Monthly Archives: December 2017

Three-minute thesis (3MT) competition

The Graduate School has announced this year’s 3MT competition, for which the top presenters get some significant prize money, and the winner goes on to a regional competition! From Lou Haines:

I am happy to announce that the Graduate School’s 5th annual 3MT will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. We have a 3MT workshop scheduled for Friday, February 9th and preliminary rounds on four dates in February. Students may register at this Qualtrics link, and when they do, I will add them to the 3MT Canvas site where they will find a wealth of information on preparing for the competition.

This is a fantastic way for students to hone their presentation skills as well as learn how to explain their research to a diverse group.

Topic Table Takeaways: Grants from a Miami Psychology Perspective

The Faculty Development & Welfare committee developed the idea to have occasional “topic table” meetings over lunch or coffee to discuss relevant professional development topics. The first of these on grant funding from an in-house perspective was held earlier this month. From Amanda Diekman (committee chair):

Here is a google doc with takeaways from the first Faculty Development Topic Table on Grants from a Miami PSY Perspective. Josh organized & it was a really useful conversation; the takeaways here are my summary based on the reflection of the attendees.

Graduate student achievement awards

All of the department’s nominees were selected for Graduate Student Achievement Awards from the Graduate School! Congratulations to the winners and thank you to the faculty mentors who work closely with these students and submitted nominations:

  • Lauren Forrest (w/ April Smith)
  • Amy McConnell (w/ Terri Messman-Moore)
  • Marie Parsons (w/ Elise Clerkin)
  • Marissa Smith-Millman (w/ Paul Flaspohler)

Summer research opportunities

Before your excellent undergraduates disperse, you may want to discuss summer research opportunities with them, as application deadlines are often over the winter break or shortly after. The ORU maintains a running list, there are hundreds of NSF-funded REUs, and I get emails for several that sound excellent for our majors. For example, the Big Ten schools collectively administer a summer research (SROP) program with experiences across many relevant content domains, such as the following due February 15:

The University of Wisconsin – Madison Psychology Research Experience Program (PREP) offers a 10-week program of mentored research, with an emphasis on applying tools of data science to problems in psychology and neuroscience. It is tailored for individuals from groups historically underrepresented in our field: racial and ethnic minorities, first-generation college students, individuals from low income families, and individuals with disabilities. PREP covers all travel and living expenses, and offers a modest stipend. In addition to carrying out research at a top-ranked psychology department, participants will also interact with faculty and trainees associated with the NSF-supported LUCID graduate training program…  take advantage of numerous professional development and networking opportunities, and engage with a broader community of >100 students participating in one of the UW–Madison’s many SROPs. Unique for 2018: PREP students will have full access to CogSci2018, taking place in Madison July 25-28.

Faculty award for graduate mentoring and instruction

Nominations are now open for this award to acknowledge excellent and sustained contributions to graduate education, for which several of our faculty are eligible and undoubtedly deserving. From Rose Marie Ward:

Full-time faculty members from academic units with graduate and/or professional instructional responsibilities are eligible for the Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate Instruction and Mentoring. The award includes a $1,000 professional expense account for use by the recipient. Up to two recipients will be selected to receive this award annually.

Eligible faculty must have seven years at Miami, but anyone is able to submit nominations directly to me. If you are considering someone for this award, please let me know and/or ask any questions as soon as possible since the application requires some preparation and it is due March 1.

Career day in quantitative skills for women

John Bailer, chair in Statistics, sends word of this program focused at educating and encouraging young women in fields requiring technical and quantitative skills. I think many of our female faculty would contribute well to this event if it interested any of you. He writes:

​​The CIQS Day is an annual event exclusively for female high school students designed to attract and motivate the study of a career involving quantitative skills. For this event, we invite such students from high schools in Southwestern Ohio (including downtown Cincinnati) to come to campus, participate in activities with faculty and current students, listen to faculty and student presentations, and converse with women who are working in STEM fields and in fields where good quantitative skills are needed. It is our hope that by introducing the students to these fields early, and by exposing them to exciting aspects of our fields of study, they will become intrigued and motivated to study a STEM discipline or to continue to study quantitative methods regardless of future majors.

Those that are interested can contact me (or John) for more information, program, or publicity materials.

Diversity events after winter break

The Diversity & Inclusion committee, by way of Laurel, wanted to provide some advance notice about events after the break to allow for better planning. As we discussed briefly at faculty meeting, in the spring we will continue to post events by mid-week, for inclusion in the Thursday email digest, about events to occur in the following week. For now, from Laurel:

Mark your calendars for these diversity and inclusion events at the start of the Spring 2018 semester!

*Black Mental Health Night

When: February 6th, 2018 @ 7:00PM
Where: McGuffy Hall, 210 East Spring Street, Oxford, Ohio

“Join the Association of Black Psychologists for a mini-poster session with presentations and a speaker about issues relating to Black people in psychology.”

*Chinese New Year Festival

When: February 9th, 2018 @ 3:00PM to 10:00PM
Where: Marcum Conference Center, 951 E. Withrow Street, Oxford, OH, 45056

“All students and scholars are welcome to come and join with foods, traditional games, and celebrate Spring Festival (Chinese New Year Festival).”

*The New Golden Age of Latin Music ft. Orkesta Mendoza and Las Cafeteras

When: February 15th, 2018 @ 7:30PM to 9:30PM
Where: Hall Auditorium, 101 S. Campus Ave, Oxford, OH, 45056

“Top producer of global music, globalFEST, has paired two of today’s most exciting bands, forging inspired new paths for the fabled Latin sound.”
Buy tickets here.

Academic affairs meeting, Dec 06

This month’s academic administrators’ breakfast provided some updates on Faculty 180, accreditation, and other matters. There was a presentation by Jen Franchak, the new Asst. VP in the career center (with a psych degree!), who is exploring initiatives such as career advisors from the center assigned like academic advisors. The provost announced reminders for the following awards:

I will post minutes from this and other meetings with the new Team Drive structure. Then I can simply point to highlights, as warranted, here once a month.