May 2022 Archive Edition

Grad School Help Desk Newsletter Header

May 2022

“The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life, is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.”

-- Jon Stewart

threeminthesis

Three Minute Thesis Competition

Friday, April 29, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

SUB, Procrastinator Theatre

Want to hear an 80,000 word thesis explained in 180 seconds? Graduate students from across MSU are preparing to do exactly that. Come and hear our finalists explain how their research is helping solve some of our world’s most challenging problems. The six finalists are winners of their college competitions (EHHD, CLS, and NACOE). Contestants must condense their research into a brief, engaging three-minute presentation for a non-specialist audience, using a single presentation slide. Learn about research at MSU and how that research is helping Montana communities and residents.

Calendar

Friday, May 6: Last day for approval of thesis, dissertation, or professional paper (if the professional paper is submitted to the library) by the Formatting Advisor

Thursday, May 12: Last day of classes. Spring Semester ends. Last day to withdraw Graduation Application and file for One-credit Extension

Friday, May 13:  Spring Commencement 2021

Monday, May 16: First six-week and 12-week sessions, classes begin. One-credit Extension deadline.

Monday, May 30: Memorial Day holiday (no classes; offices closed)

Friday, June 10: Last day for graduate students to file for graduation in MyInfo or via a Graduation Application (only used when a student has applied for the same degree in a prior term).

fundingandfellowships

Identify scholarships and research funding for your graduate education

  • Visit the Grad School fellowships page, scroll to “External Funding Opportunities” and expand “SPIN funding alert service” for instructions.
  • The University of Illinois has an excellent Fellowship Finder featuring awards that are open to grad students from any university. It features several filters to aid your search.

 

Graduate Leadership Academy

Deadline: May 16, 2022

As part of the GradCat 360 professional development framework, the Graduate Leader-ship Academy is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 year. Participants will explore leadership and inclusivity through workshops and group projects focused on theoretical and practical perspectives. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a $500 scholarship award. For more program information and how to apply, visit the Grad Leadership Academy page.

 

NASA Fellowships

Start planning now!

Each year the NASA Fellowship Activity seeks student-authored and independently Icon  Description automatically generatedconceived graduate research proposals responding to a NASA Research Opportunity listed in the solicitation. The NASA Fellowship Activity is designed to support NASA STEM Engagement objectives and to provide academic institutions the ability to enhance graduate-level learning and development. To be eligible to submit a proposal, candidates must be a U.S. citizens or naturalized citizens who hold a bachelor's degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) field earned before fall semester of the academic year. Candidates must be enrolled in a masters or doctoral degree program no later than Sept. 1 of the academic year, and intend to pursue a research-based masters or doctoral program in a NASA-relevant field.

For more funding opportunities, visit MSU’s Research Funding Opportunities.

Workshops & Events

Two opportunities to de-stress: Honors Presents Lecture Series

Intermountain Therapy Animals

Tuesday, May 3, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Montana Room, Norm Asbjornson Hall

Therapy dogs will be available for petting, hugs, photos, and general good feelings. They will be accompanied by handlers who will watch out for the dogs and who will visit with the attendees. Intermountain Therapy Animals' home office is in Salt Lake City and the Bozeman group has been active for almost 25 years, visiting assisted living facilities, libraries, schools hospitals, and other places where our pets can provide comfort and companionship. **You are not required to arrive at the start time, please attend at any time throughout the scheduled event to prevent crowding!** Please RSVP for this event.

 

Destress and Decompress with Yoga -- Jocelyn Larson

Tuesday, May 3, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

SUB Ballroom B

This event will feature foundational yoga poses and breath techniques to help relief stress during dead week. Please bring loose fitting clothes you can move in and a yoga mat or blanket. Please RSVP for this event.

 

research celebrationMSU Student Research Celebration

Thursday, May 5, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Graduate & undergraduate students from all academic disciplines will present their research and creative projects to the MSU community. This event is free and open to the public. Please attend to support MSU research and scholarship!

Spring Commencement 2022

Friday, May 13, 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Arena

Tickets are not required for guest admission to the Spring 2022 Commencement ceremonies. Degree candidates are asked to RSVP for the ceremony by May 2. Commencement will be livestreamed for those not able to attend in person.

 

Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Sunday, May 15-Wednesday, May 18 (all-day event)Strand Union Building

The 15th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) is an opportunity to gather, share discoveries and ideas, find common ground, and examine different ways of understanding natural and cultural resources. The GYE Biennial Scientific Conference series, initiated in 1991, encourages awareness and application of wide-ranging, high-caliber scientific work on the region's natural and cultural resources. These conferences provide a forum for knowledge-sharing among hundreds of researchers, park managers, and the public. They attract world-class speakers and are interdisciplinary by design.

 

Logo  Description automatically generatedWomen’s Circle of Excellence Conference

Thursday, May 19, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Jake Jabs Hall

Registration is now open for the Women’s Circle of Excellence (WCOE) conference. Designed to encourage professional networking and to further launch and support success, the conference will feature inspirational speakers, impactful networking, and opportunities to re-energize personal and professional development. 

 

Undergraduate Research Mentoring for Graduate Student Mentors

Tuesday, May 24, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Location TBD

Facilitated by Jennifer Brown, Associate Professor, Chemical & Biological Engineering and Dana Skorupa, Assistant Research Professor, Center for Biofilm Engineering/ Thermal Biology Institute. Looking for some ideas on how to best mentor undergraduate students in research? This two-hour session will go over principles for undergraduate mentoring: aligning expectations and assessing understanding. Tools and practices will be suggested to help you and your students navigate the mentor relationship. Please pre-register.

 

The Science of Stigma

Wednesday, May 25, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

(Virtual Training)

Stigma is a barrier to progress on several social issues relevant to those working in the fields of public health, prevention, mental health, and substance misuse. Stigma is associated with a variety of negative social and health outcomes. Many people in need of services do not access them because of perceived stigma. Understanding stigma and methods to reduce it are important for efforts to grow a culture that supports health and safety for everyone. This virtual training will help you understand how stigma is manifested in your community or organization and ways you can reduce stigma. Presented by the Center for Health & Safety Culture.

 

Two places for Graduate Writers to get support: Writing Center & NCFDD

 

National Center for Faculty Diversity & Development (NCFDD)

The NCFDD offers a 14-day Writing Challenge and a Dissertation Success Curriculum for doctoral candidates focused on finishing their dissertations. MSU has an Institutional Membership with the NCFDD. All faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate students have access to a range of resources designed to increase your writing productivity, work-life balance, and overall academic success. By activating your Individual Subaccount, you can take advantage of these resources.

The MSU Writing Center offers ongoing support to students working on graduate-level writing.

One-on-one appointments are available both in-person and online with graduate or undergraduate peer tutors: Make a tutoring appointment.

Interdisciplinary graduate writing groups are a small group of graduate students who meet regularly to work on improving their own writing and give feedback to others. Learn more and sign up.

Focus Fridays are a weekly “write with us” time for grad students to work alongside each other, in Wilson 1-114 every Friday from 9 a.m.-12 noon, for as much or as little of that time as you'd like. No need to register. Tutors will be available to answer questions.

For more information, visit our website or contact the Assistant Director of WAMSU, Erin Strickland, at erin.strickland@montana.edu or (406) 994-5314.

 

annoucnements

“Invite the dean”

Craig would like to get out and meet groups of graduate students in your labs, research, or study spaces. If you would like to host the dean for a ~30min. informal chat, please contact craig.ogilvie@montana.edu

 

Mindfulness can help reduce anxiety

As the semester draws to a close, be aware that it can be overwhelming for some students. University Health Partners (UHP) is encouraging students to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of anxiety and look for ways to reduce it so they can maintain their motivation and focus, improve academic performance and finish the semester strong. Mindfulness is defined as “intentionally placing one’s attention on the present moment;” this means that focusing on the present moment for a few minutes per day can actually equip you to handle stressful and anxiety-provoking situations more effectively in the future. UHP offers several options for learning more about mindfulness.

 

Follow Us on Social Media

Follow us on Social Media for more news and events!