Graduate School Announcements
March 28, 2016
Contents

Graduate School News:
Graduate School Recruitment Efforts Pay Off

Katherine Herleman, doctoral student in geological sciences
As the first person in her family to pursue a doctoral degree and a research career, Katherine Herleman did not know exactly what to expect.

During her first year at Cornell as an M.S./Ph.D. student in the field of geological sciences, she found herself "doing a lot of trailblazing" and often relying on informal mentorship from her peers to find her way.

Aaron Joiner, a doctoral student in the field of biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, also found himself in need of peer guidance during his first year as he "struggled a lot with 'impostor syndrome.'"

Read more...
Kudos:
Graduate Student Study Reveals Malaria 'Family Tree'

Holly Lutz 
A study just published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution reveals a new hypothesis on the evolution of hundreds of species of malaria - including the form that is deadly to humans.

Extensive testing of malarial DNA found in birds, bats and other small mammals from five East African countries revealed that malaria has its roots in bird hosts. It then spread from birds to bats and on to other mammals.

"We can't begin to understand how malaria spread to humans until we understand its evolutionary history," said lead author Holly Lutz, a doctoral candidate in the fields of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, who did this work with colleagues from The Field Museum in Chicago. "In learning about its past, we may be better able to understand the effects it has on us."

Read more...
 Graduate Student Co-authors Paper on Ground Nesting Bees 
 
According to a recent study, the size of a common ground-nesting bee - an important crop pollinator - has grown smaller in heavily farmed landscapes.

The link between intensive agriculture and the size of Andrena nasonii bees has important implications for how farmers might diversify these landscapes to benefit bees. It also points out yet another potential threat to pollinators, along with mites, pesticides and loss of habitat.

Co-author of the paper, Heather Connellly, discovered that female A. nasonii bees in intensively farmed areas may not be able to find enough pollen sources in the landscape to adequately feed their offspring.

Graduate Students Contribute to Paper on Hybrid with Potential in Soft Robotics and Aeronautics

Ben MacMurray
Sanlin Robinson 

Imagine an aircraft that could alter its wing shape in midflight and
, like a pelican, dive into the water before morphing into a submarine.

Impossible, you say? A little too "Transformers," perhaps? Well, the U.S. Air Force doesn't think so, and believes Cornell engineering professor Rob Shepherd and his group, including graduate students Ben MacMurray and Sanlin Robinson in the field of materials science and engineering, might help make that futuristic-sounding vehicle a reality.

Read more...

Graduate Students Contribute to Paper on Enzyme Inhibitor

Yashira Negron Abril
Hui Jang

The oncoprotein inhibitor TM has been proven effective in suppressing the oncogene c-Myc, which is amplified in around half of all human tumors, and thus killing cancer cells.

Cornell researchers from the Ithaca and Weill Cornell Medicine campuses have collaborated to develop an enzyme inhibitor that shows effectiveness against several types of cancer, most notably leukemia, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

Read more...

From the Registrar:
Summer Registration
 
Registration for the Summer 2016 term is required if you are
  • receiving financial aid during the summer (fellowships, summer loans, assistantships, travel grants, or tuition awards);
  • wish to use campus facilities; or
  • are off campus but need to be registered for summer study. 
To register, simply enroll in the Graduate School's Graduate Summer Research course GRAD 9016 (class numbers 1054, 1444, 1445 or 1446) through Student Center. There is no charge for summer registration.
 
We encourage students to enroll now. Students who are not registered for the summer term by June 3, 2016 will be subject to FICA tax (OASDI and Medicare) withholding from Assistantship Payroll Appointments.
 

Pre-Enrollment Period, Fall 2016
 
Pre-enrollment begins at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 6th and ends at 4:30 Friday, April 8th.
 
Please take advantage of this opportunity and at minimum, enroll in your required courses for fall 2016.

Final Examinations
 
As we near the end of the semester and the submission deadline for a May 2016 conferral, please be aware you must schedule your exam with the Graduate School at least seven calendar days in advance by filing the proper examination scheduling form. 

Commencement Packet Information (with severe weather tickets)    

PhD, MA, or MS students hoping to participate in the May 2016 Commencement Ceremony can pick up commencement packets in 143 Caldwell Hall. Other professional degree students can obtain their packets from their appropriate College Registrar (AAP, Arts & Sciences, CALS, Engineering, Hotel, Human Ecology, or ILR).
 
Information about commencement, including a link to the form for requesting names in the program, is available on the Graduate School's website under Commencement Information.
 
Conference Travel Grants

Students attending conferences in May 2016 are reminded to submit their Conference Grant Applications to the Graduate School no later than April 1, 2016.

 

About the Conference Grant Program:

The Graduate School is pleased to provide financial support to students who have been selected to present papers or posters at a professional conference.  Awards range between $185 and $675 based on the location of the conference and are intended to help defray costs but typically does not cover total expenses.  Registered Research Students are eligible to receive one grant each academic year (July 1 - June 30) and we strive to fund all qualified applications.

 

Application Process:

The application form is short but it's important that applicants follow the instructions closely. 

Download the form from the gradschool.cornell.edu/forms

Prepare a 1-page abstract and statement of relevance

Obtain all required signatures

Submit the completed application to [email protected] or 143 Caldwell hall by the deadline

 

Dates and Deadlines:
March
  • March 30: Deadline to apply for ComSciCon Cornell 2016
  • March 30:  Deadline for applying for leading information session on housing
April
  • April 1: Conference Grant deadline
  • April 4: Faculty award nomination deadline
  • April 5: Using research to improve your teaching
  • April 6: Personal finance workshop
  • April 7: Students with familes happy hour
  • April 13: Home ownership workshop
  • April 18: Digital humanities fellowship deadline
  • April 18: The Miners Canary and Black Lives Matter lecture
  • April 19: Selecting employee benefits
  • April 22: Olin Lecture with Akhil Reed Amar
Graduate School Programs:
Olin Lecture 2016 - Akhil Reed Amar
 

When: Friday, April 22, 2015 
Time: 7:30 p.m. 
Where:  Alice Statler Auditorium

A limited number of free tickets are available:
  • Graduate School Deans' Office (350 Caldwell Hall)
  • Buffalo Street Books
  • Willard Straight Hall
Professor Amar is one of the country's leading experts on constitutional law, interpretation and history and has been cited in numerous Supreme Court decisions. 

When not in the classroom or writing books, Amar is a television consultant. He helped with The West Wing television series, with the character Josh Lyman even referring to him by name in one episode. His work also has been showcased on more recent TV shows such as The Colbert Report, Charlie Rose, Up! With Chris Hayes and The MHP Show.

Akhil
Reed Amar will visit Cornell Graduate School as part of the 2016 Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Lecture Series.


GPSA 5th Annual Faculty Awards

Do you know a Cornell faculty member who displays an extraordinary commitment to graduate and/or professional students? 

The Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA) is currently seeking nominations for its fifth annual Awards for Excellence in the Teaching, Advising, and Mentoring of Graduate and Professional Students.

Nominations for the 2016 GPSA Faculty Awards will be accpeted  March 7, 2016-- April 4th, 2016. 

Award recipients will be recognized at a reception on May 20, 2016
 
 
Special Invitation from Anne R. Kenney, Carl A. Kroch University Librarian 
Shape Cornell University Library's future! 
 
The Library supports your graduate studies through its online and print collections, services, spaces, and expertise. It is important that they are designed around your current and future needs, and it is these needs that the survey is probing.  There is an incentive for your participation: every 25th respondent will get a $10 Amazon gift card emailed to them right after submission.  

Most pre-testers reported that it took them about 10 minutes to fill out the survey. 
 
GPSA Dine and Discuss: Housing and the Cost of Living

The members of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Student Advocacy Committee invite you to attend this year's annual GPSA Dine & Discuss event on Thursday, April 14th at 7:00pm in the Big Red Barn. The event features a free catered dinner and conversation organized around a topic of interest to graduate and professional students.
 
This year's topic is "housing and the cost of living". Housing, food, and transportation impact our quality of life and productivity. What issues do you have (or have you observed), and how do you think they can be addressed?  

The Advocacy Committee is particularly eager to hear from with students who are actively engaged with their colleagues and the wider campus community. In this spirit, we enthusiastically ask that you join us for dinner and conversation and strongly encourage you to pass on the invitation to members of your organization.
Due to limited space, please RSVP

Help Requested: 
Information Session for Incoming Students about Off-Campus Living Experiences
 
  • Do you remember what it was like when you moved to Ithaca and wanted to live off-campus as you started your graduate program?   OR   Have you lived on-campus first, but later decided to move off-campus?
  • Are you satisfied with your current housing experience off-campus?  Do you like your neighborhood?
  • Are you interested in giving back; helping the incoming first-year students make informed off-campus living experience decisions?
 
If you answered "yes" to the questions above, you may want to consider participating in a new and innovation information session!  Our goal is to enable all incoming graduate and professional students with accurate and helpful information about off-campus living resources and experiences through a webinar.  Through a partnership with the Off-Campus Student Housing Office and our graduate and professional students, we will host a brief 10 minutes of best practices information and then have a facilitated conversation among graduate/professionals students who represent a diverse range of living experiences. 
 
Your Time Commitment / Timeline:
  • Take 5 minutes to sign up by Thursday, March 30 at 11:59PM at http://goo.gl/forms/s8POqKjmre
  •  We will confirm your participation by 04/06/2016
  • Participant in the one-hour interactive and facilitated webinar on April 15 from 8:00 - 9:00 AM EST
  • Participants should be comfortable using video conferencing software such as Google Hangouts
  • Participate in a one-hour preparation session scheduled based on group's availability
A small token of our gratitude will be given to you in exchange for you time.
 
Please contact Tiffany St. Bernard at [email protected] for questions or concerns.

Updates for Students with Families (Expectant Families) 
 
Student Partner Happy Hour
Thursday, April 7 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at the Big Red Barn. Feel free to come as a couple or fly solo - all students and partners are welcome. Light snacks, soda, and $1/beers are provided. 
 
A Perspective Workshop: Your Greatest Asset: Using Your Mind to Success |  Monday, April 11  | 12:00 - 2:00 (lunch provided)| 229 ILR King-Shaw Conference Center  |  RSVP today!

Our thoughts impact how we interact with people, including ourselves.  Join Dr. Whitlock in understanding how negative thought patterns can develop, and more importantly, learn the tools on how to alter your perspective so that your thoughts are more positive and productive.  

Presenter:  Janis Whitlock, Research Scientist, Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research.


CA$H COUR$E for Spring 2016 

Personal Finance Information for Graduate and Professional Students!

 

The Graduate Student's Guide to Personal Finance

Wednesday, April 6  |  4:00 pm - 6:00 pm  (dinner provided at 4:00)  |  423 ILR King- Shaw Conference Center  |  Please RSVP

This interactive webinar teaches you how to develop positive lifelong financial habits and increase your net worth while still in school.  Dr. Emily Roberts obtained her PhD in mechanical engineering from Duke University, using her stipend to grow wealth, get out of debt, and be financially stable.  Using the tips and information she learned from her experience, she believes it is possible for graduate students to use the stipend they receive to set themselves up for financial success in the future.  Presenter: Dr. Emily Roberts, Founder of Grad Student Finances and PhD Stipends

 

Home Ownership Basics

Wednesday, April 13th  |  12:15 pm - 1:15 pm (lunch available at 12:00 pm)  |  G01 Biotech  |  Please RSVP

Have you wondered what is financially required for home ownership and how you can best be prepared?  This session will focus on learning the financial difference between renting and owning a home, understanding the home buying process, and how to financially protect your home.  As you get ready to make this financial commitment, come learn these basics so that you can be prepared. Presenter:  Kenneth McLaurin, Financial Management Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins Count

 

Selecting Employee Benefits

Tuesday, April 19  |  12:15 pm - 1:30 pm (lunch available at 12:15 pm)  |  G01 Biotech  |  Please RSVP

As you prepare for employment beyond graduation, learning about employee benefits now will help you to make the "right" personal financial decisions.  In this session, you will learn about employer-sponsored health insurance plans, retirement plans, and other options that may be available to you.  Using Cornell University as an example, the presenters will provide an understanding of the different options employees have and how employee benefits work.   Presenters:  Mary D'Ambrosio Zielinski and Donna Bugliari, both from the Cornell Office of Human Resources, Benefit Services

Preparing to Submit Your Thesis or Dissertation


 

April 6 | 12:00- 1:30 pm | 229 ILR King-Shaw Conference Center

 

During this program, students will learn about the administrative aspects of submitting your thesis or dissertation. The Graduate School has requirements for achieving this milestone. This information will be presented by Jason Kahabka, Associate Dean for Administration and Janine Brace, Student Services Administrative Assistant.  Lunch will be provided          

RSVP: https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9tVNozP11eo2w1T

Teaching and Future Faculty:
 
Upcoming Opportunities for:
Graduate Students, Future Educators, and Teaching Assistants

                                                                                                                    
GET SET Workshop: Using Your Research Experience to Improve Your Teaching (Certificate: Teaching Research Skills)
Tuesday, April 5, 4:45-6:00 p.m. (143 Plant Science)

Interested in applying your research skills to your teaching methods? This hands-on workshop investigates the complex interplay between teaching and research and how to establish a complementary relationship between the two.


 
Open to all eligible graduate students at Cornell, this competitive one-year fellowship is an opportunity to:
      Enhance teaching, leadership and mentoring skills
      Explore the art of teaching through coursework and mentorship
      Build your CV and skills for the job market
      Applications due: April 11, 2016   

Careers and Internships:
Zeta Beta Tau, Kappa Colony - Graduate Live-in Advisor Position

 

The graduate live-in advisor will reside within ZBT's chapter house at 1 Edge Cliff Place, Ithaca NY to provide the chapter with daily mentorship.  Requirements: 1) Can be male or female, 2) Can be a ZBT alumnus, an alumnus from another Greek organization or not previously affiliated with a Greek-letter organization, 3) Can either be a recent graduate or an older alumnus returning to school for an advanced degree. 

 

Responsibilities:  1) Assist new members in their acclimation to college life, 2) Help older members prepare both personally and professionally for life after college, 3) Mentor a chapter's executive board to affect its ability to improve chapter operations and the membership experience. 4) Communicate the chapter's progress, goals and metrics to the Alumni and Greek Advisors, The ZBT Staff Liaison and Headquarters, 5) Work collaboratively with the chapter's alumni advisor to aid in the academic and developmental programming for all members, 6) Work one-on-one with chapter brothers who may be struggling inside or outside of the classroom.

 

Contact Information:  Contact David Burrows, ZBT Alumni Advisor at [email protected] for more information

Fellowships, Postdocs and Awards:
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP


 

Learn about a scholarship for graduate study in Ireland with Trina Vargo, president of the US-Ireland Alliance, and Beth Fiori, fellowships advisor at Cornell.  

The George J. Mitchell Scholarship supports one year of study in any field at any one of the nine universities in the Republic of Ireland.  Applicants are eligible up to the age of 30.  U.S. citizenship is required.  Two sessions will be held on Wednesday, April 13, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., each in 103 Barnes Hall.  Register for one by e-mailing Beth Fiori at [email protected].

  

Cornell Mitchell Scholar Simon Boehme, ILR '14, earned a master's in mediation and conflict intervention at National University, Maynooth.  The most recent class of Mitchell Scholars includes a medical student planning to study global health at Trinity College Dublin, a grad student in public policy headed toward an MBA at University College Dublin, an undergrad who will study culture and colonialism at National University, Galway, and an engineering undergrad who will study signal processing at the Dublin Institute of Technology.

More information at http://www.us-irelandalliance.org.

Cornell Summer Graduate Fellowship in Digital Humanities


 

Applications due April 18: Apply here

Now in its fourth year, this summer program provides Cornell graduate students with hands-on experience using digital tools for humanities research and scholarly communication. Over a 6-week summer period, library staff will help fellows plan, develop, and execute small-scale digital projects related to their own research and teaching interests. No advanced technical skills required!

Sponsored by Cornell University Library and the Society for the Humanities, this program provides:

  • Tutorials in digital scholarship tools and communications platforms, tailored to participants' interests
  • Orienting readings and discussion of historical and current issues in digital humanities
  • An introduction to practical aspects of developing, implementing, and managing complex digital humanities projects
  • Ongoing guidance and technical support for participants developing their own digital projects
  • A stipend ($1,000)

The program entails a relatively small time commitment (10-15 hrs/wk, mostly afternoons) and is open to current PhD students working in the humanities.

AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT: May 3, 2016

2016 PROGRAM DATES: June 6-July 15, 2016 

  

For more information, visit http://blogs.cornell.edu/sgfdh/or contact program coordinator: Chloe McLaren [email protected].

 

$1000 Research Grant Available

Initiative on Sustainability through the Humanities and Arts
Society for the Humanities and The Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell University
 
CALL FOR GRADUATE STUDENT PROPOSALS
 
PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS:  April 18, 2016
 
The Society for the Humanities and the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future seek to support work within the humanities and arts that touches on the environment, cultures of energy, and economic development-from histories of social-ecological thought to studies of the aesthetic dimensions of wind power controversies, from avant-garde landscape photography to critiques of the concept of sustainability.  Grants may be used for travel, books, materials, the hiring of an assistant, or any other clearly identified purpose. 
 
Given the mandate of the Society for the Humanities, we will give preference to applicants whose home departments fall within the humanities or arts.  But anyone doing humanistic or artistic work is welcome to apply. 
 
Decisions will be made by the end of May, 2016.  Grantees should be prepared to complete their work within the next 12 months, with the expectation of presenting it publicly, at Cornell, within the next 18 months (by December 2017), at the invitation of the Society for the Humanities and the Atkinson Center.
 
All applications should include:
--a ONE-PAGE proposal, explaining the project and how you intend to use the grant
--a ONE-PAGE CV
--a brief note of recommendation from your faculty advisor
 
Please email your application (either .doc files or .pdf files, please) to Mary Ahl <[email protected]>
 
Thank you for your time, and we look forward to reading your proposals!
 
Project Leaders: Aaron Sachs (History), Nick Salvato (Performing and Media Arts), Karen Pinkus (Comparative Literature and Romance Studies)
 

Schwarzman Scholars Program
 
Thursday, April 28, 5:00 p.m.
Kaufmann Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall
Speaker:  Robert Garris, Global Director of Admissions

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.  Applicants must not yet be 29 years of age as of August 1, 2017. Citizens of all countries are eligible and encouraged to attend the program.



Wellness:
EARS Expands with Special Hours for Graduate Students

Stressed about degree completion?  Trouble surrounding your dissertation? Communication challenges with your advisor/partner/family?  Worried about the job market in your future?  Need to know how to find balance and take care of yourself?

EARS (Empathy, Assistance & Referral Services) has expanded to serve graduate students with special new hours. 

Mondays 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Tuesdays, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm, and Wednesdays 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Call 607-255-EARS (3277) or stop by at 213 Willard Straight Hall

 
What You Can Expect:  

EARS counselors will always try to help with any issue, no matter how big or small. After a session, most people feel they have a better outlook on their problem, and how to handle it.  

While EARS counselors don't give advice, they will help you sort through your different options. The counselor can assist you in examining all options, and then help you decide which is best for you.  Best of all, you will never be judged, all sessions are completely anonymous, and confidentiality is guaranteed. 

 Due to the confidential nature of our service, all counselor identities are strictly anonymous.  Students working at EARS are fully qualified to handle any issue, since they have undergone a rigorous training program and selection process, and, know the graduate student experience themselves!.
 
Graduate students can also access EARS counselors at any time it is open.  Call and walk-ins:   Sunday-Thursday, 3-11 pm, Friday 3-10 pm, Saturday 6-10pm

From Cornell Minds Matter

 

Free YOGA!!!!

Mondays and Thursdays  |  5-6:15 PM  |  Willard Straight Garden Room  (go down the stairs across from the International Lounge)

 

Creative Arts for Health and Well-Being!

All Wednesdays  7 - 8:00 PM  |  Slope Studio, 2nd Floor Willard Straight Hall (go down the steps across from the International Lounge)

 

Free ZUMBA - All Wednesdays 5 - 6 PM   5th Floor Lounge, Willard Straight Hall

From Cornell Minds Matter

 

Podcast: Mental Health Issues

Join the CMM Podcast Team. A weekly or biweekly podcast can help us work towards our mission of improving mental health on campus and reducing the stigma of mental health because it would be an interesting and effective form of outreach to both the Cornell and Ithaca community. The podcast would feature personal testimony and information on mental health via interviews with students and professors and reports on current news and trends in the mental health industry.  Contact Kristy for more info: [email protected]

 

Around Campus:
Save the Date:  Cornell University - Housing Fair!

Thursday, April 7  |  5:00 - 8:00 PM  |  Trillium Dining Room, Kennedy Hall
Speak with Area Landlords and Meet with On-Campus Housing Staff
Join us to learn about housing options (on- and off-campus) and valuable information on resources!

THATCamp CNY 2016


 

April 9-10, Olin Library

cny2016.thatcamp.org

  

Do you use technology for teaching and/or research? Would you like to learn more about available tools and discuss different approaches? If so, come along to the 2016 Central New York THATCamp! 

  

What is a THATCamp? THATCamp stands for "The Technology and Humanities Camp." It is an "unconference": a collaborative and informal meeting where scholars and educators of all skill levels learn and build together. There are no lengthy papers or presentations; instead, participants propose and then facilitate workshop-style sessions. On the day of the event, those who attend choose which sessions take place based on their interests. Propose a session or suggest a topic you want to explore and request a facilitator here.

  

What will it cover? Topics ranging from developing pedagogical digital projects to  visualizing data in innovative ways to using digital resources for research management etc.

  

RSVP (by April 3): cny2016.thatcamp.org/register or email [email protected]

The Miner's Canary and Black Lives Matter Lecture
Featuring: Gerald Torres, Jane M.G. Foster Professor of Law at Cornell University and Lani Guinier, Bennett Boskey Professor of Law at Harvard Law School

Almost fifteen years ago we argued that those watching the way institutions fail black people would understand both systemic racism and the systemic dysfunction of public and private institutions. We argued that black people and other people of color would be first to experience the normalization of resource inequality that results in stunted lives, deformed democratic institutions, and a state that is both a market state and a national security state all the way down. 

Acting to oppose what some people saw as systemic racism was not a negative act. Instead, it was the positive act of preserving those parts of our economic and cultural life that serve the many rather than just the few and which can be mobilized to build an alternative to the inequality that now serves as the baseline condition of social life for all.

The Robert L. Harris, Jr. ADVANCEments In Science Lecture
Monday, April 18, 2016 at 3:30pm to 4:30pm Alice Statler Auditorium


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