The GCC WEEKLY | February 25, 2025 | |
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Present Your Research at Upcoming Ecological & Biocultural Restoration Symposium
The GCC's Biocultural and Ecological Research Initiative (BERI) is seeking poster abstract submissions from Virginia Tech graduate students for the upcoming Ecological and Biocultural Restoration Symposium on April 4. This symposium provides a platform for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdocs, to showcase their restoration and community-based research to an interdisciplinary audience. The event will highlight interdisciplinary research, community-based approaches, and aquatic-terrestrial linkages. Poster title submissions are due by March 3.
Submission Deadline: March 3
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Mark Your Calendar:
Spring Funding Deadlines
This spring, several funding opportunities are available for faculty, fellows, postdocs, and undergraduates. Deadlines range from March to April, 2025, with funding opportunities supporting the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Stay informed and plan ahead to take advantage of these valuable opportunities.
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Applications Open for NIH-Funded REH T32 Program
The GCC is accepting applications for the REH T32 predoctoral training program, designed to prepare PhD students for careers addressing environmental health challenges in rural landscapes. Fellows will receive two years of funding, including NIH-level stipends, tuition coverage, and research support up to $10,000 annually. Participants will also access specialized analytical chemistry resources and complete interdisciplinary coursework through the IGC IGEP. Open to incoming or current PhD students at Virginia Tech, this unique opportunity equips trainees with skills to make an impact in environmental health sciences. Applications are due by March 15.
Submission Deadline: March 15
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MSRA Stream Restoration Seminar & Job Fair
The Maryland Stream Restoration Association (MSRA) is hosting a Stream Restoration Seminar & Job Fair on Saturday, March 1, at the University of Maryland from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This event provides students with a valuable opportunity to explore career pathways in the expanding field of stream and ecological restoration. Attendees will gain insights from industry professionals, learn about the skills hiring managers prioritize, and engage in discussions on current trends in the field. The event will conclude with a Job Fair, where students can connect with leading companies offering entry-level positions and internships.
Event Date: March 1
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Apply for $2000 Field Inclusive Travel Award
Field Inclusive is offering a $2,000 Travel Award to support a student (undergraduate, master's, doctoral, or postdoc) in attending a scientific conference, training, or workshop in Summer 2025. This opportunity is open to students at U.S. institutions, including international students with a U.S. bank account. Applicants must be members of Field Inclusive and submit a one-page essay detailing their financial need and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The deadline to apply is April 1.
Application Deadline: April 1
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Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program Application Open
The Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program offers rising seniors, graduating seniors, and graduate/professional students an exciting opportunity to gain firsthand experience in state government administration. Open to all majors, the program places students in various secretariats based on their interests and experience, providing invaluable exposure to public service and policymaking. The program runs from June 2 through August 1, with a stipend of $3,600 for the two-month duration.
Application Deadline: March 3
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Courtney Leisner
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
| GCC faculty affiliate Dr. Courtney Leisner is conducting groundbreaking research on how suboptimal growth conditions impact crop physiology, development, and nutritional quality. Her work integrates crop plant physiology, genomics, and molecular biology to explore resilience mechanisms that could help produce sustainable future food. Dr. Leisner's research spans various fruit and vegetable cropping systems, applying interdisciplinary approaches to understand plant responses to climate change. | |
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Picture a Scientist:
Film & Reel Talk Panel
In celebration of Women’s Month, Picture a Scientist will be screened on Wednesday, March 5, at 7 PM at The Lyric Theatre in downtown Blacksburg (doors open at 6:30 PM). The event will include a "Reel Talk" panel discussion featuring GCC faculty affiliate Dr. Rachel Reid, IGC fellow Amber Wendler, and other Virginia Tech faculty and students. The discussion will explore gender representation in STEM and ways to foster a more inclusive research community.
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Science on Tap: the Secret Behind Octopus Arms
Ever wondered how an octopus controls its eight flexible arms? Join Science on Tap on February 27 at 5:30 PM at Rising Silo Brewery to explore this question with Virginia Tech assistant professor Dr. Noel Naughton. Learn how octopuses use biomechanical and neural strategies to move—and how this research is shaping robotic design. Try your hand at controlling soft robotic arms and experience the engineering challenges firsthand! Free and open to the public.
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Celebrate NISAW: Invasive Species Exhibit at Newman
As part of National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), the GCC's Invasive Species Collaborative (ISC) will be at Newman Library on Tuesday, February 25 from 2:00-3:00 PM to provide valuable information about invasive insects and plants in Virginia, focusing on ornamentals. Attendees can also access resources for species identification and reporting. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the invasive species exhibit at Newman Library and connect with ISC affiliates and partners.
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Run in Remembrance with Virginia Tech Community
Join the 3.2-Mile Run in Remembrance on Saturday, April 12. This event honors the 32 students and faculty lost in 2007 with a 3.2-mile loop around the Blacksburg campus, including stops at landmarks such as The Grove and Lane Stadium, concluding at the April 16 Memorial. A moment of silence will begin the run. Virtual participation is available for those unable to attend. For more event details, including registration and volunteer opportunities, please visit the event page.
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Virginia Tech Panel Explores Policy Impacts on Health and the Environment
GCC faculty affiliates Dr. Austin Gray, Dr. Ryan Calder, and Dr. Julia Gohlke, along with IGC Fellow Luke Goodman, participated in Virginia Tech’s Health and Environmental Policy panel on February 20. Hosted by +Policy Network and the Science Policy Education and Advocacy Club, the discussion explored the impact of local, national, and international policies on environmental and health-related issues. Panelists examined topics such as the Inflation Reduction Act, plastic production regulations, and the challenges of funding environmental initiatives. The event highlighted the intersection of science, policy, and politics in shaping environmental outcomes.
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Do you have an opportunity or announcement you'd like to share with the GCC community? Send us an email!
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