Graduate Division Dean's Update: 4/15/26

Dear Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars,

I have been sitting with a word this week.

Turning it over the way you turn a stone in your hand. Feeling its weight, its edges, the quiet warmth it gathers simply from being carried.

The word is civilization.

It has been spoken loudly, recently. It has been used to describe something that can be threatened or erased in a night. I am not going to pretend I did not hear it. And I am not going to look past what some of you may have been living through.

Silence in moments like this does not feel neutral. And you deserve better than that from me.

Some of you have been watching the news not as observers, but as people with parents on the other side of the world. As siblings. As people holding entire rooms in your memory while wondering if those rooms still exist.

You may have gone to sleep not knowing if your family would be safe. You may have sat in a seminar, or graded papers, or tried to write, while that fear lived quietly beneath everything.

That is real. And I want to say it plainly: I see that.

And so I have been returning to the word itself.

Civilization is light.

Light is what reveals. It is the difference between a space that holds people and a space that swallows them. It is how we find one another.

A civilization, then, is the human effort to see and be seen.

It is something we practice in small, daily choices. It is how we speak, how we listen, and how we care for one another.

And it is something we carry. In memory, in language, in story, and in the ways of understanding the world that you bring into every room.

By that definition, I am surrounded by civilization every single day.

I see it in your questions, your work, and the ways you show up for one another. I see it in the histories you carry with you, histories that have already endured more than any single moment of threat.

They live in you.

Civilization does not disappear in a night. It lives in people. It moves with them. It is practiced and carried, and made real each time we choose to see one another clearly.

This is what a research university can be at its best. A place where we continue the work of learning from one another across differences.

 

I also know that many of you are carrying a great deal right now while continuing to show up.

That is not a small thing.

Please know this community is committed to your belonging here in real and everyday ways.

If you need to talk, my door is open. If you need support, my team is here. And if you simply need someone to acknowledge that what you are carrying is real and heavy, I am here for that too.

I am grateful to be part of this with you.

With warmth and deep respect,

Upcoming office hours for the next two weeks are listed below. They are first come, first serve: https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057

Friday, April  24 – 1 PM PT
No office hours April 27th – May 1st

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is now open!

Fulbright is a fully funded international program that supports recent graduates, graduate students, and early-career professionals in pursuing graduate study, conducting research, or teaching English abroad in over 140 countries.

If you’re considering applying, UC Irvine offers an internal application and endorsement process, along with workshops to help you prepare a strong application. You can learn more about the internal process here. If you plan to apply through UC Irvine’s institutional endorsement process, you must complete the Fulbright interest form by July 31. Failure to do so may result in ineligibility for institutional endorsement.

Upcoming Workshops

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Information Session
April 17 | 12–1 PM
Learn about eligibility, award types, the application process, UCI’s internal endorsement process, and key timelines.
RSVP

Writing Your Fulbright Personal Statement
July 24 | 1–2 PM
Develop a compelling personal statement by learning how to tell your story, connect your experiences to your goals, and craft a clear, cohesive narrative.
RSVP

 

Writing Your Fulbright Research Statement
July 31 | 1–2 PM
Learn how to develop a strong research proposal by refining your project idea, articulating its significance, demonstrating feasibility, and aligning it with your host country context.
RSVP

 

Congratulations to our Grad Slam Winners!
Graduate Division hosted its 12th Annual Grad Slam event last month. Congratulations to our outstanding 2026 winners! We are proud to celebrate Cameron Geller (First Place), Tessa Chou (Second Place), and Mehdi Zafari (Third Place) for their exceptional research presentations and inspiring communication skills.

 

Missed the event or want to watch it again? The Grad Slam event is available to watch here.

We are especially excited to share that Cameron Geller will go on to represent us at the UC Systemwide Finals on April 22 at 10:30 AM PT. Click the link to watch and cheer him on!

 

Harnessing Generative AI in Academic Publishing Webinar
April 16th | 10 AM – 11 AM PT via Zoom
Register Here

You are invited to an upcoming virtual information session, “Harnessing Generative AI in Academic Publishing,” presented by Nature Masterclasses.

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are rapidly transforming the landscape of scientific writing and publishing. In this engaging webinar, you will learn how to responsibly leverage AI to enhance productivity, improve clarity, and support creativity—while staying aligned with current editorial standards.

 

What you’ll gain:

  • Practical strategies for integrating generative AI into your research workflow
  • Insights into the benefits and limitations of AI in academic publishing
  • An overview of current editorial policies and ethical considerations
  • A broader understanding of AI’s impact on scholarly communication

About the Trainer:
Dr. Harry Shirley is an Editorial Development Manager at Nature Portfolio and a trainer for Nature Masterclasses. With nearly a decade of academic research experience and multiple publications in chemistry, he brings a global perspective shaped by work in leading research groups across the UK and New Zealand. Having led over 100 workshops in more than 20 countries, Dr. Shirley is passionate about supporting and inspiring researchers worldwide.

Free Access to Nature Masterclasses for UCI Graduate Students
UC Irvine Graduate Division, in partnership with GPS-STEM, the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences, and the School of Medicine, now offers graduate students and postdocs free access to Nature Masterclasses On-Demand. These expert-designed online courses will help you sharpen your research, writing, and publishing skills.

 

💡 Topics include choosing the right journal, persuasive grant writing, research integrity, and more. Certificates are available upon completion.

👉 Sign up Today!

 

Graduate TA Training for Upper-Division Writing

Friday, 3 – 5 PM PT at UCI Campus Writing and Communication Coordinator

Register Here

Hope to TA for a Writing (W) course? Generally want to learn how to teach writing while you hone your own skills? Then attend our Graduate TA Training for Upper-Division Writing. This Spring 2026 training requires two hours a week of in-person meetings, a consultation with trainers, and one class observation if you are teaching concurrently.

 

In addition to reading foundational materials in Writing in the Disciplines (WID), graduate students will create a portfolio that equips them for the responsibility of teaching writing in their disciplines and beyond. This portfolio will primarily include accurate and manageable student learning outcomes, an in-class writing-to-learn activity, a larger signature writing assignment, a peer-response activity, and an assessment tool (such as a rubric) for giving instructor feedback on student writing.

 

Participants who complete this training will also earn UC Irvine’s Writing Pedagogy Certificate. If you are interested, please register by clicking the button below.

 

If you have questions, please email Patrick Bonczyk at pbonczyk@uci.edu.

 

Apply for Community Geoscience Initiative (CGI) PhD Fellowships
Deadline: April 24th, 2026

Applications are open for the next cohort of fully funded UCI Community Geoscience Initiative (CGI) Ph.D. fellowships. Open to current and incoming UCI Ph.D. students in climate science, geoscience, environmental science, and related fields, this one-year fellowship (Sept. 1, 2026 – Aug. 31, 2027) provides full funding, including tuition, fees, and potential support for research and conference travel.

 

Fellows collaborate with community-based organizations on environmental research, participate in seminars and professional development, and receive mentorship from a diverse network of faculty and practitioners. CGI fosters an inclusive, community-centered research environment and encourages applicants from all backgrounds, especially those with limited prior research opportunities.

Please direct all questions to Robert Garcia at garciar1@uci.edu.  

 

Apply for IonE Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Deadline: April 29th, 2026 | Apply here
The goal of the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment (IonE) Postdoctoral Fellowship is to accelerate the transition to a future where people and the planet prosper by supporting breakthrough research across disciplines, developing the next generation of global leaders, and building transformative partnerships across the state, region and globe. IonE Postdoctoral Fellows are interdisciplinary, community-engaged scholars who thrive both as team leaders and collaborators. The Fellows are visionary leaders who conduct solutions-oriented research to support equitable and just sustainability transition decisions. The Fellows define success by the impact they have in the world. Is this you? If so, complete this form! 

 

Apply to Comscicon 2026 in Bordeaux, France
July 7th -10th
Click here for more information
ComSciCon provides graduate student attendees with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet early career leaders in Science Communication, learn from and interact with a remarkable group of invited experts, and produce original work communicating complex technical concepts from science and engineering to a new audience.

 

At ComSciCon’s Flagship Workshop, participants build communication skills that scientists and other technical professionals need to express ideas to their peers, experts in other fields, and the general public. Click here or the link above for more information.

 

Iris Booth Career Scholarship
Take the next step in your professional journey with the Iris Booth Career Scholarship. You could win a $2,500 scholarship toward your career goals!

 

To enter, visit the Division of Career Pathways and snap a polished, professional headshot in our Iris Booth to elevate your online presence with high‑quality, studio‑style photos perfect for resumes, LinkedIn, and more.

 

Deadline: April 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

 

Learn more How to Enter and Eligibility: Iris Booth Career Scholarship | irisbooth.com

 

Become a Mentor with UC Irvine’s Next Gen Pathways Program
Want to support incoming grad students while building your own leadership skills? The Next Gen Pathways mentoring initiative is still recruiting mentors for the 2025–26 academic year.

This peer mentorship program connects experienced UC Irvine graduate students with new students navigating the transition into grad school—especially those who are first-gen, international, parenting, or facing hidden challenges. Mentors help with everything from research and time management to navigating campus life and offering encouragement.

✅ Flexible time commitment
✅ Matching based on shared experiences
✅ Self-paced training (~60 min)
✅ Mentorship experience for your CV

🔹 Register to mentor: uci.mentorcollective.org/register/uci-grad/mentor
🔹 Learn more: grad.uci.edu/next-gen-pathways

Your experience can make a real difference.

 

Division of Career Pathways Resources
Not sure what life after your Master’s degree or PhD looks like or have questions about your next career steps?

 

Book a 45-minute 1:1 session with the Division of Career Pathways team for personalized support—including career exploration, job or internship search strategies, resume/CV reviews, mock interviews, and more. Whether you’re considering further education, an academic path, or jumping into industry, we’re here to help you navigate your journey.

About our team: Dr. Jill Wells, Associate Director of Career Education, has over 25 years of experience in teaching and leadership, working with students of all ages. Before UCI, she supported graduate students and postdocs at Caltech and advised business students at USC, where she earned a dual doctorate in education and an MBA. She is eager to support graduate students at every stage of their academic and professional development. Maks Giljen, a 4th-year PhD student in clinical psychology, is a Graduate Student Peer Career Educator and passionate about guiding fellow grad students in their career planning.

Let’s connect and get you on the right track! Appointments can be booked here: https://app.joinhandshake.com/appointments

 

Take Advantage of Division of Career Pathways’ Professional Photo Booth

The Division of Career Pathways (DCP) is pleased to introduce our all-new Professional Photo Booth, a complimentary, walk-in service at the Division of Career Pathways offering FREE professional headshots for UCI students, staff, and faculty. These professional headshots are perfect for your LinkedIn/ Handshake/ Zoom profile, department website, and also works for UCI Digital ID photo requirements. 

 

Wellness and Inclusion Services

We know that getting through graduate school takes a lot of effort, so we provide support to our students along the way. Many of Graduate Division’s services can help you maintain your work/life balance. At UC Irvine, we believe that healthy Anteaters are productive Anteaters, which is why UCI Graduate Division has our counselors available for any student or postdoc who feels they need to talk with someone.

 

Services Offered: Academic support; Equity and inclusion support; Time management strategies; Tools to master effective communication skills; Strategies for navigating professional and academic expectations in graduate school; Referrals to campus services

 

Please reach out to Dr. Phong Luong (pbluong@uci.edu) directly to schedule an appointment.

  

Helpful Resources Provided by UC Irvine Libraries

Here are a few helpful links below provided by the UC Irvine Libraries. UC Irvine Libraries developed a guide to help new scholars navigate the realm of scholarship.

 

Graduate Student Research Support Guide

Digital Scholarship Services (DSS) Main Site

  • https://www.lib.uci.edu/dss
  • This site provides an overview of UC Irvine Libraries’ digital scholarship services with contact information, workshop details, and other tools and resources

DSS Programming Workshops

LibGuide on Software for Data Analysis (by Danielle Kane, Computational Research Librarian):  https://guides.lib.uci.edu/dataanalysis
Links to her other Libguides (GIS, Data Visualization):  https://guides.lib.uci.edu/prf.php?id=5952d46c-7cdb-11ed-9922-0ad758b798c3


Dean’s Recent Alumni Fellowship
This fellowship aims at easing the transition from graduate school into full-time careers either in academia or other industries. While the fellowship is unpaid, a recipient of this fellowship will receive access to resources that will pay immense dividends going forward and was developed in consultation with young professionals and alumni to provide resources they wished they had access to while in graduate school. Click above for more information and to apply.

  • Deadline: Rolling


More information regarding funding opportunities is located on the Graduate Division Fellowships page and the 2025-26 Funding Timeline.

All the best,

Jaymi Lee Smith
Interim Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Interim Dean of the Graduate Division