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October 11, 2022In this issue: The many rewards of Three Minute Thesis®, Dissertation Writing Camp applications now open, and more.
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Tips for Grads: Three minutes, many rewards
One of the most empowering quotes I’ve ever stumbled on is, “be scared, and do it anyway.”
I’ve known about the Three Minute Thesis® competition for several years. Last year, I finally signed up. And if you had watched my three-minute talk, you would have definitely seen some nerves. My hands shook a little and my voice cracked, but somehow I faked it well enough to earn second place. And hopefully, the more I put myself in those situations, the less scary public speaking will become.
When I signed up for the competition, I was only thinking about the most obvious outcomes. I was expecting to be challenged to communicate my work in a conversational voice. I was expecting to leave with the tools to explain my research in a relatable way to my best friend, or my grandma. I was expecting another professional development item on my CV.
And while all those outcomes came true, the unexpected rewards are what ultimately converted me from being uncertain about signing up to thinking that everyone should try it. Here’s why:
- I got to meet awesome people from across campus and learn amazing things from them. (How do babies learn language? What happens to cows when they get too hot? What even is bioelectronic medicine, and how can it be used to regulate blood pressure?)
- Reflecting on “the big picture” helped me feel more connected to my work.
- I had lots of fun conversations with family and friends who helped review my script.
- There are even cash prizes for finalists, First/Second/Third Place, and the People’s Choice Award!
But do you want to know the best part? I proved to myself that I don’t have to have it all figured out before jumping in. That I can be scared, and still grow. Plus, the next time I give a talk, my hands might even shake a little less.
Editor's note: Sign up here to compete in this year's Three Minute Thesis® competition. Registration closes October 19.
GradConnections Weekly is looking for fresh perspectives on the graduate student experience.
If you have advice, counsel, or tips for UW grad students, you’re invited to write a guest column for Tips for Grads.
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DiscoverPD is an innovative tool for UW–Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. Review the eight facets of professional development, complete a self-assessment, and get a customized report and recommendations.
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Upcoming Office of Professional Development EventsAll event times and deadlines are listed in Central Time.
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| Design Series: Creating Effective Presentations and Posters
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Whether you're presenting your research, teaching, or creating a presentation for a job talk, utilizing principles of effective design in presentations is incredibly important as a professional. A well-designed presentation can be the difference between an engaged audience and one that is bored, multitasking, or even scrolling through social media. In this workshop, we will look at the DesignLab's "CAT" of designing presentations, that is the Conceptual, Aesthetic, and Technical aspects of your research/scholarly project. Mandy Morrow, Associate Director of DesignLab, will discuss how to structure your presentation for your audience, explore common mistakes/errors, and provide you with tools to communicate your desired message clearly and effectively.
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If you need to create a research poster, this workshop is for you! This workshop will be presented in partnership with UW-Madison’s DesignLab, the Writing Center, and the Graduate School Office of Professional Development. You’ll discover how to create a research poster that clearly communicates its message through both written composition and captivating design. You’ll be introduced to basic design concepts, learn about the fundamental components of strong research posters, and analyze sample posters. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the tools necessary to craft a poster that clearly conveys your research and appeals to your audience. Lisa Marvel Johnson (pictured to the left), Faculty Associate at the Writing Center, and Mandy Morrow (pictured above) will lead this workshop.
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The Graduate School Office of Professional Development in collaboration with the McBurney Disability Resource Center, Employee Disability Resource Office, and L&S Human Resources presents a session on disability and accommodations in the workplace. Topics will include: what is a disability, examples of some common accommodations, things to consider when disclosing disability, and navigating your rights and resources.
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Can you explain your research in 3 minutes? Find out by participating in UW–Madison's 2022-23 Three Minute Thesis® (3MT®) competition! 3MT® is an international research communication competition in which graduate students explain their research to a general audience. As you hone communication skills, you will be better able to expand the benefits of your research beyond the bounds of the university and convey the significance of your work to potential funders, legislators, the media, and more. Students in research-based master’s and PhD programs from all disciplines are eligible to compete. Finalists selected at semi-finals hosted on November 2 will receive $100 cash prizes; finals will be held in February 2023 where winners receive up to $1,000 in cash prizes. Register now to compete in the semi-finals on November 2.
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In-class group work can be a rich and important learning experience. So why do so many people hate it? Group work with inadequate structure invites typical behaviors such as dominating and withdrawing, conflicts, and limits student learning. This workshop is designed for graduate students and post-docs looking to build skills for both current and future teaching roles. We’ll talk about how to address common challenging behaviors, how to structure group work well, and more.
Consider joining a Delta internship cohort to become a more effective, evidence-based teacher! Learn about how this real-world experience will help you develop an evidence-based teaching practice. Graduate students and postdocs from across campus partner with faculty and staff to complete teaching-as-research projects. The internship includes developing a teaching plan, implementing, and evaluating student learning.
This introductory workshop will present strategies to support both student learning and well-being by cultivating a welcoming and empowering learning environment. Join us to explore evidence-based health-promoting practices and to consult with others and workshop applying these strategies in courses you teach or anticipate teaching in your future career.
Discussions can engage learners in deeper thinking, foster community, and promote student motivation. In this workshop, you will develop a toolbox to design classroom discussions and facilitate learning communities, now or in your future career. We will explore approaches, build skills, and consider practical applications for synchronous discussions. Through hands-on experiences, you will leave with a set of strategies for creating effective, inclusive discussions that support a collaborative learning environment.
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Additional Upcoming Professional Development Events
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In this webinar, you will learn:
- How conflict-management is an essential part of thriving in the Academy.
- How to decide when to push back and when to pull back in the face of conflict.
- The difference between healthy and unhealthy conflict.
- How to get clear about the role that power plays in resolving departmental conflicts.
- Ten tips for engaging in healthy conflict.
There’s so much we can’t anticipate before starting graduate school or a postdoc… like how difficult finishing a dissertation can be! Or how to build relationships with advisors during our postdoc. Or how to manage imposter syndrome and work/life balance. This year’s Academic Career Success Conference will help unveil some of the hidden expectations and challenges graduate students and postdocs experience in academia. Sessions will include:
- Keynote: Making a Plan For Your Degree by Beyond Prof’s founder, Dr. Maren Wood
- How to Actually Finish a Dissertation
- Building Relationships During Your PhD and Postdoc
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- How to Build Skills That Will Lead To Career Success During Your PhD or Postdoc
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Teaching & Mentoring
Explore more teaching-related professional development events from the Delta Program.
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WISCIENCE Scientific Teaching Fellows is a unique year-long program for graduate students and postdocs in the biosciences or connected fields that offers hands-on experience with research-based and inclusive teaching as an instructor (not a TA!). Through coursework and practical teaching experience in an undergraduate course, Fellows participate in a supportive community of colleagues and collaboratively develop innovative and effective ways to teach science.
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- InDesign
- Excel 2: Functions
- Python Intermediate
- Intro to Programming
- Stata Workshop: Tables in Stata 17
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Special Events & Symposia
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Fall 2022 Tuition and Fee Due Dates- Friday, Oct 14: BadgerPay second installment due
Apply now for January 2023 Dissertation Writing Camp
Supported by the Graduate School and facilitated by Writing Center senior staff, the Camp is Jan 9 - 13, 2023 and offers an opportunity for dissertators to make significant progress on their dissertations by drafting a substantial amount of writing in a structured, collegial environment. Develop writing strategies and receive feedback, build peer support, and reserve uninterrupted time to focus on your dissertation. Applications are open now and are due by Friday, Nov 4, and require an advisor endorsement. Visit the Graduate School Dissertation Help webpage for detailed descriptions and application information.
Nominations open for Campus-Wide Teaching Assistant Awards
UW–Madison employs master’s and doctoral teaching assistants across a wide range of disciplines, and their contributions in the classroom, lab, studio, and field are essential to the University's educational mission. To recognize excellence on the part of campus TAs, the Graduate School, with administrative and financial assistance from the College of Letters & Science and the Morgridge Center, sponsors six categories of awards for teaching assistants across the UW–Madison campus. These awards are open to all UW–Madison TAs enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Contact your TA appointment supervisor if you are interested in being nominated. Read more about the TA awards.
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Nature Hike
Sunday, Oct 16 | 1 - 2:30 pm
UW–Madison Arboretum
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COVID-19 Response and Testing Information
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Mental Health Resources for Grad Students
According to the 2019 Healthy Minds Survey, 93% of UW–Madison graduate students do not think any less of a peer who seeks mental health care, and 89% of UW–Madison graduate students who used mental health care found it helpful.
- Group Counseling for Graduate Students. University Health Services offers support/theme groups for graduate students, including groups for all graduate students, dissertators, graduate women, and graduate students of color. Support groups are a great way to share experiences around the challenges of grad school with other grad students.
- Healthy Minds Program app. Train your mind to be more focused, calm, and resilient through meditation with the Healthy Minds Program. This program is informed by research from the Center for Healthy Minds at UW–Madison and is free to use.
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UHS services available remotely
University Health Services is committed to supporting you. Many medical, counseling, and wellness services are available by phone and accessible online. Find out more on the UHS Remote Health and Connection webpage.
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| Graduate Student Support and Assistance
The Dean of Students Office provides resources to students struggling with a variety of issues and can be your go-to spot for assistance as a graduate student. To contact the Graduate and Professional Student Assistance Specialist Elaine Goetz-Berman directly, email egoetz2@wisc.edu.
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| Hostile and Intimidating Behavior
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to preventing hostile and intimidating behavior (HIB) and will take prompt and appropriate corrective action whenever it learns that it has occurred. If you have experienced HIB, there are resources to help and staff available to talk.
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Please note: Graduate students enrolled in service-based pricing programs, such as online and accelerated programs, are ineligible to receive tuition remission. Be sure to check with your graduate program coordinator and read your admission and appointment letters carefully to understand your benefits eligibility.
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The Graduate Public Humanities Exchange program (HEX) funds innovative public humanities projects that forge partnerships between community organizations and graduate students and provides access and services to meet real, identifiable needs of communities in Dane County. Each HEX project is a student-initiated partnership and draws on students’ research, interests, and expertise. HEX Scholars often partner with non-profit organizations, public schools, community centers, libraries, and other public entities in Dane County and beyond. The HEX program provides regular professional development opportunities in the form of workshops, guest lectures, and a student cohort. All projects receive up to $2,000 in project funding and a $600 stipend award. Public Humanities Program Coordinator Danielle Weindling (weindling@wisc.edu) can help guide you through the application process and recommend potential partners.
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As the weather turns the corner this week and fall settles in for good, let's take a moment to remember summer days filled with warm breezes and the scent of flowers. Lainey, who moved from California with Jessica Townsend, graduate student in Animal Science, will particularly miss sunbathing outside. She handles Wisconsin winters by burying herself, her treats, and her toys in piles of blankets. Smart girl, Lainey!
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