WELCOME, NEW GRADUATE STUDENTS! | |
|
Welcome, New Tartans!
On Friday, January 12, the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs was pleased to welcome Carnegie Mellon’s newest graduate students to campus with University-Wide New Graduate Student Orientation! The afternoon began with lunch, followed by words of welcome from leadership including Maggie Sikora, Director for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs; Amy Burkert, Vice Provost for Education; and Gina Casalegno, Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs. Members of the Graduate Student Assembly took the stage to discuss their important work on campus. Two panels–The Basics at CMU and Academic Success Resources–gave new students the opportunity to learn about on-campus dining options, safety on campus, how to get around town, how to connect with school-specific librarians, where to find academic support, and much more.
Among the highlights of the day’s programming was a panel of current master’s and doctoral students from across the university who generously shared their experiences as students, researchers, and Pittsburghers. It was a perfect lead-in to the final event, a Dessert Reception with families and partners.
Suffusing these events was students’ excitement about their CMU journey, and the beginning of the semester ahead. We were happy to meet so many of you in person and are excited about future opportunities to connect.
We’ve created a slideshow of photos from Orientation, which we hope you enjoy. Welcome, new Tartans!
| |
INTRODUCING:
PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT FUNDING!
| | |
|
Introducing...Professional Engagement Funding!
Beginning in February 2024, the Provost’s Office is pleased to announce the pilot of a new source of funding called Professional Engagement Funding. Professional Engagement Funding joins Conference Funding and GuSH Research Grants in supporting master’s and doctoral students at Carnegie Mellon. The Provost created this funding source based on feedback from members of the graduate student community, who expressed a desire to distinguish between funding for students who are presenting at conferences and those who wish to pursue professional engagement opportunities for other reasons.
The purpose of Professional Engagement Funding is to offer graduate students some support for attending a conference or other professional engagement opportunity to network, perform, deepen knowledge, or compete within their field of study. The priority audience of this funding is master’s students, but all graduate students are welcome to apply.
More details are available on the website of The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.
Award & Application Process
For this pilot, Professional Engagement Funding awards will be made in the amount of $250 for individuals.
The pilot application cycle will run concurrently with the application cycle for Conference Funding. The next cycle opens February 19, 2024, for both Conference Funding and Professional Engagement Funding. Students should apply for only one type of funding; additional applications will be discarded. A prioritized lottery for each type of funding will determine awardees. In subsequent cycles, the application and award process for each type of funding may change.
Students can receive either type of funding–but not both types. If a student does not receive funding, they are free to apply again for either type of funding in the next cycle(s).
What Type of Funding Should I Apply For?
Visit The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs website for comprehensive guidelines about which type of funding you should apply for!
| |
Application Updates for
Conference Funding, Professional Engagement Funding,
and GuSH Research Grants
Conference Funding:
The application period for winter Conference Funding, covering conferences
that will take place January 1 - March 31, 2024, has closed.
Applicants have been notified of the results.
The next application period for Conference Funding, covering conferences that will take place April 1 - June 30, 2024, will be February 19 - March 1.
Professional Engagement Funding:
The first application period for the pilot of Professional Engagement Funding, covering conferences and opportunities that will take place April 1 - June 30, 2024, will be February 19 - March 1.
GuSH Research Grants:
The application period for Spring 2024 GuSH Research Grants has closed. Applications are currently being reviewed, and the results
will be announced soon. The next application period will open in April.
Visit the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs website for the most up-to-date information on applying for Conference Funding, Professional Engagement Funding, and GuSH Research Grants.
| | |
|
The Steinbrenner Institute's Sustainability Symposium
The Steinbrenner Institute's Sustainability Symposium is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to showcase projects and research that relate to sustainability. Students across all schools and colleges at Carnegie Mellon University are eligible to sign up. Projects are usually presented through posters, but there are no hard guidelines—they can be of any form.
A judging panel will independently evaluate projects to determine winners of our two $1,500 Travel Award prizes, which are meant to cover travel expenses and registration fees for conferences. Read about last year's winners here. Lunch will also be provided.
The deadline to sign up is March 1st, 2024 by 11:59PM. Only those presenting at the symposium are required to sign up. All are welcome to attend.
| | |
|
The Eberly Center Student Partners
The Eberly Center invites current graduate students to consider becoming Eberly Center Student Partners! Student Partners will work in partnership with CMU instructors receiving Eberly Center fellowships to help design, implement, and assess a teaching innovation. An ESP's role is to bring their perspective and lived experience to the table to help design meaningful, student- and DEIB-centered learning experiences. These are paid positions, and all graduate students who will be enrolled during the 24-25 academic year are welcome to apply! Hiring decisions will be made on a rolling basis until March 1, 2024. Apply via this form. More information is available here.
| | |
|
Learn About Data!
The theme of this year’s love data week is “My Kind of Data.” CMU Libraries is excited to help all students, faculty, and staff who are engaging with different kinds of data to understand, use, communicate, and code with it. From Monday, February 12, through Friday, February 16, a variety of virtual and in-person workshops will offer hands-on experience in working with and manipulating data. Anyone who attends one (or more) workshops will earn a unique badge to certify their attendance and skill training.
Full schedule of events can be found here!
| | |
|
Save the Dates:
Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week, April 1 - 5, 2024
Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week will take place April 1 - 5, 2024! We are planning a full week of events and programming to demonstrate CMU's appreciation of graduate students' value and impact.
Do you have ideas for events, programming, discounts, or offerings for this year's Appreciation Week? We'd love to know about them. Click the link below to share your thoughts!
| |  |
|
Mark Your Calendars!
Take a look at these calendars to stay up to date on upcoming and ongoing events on campus!
For a full list of student organizations and events of all kinds, be sure to explore TartanConnect, CMU's official campus engagement platform.
| | |
|
Winter Is Here!
Winter is upon us! Prepare for cold temperatures and snow by stocking up on sweaters, outerwear, and boots. The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs has created a shopping guide for your cold-weather needs!
| | |
|
Did You Know?
You can find past issues of The Graduate Student News linked on the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs website. If you're new to CMU, peruse past issues to learn more about campus resources and partners!
| | |
Graduate Student Assembly (GSA)
The GSA is the branch of CMU's student government that represents graduate students. The GSA organizes social events, advocates for issues important to graduate students, and provides funding for graduate organizations and professional development. To find your department rep, the GSA events calendar, the executive committee, and more, check out their website. You can also follow the GSA on Instagram.
| | |
| |
GRADUATE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | |
This month's Graduate Student Spotlight column features doctoral student Jenny Chang and master's student Anna Soryal. Read on to see their answers to OGPA's Spotlight Questions! | |
Jenny Chang (she/her)
College: Dietrich College, Department of Social and Decision Sciences
Year / Degree Program: 4th-year PhD student, Behavioral Decision Research
Hometown: Rogers, Arkansas
What are your academic and/or professional goals?
My primary academic goal for the upcoming year is to successfully propose my dissertation. Following the completion of my degree, my plan is to pursue a career in academia, where I can be involved in two of my passions—research and teaching!
Tell us about a significant moment in your academic journey at CMU so far.
The highlight of my academic journey thus far has been the experience of fostering meaningful connections with colleagues and other researchers in my field. I feel incredibly lucky to be in such a supportive environment at CMU!
What do you like to do in your time away from academic work?
I love cooking for my family and friends! Last semester, my friends and I took this to the next level by making wontons and selling them at the Squirrel Hill Farmer’s Market. We had such a blast that we’re gearing up to do it again this year—come to our Cup of Wontons stall next spring for some delicious wontons! :) I also love to explore Pittsburgh with my dog, Bumi.
Tell us about your last memorable meal. What was it, where did you have it, and who were you with?
A recent memorable meal was with my husband at Mola, our favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh. Amazing food, great people, and a super homey vibe! I would honestly eat there every day if I could.
What’s your favorite thing about Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh holds a special place in my heart! I live in Lawrenceville, which is such a vibrant neighborhood with lots of restaurants and shops within walking distance. It seems like there are always exciting events going on near me, so I never get bored.
| |
|
Anna Soryal (she/her)
College: College of Fine Arts
Year / Degree Program: 2nd-year master's student, Architecture
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
What are your academic and/or professional goals?
My main professional & academic goal is to work toward equity in the built environment. Architecture reflects our cultural values as much as it reflects the ownership of capital-- I'm steadfast in the pursuit of a liberatory architecture that serves the working class.
Tell us about a significant moment in your academic journey at CMU so far.
Some of my most significant moments at CMU took place last semester as I became involved in ACT, or Against Carceral Tech; it's a student & alumni-run organization that works to resist surveillance, predictive policing, and other forms of oppressive technology employed by the state.
What do you like to do in your time away from academic work?
As someone who loves drawing and painting, I've really enjoyed applying henna on myself & my friends the past few years. It's a way to connect with my Egyptian heritage in the diaspora, as well as tatting myself up without the commitment. Y'all would laugh if you saw how tiny my one tattoo is.
Tell us about your last memorable meal. What was it, where did you have it, and who were you with?
My classmates and I absolutely tore UP a potluck dinner in November--these folks simply do not play when it comes to pani puri, jollof rice, masala khichdi...That meal left me seriously food-drunk the entire bus ride home.
What’s your favorite thing about Pittsburgh?
I've been grateful to find people from many different walks of life & corners of the world in Pittsburgh. It's been rewarding to find comrades whose experiences differ so much and yet they've led us to such similar pursuits in life.
| |
Submit your news and events to the newsletter!
We'd love to share your news and events with the graduate student community.
Submit the details here!
| | | | |
