Graduate Division Dean's Update: 9/15/23

Dear Graduate Students and Postdocs,

 

It’s QUITE a day. First, as the emails from the registrar’s office have no doubt informed you, it’s Fee Payment Deadline! For some of you with fellowships, we have had a few technical glitches getting your fees paid. In those cases, we know about you and have given your name to the registrar and it shouldn’t be a problem. However, if something happens and you DO get dropped from classes because of glitches on our end, don’t worry, we will get you back in. Many apologies for any added anxiety!

 

It is also the start of both Hispanic Heritage month (https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/) and the first day of the Jewish High Holidays (https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/5-things-know-about-jewish-high-holidays) or as I saw on the internet this morning “National Google How to Say Happy New Year in Hebrew” day. I also just learned that today is the independence day for many nations AND national cheese toast day, invented right here in California (https://nationaltoday.com/national-cheese-toast-day/). 

 

Whatever you celebrate (or don’t), I hope it’s a good day.

 

Upcoming Office Hours

Those of you who came to office hours on the 6th, THANK YOU for your patience as we had more individual cases than I have ever seen in one office hour session. Thankfully, Associate Dean Jaymi Smith was able to step in and help. Those of you who came to office hours on the 13th…. Oh wait, no one did! It just goes to show, it can feel a bit random if there are people there or not, but if you need me, want to say hi, want to brag on something awesome you did, want a shoulder to cry on, ANYTHING, come on by.

 

No appointment needed, all sessions are a half hour, Pacific time, first come first serve, and at this Zoom: https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477

Thursday September 21 – 2PM

Wednesday September 27 – 12:30PM

 

Now on to this week’s events, news, and funding opportunities: 

 

Register for Graduate Division’s Resource Fair

Oct 2nd, 2023 | 10 am – Noon

Graduate and Postdoctoral Resource Center (3100 Gateway Study Center)

Register: https://tinyurl.com/GDResourceFair 

 

Division of Career Pathways Programming
Below are some summer opportunities put in by the Division of Career Pathways:

 

Featured Events

  • How to Set Yourself Up for Career Success After Your PhD/Postdoc | September 27

 

Save the Date for Fall Career Fairs: Career Fairs – UCI Division of Career Pathways 

  • In-Person Fall Career Fair | Thurs, Oct 5th   I   10am-2pm   I   Outdoors on Ring Road
    • Student registration opens September 21st at 8:00am in Handshake
  • Virtual Fall Career Fair | Wed, Oct 11th   I   10am-2pm   I   via Handshake
    • Student registration opens September 27th at 8:00am in Handshake
  • In-Person STEM Career Fair | Tues, Oct 24th   I   10am-2pm   I   Indoors in the Student Center
    • Student registration opens October 2nd at 8:00am in Handshake

DCP Resources Over Summer:

  • Students may still sign up for 1-1 advising appointments via Handshake, but please note that appointment availability will be limited throughout the summer



Open Call for Genentech Postdocs 

  • Genentech, a world-class biotechnology company in South San Francisco, is launching an Open Call for our postdoc program aimed at identifying top scientific talent, independent of a specific job posting for a given scientist’s lab. 
  • Applicants are provided the freedom to select three potential Genentech postdoc mentor’s that they are most interested in working with in order to propel the next stage of their scientific career.
  • For more information and to apply click here: https://go.gene.com/2023ApplicationPHI

 

Graduate Student Therapy Group

  • Every Tuesday | 9:30 AM – 11 AM PT
    A process-oriented therapy group for graduate students who would like to receive/provide support, learn about self and others, share their experiences, and discuss possible ways to cope with struggles. 
  • The focus of the group will be determined by the members; possible topics may include academic distress, personal growth, relationships, and work-life balance.
  • Pre-group screening required. Contact the Counseling Center at 949.824.6457 to schedule.

 

Current Funding Opportunities
More information is located on the Current Fellowships page and 2023-24 Funding Timeline.  Additionally, please reach out to Turner Dahl (tdahl@uci.edu) with any questions you may have.

UC President’s Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Fellows Program

  • OVPTL and Graduate Division are coordinating the UCI campus applications for the fifth annual class of the UC President’s Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Fellows. These fellows can be undergraduate, graduate students or postdoctoral fellows and will be supported to attend the Lindau Physics Meetings being held from June 30 through July 5, 2024 in Lindau, Germany.

2023-24 Topic:  73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Physics)

Application Deadline:  September 22, 2023


School Nominated Fellowships
The fellowships below require the student to be nominated by their school by October 20, 2023.  Please note that schools and departments typically have earlier internal deadlines.  Students who meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in applying should reach out to their schools and/or departments.


  • Chancellor’s Club Fund for Excellence Fellowships
    Chancellor’s Club Fellowships are intended to recognize our most academically superior doctoral and MFA students — those who exhibit outstanding promise as scholars, researchers, and public leaders. Please note, nominated students must be first-generation college students, with neither parent having received a four-year degree.  All schools are invited to submit one nomination each.  Award:  $18,000 stipend over Winter & Spring 2024.


(New) Graduate Scholar Success Fund

  • The Graduate Division is pleased to announce the inaugural competition for the Graduate Scholar Success Fund for the 2023-2024 academic year.  This scholarship is meant to provide support to graduate students who are first-generation and demonstrate a clear financial need.  This award consists of a $1,500 stipend which may be received during Winter 2024 or Spring 2024.  All schools are invited to submit one nomination each.

Fletcher Jones Fellowship

  • This award is intended to provide financial support to doctoral students that will allow them to fully focus on their dissertation research.  As this fellowship is intended to support doctoral degree completion, students demonstrating a clear plan and strong likelihood of filing their dissertation by the summer dissertation filing deadline at the end of the award year will be given the strongest consideration. Award:  $9,000 stipend to be used during Winter or Spring 2024.

Public Impact Fellowships

  • Public Impact Fellowships highlight and support doctoral and MFA students whose current research has the potential for substantial impact in the public sphere. Ideal candidates will be involved in research designed to significantly improve or enrich the lives of Californians and/or national and global communities.  Awards:  five full awards of $11,000 stipend for Winter and/or Spring 2024 and 10 honorable mention awards ($1,000 stipend each).


Direct Apply Fellowships
The various opportunities below are being administered by the Graduate Division, UCOP or other external agencies and do not require a school nomination. Students may apply directly if eligible.  Please note, deadlines vary.


DAAD Study Scholarships & Long-Term Research Grants

  • DAAD provides young people with the opportunity to gain international academic and research experience in Germany.  Since it was founded in 1925, DAAD has provided funding to more than 1.9 million scholars in Germany and abroad.  DAAD has invited UC Irvine to nominate one priority candidate for the Study Scholarship and/or Research Grant-One Year Grant programs.  See the call for nominations for more details.

    UCI Internal Deadline:  October 20, 2023
    DAAD External Deadline:  November 3, 2023


NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award F99/K00

  • The purpose of the NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students recognized by their institutions for their high potential and strong interest in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers. The award will facilitate the transition of talented graduate students into successful cancer research postdoctoral appointments and provide opportunities for career development activities relevant to their long-term career goals of becoming independent cancer researchers.

UCI Internal Deadline:  October 13, 2023

UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

  • The University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program was established in 1984 to encourage outstanding women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers at the University of California. The current program offers postdoctoral research fellowships and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to the diversity and equal opportunity at the University of California. The contributions to diversity may include public service towards increasing equitable access in fields where women and minorities are underrepresented. In some fields, the contributions may include research focusing on underserved populations or understanding inequalities related to race, gender, disability or LGBT. The program is seeking applicants with the potential to bring to their academic and research careers the critical perspective that comes from their non-traditional educational background or understanding of the experiences of members of groups historically underrepresented in higher education in the United States.  Apply directly at https://ppfpapply.ucop.edu/.

Application Deadline:  November 1, 2023


Gilliam Fellows Program

  • The James H. Gilliam, Jr. Fellows Program (the Gilliam Fellows Program) is an initiative of the HHMI Center for the Advancement of Science Leadership and Culture. The Gilliam Fellows Program supports pairs of graduate students and their faculty advisers who, together, embody scientific leadership, an important component of which is a commitment to building an equitable and inclusive science culture. For the 2024 cohort, the total amount awarded will be $53,000 per year for up to three years. The grant will be paid to the institution, which in turn, will disburse funds to the adviser and Fellow.


Application Opens:  October 19, 2023
Application Deadline:  December 7, 2023

Other External Funding Opportunities 

Apply for Rotary District 5320 Scholarship – $30,000 Available 

  • The purpose of the Global Grant Scholarship Program is to help prepare students for careers in one of Rotary’s seven Areas of Focus and to foster international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. Rotary District 5320 is pleased to announce that we are continuing this wonderful program by offering District 5320 Global Grant Scholarships for graduate study abroad. District 5320 is offering scholarships for the upcoming academic year and is open to receiving applications.

 

Graduate Research Fellowship Program 

  • The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education.

 

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines beginning October 16, 2023

 

NASEM Mirzayan Fellowship

  • The application for the 2024 Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program is now open and the program will run from March 4 – May 24, 2024. 

 

Application Deadline: October 16, 2023

 

In Closing:

I was walking the dog this morning and listening to Instagram stories (yes, I promise this is going somewhere), and I ran into an author (destini.ann) with some advice for her daughter about how to assert yourself respectfully to get what you want. I normally absentmindedly listen to these kinds of things in between podcasts just to pass the time on these walks, but I replayed this woman’s advice until I had it memorized. While it was meant for her daughter, it is powerful advice for anyone, and it starts with a question I have asked myself and others before: “Do you want to be heard or do you want to be understood?” She then notes that “raising the volume is probably not going to result in collaboration.” So often, we want to metaphorically raise the volume, and sometimes we even literally raise it by shouting. In the end, though, if you want to really make change, you have to be understood, and that comes from talking with not at each other. UCI recently launched our year of free speech, and I hope you will go to seminars, participate in events, and think about what it means to be in a civil society where we have both freedoms and responsibilities around our speech. 

 

The post ends with another powerful suggestion that I have never thought about quite so succinctly, but she is absolutely right “can you turn that [demand] into a question, because requests go so much further than demands.” I have often tried to think to myself, what do I really want right now, and how can I go about getting it? Asking for help can be much more powerful than demanding it. I would love to hear other strategies from all of you that we can share here! Maybe something for us to chat about during office hours.

 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend on behalf of the Graduate Division,

 

Gillian Hayes
Kleist Professor of Informatics
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Dean of the Graduate Division