Images of Research Competition
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School is proud to host its 1st annual Images of Research Competition! In academia, the act of research often goes unseen. This competition seeks to make graduate student and postdoc research visible in a literal sense: a photography / image contest! “Research” is defined broadly to include creative and scholarly work in all fields and the image can represent your work or its impact either concretely or abstractly. A “People’s Choice” award valued at $250 will be given to the photo with the most likes on OPD's Instagram and will be announced at the 3MT Campus Final on February 28, 2020. Submissions must be received by Monday, February 3, 2020.
What is the Point of Discussion?
Jan 22, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:15pm | 538 Goodell
So you have a discussion section or a class in which you would like to have lively discussions. But what is there to discuss? Whether in a mathematical field with right and wrong answers or in a discipline where it feels like the students know far too little to legitimately discuss anything, you too can still plan useful discussions that enhance student learning. This workshop will help you make a plan for encouraging discussion where it is useful and find other activities that lead to learning! Snacks will be provided; please feel free to bring your lunch.
Feedback: What Am I Supposed to do With This?
Jan 22, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Do you enjoy feedback and criticism? Probably not, but a huge part of graduate and postdoctoral training is accepting and learning from feedback. This session will help you shift from a defensive position to a growth mindset and develop strategies to manage the anxiety associated with good, bad, and even just plain wrong feedback.
Engage Your Audience with Body Language
Jan 23, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
What should you do with your hands when you’re speaking? Where should you stand? Where should you look? A significant portion of our communication is non-verbal. Come learn tips to be engaging (and not distracting) to your audience and then practice your body language in this interactive workshop.
Reading Clinic
Jan 23, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | 538 Goodell
Are you overwhelmed by the list of things you have to read? How do you know when you’ve read enough or if you’re reading the right things? At this clinic, we’ll practice three concrete strategies (spending about 75 minutes of structured reading time) to make your reading more efficient and to practice taking notes that will lead directly into your writing projects. Think of it as a reading boot camp!
3MT Info Session
Jan 24, 2020 | 10:15am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
In spring 2020, UMass will host its annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. This popular event challenges graduate students to communicate the significance of their research to a general audience, all in three minutes or less, with generous prize money available! The 3MT Info Session will outline the competition rules and offer strategies to prepare your presentation.
Time Management Strategies
Jan 24, 2020 | 12:15pm - 1:15pm | 538 Goodell
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t—come to learn how you can do more in less time. Learn the systems and tips that can increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life. Snacks will be provided; feel free to bring your lunch.
Anchor Meeting Clinic
Jan 24, 2020 | 3:00pm - 4:15pm | 538 Goodell
The Anchor Meeting, a weekly, 30-min time management routine, is the heart of academic time management. It forces you to balance the upcoming week’s priorities--especially writing vs. everything else! In this clinic, you will have time to practice this time-management strategy in full, and together we’ll discuss the ways it can fit into and support the weekly academic grind. Bring everything you need to plan your week.
Academic Job Market Check-in: Silence, Frustration, Now What?
Jan 27, 2020 | 12:15pm - 1:15pm | 528 Goodell
Are you applying for faculty jobs this year? Come to this informal brown bag discussion and share the frustrations with a cohort of others who are experiencing the same thing! Bring your questions about what happens next and what to do when faced with rejections. Please feel free to bring your lunch; snacks will be provided.
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Jan 27, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain
Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.
Writing Successful Conference Proposals
Jan 28, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm | 538 Goodell
Do you have research or a paper that you’re ready to take to the next step, but not sure where to start? Or, are you targeting a specific conference, and feeling eager to get started on your proposal? Come to this workshop to think about what conference will work best for you, and learn concrete writing strategies that will set your proposal apart and get conference chairs excited about your work. Snacks will be provided; please feel free to bring your lunch.
Grant Series Part I: Funding Search Strategies
Jan 28, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Need external funding to support your research? Get started by learning about basic tools available to UMass graduate students and postdocs to help find grants and fellowships. We’ll also discuss tips to manage your funding search. This is the first in a two-part series—come to one event or both!
Making Great Slides for Presentations
Jan 29, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply and tell a great story that engages your audience? Come learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!
3MT Info Session
Jan 29, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:15pm | 538 Goodell
In spring 2020, UMass will host its annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. This popular event challenges graduate students to communicate the significance of their research to a general audience, all in three minutes or less, with generous prize money available! The 3MT Info Session will outline the competition rules and offer strategies to prepare your presentation.
Interview Strategies
Jan 30, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Many people find interviewing stressful – but it doesn’t have to be! This session offers a framework that can help you reduce anxiety and boost confidence. If you are considering jobs outside academia or non-faculty positions inside academia, this session is for you.
Brown Bag: Writing Competitive Personal Statements
Jan 30, 2020 | 12:15pm - 1:00pm | 538 Goodell
What do fellowship reviewers want to learn from personal statements? How do personal statements differ from research proposals? And what’s too personal? This session will help demystify the personal statement and provide tips for framing, writing, and revising a winning essay. Bring your lunch—dessert provided!
Career Conversations: The role of a AAAS Science and Technology Policy (STP) Fellow at USAID
Are you interested in a career at the intersection of science and policy? Are you interested in global initiatives that disseminate science and technology for greater societal benefit? Learn how one UMass alumna is pursuing both! Dr. Chelsea Marcho will talk about the work she is doing as a AAAS STP fellow at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a US agency that invests in projects to save lives, reduce poverty, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises. Join this informal conversation to learn about AAAS STP Fellowships and what it’s like to work at a federal agency.
Informational Interviews: "How To" for this Important Career Exploration Tool
Jan 30, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:45pm | S320E Life Science Laboratories
Have you heard that you should be doing information interviews in order to explore your career options or to become a better job applicant? Not sure how to go about this? This interactive workshop will feature a live demo of an informational interview and you will learn how to reach out to a potential contact, what questions to ask, and how to use the information for your job search.
Using Simple Words for Big Ideas
Jan 31, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
How do you explain your research? Does it sound like a long list of acronyms? Conveying your point without jargon and overly technical language is a skill that needs to be developed. Come learn the best way to avoid confusing experts and non-experts alike, and get a chance to practice talking about your own research.
Writing Session Clinic
Jan 31, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:00pm | 538 Goodell
Does it feel like if you don’t have three hours to write, there’s no point trying? When you do sit down, does it take you forever to get going? Is it hard to stop? This workshop presents time management and writing habits that can help make even thirty minutes productive. We will practice the act of the individual writing session together, giving you an experience you can replicate on your own. Bring something you need to do (best if it is related to your academic work and can be done quietly in a group setting).
Academic Job Market Check-in: The Stress of Success and Negotiation
Feb 3, 2020 | 12:15pm - 1:15pm | 528 Goodell
Are you applying for faculty jobs this year? Come to this informal brown bag discussion and share the stress with a cohort of others who are experiencing the same thing! Bring your questions about how to juggle multiple interviews and offers. Please feel free to bring your lunch; snacks will be provided.
But What Can I Do for My Career Now?
Feb 4, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | 528 Goodell
It may feel like job hunting is a long way off, but you have probably heard the advice that you need to start preparing now! But what can you do? In this workshop, you’ll set SMART goals for your job preparation and applications, no matter where you are in the process. Feel free to bring your lunch.
Small Grants: How to Find Them and Why to Apply
Feb 4, 2020 | 1:00pm - 1:45pm | 538 Goodell
Did you know that funders are often more likely to give an award to someone who has been funded before? Grants of $1,000 or less are ideal for the early stages of research AND make you more competitive for larger grants. Small grants may also be useful for master’s students due to the quicker turn-around time. This session will provide all the tips and tools you need to start searching for small grants.
Making Great Figures
Feb 4, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:00pm | 538 Goodell
Making great figures takes time and effort, but there are some tricks to get you there faster. Are you using the right format? Are you considering the audience? What tools are available and best suited for your data? Come take this opportunity to discuss the answers to these questions and work with your data to produce amazing figures for your presentations and publications.
Negotiating a Job Offer
Feb 5, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:00pm | 538 Goodell
Are you hearing that you should negotiate your job offer, but feeling unsure about how to do this? If you are considering jobs outside academia or non-faculty positions inside academia, join this session to learn concrete strategies to negotiate with confidence.
Teaching Inclusively: Universal Design for Learning
Feb 7, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm | 538 Goodell
How do you teach a class that has students with different levels of preparation, backgrounds, and expectations? The theory of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers a teaching philosophy that helps create inclusive, accessible learning spaces. Join this discussion of how UDL concepts can be applied to your class. Bonus: for those considering a career in academia, this workshop will give you new ideas and language to describe your teaching philosophy in a faculty job interview! Pizza lunch will be served.
Train Yourself to Write in Your Discipline (Without Asking Your Advisor!)
Feb 11, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Have you ever wanted to know if your writing was “good” for your field? Do you want to sound more “scholarly”? Academic writing expectations vary across cultural and disciplinary lines – and are rarely explained explicitly! In this workshop, you will learn strategies you can use to figure out what tone, organization, and presentation is expected by your discipline in our U.S.-university context. Please bring a sample of writing from your field (these could be in a book, hard copy, online, or a device).
Adopting a Growth Mindset
Feb 11, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Do you take failure hard? We all do, but the most successful scholars view failure as an opportunity. Learn how to grow from setbacks by adopting a growth mindset. While a fixed mindset tells us that we cannot improve, a growth mindset makes failure easier to bear and sets us up for success.
Resume and CV Drafting Party
Feb 12, 2020 | 9:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Are you getting your resume in order for job or internship applications? Or maybe your CV could use some updating? Come write in our quiet space with access to coffee and snacks. Drop-in when you can! You will also have the option to ask questions or receive feedback on your drafts from OPD staff.
Yes, Scholars are Using Linkedin and You Should Too!
Feb 13, 2020 | 10:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Are you missing out on jobs and internships? Searching in the right place is important, so is letting companies find you! Come learn how to use Linkedin and Handshake to find opportunities and set up a profile that will establish your reputation online.
Grant & Fellowship Drafting Party
Feb 13, 2020 | 1:00pm - 4:00pm | 538 Goodell
Are you planning to submit an application in Spring 2020 for a competitive grant or fellowship? Our Writing Clinic provides space for you to write, with help on hand to answer questions or review your application. This is a drop-in event, come for as little or as long as you want; the session is ideal for students preparing applications for Graduate School Predissertation, Fieldwork, or Dissertation Research Grants.
Working in the US: OPT/CPT for Graduate Students
Feb 14, 2020 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | 538 Goodell
Ken Reade, Director of International Student & Scholar Services in the International Programs Office (IPO), will present the guidelines, limitations and application strategies for working/interning in the US with F-1 or J-1 Visas. Bring your employment questions about post-graduation, internships, OPT and CPT. A pizza lunch will be provided.
Neuroscience Tips to Make You More Successful
Feb 14, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
The human brain is amazing! It is also full of cognitive biases that constantly get in our way. Learn how to manage your own brain and get the most out of it, since it didn’t come with a user manual. We’ll cover the most recent neuroscience findings and how we can apply them to our own lives.
Time Management Strategies
Feb 19, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t—come to learn how you can do more in less time. Learn the systems and tips that can increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life.
Intro to the Individual Development Plan (IDP) for Grad Students
Feb 19, 2020 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | 538 Goodell
The Individual Development Plan (IDP) provides students with a framework for building skills with intentionality and aligning graduate training with career aspirations. This workshop will introduce participants to the UMass IDP sections, recommend resources for assessing skills, interests, and values, and offer strategies for effective (“SMART”) goal setting. Co-sponsored by the Office of Inclusion and Engagement (OIE). A pizza lunch will be provided.
Resume Basics
Feb 20, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Preparing for a job or internship search? This session will talk about the differences between a CV and a resume, help you understand how employers screen resumes, and provide tips for making yours stand out.
A for Effort?
Feb 20, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | 528 Goodell
Should students be graded on mastery alone? If we reward effort, how do we measure it? Join this informal discussion for some great conversation about grading strategies and learn more about studies done about student effort. Snacks will be provided; please feel free to bring your lunch.
Setting SMART Goals
Feb 20, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Setting the right goal makes life easier and you more productive! Learn the framework used by some of the most productive researchers and business leaders. The SMART goal framework teaches us how to set goals that are clearly defined and easier to complete. With goals that you can actually achieve, you will get more done and be happier.
Career Conversations: Dr. Allison J Brager (CPT, MS), Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Feb 21, 2020 | 12:15pm - 1:15pm | TBD
At the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), civilian researchers, medical professionals, and military personnel are conducting basic and applied research to develop new vaccines and therapies for infectious diseases, promote psychological resilience, and use neuroscience to better understand brain trauma, blast exposure, deployment stressors and sleep management. Dr. Brager will talk about the research environment at WRAIR and Sergeant Christopher Swan will offer information about application procedures for job opportunities at the MS, PhD and postdoc level (limited to US citizens and permanent residents). A pizza lunch will be served.
Intro to the Pomodoro Technique
Feb 21, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | 538 Goodell
Do you have an overwhelming project? Get it done, 25 minutes at a time. In this combined workshop and work session, we’ll outline the Pomodoro Technique and strategies for using it as scholars and writers. Then we’ll practice doing two Pomodoros: 25 minutes of writing and a 5-minute break. Think of it as a mini writing retreat – and a chance to practice a great time-management strategy. (Note: A regular Pomodoro group will meet on Fridays, 3/6 through 4/24, excluding March 20th.)
Creating a Compelling Application (for a Graduate Assistantship or Internship)
Feb 26, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:15pm | 538 Goodell
You might not be on the job market yet, but you need to apply to a grad assistantship or internship! What are best practices for your cover letter and CV/resume? In this informational session, we will cover some strategies for tailoring your applications so that the employers can see what a great fit you are for the position! Please feel free to bring your lunch; snacks will be provided.
Building a Mentoring Network
Feb 27, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:15am | 538 Goodell
Research has shown that mentors play a vital role in future career success, but how do you go about finding mentors? What are the differences between mentors, sponsors, and advisors? This session will help participants understand these roles and provide tips for building successful mentoring relationships.
Effective Poster Design
Mar 3, 2020 | 10:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Conference coming up? Not sure how to make a great poster? Come get a crash-course in making a poster presentation. We’ll cover the basics of graphic design, the software you need, and printing your poster. Get feedback and learn how to use your poster to network in your field and promote your research. Bring your ideas and a laptop to start or improve your poster!
Getting the Most from Your Reading
Mar 4, 2020 | 10:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
A lot of your time is spent reading. Is your reading productive? Learn to read quickly and effectively. Keep track of your reading and keep up with your ever-expanding field. We’ll share tips from the pros and the software that makes it easier to keep up and be organized.
Grant & Fellowship Drafting Party
Mar 6, 2020 | 10:00am - 1:00pm | 538 Goodell
Are you planning to submit an application in Spring 2020 for a competitive grant or fellowship? Our Writing Clinic provides space for you to write, with help on hand to answer questions or review your application. This is a drop-in event, come for as little or as long as you want; the session is ideal for students preparing applications for Graduate School Predissertation, Fieldwork, or Dissertation Research Grants.
Work-Life Balance in Graduate School
Mar 6, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Graduate school is a busy time and academia is well-known for its high expectations, particularly when it comes to how many hours we work. How can we find a balance between our personal lives and the work with do? Finding that balance can lead to increased productivity and happiness. Come learn some tips to start on the right path
Pomodoro Fridays
Mar 6, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Graduate Commons, 5th Floor, W. E. B. Du Bois Library
Do you need to boost your productivity? Do you like to work alongside your fellow grad students? Would a regular, weekly writing session help to anchor your work? This semester, join OPD for Pomodoro Fridays! The Pomodoro Technique is a tried and true productivity strategy consisting of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. And the productivity grows when people work alongside each other! Each Friday, we’ll do four Pomodoros. The first round will start promptly at 2:30pm, so arrive beforehand if you’d like settle in with coffee, tea, or a snack and get warmed up. One pre-registration for the series is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Drafting Past the Blank Page & Making a Drafting Plan for Break
Mar 9, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:00pm | 538 Goodell
All writers agree: drafting is hard. By “drafting,” we mean that blank-page moment between research and initial draft, when most sentences are being composed for the first time. We will discuss different tried-and-true academic drafting exercises, and then you’ll have time to create a drafting plan for Spring Break (and the rest of the semester).
Revising Your Draft Forward & Making a Revision Plan for Break
Mar 9, 2020 | 4:15pm - 5:45pm | 538 Goodell
Is your draft stuck? Are you intimidated by a pile of feedback? Would you just like to pick up the pace of your revision? In this workshop, we’ll discuss exercises to refine your argument and organization and how to deal with feedback. Then you’ll have time to create a revision plan for Spring Break (and the rest of the semester).
Resume Basics
Mar 11, 2020 | 9:30am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
Preparing for a job or internship search? This session will talk about the differences between a CV and a resume, help you understand how employers screen resumes, and provide tips for making yours stand out.
10 Time Saving Ideas to Streamline Your Teaching
Mar 11, 2020 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm | 528 Goodell
Whether balancing our own coursework, research and writing, or multiple course sections, we can’t afford to let our teaching responsibilities overrun our lives - but we still want to do a good job and help our students. Learn tips to streamline your teaching preparation and communication with students and discuss what works for you with your fellow grad students and postdocs!
CV Building Blocks
Mar 12, 2020 | 11:45am - 1:00pm | 538 Goodell
This session will provide early-career graduate students with strategies to create compelling academic CVs. Bring a laptop to begin drafting your CV or revise an older version. Participants will also use standard CV objectives as a way to identify and establish goals for their graduate education experience. Please feel free to bring a lunch; snacks will be provided.
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Mar 12, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain
Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.
Pomodoro Fridays
Mar 13, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Graduate Commons, 5th Floor, W. E. B. Du Bois Library
Do you need to boost your productivity? Do you like to work alongside your fellow grad students? Would a regular, weekly writing session help to anchor your work? This semester, join OPD for Pomodoro Fridays! The Pomodoro Technique is a tried and true productivity strategy consisting of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. And the productivity grows when people work alongside each other! Each Friday, we’ll do four Pomodoros. The first round will start promptly at 2:30pm, so arrive beforehand if you’d like settle in with coffee, tea, or a snack and get warmed up. One pre-registration for the series is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Resume and CV Drafting Party
Mar 17, 2020 | 9:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Are you getting your resume in order for job or internship applications? Or maybe your CV could use some updating? Come write in our quiet space with access to coffee and snacks. Drop-in when you can! You will also have the option to ask questions or receive feedback on your drafts from OPD staff.
Developing Your Elevator Pitch
Mar 17, 2020 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm | 538 Goodell
What do you study? What’s your research about? Do you dread these questions or stumble over your answer? Whether your goal is to communicate the relevance of your work, recruit a potential collaborator, or impress a prospective employer, success hinges on your ability to articulate what you are doing and why it is worth doing. In this first session, participants will learn about elevator pitch structure and draft a baseline elevator pitch. Participants are strongly encouraged to return for Thursday’s (March 19) practice session with graduate school staff members.
Creating Writing Rituals
Mar 18, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm | 538 Goodell
Objects in motion tend to stay in motion; writers that write tend to write. At this midpoint in the semester, what will help you re/establish a consistent writing practice? In this workshop that focuses on the time management of writing, we’ll discuss three types of writing rituals: rituals to get you started, keep you going, and help you stop writing in ways that make the next writing session easier. Bring planners and schedules; we’ll bring the coffee (and a pizza lunch)!
Practicing Your Elevator Pitch
Mar 19, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
Perhaps you will be networking at conferences or anticipate job interviews in the near future – it’s never too early to practice your elevator pitch! Join the Office of Professional Development (OPD) staff for this opportunity to practice in an informal, supportive environment. We will provide feedback and tips for improving your pitch and tailoring it for different purposes.
Time Management Strategies
Mar 19, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t—come to learn how you can do more in less time. Learn the systems and tips that can increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life.
Setting SMART Goals
Mar 24, 2020 | 10:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Setting the right goal makes life easier and you more productive! Learn the framework used by some of the most productive researchers and business leaders. The SMART goal framework teaches us how to set goals that are clearly defined and easier to complete. With goals that you can actually achieve, you will get more done and be happier.
High Expectations and Helicopter Teachers
Mar 25, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 528 Goodell
We often feel the tension between wanting to have high standards for our students and wanting to help them. How can we be supportive, but still treat our students as the adults that they are, rather than hovering above them as helicopter parents hover over their young children? Join this workshop to learn strategies for balancing standards and support.
Leaving Academia: The Emotional Journey
Mar 27, 2020 | 1:15pm - 2:15pm | 528 Goodell
We offer a lot of advice about resumes and cover letters, but often the hardest part of finding an alt-ac job (and leaving the faculty job track) is the emotions surrounding your career choices. This workshop will help you articulate (and validate) the emotions you are feeling and help you make a plan to move forward. Pizza lunch will be served.
Pomodoro Fridays
Mar 27, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Graduate Commons, 5th Floor, W. E. B. Du Bois Library
Do you need to boost your productivity? Do you like to work alongside your fellow grad students? Would a regular, weekly writing session help to anchor your work? This semester, join OPD for Pomodoro Fridays! The Pomodoro Technique is a tried and true productivity strategy consisting of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. And the productivity grows when people work alongside each other! Each Friday, we’ll do four Pomodoros. The first round will start promptly at 2:30pm, so arrive beforehand if you’d like settle in with coffee, tea, or a snack and get warmed up. One pre-registration for the series is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Learning How You Work Best
Mar 31, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
People do their best work under different circumstances and at different times. What way do you learn best? What time are you most creative? Where do you get the most done? What gets in the way? Attend this session to explore how you work best and how you can use this information to increase your productivity.
Developing Your Elevator Pitch
Apr 2, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
What do you study? What’s your research about? Do you dread these questions or stumble over your answer? Whether your goal is to communicate the relevance of your work, recruit a potential collaborator, or impress a prospective employer, success hinges on your ability to articulate what you are doing and why it is worth doing. In this first session, participants will learn about elevator pitch structure and draft a baseline elevator pitch. Participants are strongly encouraged to return for next week’s practice session with graduate school staff members.
Writing the “Good-Enough” Dissertation
Apr 2, 2020 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm | 538 Goodell
What makes a dissertation "done"? In this workshop, we'll discuss the difference between an in-process draft and the draft used for the defense milestone. In particular, we'll generate a vocabulary dissertators can use to both communicate with your adviser/committee and to guide reflection on your process.
Pomodoro Fridays
Apr 3, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Graduate Commons, 5th Floor, W. E. B. Du Bois Library
Do you need to boost your productivity? Do you like to work alongside your fellow grad students? Would a regular, weekly writing session help to anchor your work? This semester, join OPD for Pomodoro Fridays! The Pomodoro Technique is a tried and true productivity strategy consisting of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. And the productivity grows when people work alongside each other! Each Friday, we’ll do four Pomodoros. The first round will start promptly at 2:30pm, so arrive beforehand if you’d like settle in with coffee, tea, or a snack and get warmed up. One pre-registration for the series is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Teaching Portfolios and Statements: An Overview
Apr 6, 2020 | 1:30pm - 2:45pm | 538 Goodell
This workshop will explain how to develop a teaching portfolio that demonstrates your effectiveness as an instructor. Topics will include the purpose, content, and format of the teaching portfolio and development of a teaching statement.
Break Through the Publication Wall by Writing a Book Review
Apr 7, 2020 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm | 538 Goodell
Book reviews are an integral part of an academic’s early career as they can be a low-stakes way to get a publication on your CV. While a book review sounds self-explanatory, the steps to achieving one often remain undefined. This workshop explains how to solicit book review commissions and presents the dos and don’ts of the reviewing process.
Feedback: What Am I Supposed to do With This?
Apr 8, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Do you enjoy feedback and criticism? Probably not, but a huge part of graduate and postdoctoral training is accepting and learning from feedback. This session will help you shift from a defensive position to a growth mindset and develop strategies to manage the anxiety associated with good, bad, and even just plain wrong feedback.
Practicing Your Elevator Pitch
Apr 9, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
Perhaps you will be networking at conferences or anticipate job interviews in the near future – it’s never too early to practice your elevator pitch! Join the Office of Professional Development (OPD) staff for this opportunity to practice in an informal, supportive environment. We will provide feedback and tips for improving your pitch and tailoring it for different purposes.
What’s Wrong with Your Cover Letter
Apr 9, 2020 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm | 538 Goodell
Demonstrating “fit" is critical, especially when making a career pivot (such as when applying for alt-ac jobs): you have to be explicit about how your current skills and experiences as a grad student or postdoc translate to a new career field. This persuasive argument – that you are right for this job – is made in the cover letter. In this workshop, we’ll discuss common cover letter mistakes and discover some foolproof ways to write a cover letter that will make employers take notice.
Pomodoro Fridays
Apr 10, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Graduate Commons, 5th Floor, W. E. B. Du Bois Library
Do you need to boost your productivity? Do you like to work alongside your fellow grad students? Would a regular, weekly writing session help to anchor your work? This semester, join OPD for Pomodoro Fridays! The Pomodoro Technique is a tried and true productivity strategy consisting of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. And the productivity grows when people work alongside each other! Each Friday, we’ll do four Pomodoros. The first round will start promptly at 2:30pm, so arrive beforehand if you’d like settle in with coffee, tea, or a snack and get warmed up. One pre-registration for the series is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Planning a May Writing Project: Making Significant Process in One Month
Apr 13, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:00pm | 538 Goodell
May can be a magical time for productivity: the semester wraps up and the summer hasn’t yet begun. May can also be stressful for that same reason: we have big expectations. In this workshop, we will make a plan for May, so that you can harness any free time it does present to complete one project (be it a conference paper, data analysis, a reading list, a draft of an article, etc.). That way, you can check something off your list before June even starts!
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Apr 14, 2020 | 10:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain
Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.
Making Great Slides for Presentations
Apr 16, 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am | 538 Goodell
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply and tell a great story that engages your audience? Come learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!
Adopting a Growth Mindset
Apr 17, 2020 | 10:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Do you take failure hard? We all do, but the most successful scholars view failure as an opportunity. Learn how to grow from setbacks by adopting a growth mindset. While a fixed mindset tells us that we cannot improve, a growth mindset makes failure easier to bear and sets us up for success.
Pomodoro Fridays
Apr 17, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Graduate Commons, 5th Floor, W. E. B. Du Bois Library
Do you need to boost your productivity? Do you like to work alongside your fellow grad students? Would a regular, weekly writing session help to anchor your work? This semester, join OPD for Pomodoro Fridays! The Pomodoro Technique is a tried and true productivity strategy consisting of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. And the productivity grows when people work alongside each other! Each Friday, we’ll do four Pomodoros. The first round will start promptly at 2:30pm, so arrive beforehand if you’d like settle in with coffee, tea, or a snack and get warmed up. One pre-registration for the series is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Managing Multitasking
Apr 21, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
We are often told that we need to multi-task, but how can we truly manage multiple priorities without losing our minds? This session will offer strategies to help you focus on what needs to get done, organize your workflow, and accomplish more.
Teaching Statements: An Interactive Workshop
Apr 24, 2020 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | 538 Goodell
A teaching statement is a critical document for graduate students and postdocs who anticipate a career in teaching, whether at the college level or elsewhere. This interactive workshop will give you the opportunity to begin work on your teaching statement. In addition, we will review examples of teaching statements to identify strengths and best practices. Pizza lunch will be served.
Pomodoro Fridays
Apr 24, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | Graduate Commons, 5th Floor, W. E. B. Du Bois Library
Do you need to boost your productivity? Do you like to work alongside your fellow grad students? Would a regular, weekly writing session help to anchor your work? This semester, join OPD for Pomodoro Fridays! The Pomodoro Technique is a tried and true productivity strategy consisting of 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. And the productivity grows when people work alongside each other! Each Friday, we’ll do four Pomodoros. The first round will start promptly at 2:30pm, so arrive beforehand if you’d like settle in with coffee, tea, or a snack and get warmed up. One pre-registration for the series is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for Postdocs
Apr 24, 2020 | 2:30pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Postdocs are planners! And the Individual Development Plan (IDP) is the gold standard in academia, business, and government. Come learn to use the IDP framework at any stage of your career to improve and meet your goals. This workshop will introduce participants to the UMass IDP, recommend resources for assessing skills, interests, and values, and offer strategies for effective (“SMART”) goal setting.
Time Management Strategies
Apr 30, 2020 | 10:30am - 11:30am | 538 Goodell
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t—come to learn how you can do more in less time. Learn the systems and tips that can increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life.
Reading Day Drafting Clinic
Apr 30, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:30pm | 538 Goodell
All writers agree: drafting is hard. By “drafting,” we mean that blank-page moment between research and initial draft, when most sentences are being composed for the first time. In this interactive workshop, we will practice four different methods for drafting academic projects, spending 25 minutes on each, for a total of 100 minutes of structured writing time. This workshop is for you if you have done some preliminary groundwork for a project and would like to start writing (or begin a new section). We hope to propel you through your final seminar papers or help you launch your summer drafting.
CV Clinic
May 4, 2020 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm | 538 Goodell
Now, while all your recent achievements are fresh in your mind, it’s time to update your CV! Whether starting a new CV or adding to an existing one, this interactive clinic is for you. After a brief presentation on CV standards and common mistakes, you will have the remainder of the time to work on your CV, ask questions and receive feedback on your draft.
5 Things You Must Do Before Going on the Academic Job Market in the Fall
May 5, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm | 538 Goodell
There are less than 4 months until the academic job market cycle begins. It is time to start preparing now! Come learn the 5 things that you must do this summer to prepare for an ultra-competitive faculty job market. Pizza lunch will be served.
The Summer Strategic Plan
May 11, 2020 | 2:30pm - 4:00pm | 538 Goodell
The unstructured time that summer brings is a blessing and a curse. Maximize your summer productivity by making a strategic plan. This interactive clinic will provide strategies to plan your research/writing work and give you time to make those plans. Bring planners, calendars, syllabi, schedules of family members, access to email—anything you need to make a map of the semester.
The Summer Strategic Plan
May 12, 2020 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm | 538 Goodell
The unstructured time that summer brings is a blessing and a curse. Maximize your summer productivity by making a strategic plan. This interactive clinic will provide strategies to plan your research/writing work and give you time to make those plans. Bring planners, calendars, syllabi, schedules of family members, access to email—anything you need to make a map of the semester.
Writing a Journal Article This Summer
May 12, 2020 | 3:00pm - 4:30pm | 538 Goodell
You CAN write that article, and this summer you WILL! This workshop will break down the tried-and-true steps Wendy Laura Belcher presents in her cult-favorite Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks. We’ll trouble-shoot with how to integrate these steps into our own practices and make a summer plan that prioritizes your article-in-progress.
Course Design Bootcamp
May 13, 2020 | 10:00am - 2:15pm | 528 Goodell
Are you preparing a syllabus for the fall? This series of 4 short workshops will help you begin putting together the pieces of your course – attend one or attend them all.
- What Should Students Learn? (10:00am-10:45am): We’ll design course goals and learning outcomes that will shape all your decisions moving forward.
- Class Topics and Activities (10:45-11:45am): You will begin creating your course calendar and lesson-planning.
- Assignments and Grading Policies (12:15-1:15pm): In this workshop, you will begin planning assignments that support your course goals and developing your grading policies.
- The Syllabus (1:15-2:15pm): Come to this workshop to learn how to choose policies (like attendance, late work, and technology) that are student- and teacher-friendly.
We’ll take a pizza lunch break between the second and third workshops.
