Graduate Student News – November 1, 2020

Highlighting Hidden Figures

Highlighting Hidden Figures: Exploring Black Women in the Archive

Join us for a live-online presentation at 2 p.m. Nov. 18, when Monet Lewis-Timmons will discuss her passion for Black women’s literature and history through her research on Alice Dunbar-Nelson (1875-1935). A Black woman, writer, educator and activist, Dunbar-Nelson catered to the Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia communities through Black youth education, anti-lynching

campaigns and journalism. Lewis-Timmons’ research focuses on Dunbar-Nelson’s archive, which is housed at the University of Delaware. Through archival research and public schol

arship, Lewis-Timmons explores the complexities of 20th-century Black women’s lives and how her research reveals the parallels between the past and present.

Lewis-Timmons, who received her B.A. in English and African American studies at Emory University, is a third-year English doctoral student and an African American Public Humanities Initiative (AAPHI) fellow at UD. Her research focuses on Black women in the archive from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Through public humanities work, her research uncovers the fragments of these archives to reveal the complexities of these women’s lives to make a larger intervention about Black women’s lived experiences across space and time.

To register, or for more information, email Cindy King at kingc@udel.edu.

Autumn Diversity Gathering

UD’s Autumn Diversity Graduate Gathering

The Graduate College invites graduate students to join us on the Virtual Green at Gather.town for an afternoon of connection from 2-3:30 p.m. Nov. 13.

This is the first event of a new Graduate College initiative that seeks to improve the campus climate for and foster a greater sense of community among underrepresented and marginalized graduate students. It is a chance for students to interact with others who come from diverse backgrounds and share similar lived experiences.

The Autumn Diversity Graduate Gathering also offers underrepresented graduate students the opportunity to dialogue with representatives from various centers and services on campus, including the UD Center for Counseling and Student Development, Writing Center and Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) (including immigration services). Leaders of various graduate student organizations that support underrepresented and marginalized graduate students will also be in attendance so interested students can connect with them.

Leading this effort is Aneysha (AJ) de Coteau, newly-appointed graduate assistant for graduate diversity programming in the Graduate College, and a third-year doctoral student in education whose research interests include race and diversity in education, queer theory and ‘”diversifying the Ph.D.” (Register here)

Graduate Student Updates

Minimum graduate student stipends

The minimum graduate student stipend for Academic Year 2021-2022 will remain unchanged at $20,000 for master’s students and $21,000 for doctoral students. The stipend has grown steadily over time and is competitive with most of our peer institutions. The college Deans are sympathetic to the rising cost of living in the region. However, with our current budget reductions, raising the minimum stipend would mean that UD would have to reduce the number of graduate students that can be supported internally. The Graduate College feels that it is best to preserve the graduate community and our graduate headcount by keeping the stipend the same for the upcoming academic year.

Revised guidance on the mandatory 5% employee reduction in time (furlough)

The Research Office has revised its guidance on the mandatory 5% reduction in time. Previously, postdoctoral researchers were not exempt. The Research Office has re-examined the issue and postdoctoral researchers are now exempt from the reduction in time.

“Now, through revised guidance, postdoctoral researchers also shall be exempt from this program. The University’s taxonomy classifies postdoctoral researchers as either fellows (trainees) or researchers (employees), and thus the original reduction in time guidance applied uniformly to postdoctoral researchers. UD’s historical classification system does not fully recognize the dual roles of all postdoctoral researchers, as both trainees and employees. After careful consideration, it has been determined that postdoctoral researchers, regardless of funding source, shall be exempt from the reduction in time guidance as they continue their career development.” — Charles Riordan, Vice President for Research.

Graduate Student Participation Needed

Graduate students are invited to participate in one of five working groups for the Graduate College Strategic Plan. The Graduate College will be forming working groups around its five key goals.

  • Group 1: The Graduate College will enhance graduate experiences by building a welcoming, respectful, strong, diverse and resilient graduate community. (2 graduate students needed.)
  • Group 2: The Graduate College will enhance graduate experiences by fostering innovation in graduate education, especially in creating and supporting interdisciplinary programs, delivering online courses and programs and extending educational opportunities to nontraditional learners. (1 graduate student needed.)
  • Group 3: The Graduate College will enhance graduate experiences by providing opportunities for professional development so that graduate students can achieve their career aspirations. (1 graduate student needed.)
  • Group 4: The Graduate College will enhance graduate experiences by recruiting and retaining the best and brightest students. (1 graduate student needed.)
  • Group 5: The Graduate College will enhance graduate experiences by supporting, developing and enhancing opportunities for graduate research, scholarship and creative expression. (1 graduate student needed.)

Most of the work will be conducted in November. If you are interested, please contact GSG President Samantha Bingaman.

The Business of Biotechnology

The Business of Biotechnology: virtual short course

Peter Kolchinsky, managing partner of RA Capital, will teach a short, intensive course exploring advanced concepts about the biotech sector. The deadline for applications is Nov. 2. (Read more)

Pride Caucus

Accepting applications for Pride Caucus Graduate Committee chair

The Pride Caucus Graduate Committee chair will serve as an official member of the Pride Caucus executive board in additional to leading the Graduate Committee. Open to all matriculated UD graduate students, the Graduate Committee will have a platform to advocate and create engagement opportunities for graduate students who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community or its allies. Visit sites.udel.edu/pride or contact Lukas Emory at emoryl@udel.edu for more information.

Postdocs SCORE!

Postdocs SCORE!

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is excited to be hosting Postdocs SCORE! (Scientific Career Opportunities for Research at Einstein), a recruitment event for senior graduate students and postdocs from diverse backgrounds to explore postdoctoral training at Einstein. Come visit us (virtually) in New York! (Read more)

Postdoc position in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester

The University of Rochester is seeking a motivated postdoctoral associate to work in the field of hemodialysis. The overarching goal is for the candidate to develop miniaturized hemodialysis (HD) subsystems for portable or wearable hemodialysis. The position will be held in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. (Read more)

UD Updates

Fall 2020 update for Oct. 28
Winter Session 2021
Looking ahead to an exciting 2021

Upcoming Events

November 5, 2020 | 6-7:30 p.m. – S2BN Virtual Career Cafe: Scientific Communications
Join the S2BN for an exciting evening discussing careers in scientific communications. Session objectives include showcasing career paths involving presenting and communicating science; discussing the changing landscape of scientific communications; and profiling the different dynamics between intradisciplinary and general public theatres

November 10, 2020 | 2-4 p.m. – Emotions and Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Emotions can play a critical role in how we communicate, navigate relationships, and manage conflict. In this webinar we will discuss emotional intelligence and emotions and how they influence our resilience as scientists.

November 11, 2020 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Postdocs SCORE
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is excited to be hosting Postdocs SCORE! (Scientific Career Opportunities for Research at Einstein), a recruitment event for senior graduate students and postdocs from diverse backgrounds to explore postdoctoral training at Einstein. Come visit us (virtually) in New York!

November 18, 2020 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Highlighting Hidden Figures: Exploring Black Women in the Archive
Join us for a live-online presentation at 2 p.m. Nov. 18, when Monet Lewis-Timmons will discuss her passion for Black women’s literature and history through her research on Alice Dunbar-Nelson (1875-1935). A Black woman, writer, educator and activist, Dunbar-Nelson catered to the Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia communities through Black youth education, anti-lynching campaigns and journalism. Lewis-Timmons’ research focuses on Dunbar-Nelson’s archive, which is housed at the University of Delaware. Through archival research and public scholarship, Lewis-Timmons explores the complexities of 20th-century Black women’s lives and how her research reveals the parallels between the past and present. To register, or for more information, email Cindy King at kingc@udel.edu.

Community News

State of Delaware Phase 2 reopening guidelines
Delaware governor announces delay in Phase 3 of economic reopening
Request or donate a HensNest face mask
UD students rank high in civic engagement

Grad Student Resources

Career Center
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