Graduate School Announcements
June 6 , 2016
Contents

Graduate School News:
Joint Letter on Union-University Conduct Rules and Recognition Election Agreement

Dear Cornell Graduate and Professional Students,

Cornell University administration and Cornell Graduate Students United/American Federation of Teachers/NY State United Teachers have reached an agreement on rules and procedures for union-university conduct and a possible recognition election if federal law changes to determine that graduate students at private universities may be considered employees.  

This agreement is not recognition of a graduate student union; it is a guide to behaviors for all parties, based on the principle of fostering an open and respectful environment in which graduate students are free to learn about the union and reach an informed decision should there be an opportunity for them to participate in a union election (if federal law changes).
 
I encourage you to read the joint letter and the Agreement.   Questions have been asked regarding which students would be included in a potential bargaining unit should the law change and a union be duly elected.  

If an election is held, eligible voters (and potential bargaining unit members) will be all graduate students enrolled in the Graduate School in Ithaca and Geneva campus-based programs who hold titles under University Policy 1.3 (TAs, GRAs, RAs, GAs).  

If an election is held in the future, please encourage all eligible graduate students to vote so that their voices may be heard.
 
Please let me know if you have questions.
 
Warm regards,
 
Barb

Barbara A. Knuth
Senior Vice Provost and Dean

From the Registrar:   In Absentia Fall 2016

 

Submit In Absentia Request Now if You'll be Away for Fall 2016

 

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.

 

 
Symposium focuses on students' teaching innovations
Katherine Thorsteinson and Brianna Thompson, doctoral students in English language and literature 

On May 16, the fifth annual Classroom Research and Teaching Symposium brought together graduate students and faculty who are interested in applying their research skills to develop more effective teaching practices.


Read more...

New PhD Students Urged to Innovate and Continue to Grow


 

The day before undergraduate commencement, 300 doctoral candidates were formally recognized in a Barton Hall ceremony filled with music, cheering and the constant clicking of cameras.

 

In her speech to the new Ph.D.s, Barbara Knuth, senior vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, urged flexibility. 

 

"Realize that the shelf life of your knowledge is limited," she said. "Update your knowledge - something for which your Ph.D. experience has made you uniquely qualified. Don't accept that a thing is done a certain way just because that's the way it has always been done. Take risks."

 

Read more...

                      
Kudos :
Congratulations to the 2016 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Award Winners
 
The graduate award winners are:
  • Jesse Miller - The Thomas J. and Joan T. Kelly Prize for excellence in aerospace engineering for the project "A Directionally Stable Robotic Sailboat: Concept and Simulations."
  • Sean Hidaka  - The Bart Conta Prize in energy and the environment for his project "Operating Solar PV and Ice Storage in Post-Net-Metering Hawaii."
  • Edward Bonnevie, Daniel Asselin - The Sibley Prize for excellence in graduate teaching assistance.
  • Lauren Lazarus - H.D. Block Graduate Teaching Prize for outstanding performance by Ph.D. candidates who served as a teaching assistant in math.

 Read More 
 
Doctoral Candidate Kaitlyn Gayvert Contributes to New Research on Prostate Cancer
 
Kaitlyn Gayvert
The steroid dexamethasone could potentially deter the growth of a prostate cancer subtype that was previously thought to be difficult to treat with medications, reports  Dr. Olivier Elemento and other researchers at Weill Cornell. Findings were published in the June 2 issue of Cell Reports. Kaitlyn Gayvert, a doctoral candidate in Elemento's lab who Forbes Magazine recognized earlier this year on its "30 Under 30" list, developed the computational method, which found that dexamethasone was a top candidate for interrupting cancer activity spurred by the ERG mutation.
 
 
Dates and Deadlines:

June
  • June 8: Transitions support group for late-stage & graduating students
  • June 10: TGIF Networking Event at Reunion 2016
  • June 15: Expanding Your Job Search Skills Workshop
  • June 16: Career Networking Lunch with Dr. Pradt & Dr. Allison-Bunnell
  • June 17: Writing Boot Camp begins
  • June 28: Future Professors Institute
 
Graduate School Programs :
Registration Open for the Expanding Your Job Search Skills Workshop

Wednesday, June 15,
8:15 am - 3 pm
 
If you are a doctoral student interested in a career outside of academia, attend this intensive workshop to learn about interviewing skills, the art of career networking, resources for your job search, how to develop a resume from your CV, and more. Two alumni presenters will be featured during the workshop:
  • Dr. Steve Allison-Bunnell, Science & Technology Studies PhD, whose career specialties include online learning, science communication, and user experience
  • Dr. Sarah Pradt, East Asian Literatures PhD, whose career specialties include higher education teaching and non-profits
Pre-registration is required through your Handshake account and is limited to doctoral students at any stage of their studies that are considering a job search outside the academy.   If you encounter difficulties registering for the program, please email Anne Poduska, the Graduate & International Student Career Advisor ( ap284@cornell.edu) to inform her of your interest.
 

TGIF Happy Hour Networking Event at Reunion 2016
 
June 10, 2016 - 4:15pm to 6:00pm
The Big Red Barn

Join Cornell alumni who have graduate degrees, graduate and professional students, and postdocs during this special TGIF event during 2016 Reunion.  Talk with alumni to get advice on life after Cornell and to share your experience as a current Cornell student or postdoc.  Complimentary drinks and light snacks will be provided.  At 4:45 pm, self-introductions will occur in facilitated networking circles.

Intergroup Dialogue Project: Summer Offering for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars
 
Session 1: Tuesday, July 5 9:30-12:30         Session 2: FRIDAY, July 8 9:30-12:30
Session 3: Tuesday, July 12 9:30-12:30      Session 4: Thursday, July 14 9:30-12:30
Session 5: Tuesday, July19 9:30-12:30      Session 6: Thursday, July 21 9:30-12:30

The Intergroup Dialogue Project at Cornell University (IDP) prepares students to live and work in a diverse
world, and educates them in making choices that advance equity and justice.

We have planned a deep and enriching intergroup dialogue experience for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for six sessions in the month of July (3 hours each; dates below). In addition to exploring the tenets of critical dialogue, social oppression and privilege, and current conflicts, the summer session will focus on how to apply particular principles and skills to the academic environment. Our goal is to enable participants to learn from each other about issues related to their social identities and how these might influence their experience as graduate students and future scholars. We are building a colleague-based program for emerging academic leaders, to support them to take both individual and collective action. For many of our participants IDP is one of the few spaces where they can work with individuals from different backgrounds towards inclusive social change. 

To register, please contact Adi Grabiner-Keinan: ag649@cornell.edu

Learn more about the Intergroup Dialogue Project at www.idp.cornell.edu
Transitions Support Group for Late-Stage/Graduating Students

Are you anxious about your upcoming move following graduation? Going in absentia or taking a leave of absence and figuring out how to finish your dissertation away from Ithaca? Unsure how to cultivate a new support system?

The Graduate and Professional Student Mental Health Committee is offering a 4-week (with possibility of extension) student support group during the month of June focused on helping graduate and professional students navigate moments of transition. This confidential space will offer students the opportunity to talk with peers dealing with similar challenges surrounding transitions, including moving away from Ithaca, but also other major life changes. The group will be facilitated by EARS-trained counselors and feature guest visits from Gannett and student services staff, who will offer guidance on coping strategies and help students come up with a plan of action for the forthcoming year.

Meetings will be on Wednesdays from 12:00 - 1:00 PM in Willard Straight Hall, room 301. The first meeting will be this Wednesday June 8. Please RSVP here, so we know numbers for food--lunch will be provided. You can also email Mia Tootill (mst88@cornell.edu) if you have any questions or concerns.

Teaching and Future Faculty:
Future Professors Institute: Advancing Diversity in the Academy

Tuesday, June 28, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Stocking Hall
 
The Future Professors Institute is a one-day event featuring workshops and guest speakers from multiple institutions on the topic of preparing for a successful faculty career. This event is aimed at Cornell University doctoral students, postdocs, JD, and MFA students who identify as students of color, first generation college students, or who are diversity fellowship recipients. Register here by June 17 for priority consideration.
 
The institute will feature:
  • Dr. Christine Ortiz, Cornell alumna and Dean of the Graduate School at MIT
  • Dr. Michael G. Spencer, Cornell University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Eduardo M. PeƱalver, JD, Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law at Cornell University
Registration includes continental breakfast, keynote luncheon, and dessert and wine reception. Please visit our website for more information: http://blogs.cornell.edu/futureprofs
 
Fellowships, Postdocs, & Awards:
George J. 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, 2016. Campus Contact: BTF1@cornell.edu
More information on the Mitchell Scholarship is available at the Foundation's Web site.
Schwarzman Scholarship

The Schwarzman Scholarship provides one year of master's degree study 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. Application Deadline: September 15, 2016.

Complete application information on the Schwarzman is available at their website.

The 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 12, 2016. Campus contact: BTF1@cornell.edu
Detailed information on the Luce is available at the Foundation's Web site.

Careers and Internships:
Apply for an Insight Data Science Fellowship

Applications are currently open for Insight Data Science New York City Fellowships starting September 6th, offered in partnership with Bloomberg, The New York Times, and other data science teams. The program is tuition-free and also awards need-based scholarships. We are looking for PhD students and post-docs completing their research and looking to enter data science careers in the industry by December 2016. We also offer Fellowships in Silicon Valley and Boston.

Apply now or sign up for our Notification List

Career Networking for Ph.D. Students with Dr. Sarah Pradt and Dr. Steve Allison-Bunnell

Are you a PhD student considering a career in non-profits, software, education services, publishing, or journalism/new media? Would you like to speak with a Cornell PhD alum who has pursued a career in one or more of these areas?

If so, you are invited to meet with Dr. Sarah Pradt, East Asian Literatures PhD and Director of Programs at the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, and Dr. Steve Allison-Bunnell, Science & Technology Studies PhD and SimUText User Experience Architect and Developer at SimBio, Inc.

A special networking buffet lunch with Dr. Pradt and Dr. Allison-Bunnell will be held at Banfi's from 12:30-2 pm on Thursday, June 16.  Space is limited to 20 PhD students, so sign up soon through Handshake.
 
Dr. Allison-Bunnell and Dr. Pradt will also be available to meet with students individually to discuss resumes, cover letters, or job-search questions.  Sign up for one of their office hour slots on Thursday, June 16 through Handshake:
  • To meet with Dr. Allison-Bunnell regarding careers in software, education services, publishing, and journalism/new media, sign up here.
  • To meet with Dr. Pradt about non-profit careers, sign up here.
 
If you have any questions or encounter difficulty registering for either event, please contact Anne Poduska, Graduate & International Student Career Advisor, at ap284@cornell.edu.
 
Around Campus:
Science Cabaret: KABOOM!
 
The next Science Cabaret takes on an explosive topic in "Kaboom! The Science and Culture of Fireworks," June 7 at 7 p.m. at Coltivare, 235 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca. The program is free and open to all ages.

The event features pyrotechnicians Bill Turner and Bob Hollenback, and filmmaker Jesse Veverka '00, MSE '06, who will preview part of the upcoming documentary "Passfire," about fireworks, the people who make them and their place in cultures across the globe.

Jesse's collaborator and brother, Jeremy Veverka '00, makes films for the Cornell Alliance for Science and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences international programs. Jesse lives in Yokohama, Japan, and also is a freelance writer. The Veverkas' projects include the 2010 feature documentary "China: The Rebirth of an Empire" and several short films.

Interested in Sober Housing?
 
Recovering from alcohol and other drugs? Looking for a living arrangemen t to support you in a sober lifestyle? Consider 216 Dearborn Place. Organized by students, for students, we are a cooperative-style North Campus residence for students committed to supporting one another in sobriety. If you are interested in living with other people in an alcohol and drug-free environment, check us  out at www.soberatcornell.org or email sober@cornell.edu.
Summer 2016 Films Screening on Willard Straight Terrace

 This summer Cornell Cinema will present four classic films 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. Tickets are $13 general/$11 students & seniors and can be purchased in advance online at CornellCinemaTickets.com (starting June 1st). These tickets will be held at the "will call" table for pickup the night of the show. Any tickets unclaimed by 9:15pm may be resold. Credit cards cannot be used at the door.  Terrace shows typically sell-out in advance, so patrons are encouraged to plan accordingly! Added enticement: drawings for three pairs of Cornell Cinema guest passes will be held at each of the four shows. For more information call (607) 255-3522.

For more information visit http://cinema.cornell.edu

All films open to the public
 

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