Graduate Division Dean's Update: 3/18/26

Dear Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars,

 

Spring break is almost here.

 

Which means that, in addition to rest, travel, catching up on work, and attempting to become a slightly more functional version of yourself, I would like to formally offer a different set of options.

 

Not better options. Just… alternative ones.

 

If you are feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or simply in need of something that does not involve a PDF, I encourage you to consider the following highly impractical spring break activities:

  • Rearrange your entire living space at 11:30 PM for no clear reason, and then stand in the doorway wondering who you are now as a person.
  • Start a hobby with absolutely no long-term plan. You will not monetize it. You will not optimize it. You will simply do it badly and with enthusiasm.
  • Go outside “for a minute” and stay there far longer than planned.
  • Fall down a very specific internet rabbit hole that you will not be able to explain to anyone later.
  • Visit UTC at least once and walk in a slow, contemplative loop as if you are deciding something important (you are not).
  • Spend an afternoon convinced you have solved your entire life, followed by an evening where you are less certain.
  • Decide this is the moment you become a morning person, immediately set a 6 AM alarm, and then absolutely do not honor it.

None of these are required. None of them are particularly productive. That is, in many ways, the point.

 

Spring break does not need to be transformational. It does not need to be optimized. It can simply be a small shift in pace. A little space. A moment to step just slightly outside of your usual routine.

 

Whatever the week looks like for you—rest, work, travel, or some combination of all three—I hope it gives you at least one moment where things feel a little lighter.

 

Wishing you rest, a bit of absurdity, and a break from PDFs.  Please remember to hydrate.

 

Upcoming office hours for the next two weeks are listed below. They are first come, first serve:

https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057

 

Monday, March 23 – 1 PM PT

Thursday, April 2 – 11 AM PT

Congratulations to our Grad Slam Winners!
Graduate Division hosted its 12th Annual Grad Slam event last Thursday. 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 will reair on March 26 at 6:00 PM PT.

 

We are especially excited to share that Cameron Geller will go on to represent us at the UC Systemwide Finals on April 22. Best of luck, Cameron!

 

CCCIP Applications Due TONIGHT
Applications for the California Community College Internship Program (CCCIP) are due TONIGHT!

 

CCCIP provides doctoral and M.F.A. students with structured mentorship, teaching experience, professional development, and a $7,500 summer fellowship in preparation for community college faculty careers.

 

If you plan to apply, please be sure to submit your materials before the deadline.

 

Application deadline: March 18. Click here to access the application. Want to learn more? Access Information Session slides and recording here.

 

Apply to be UC Irvine’s 2026 Graduate Hooding Student Speaker
Apply here | Deadline: March 22nd
Interested in representing the class of 2026 at the Graduate Hooding Ceremony on June 15 at 5:30 PM.? Apply now to be speaker!

 

We are looking for applicants that are interested in being the 2026 Graduate Hooding Ceremony student speaker. Please apply here by March 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT and then from there, Graduate Division will ask finalists to submit a draft of their speech for review before making a selection.

This is only for the Graduate Hooding Ceremony on June 15 at 5:30 p.m. PT.

Any questions, email Sean Collins at collins3@uci.edu.  

 

Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Workshop
April 1, 1 – 2 PM PT | Register Here 

Graduate Division and UCI Libraries will host an online workshop for Thesis and Dissertation Formatting. Please register if you would like to attend, or if you would like a recording of the workshop.

 

Workshops will be held on Zoom. Topics covered include:

  • Important deadlines and fees
  • Accessibility requirements
  • Tips and tools for properly formatting your thesis or dissertation
  • Questions related to embargos and copyrights
  • FAQs and resources

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 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 7 -10
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

 

Professional Development Resource: Nature Masterclasses On-Demand
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 online courses, designed by Springer Nature experts, will help you sharpen your research, writing, and publishing skills.

💡 Courses cover topics such as choosing the right journal, persuasive grant writing, research integrity, and more. Certificates are available upon completion.

👉 Explore Nature Masterclasses by clicking here

 

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

 

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

 

School Nominated Fellowships – Must be nominated by your school

Faculty Mentor Program Fellowship (FMP)
The FMP Fellowship is designed to increase the number of students who complete their Ph.D. degree and successfully acquire a faculty appointment. Fellows are expected to participate in meaningful research and, eventually, developing an independent project.

  • The application deadline is April 1, 2026 by 5:00pm PST
  • Schools are invited to submit up to two nominations
  • The total award package this year is $57,500 to be distributed during the 2026-27 AY, Oct through June

 

President’s Dissertation Year Fellowship (PDY)
The PDY Fellowship is intended for students in their final year of graduate study, who are planning to pursue teaching and research appointments soon after their dissertation fellowship year. This award assists graduate students with the completion of their dissertation and enhances their qualifications as candidates for university faculty teaching and research appointments by providing professional opportunities needed to successfully obtain a faculty appointment.

  • The application deadline is April 1, 2026 by 5:00pm PST
  • Schools are invited to submit up to two nominations
  • The total award package this year is $57,500 to be distributed during the 2026-27 AY, Oct through June

 

Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship (GDDF)
The UCI Graduate Division is pleased to announce a fellowship for students nearing completion of their dissertations/thesis. The Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship, GDDF, aims to increase dissertation and thesis completion amongst doctoral and MFA students. This award is intended for students in their final year of graduate study who have a realistic expectation of degree completion during the 2025-2026 academic year. The award will allow students to forgo their non-research related employment obligations to concentrate on completing their degree.

  • The application deadline is April 1, 2026 by 5:00pm PST
  • The award consists of a $5,000 stipend for Summer 2026
  • Schools are invited to submit up to three nominations

 

Students Apply Directly

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.

 

External Funding Opportunities

 

The UC Irvine Graduate Division is now accepting applications for the Google PhD Fellowship Program. UC Irvine has been selected to submit up to four campus nominations for this prestigious opportunity.

Google PhD Fellowships directly support graduate students as they pursue their PhD.

Nurturing and maintaining strong relations with the academic community is a top priority at Google. The Google PhD Fellowship Program was created to recognize outstanding graduate students doing exceptional and innovative research in areas relevant to computer science and related fields. Fellowships support promising PhD candidates of all backgrounds who seek to influence the future of technology. Our research teams impact technology used by people all over the world and we encourage people of a wide range of backgrounds to apply. We currently offer fellowships in Africa, Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and the United States.

UCI Internal Deadline:  April 9, 2026 by 5pm PST
UCI Application:  https://grad.uci.edu/fellowships/google-phd-fellowship-program-e/

  • Up to 2 year Fellowship
  • US $85K per year towards education costs (tuition and fees), living expenses, travel, and personal equipment (effective from 2025 for new recipients)

Research Areas of Focus
Google PhD Fellowship students are a select group recognized by Google researchers and their institutions as some of the most promising young academics in the world. The Fellowships are awarded to students who represent the future of research in the fields listed below

  • Computer Architecture
  • Algorithms and Optimization
  • Health Research
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Machine Learning and ML Foundations
  • Machine Perception
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Privacy, Safety, and Security
  • Quantum Computing
  • Software Engineering and Programming Languages
  • Systems, Networking, and Cloud Computing

For more information, visit the Google PhD fellowship program website



ETS Scholarship Opportunities Available:

Lenora M. Green Scholarship
• Who it supports: A graduate student demonstrating outstanding commitment to civic engagement and advocacy for individuals who have been systematically excluded
• Award amount: $20,000
• Apply at: Lenora M. Green Scholarship

 

Robert “Bob” Moses Scholarship
• Who it supports: A graduate student from an underrepresented group pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in mathematics education or a STEM discipline
• Award amount: $20,000
• Apply at: Robert Moses Scholarship

 

Dr. Lillian M. Lowery Scholarship
• Who it supports: A student pursuing a master’s degree in education who embodies a strong commitment to expanding opportunities for all students
• Award amount: $20,000
• Apply at: Lillian M. Lowery Scholarship

 

ETS Presidential Scholarship for HBCU Students
• Who it supports: Eight outstanding juniors and seniors attending a public or private Historically Black College or University (HBCU)
• Award amount: $15,000
• Apply at: HBCU Scholarship

 

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