will you be an AI (Assistant in Instruction) for the first time at WashU in Fall '23 or Spring '24?

Have questions about how to approach teaching at WashU?

familiarizing yourself with common concerns and policies, workshopping one aspect of your teaching, and

learning from experienced AIs in your area.

Data Services’ New Faculty and Graduate Student Meet and Greet

John M. Olin Library

August 24 (3:30–5 p.m.)

New faculty and graduate students are invited to meet the Data Services team and learn more about the services offered by the department. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please visit the Data Services website.

no registration required for this event

Opportunities and Additional Events

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Application is Open:

The NSF GRFP was designed to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship period for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. more information

Buchheit Graduate Student Family Support Fund: WashU has launched a new initiative, the Buchheit Graduate Student Family Support Fund, to support graduate and professional students with financial need who have dependents under their care. more information

Hispanic Heritage Month: The Latin Graduate Student Association (LGSA) is looking for Latin artists that would be interested in displaying their artwork during the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, Noche de Cultura, on September 16. Please email Jennell Encizo for more information.

Free NCFDD Membership: Claim your free membership to the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD). Learn more about this free membership available to WashU graduate and professional students, postdocs, and trainees.

Our monthly newsletter is designed to keep our graduate and professional students up to date on events and opportunities. If you know of someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please forward this sign-up link.

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