Graduate School Announcements
July 10, 
2017
Contents
News:
Colman Leadership Program Helps Ph.D.s Hone their Leadership Skills

On June 16, 27 doctoral students graduated from the Summer 2017 Colman Leadership Program. During this intensive four-day immersion program, the students learned about leadership and group dynamics, acquired practical skills for negotiation and conflict resolution, and developed an appreciation of the value of diversity in all contexts.

 

Romance studies Ph.D. candidate Antonio Di Fenza  "was looking to further develop the communication and management skills that will allow me to tune in with a diversity-based team. I was also eager to meet other leaders, learn about their projects, and expand my network."

 

Read more...

Inclusion Innovations to Improve the Graduate Education Climate

GradEdge, July 2017 (Council of Graduate Schools) 
Barbara A. Knuth, Sara Xayarath Hernández, Colleen McLinn, Cornell University

Confronting -Isms and Phobias

Like other leaders in graduate education in the United States, we are concerned that implicit and explicit biases, racism, sexism, and other "-isms" and social "phobias" such as Islamophobia, are negatively affecting the ability of graduate students and scholars to thrive academically and personally. We are honored to receive the 2016 ETS/CGS Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education as one step we are taking to challenge and confront this negativity.

Through this award, we are designing and implementing a series of innovative, active interventions to foster a more inclusive climate at Cornell. Our innovations engage graduate students, faculty, and staff and aim to achieve a campus climate where incidents of bias are minimized, and in which all graduate students feel valued and have a sense of belonging among their peers and faculty. Four keys to our inclusion innovations are interactive theatre, facilitated dialogue, learning from lived experiences, and collaborating with others to broaden impact.

Read more...
Graduate Student Earns Fellowship for Work on Cucumbers


Lauren Brzozowski inspects cucumber plants in the Guterman Greenhouse Complex.

Greenhouse fans hum overhead as graduate student Lauren Brzozowski steps from pot to pot, prepping towering cucumber plants for pollination.

The pollen from male flowers is being capped around female flowers as the plant breeding graduate student makes fresh crosses inside the Guterman greenhouse complex. Her goal: helping cucumber growers across the eastern U.S. save their fields from pests and disease.



Graduate Students in the News

Data-Mining 100 Million Instagram Photos Reveals Global Clothing Patterns

 

MIT Technology Review

Graduate student Kevin Matzen 

Computer Science


Cornell Chronicle, 7/5/2017
Graduate student Shovan Dutta
Physics

Out of the Blue: Medieval Fragments Yield Surprises
Cornell Chronicle, 7/6/2017  
Louisa Smieska, M.S. '12, Ph.D. '15, graduate student Ruth Mullett
Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Medieval Studies Program
Graduate Students Win Multiple Honors at Food Technologist Competition

Cornell's Jack'd Jerky - a nutritious vegan snack that offers a refreshing respite from salt-laden meat jerky - won the 2017 Institute of Food Technologists' Student Association & Mars Product Development competition June 27 in Las Vegas.

It's the seventh time since the contest started in 1991 that Cornell has won. The team responsible was composed of undergraduate and graduate students. 

 

Other winners include:

 

  • Emily Griep, Ph.D. '18, first place in the dairy foods division, "Microbial Removal from Skim Milk Using Different Pore Size Microfiltration: Impact on Milk Quality and Shelf Life."
  • Belen Vila, M.S. '17, first place in the toxicology and safety evaluation division, "Effect of Juicing and Roasting on Cyanogenic Glycosides Content of Cherry Pits and Oil."
  • Charles C. Lee, Ph.D. '17, first place in the nutraceuticals and functional foods division, "Trihydroxyisofavone, a Major Daidzein Metabolite Found in Soybean-Fed Rat Plasma, Attenuates Monocyte-Endothelial Cell Adhesion."
  • Jason Lin, Ph. D. '18, second place in the food packaging division, "Solution-free Preparation of Metal Chelating Active Packaging Material and the Resulting Antioxidant Efficacy."
  • Doctoral candidate Yifan Yang, third place in nutrition division graduate student research paper competition, "Combination Effects of Bioactive Compounds from Fruit and Vegetables on Antiproliferative Activity in Human Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro."
Ask a Dean 

Question

Greetings Deans, 

We are about to submit a research paper that reports work that was started by a former graduate student and finished by a current grad student.  We would like to use a few paragraphs and one figure from the former student's dissertation (he is, of course, a coauthor on this new manuscript).  He did choose to copyright his dissertation.  

This material is about 6 pages out of his 199-page dissertation.So, do I need to obtain any permission(s) from Cornell or the Graduate School for use of this material in a new manuscript that we are preparing for submission to a journal?

Thanks so much for clarifying this for us!

All the best, 
Author-in-Waiting 


Question

Hello,

I've been receiving the graduate school announcements and it has come to my attention that I can email you questions. 

Last week, someone asked about extending the student health insurance plan, and the answer stated that it was possible to extend for one month. Is it possible for me to extend until October 1? (This is when my postdoctoral position begins and I need to bridge the gap.) I will be working on revising papers etc. with my advisors in an unofficial capacity.

Sincerely, 
Transitioning to Postdoc


Question

 

Dear Deans,

 

Last week's Announcements encouraged us to seek help with fellowship applications. I have successfully procured a postdoctoral fellowship for next year; however, I am hoping to find a second non-mutually exclusive fellowship if possible, because the salary is quite low. Are you aware of any fellowships for which I am eligible? (This research could quite flexibly fit into many categories.)

 

Unfortunately, the postdoctoral Fulbright, which would have been perfect, has a deadline a full year ahead of the award, which I think is quite unreasonable for a postdoctoral award that requires one not to have started the work, considering that PhD programs are not a fixed length and one can really not predict graduation and find a postdoctoral advisor that far ahead of time. They told me that the program is quite new, and were interested in my feedback about the timing, however, I am still not able to apply. 

 

Please let me know if you are aware of any other awards for which I may be eligible. 

 

Thank you so much for your guidance,

Fellowship Seeking Graduate Student

 

Read response


Question

 

Hi there,

 

I noticed that the Exercise Facility Reimbursement webpage states that the fitness center reimbursement will not be extended through the 2017-2018 plan year. Lots of people in my program use this benefit and I thought it was a great way to motivate people to exercise more, so I'm confused as to why it's being eliminated. Who made the decision to discontinue this benefit and why? Is there a possibility that it will be reinstated in later years or is it gone for good?

 

Thanks for your time.

Fitness-Conscious PhD Student




Email us your question, and a dean will answer within three business days. Some responses will be made anonymous and published. 


View the complete Ask a Dean archive with most recent questions on top. 
Registrar :
In Absentia Fall 2017

 

Submit In Absentia Request Now if You'll be Away for Fall 2017
 
If you plan to be engaged in full-time study at least 100 miles from campus during the fall semester you may apply for in absentia status. Please review the In Absentia form for general Information, requirements and checklist items.  Requests received after June 15th are subject to finance charges and additional fees.


Graduate School Programs :

Help Welcome New Students at Graduate School Orientation

 

Do you want to help new graduate and professional students learn about Cornell and the Ithaca area?  Do you want to be a part of the welcoming experience for our incoming students this August.  If you have been at Cornell for at least one year, we hope you will join us as a volunteer for one of our events on Monday, August 21 - Friday, August 25.   Volunteers will be needed for a variety of events, including the following:

  • Graduate School's Orientation for New Graduate and Professional Students (Monday, August 21)
  • ID Distribution
  • Resource Fair Set-Up
  • Resource Fair Help and Clean-Up
  • Ice Cream Social Event (Friday, August 25)
  • Ithaca By Night (Current students take a small group of new students out to dinner.  The Graduate School pays for your dinner; new students pay for their own.) (Tuesday, August 22)
  • Mix and Mingle (networking opportunity for new students prior to TGIF, hosted by current students) (Friday, August 25)

 We will have an informational meeting on Monday, August 14 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm for all those who sign up.  Here we will thank you, go over the details of your volunteer assignment, and make sure that everyone is all set for Orientation 2017.  If you can't attend, that is okay - we can communicate via email.  For planning purposes, please RSVP.   

 

If you have questions, please contact Janna Lamey.

 

Intergroup Dialogue Project: Summer Offerings for Graduate and Professional Students & Postdoctoral Scholars

Late Summer Schedule


 

The Intergroup Dialogue Project will host a second course for Graduate and Professional Students and Postdoctoral Scholars on the following dates: July 31st, August 3rd, August 7th, August 10th, August 14th, and August 17th. Each day will go from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. 

 

Interested graduate and professional degree students, and postdocs should complete the application by Monday, July 17. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact IDP Program Coordinator, Natasha Steinhall at nms68@cornell.edu or IDP Director, Dr. Adi Grabiner-Keinan at ag649@cornell.edu.

 

Application

To apply, please complete the application at https://cornell.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JyCIADRmzTBUUZ
 

Save the Date for the Student Family Swap Shop

Saturday, August 19 at the Big Red Barn

9:00 - 10:00 am - Drop Off Items

10:00 - 2:00 pm - Swap Takes Place

 

Do you and your family have slightly used items that you would like to donate to student-parents and their families?  Join us on August 19 for our first-ever Family Swap Shop.  We are looking for items such as infant-children clothes, toys, books, diapers, furniture, baby/kid-friendly household items and even maternity items to help support our families.  All items will be free!

 

As you are looking at your things this summer, keep this in mind.  Right now, we are looking to take inventory of items that families are willing to donate to our Family Swap Shop.  All you need to do is save the items and plan to bring them to the Big Red Barn on Saturday, August 19 from 9-10 am.  Of course, the students with families community is welcome to stay and do some swapping; that begins at 10 am.

 

If you have items, please sign up today!

Fellowships, Postdocs, and Awards:
 

Research for the Common Good


 

As a Catholic, Marianist institution dedicated to providing answers to the global issues of our time, the University of Dayton's School of Engineering announces its second annual engineering symposium for Ph.D. candidates - the 2017 Academic Research Colloquium (ARC). 

 

Application details

ARC is open to engineering Ph.D. students who are one to two years away from graduation. The selection process is highly competitive with 20 spots available. All expenses are paid. See application instructions and apply online by July 15, 2017, at go.udayton.edu/engineering-arc.
 

 
George Mitchell Scholarship 

The George J. Mitchell Scholarship supports one year of graduate study in any field at one of the eight institutions of higher learning in the Republic of Ireland.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens under the age of 30 with a record of intellectual distinction, leadership, extracurricular activity, and service to others.  Cornell endorsement is required.  Campus application deadline:  August 15, 2017.  Campus Contact:  BTF1@cornell.edu

More information on the Mitchell Scholarship is available at the Foundation's Web site.

Luce Scholarship

The Luce Scholarship program provides a stipend and an individually arranged job for one year to increase awareness of Asia among future leaders in American society.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens under 30 years of age and have demonstrated leadership in a chosen field.  

Applicants may NOT have a professed career interest in Asian affairs or have had significant exposure to Asia.  Otherwise all fields are welcome, including fine arts, environmental studies, public policy, engineering, architecture, veterinary medicine, agriculture, law, non-profit management, international relations, et al.

Cornell endorsement is required.  Campus Application Deadline:  October 5, 2017.  Campus contact:  BTF1@cornell.edu
Detailed information on the Luce is available at the Foundation's Web site.


The Emerging Researchers Summer 2017 Video Contest

 

Display your passion and creativity for science in a short video. We're looking for videos to explain an important scientific concept in a digestible form for an audience of middle school students, high school students, or otherwise lay person. 


 

Judging Criteria

Six finalists across the two categories (Undergraduate and Graduate) will be selected based on the aggregate of three scores: scientific merit, artistic merit, and creative combination of the science and art. From there, the finalist videos will be judges by our panel to determine the winners.


 

Prize Details

All six finalists will receive a complimentary 1-year AAAS student membership. In each of the two categories there will be a cash prize of $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $150 for third place.

Full contest rules and disclaimer are available at: http://new.emerging-researchers.org/video2017s-rules


Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans

The fellowship supports up to two years of graduate study in any field at an institution in the U.S.  "New Americans" - immigrants or children of immigrants - must be 30 or younger as of the application deadline and pursuing a graduate degree full-time in the U.S. in the academic year 2018-19.  

Applicants may apply to the fellowship at the same time that they are applying for graduate school, or after they are already enrolled in graduate school.  If an applicant was born abroad as a non-U.S. citizen, they must have been naturalized, be a green card holder, be adopted, or be a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.  If an applicant was born in the U.S., or was born abroad as a U.S. citizen, both parents must have been born abroad as non-U.S. citizens.  

Application deadline:  November 1, 2017. More information is available at the Soros's Web site.

Schwarzman Scholarship

 

The Schwarzman Scholarship supports a one-year master's degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing in one of three fields: public policy, international studies, or economics and business. Instruction will be in English. Applicants must have an excellent academic record and demonstrate leadership.  

 

Citizens of all countries are eligible.  Candidates must be under 29 years of age.  English proficiency test scores must be submitted if English is not the applicant's native language.  Applicants who hold passports from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao must apply via the China application system; this application deadline was May 31, 2017.  Applicants who hold passports from the US and all other countries must apply before September 28, 2017

 

NOTE:  Currently enrolled undergraduates need institutional endorsement from Cornell; alumni and graduate students do not need this endorsement.  Undergraduates must list Beth Fiori, Fellowship Coordinator, as their fourth recommender and submit their application to her (BTF1@cornell.edu) by September 14, 2017, in order to receive the institutional endorsement.  More information can be found on the Schwarzman Scholarship Web site.  

Career:
Launch your Academic Career

 

WPI's STEM Faculty Launch is a premier workshop for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers seeking tenure-track positions in the STEM fields.

Now in its third year, STEM Faculty Launch is open to candidates nationwide. Women and traditionally underrepresented minority candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

Where:
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Worcester, Massachusetts

When:
September 21-22, 2017

Application Deadline:
August 11, 2017

Participants will spend two days on the campus of WPI where they will attend a variety of interactive sessions, receive career advice and feedback from expert faculty, and gain exposure to project-based learning, a hallmark of WPI education.

 

All invited participants receive funding to cover travel expenses to and from WPI as well as lodging and meals during the workshop. For more information or to apply, visit www.wpi.edu/+facultylaunch


 

 
Academic Job Search Series

 

Interested in learning more about the academic job search process, and the materials you will need to gather for an application? Come to our lunch workshops on Wednesdays to learn more through presentations and activities. All of the below sessions are held in B51 Warren Hall and are brown bag events - bring your lunch and we'll provide drinks and dessert. Co-sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Studies and CU-CIRTL.

 

Writing a Teaching Statement

  • Wednesday, July 12, 2017 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm - RSVP
  • Presenters: Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies & Colleen McLinn, CU-CIRTL Director

 

Designing Your Research Statement Around Undergraduate Research

  • Wednesday, July 19, 2017 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm - RSVP
  • Presenter: Jeffrey Werner (SUNY Cortland)

 

See more Academic Job Search Series workshops and events

Wellness:
Infertility Discussion Group 

Thursday, July 13, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., EHOB Training Room #140. 


 

All Cornellians and their partners/spouses are welcome to attend.  Open discussion/facilitated dialogue.  Questions? Contact Michelle Artibee mla64@cornell.edu or 255-5298.  Register here

Stonewalled? Frustrated? Ignored? Have a conflict or concern?

 

 The Office of the Ombudsman is a safe place to turn for help. You can meet confidentially and off the record with an ombudsman to discuss options for any concerns or issues.

 

What an ombudsman does:

*          actively listens to you

*          provides information about Cornell policies, protocols, and resources

*          provides guidance on how to have a difficult conversation

*          helps you identify responsible options for moving forward

*          lets you control the process

*          respects your privacy and maintains confidentiality

To make an appointment to speak privately with an ombudsman, please email or call us at 607-255-4321. This is a free service for students, faculty, and staff.

 

For more information, please visit our website: www.ombudsman.cornell.edu

 

 

Spotlight on Cornell Resources - Title IX Office 

 

The Title IX Office was created to further the university's long-standing commitment to promoting a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all members of the Cornell community, in which incidents of sexual misconduct have no place.  


 

Sexual misconduct incidents include any occurrence of gender-based harassment, sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, sexual exploitation or other forms of sexual misconduct committed by or against students, staff or faculty.  


 

Coordinators and Deputy Coordinators provide information on resources for assistance and option to address concerns.  The Coordinators will maintain your privacy to the greatest extent possible, but are not confidential resources.  For confidential help, please visit our list of confidential resources. Any student who has concerns about sexual or gender-based discrimination is encouraged to seek assistance from this office:

 

  • Complaints concerning other students, please contact: The University Title IX Coordinator, Sarah Affel, at 607.255.2242 or titleix@cornell.edu
  • Complaints concerning faculty or staff, please contact: Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Staff and Faculty, Laurie Johnston, at 607.255.0290 or titleix@cornell.edu

 

Learn more about Cornell's Title IX Office 

 

 
Around Campus:


Safe Swimming in Ithaca
East Hill Farmer's Market

Now open every Wednesday, located across from Agava next to Rite Aid on Pine Tree Rd. Enjoy shopping for all the freshest fruits and veggies of the season, plus farm-fresh meats, baked goods, and delicious international food vendors -- without the big crowds!

Cornell Elves Summer Backpack Program


 

Help local kids in need get a great start on the new school year by donating a brand new backpack filled with school supplies! Shop the sales with this handy list, or bring cash or supplies to our team leaders. It only costs about $20 per child.

Campus Blood Drives


 

July 11-12-13, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Biotech G-10. Click here to make an appointment for your convenience; walk-ins are welcome!

Free Music 

CFCU Summer Concert Series - Ithaca Commons - Free
Cornell Summer Events - Tuesday performances, Wednesday lectures, Friday concerts - Free
Lansing Summer Concert Series - Myers Point - Donation accepted

Cinema Under the Stars at Cornell

Cornell Cinema's "Cinema Under the Stars" summer series, now in its 18th year, features another great audience-selected line-up. The four films will be shown outdoors on the Willard Straight Terrace, all with a cash bar, complimentary snacks and a great view! Patrons are also welcome to bring picnic dinners. Doors will open at 8:15pm and films will start at 9:30pm, after dark. In the event of rain, screenings will be held in Willard Straight Theatre. 
Stop Making Sense - June 21
Fantastic Mr. Fox - June 29
Singin' in the Rain - July 12
Double Indemnity - July 26

Tickets are $13 general/$11 students & seniors and can be purchased in advance online at CornellCinemaTickets.com.

Campus Blood Drives


 

July 11-12-13, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Biotech G-10. Click here to make an appointment for your convenience; walk-ins are welcome!

Do you have kudos to share with the Graduate School community?  Submit Kudos here

 


Cornell University Graduate School | Caldwell Hall | Ithaca, New York 14853 |