the gradpost

E-NEWSLETTER FOR UCSB GRADUATE STUDENTS, MARCH 2014

Dear Gaucho
Grad Student:

Happy March! As the quarter ends, we at Graduate Division and the Graduate Student Resource Center are hard at work on such events as the Graduate Student Showcase, Grad Slam competition, Commencement, and various career and professional development workshops.

Speaking of career and professional development, Career Services and Graduate Division have hired new staffers to help you in these areas (see the "New Faces" item at right).

We have our Commencement speaker secured (see "North Will Head South" at right), and we have workshops scheduled to help you prepare a prize-winning Grad Slam presentation. Find out about these workshops, called "Captivate an Audience With Your Research Story," and sign up now.

On Valentine's Day, UCSB's Office of Public Affairs and Communications released a love letter in the form of a wonderful video. Students, staff, and faculty say why they love UCSB. Check this out for some guest appearances by Graduate Division Dean Carol Genetti; and Assistant Dean Christian Villasenor, along with his wife Briana and son Matias.

Please keep in touch with us. Subscribe or follow us to stay informed. And if you haven't already, please "like" our Facebook page. We currently have 454 fans and would love to reach and exceed 500!

Our Graduate Student Resource Center staff members (Coordinator of Graduate Student Professional Development Robert Hamm, Communications Director Patricia Marroquin, Academic Peer Torrey Trust, Writing Peer Ryan Dippre, Funding Peer Kyle Crocco, and Diversity and Outreach Peer Hala Sun) are here to help.

Grad Slam Deadline Extended;

Sign Up Now!

The deadline to sign up to compete in our award-winning Grad Slam competition has been extended, to Wednesday, March 26. There are more prizes this year, from $50 gift cards to the grand prize of a $2,500 research award. Don't delay! All you need to do is write a few sentences about what you intend to talk about. Read our newsletter above, or go directly to the Grad Slam sign-up page.

Grad Programs Once Again Tops in U.S. News Rankings

UCSB's Chemical Engineering and Materials programs have once again made the top 10 lists of best graduate programs among the nation's universities, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2015 Best Graduate Schools rankings. The College of Engineering's Materials program was No. 2 on the overall list, and No. 1 among public institutions. Get the details in our Best Grad Schools article.

Commencement Corner

Commencement registration is now open, so if you plan to participate in the ceremony, register before the May 2 deadline. Nominations are being accepted for Commencement Student Speaker; the deadline is April 4. And Lancaster Dissertation Award nominations for Social Sciences and Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering are also being accepted; the deadline is also April 4. Find out more about these and other Commencement news in our special Commencement newsletter edition (pictured above).

Dr. Mike North is an inventor and innovator.

North Will Head South
to Be Guest Speaker

The guest speaker for the 2014 Graduate Division Commencement Ceremony is a Gaucho grad alumnus. In fact, he has three degrees from UCSB: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, M.S. in Materials and Ph.D. in Materials with an emphasis on nanotechnology. Dr. Mike North of San Francisco is a dynamic science and technology advocate; a Discovery Channel TV show host; and founder of the nonprofit ReAllocate, which aims to make a difference in the world by sharing resources. Find out more about Dr. North in our Commencement Speaker announcement.

John Coate, left, of Career Services, and Robert Hamm, of Graduate Division and the Graduate Student Resource Center.

New Faces in Career Services
and Graduate Division

Career Services has a new Assistant Director, John Coate, who will also be a Coordinator of Graduate Student Services. ... And Graduate Division has hired Robert Hamm as Coordinator of Graduate Student Professional Development. These two new staff members are here to help you with all your career and professional development needs. Welcome, John and Robert!

Collage of Rachel Koltun and Jonathan Jones

Rachel Koltun, left, and Jonathan Jones

Grad Students in the Spotlight

Rachel Koltun is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Materials, conducting research and designing projects to explore solutions to real world problems. ... Jonathan Jones, a first-year doctoral student in the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, researches ocean acidification and how oceans are changing as a result of increased carbon dioxide emissions.

Dr. Tracy Pintchman

Grad Alum in Spotlight:

First Towbes Fellow

Dr. Tracy Pintchman, who earned her Ph.D. in Religious Studies from UCSB in 1992, had a book deal based on her dissertation within nine months of earning her degree. We profile this Loyola University Chicago professor who specializes in the study of Hinduism, with a focus on Goddess traditions and Hindu women's rituals.

Tips, Resources, Funding ... and Life

Our Funding Peer Kyle Crocco has been highlighting many funding opportunities. Read about scholarships and grants with deadlines in June. ... The Professional Women's Association is offering $200 book grants. ... Read some important information about central continuing fellowships for 2014-15. ... Although the extramural award list The Source has been discontinued, many other funding resources remain. ... Discover scholarship opportunities with deadlines in April that do not require U.S. citizenship. ... Academic Peer Torrey Trust attended a free CARE (Campus Advocacy Resources & Education) Connect training workshop. Read her recap of this workshop, whose goal is to empower students to become change agents in creating a safer campus community. ... Writing Peer Ryan Dippre has been posting a series of articles on Reading a Dissertation or Thesis Like a Writer. Read Part III on examining the literature review, and you can find the first and second parts of his series in the Tools section. ... Find out what you missed if you didn't attend the March 4 GSA meeting. Issues range from funding and fees to transportation and important announcements. ... The main library will be closed March 28-30, but online databases remain accessible and the Art Library will have limited hours. ... Popular radio host and author Garrison Keillor is coming to Santa Barbara on April 2. ... A great resource for students is the Associated Students Food Bank. Learn how it can assist you. ... For more funding opportunities, tips, resources, and events, visit our Life, Tools, Funds, Events, and Career pages.