Author: Michael

Postdoc Appreciation Week 2026

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The University of Connecticut Postdoc Working Group, in partnership with The Graduate School, UConn Health (Farmington), and the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, is excited to announce National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW26) 2026, taking place from Monday, September 21, through Friday, September 25, on the Storrs campus.

This year’s theme, “Celebrating 150 Years of the U.S. Postdoc Position,” recognizes the important role postdoctoral scholars have played in advancing research, innovation, and higher education. It also reflects the purpose of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, which is dedicated to recognizing and supporting postdoctoral researchers across institutions nationwide.

Throughout the week, postdocs from all UConn campuses are invited to participate in a variety of events focused on professional development, networking, and community building. These events provide opportunities for postdocs to connect with colleagues, learn about available resources, and celebrate their contributions to the UConn community.

This year’s NPAW26 will also feature the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day. Postdocs interested in participating in the Postdoc Research Day should read more HERE and register once the application opens on July 20, 2026. Postdocs, Faculty, staff, graduate students, and all other attendees should use the general RSVP form to register for the week's events. Please see below for more information about the scheduled events and activities.

The Week at a Glance

We invite you to stay connected throughout NPAW26 by following The Graduate School on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for highlights and updates. More events and activities will be added in the coming days. Questions, feedback, or ideas for NPAW26 may be directed to The Graduate School via Melanie V. Sinche (melanie.sinche@uconn.edu) or Michael Inkoom Nyarko (rdu25001work@uconn.edu).

2026 Postdoc Research Day

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The University of Connecticut's Postdoc Working Group, in partnership with The Graduate School, invites you to register and participate in the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day as part of the 2026 National Postdoc Appreciation Week. This one-day research event will be held at the Rome Ball Room, Storrs Campus, on Wednesday September 23, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event is designed to provide postdoctoral scholars with an opportunity to present their research to a general audience while participating in professional development training that prepares them for the next steps in their careers. 

Three postdoc winners
Winners of the 2025 Postdoc Research Day (left to right): Shadi Izadidehkordi, Cao Thuy Giang Nguyen, and Hoang Quan Truong.

Timeline:  

Monday, July 20, 2026   Application opens 
Friday, August 7, 2026   Application deadline for postdoctoral researchers.  
Wednesday, August 12, 2026    Designing Engaging Presentations workshop 
Mon-Fri, August 17-21, 2026  Presentation Week for Postdocs  
Friday, September 4, 2026   Creating Effective Presentations workshop 
Wednesday, September 23, 2026   Final competition 

Postdocs from all UConn campuses, with the exception of UConn Health, are encouraged to register and participate in the 2026 Postdoc Research Day. The competition will feature a maximum of 30 poster presentations. In addition, up to 20 postdocs will be selected to deliver a three-minute presentation about their research to a general audience. All postdocs are welcome to present their research.

Since space is limited, participation will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis upon receipt of a complete application. Selections will also take into consideration equitable representation across UConn's schools, colleges, departments, and institutes. 

To help participants prepare for the competition, all selected presenters will be required to attend a mandatory practice session, either in person at the Whetten Graduate Center, Giolas Conference Room, second floor or virtually via Microsoft Teams from Monday August 17 through Friday August 21. During the practice session, judges will provide constructive feedback to help presenters strengthen their presentations before the competition.

Please note that all oral presentations must be no longer than three minutes. Interested postdocs are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as registration opens, as available presentation spots will be filled on a rolling basis.

Submit Your Application Here

Applicants who submit their applications after all oral presentation slots have been filled may be placed on a waitlist and will be notified if an oral presentation opportunity becomes available. Selected postdocs will have the opportunity to present their research through a three-minute oral presentation. All interested postdocs are also welcome to participate in the poster presentation session.

On the registration form, please indicate whether you would like to be considered for an oral presentation, a poster presentation only, or both. Postdocs participating only in the poster presentation are encouraged to drop off their posters at The Graduate School front desk by September 22, 2026. Alternatively, posters may be dropped off at the registration desk on the day of the event before the poster session begins. 

For postdocs (if you are not presenting), faculty members, staff, graduate students, and members of the UConn community who wish to attend the event to support their colleagues, lab mates, or department's representation, please RSVP for the event using this link.

Leading up to the event, The Graduate School will host two presentation workshops, including Designing Effective Presentations for postdocs. These workshops will also be open to graduate students. Additional information regarding directions, parking, and other event resources will be shared closer to the event date.

If you have questions about the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day, please contact The Graduate School by reaching out to Melanie V. Sinche at melanie.sinche@uconn.edu or Michael Inkoom Nyarko at rdu25001work@uconn.edu.

Connect with The Graduate School at UConn on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook for more event updates.

Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase : Fall 2026

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The Graduate School at UConn invites you to apply for and participate in the second annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase. This event celebrates the impact, creativity, and purpose behind graduate students’ work through brief, engaging presentations designed for a general audience. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Konover Auditorium in The Dodd Center for Human Rights and is open to degree-seeking graduate students from all UConn campuses. 

Spencer Hayes, presenting on the topic “Social Media's Dichotomous Agency in Human Trafficking” during the Spring 2026 3MT and Graduate Student Showcase.
Spencer Hayes, presenting on the topic “Social Media's Dichotomous Agency in Human Trafficking” during the Spring 2026 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase.

The goal of the event is to provide eligible graduate students with an opportunity to gain experience communicating the significance of their work to a non-specialist audience in three minutes or less. Prior to the event, participants will have the opportunity to attend two presentation workshops, as outlined in the table below. 

Timeline: 

Monday, July 20, 2026  Application opens
Friday, August 7, 2026  Application deadline for graduate students 
Wednesday, August 12, 2026   Designing Engaging Presentations workshop
Friday, August 21, 2026 Decisions made, graduate students notified
Friday, September 4, 2026  Creating Effective Presentations workshop
September 7-18, 2026  Preliminary round 
Wednesday, October 7, 2026  Final competition 

Eligibility Criteria: 

  • Category 1: All Master's degrees; Professional and clinical doctoral degrees 
  • Category 2: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only) 
  • Category 3: STEM doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only) 

Please note:

Students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate program during the Fall 2026 semester to participate in the competition. While students from both thesis-based and non-thesis-based programs are eligible to compete and win at the UConn level, only students enrolled in thesis-based programs are eligible to advance to the national and international Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competitions. We encourage all eligible graduate students, regardless of program type, to apply and participate in the UConn 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase competition.  The Graduate School will also host a poster competition during the Spring 2027 semester. While the poster competition is open to all graduate students, those who may not be eligible to participate in the Fall 2026 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase competition are especially encouraged to apply. Additional details about the Spring 2027 poster competition will be shared as they become available. 

To participate in Categories 2 or 3 above: 

  • The applicant must be a doctoral student enrolled in a program with a dissertation requirement. 
  • The applicant must be an active student when they apply and compete. Applicants who complete their degree during the prior semester cannot compete. 
  • The applicant must have documented successful completion of the General Examination by submitting the Report on the General Exam to the Office of the Registrar Degree Audit Team no later than Sept 30, 2026. 
  • The applicant must have documented successful completion and submission of the dissertation proposal by submitting the Dissertation Proposal Form to the Office of the Registrar Degree Audit Team no later than Sept 30, 2026. 
  • The Dissertation Proposal Form may be submitted to Degree Audit without approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The milestone will be posted as "in progress" and will meet the eligibility requirements for this application. IRB/IACUC approval must be submitted to Degree Audit once received to ensure that the milestone is updated to "complete" on the student record.

Prizes: 

Ten (10) finalists in each of the categories listed above will be selected to compete on Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026. Cash prizes, in the form of scholarship funds, will be awarded to the winners of each category, as well as to the overall winner. The institution's representative for the national and international 3MT competitions will also be determined based on the eligibility criteria outlined above (check please note). 

Application Process: 

Once applications go live on Monday, July 13, submit your application for the competition, ensuring that you answer all questions fully and to the best of your ability, using language that a general audience can understand. If selected to participate in the preliminary round, you must present your three-minute talk to a panel of judges between September 7 and September 18. This presentation may be conducted virtually or in person. From those who participate in the preliminary round, ten finalists from each category will be selected to compete in the final competition.  

Judging Criteria: To select applicants to advance on to the preliminary round in September, readers will use the following criteria: 

  • Clarity and accessibility of the description of your work 
  • Problem, question, or challenge addressed 
  • Connection between your degree program and your future goals 
  • Broader impact of your work 

Rules for the 3-minute presentation: 

  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration). 
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted. 
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted. 
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified. 
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs). 
  • Presentations are to commence from the stage. 
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech. 
  • The competition is judged by a panel of professionals with wide ranging academic and non-academic expertise. 
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final. 

Connect with The Graduate School at UConn on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook for more event updates.

Academic Job Series – Summer 2026

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Faculty Futures: Plan and Prepare

The Academic Job Series – Summer 2026, Faculty Futures: Plan and Prepare, is a virtual series hosted collaboratively by The Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, The Graduate School, and The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at University of Connecticut. The series features workshops on academic job searches, faculty application materials, teaching and research presentations, interviews, and negotiating offers. Sessions will be presented by Melanie Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success, The Graduate School; Kay Kimball Gruder, M.Ed., Certified Career Services Provider™ (CCSP), Associate Director of Graduate Student and Postdoc Career Programs and Services, UConn Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills; and Rachel Prunier, Ph.D., Director of Teaching and Learning in the Life and Physical Sciences, UConn Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The series is also open to participants from University of Rhode Island. The series begins on Wednesday, May 27 and concludes on Wednesday, July 22. See below for event details and registration links.

Melanie

Presenter: Melanie Sinche

Prepare with Purpose: Planning, Timelines, and Readiness Gaps

Wed., May 27, 3:00-4:00PM (EST) 

Are you considering going on the academic job market this year or next? Not sure how the process works or where to start? Attend this session to learn more about the ins and outs of the academic job market. In this workshop, we will discuss the timeline for faculty jobs, where the jobs are listed, points to consider as you review the job openings, and commonly requested application materials. Join us to learn more and put your best foot forward in the search! 

This session is available for viewing here: https://youtu.be/n4ZtRTIC8RE

 

Presenter: Kay Kimball Gruder

The Statements: Research, Teaching, and Diversity  

Wed., Jun. 10, 3:00-4:00PM (EST)  

Join this session to gain an overview of the key components of the various types of statements common to faculty applications. Key components and expectations of each statement will be covered along with strategies for clearly communicating your alignment with a position. Additionally, ethical ways to use GenAI to support brainstorming and editing will also be addressed.  

This session has concluded, please register for the subsequent sessions below.

Presenter: Dr. Rachel Prunier

Designing & Delivering Your Demos  

Mon., Jun. 22, 12:00-1:00PM (EST) 

Congratulations! You have a final stage interview! Now what?? This interview, whether online or in-person, will almost certainly include a teaching demo, a research talk (job talk), or both. Come to this session to learn some ways to make yourself shine in these key components of an academic job interview. We will focus on the structure of these talks and how they should differ between different types of faculty positions and universities.  

This session has concluded, please register for the subsequent sessions below.

 

Presenter: Kay Kimball Gruder

The Search is On: Strategies and Decoding Jobs  

Tue., Jul. 7, 12:00-1:00PM (EST) 

Faculty job postings can seem vague and understanding how to decode them can make your search far more strategic and effective. Join this session to gain strategies to identify what institutions are looking for and to discern potential priorities. 

REGISTER HERE

Melanie

Presenter: Melanie Sinche

The Interviews: From First Round to Campus Visit  

Mon., Jul. 13, 2:00-3:00PM (EST) 

In this session, we will discuss strategies for tackling faculty interviews, from an online screening call through the on-campus visit. Be sure to attend to learn more about how to prepare effectively, commonly asked questions, different formats for the interviews, and more! The session will include activities to strengthen your confidence in interviewing for faculty roles. 

REGISTER HERE

 

Presenter: Kay Kimball Gruder

Evaluating and Negotiating Offers  

Wed., Jul. 22, 12:00-1:00PM (EST) 

Don't wait until you get an offer! Join this session to learn how to approach job offers with an understanding of negotiating key elements like salary, moving costs, teaching load, etc. We will also dive into communication techniques that will help you express your needs and value. Most employers expect negotiation and with a sense of your priorities you can do it well. 

REGISTER HERE

Connect with The Graduate School at UConn on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook for more event updates.

Preparatory Workshops for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase

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Leading up to the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase on Wednesday April 8, 2026, at the Konover Auditorium in The Dodd Center for Human Rights, and as part of the 2026 Graduate Student Appreciation Week (UConnGSAW26), The Graduate School invites graduate students to participate in two preparatory workshops ahead of the competition.

The workshops are open to all applicants of the 3MT® competition and the broader graduate student population and are designed to help participants translate their research or professional experience(s) for a general audience, improve oral presentation skills, and prepare for the April showcase. All applicants are strongly encouraged to register and attend.

Workshop 1

Designing Engaging Presentations: Preparing for UConn’s 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase

Friday, February 20, 2026 | 3:00–4:30 PM

Location: Online

Instructors:

Melanie Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success, The Graduate School, UConn.

Melanie Sinche

 

Sam Lake, Director of Career & Professional Development, University of Virginia.

 

Workshop 2

Creating Effective Presentations

Friday, February 27, 2026 | 3:00–4:30 PM

Location: Homer Babbidge Library, Room 1102

Instructor:

Dr. Faye Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, UConn College of Engineering.

Fayekah Assanah, Ph.D.

 

Who Should Attend

Applicants to the 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase, the broader graduate student population, and anyone interested in enhancing their presentation skills. Tell a friend or colleague.

Register Now!

 

Learn more about the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase or explore additional events happening during Graduate Student Appreciation Week (UConnGSAW26), April 6–10, 2026.

For questions or accommodation requests ahead of any of these workshops, please contact Melanie Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success at melanie.sinche@uconn.edu or Michael Inkoom Nyarko, Graduate Assistant at rdu25001work@uconn.edu

UConnGSAW26, We See You. We Celebrate You!

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase

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As part of the 2026 Graduate Student Appreciation Week at the University of Connecticut and in celebration of the Because of UConn campaign, The Graduate School invites you to apply for and participate in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase. It is an event that celebrates the impact, creativity, and purpose behind graduate students’ work through brief, engaging presentations for a general audience. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Konover Auditorium in The Dodd Center for Human Rights and is open to degree-seeking graduate students from all UConn campuses.

Application Deadline EXTENDED: 

Monday, February 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET

Goal of the Event:

For eligible degree-seeking graduate students at UConn to gain experience in communicating the significance of their work to a non-specialist audience in 3 minutes or less.

Timeline:

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Application opens
Monday, February 9, 2026 Application deadline for graduate students
Friday, February 20, 2026 Decisions made, graduate students notified
Friday, February 20, 2026 Designing Engaging Presentations workshop (recording)
Friday, February 27, 2026 Creating Effective Presentations workshop (in-person)
March 2-13, 2026 Preliminary round
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Final competition

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Category 1: All Master's degrees; Professional and clinical doctoral degrees
  • Category 2: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only)
  • Category 3: STEM doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only)

Please note:

To compete, students must be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program in the Spring of 2026.

To participate in Categories 2 or 3 above:

  • The applicant must be a doctoral student enrolled in a program with a dissertation requirement.
  • The applicant must be an active student when they apply and compete. Applicants who complete their degree during the prior semester cannot compete.
  • The applicant must have documented successful completion of the General Examination by submitting the Report on the General Exam to the Office of the Registrar Degree Audit Team no later than April 8, 2026.
  • The applicant must have documented successful completion and submission of the dissertation proposal by submitting the Dissertation Proposal Form to the Office of the Registrar Degree Audit Team no later than April 8, 2026.
  • The Dissertation Proposal Form may be submitted to Degree Audit without approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The milestone will be posted as "in progress" and will meet the eligibility requirements for this application. IRB/IACUC approval must be submitted to Degree Audit once received to ensure that the milestone is updated to "complete" on the student record.

Prizes:

Ten (10) finalists in each of the categories listed above will be selected to compete on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. These thirty (30) finalists will receive $100 each for competing.

At the event, the following prizes will be awarded within each category:

  • First prize: $1,000
  • Runner-up: $750
  • People's Choice: $500

At the end of the event, an overall winner will be selected from among the three categories and will receive an additional $5,000 for a total Grand Prize of $6,000.

Application Process:

  1. Submit your application for the event, ensuring that you answer all questions fully and to the best of your ability, using language that a general audience can understand.
  2. If selected to participate in the preliminary round, you must present your 3-minute talk to a panel of judges between March 2-13. This presentation may be virtual or in-person.
  3. From those who participate in the preliminary round, 10 finalists from each category will be selected to participate in the final competition on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

Judging Criteria:

To select applicants to advance on to the preliminary round in March, readers will use the following criteria:

  • Clarity and accessibility of the description of your work
  • Problem, question, or challenge addressed
  • Connection between your degree program and your future goals
  • Broader impact of your work

Rules for the 3-minute presentation:

  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs).
  • Presentations are to commence from the stage.
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
  • The competition is judged by a panel of professionals with wide ranging academic and non-academic expertise.
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

TO APPLY: Visit this link.

Connect with The Graduate School on social media for updates and highlights from UConnGSAW26 on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook.

UConnGSAW26, We See You, We Celebrate You!

   

The world moves forward because of UConn, and all we do is possible because of YOU.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase

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As part of the 2026 Graduate Student Appreciation Week at the University of Connecticut and in celebration of the Because of UConn campaign, The Graduate School hosted the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase. This event celebrated the impact, creativity, and purpose behind graduate students’ work through brief, engaging presentations for a general audience. The showcase took place on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Konover Auditorium in The Dodd Center for Human Rights and was open to degree-seeking graduate students from all UConn campuses.

TO VIEW THE RECORDING: Visit this link.

Presentation Categories:

  • Category 1: All Master's degrees; Professional and clinical doctoral degrees
  • Category 2: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only)
  • Category 3: STEM doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only)

Agenda for the Event:

8:00 AM Registration Opens The Dodd Center for Human Rights
9:00 AM Welcome & Dean's Address Konover Auditorium
9:10 AM Category 2 Presentations Konover Auditorium
10:05 AM Voting & Coffee Break Lobby outside of Konover Auditorium
10:15 AM Category 1 Presentations Konover Auditorium
11:05 AM Voting & Coffee Break Lobby outside of Konover Auditorium
11:15 AM Category 3 Presentations Konover Auditorium
12:15 PM Voting & Coffee Break Lobby outside of Konover Auditorium
12:45 PM Awards Ceremony Konover Auditorium

Prize Winners:

CATEGORY 1:

  • First Place: Tracy Geha
  • Runner-up: Amelia Hickey
  • People's Choice: Tracy Geha

CATEGORY 2:

  • First Place: Urvi Kaul
  • Runner-up: Daniela Dominguez
  • People's Choice: Rui Wu

CATEGORY 3:

  • First Place: Meshach Ojo
  • Runner-up: Samantha Glass
  • People's Choice: Yasmin Bimbatti

At the end of the event, the overall winner was selected from among the three categories. The Grand Prize Winner of the 2026 3MT event was Tracy Geha of the Department of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages.

Finalists 2026 (in order of presentations):

CATEGORY 2: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science PhDs

  • Peyton Carroll: Love Island: Prehistoric Sicily
  • Mark Dickson: Mending Humpty Dumpty: Truth as Trustworthiness
  • Daniela Dominguez: Imaginaries of Mexican Infrastructure
  • Spencer Hayes: Social Media's Dichotomous Agency in Human Trafficking
  • Lincoln Hirn: “Worthy to Be Counted”: The Postbellum Slave Narrative, 1865-1915
  • Urvi Kaul: Biological and Social Narratives of Displacement
  • Iris Querenet Onfroy de Breville: Paint the Town Red: Pigments and Coloring Material Use by Early Humans in Southwestern France
  • Rui Wu: Mapping Weight Stigma Online: What Social Media Platforms Reveal
  • Muireann Nic Corcrain: “I Have a Voice”: Towards the Development of Speech Synthesis Technology for the Passamaquoddy Language

CATEGORY 1: Master’s Degrees; Professional/Clinical Doctorates

  • Mahir Takak: Saving the Planet, Evicting the Neighbor: How Sustainable Urban Development Prices People Out
  • Tracy Geha: World Languages: The Cognitive Benefits We Fail to Market
  • Amelia Hickey: The Hidden Role of Women in Trafficking Networks
  • Keegan Jalbert: Overcoming Risks and Barriers in Shellfish Aquaculture
  • Iris Kennedy: When Fire Meets Ice: How Disturbances Combine to Shape Forests in a Changing Climate
  • Ryeim Ansaf: From Prehospital to Bedside: Smarter Trauma Care with Ozonated Hydrogels
  • Arianna Cedeno: Reminding Cartilage How to Heal
  • Catherine Chou: Strengthening Bone with Blood: Bettering Braces
  • Tracie Le: The Disease That Doesn't Knock

CATEGORY 3: STEM PhDs

  • Yasmin Bimbatti: Lower Cost, Less Energy, Cleaner Planet
  • Mittal Darji: The $34 Billion Meltdown: Fixing Fragile Vaccines
  • Meshach Ojo: From Decades to Weeks: Tackling Connecticut's Crumbling Foundations
  • Sarah Pasqualetti: Using Threespine Stickleback Gut Bacteria to Break Down Plastic
  • Girija Pawge: Gamma-delta T cell (γδ T cell) : The Hidden Detectives and A New Hope Against Cancer
  • Snehaa Ray: The Weight After Birth: Protecting the Health of Black Mothers
  • Zahra Salehi: Can One Landscape Produce Food and Energy? Agrivoltaics in Connecticut
  • Samantha Glass: Tuning into the Arctic: Rethinking How the Polar Oceans Store Carbon
  • Kevin Grassie: Transdermal Bone Repair: Using Sound Waves to Mechanically Stimulate Implants
  • Leila Sharifi: Solving the Clumping Puzzle in Modern Medicine

Judges 2026:

Chris Chadbourne

Chris Chadbourne is a 1988 alumnus, graduating with a B.S. from the School of Business. He recently retired following a distinguished 30-year career in employee benefits sales and client management, where he worked extensively within the health insurance industry. Throughout his career, Chris partnered with senior leadership at several of Aetna’s and UnitedHealthcare’s largest national account clients, supporting complex strategies in achieving their operational objectives.

Since retiring, Chris has remained actively engaged in leadership and community initiatives, including spearheading the redesign and restoration of a local golf course. He has renewed his commitment and dedication to the University, joining the UConn Foundation Board of Directors in October 2025. Chris and his wife reside in Newton, MA, and remain enthusiastic supporters of UConn students and athletics.

Debs Ghosh, Ph.D.

Debs Ghosh is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Urban, and Community Studies, where she has served on the faculty since 2011. She is a Principal Investigator with the Institute for Collaboration of Health, Intervention, and Policy (or InCHIP). Her research and teaching focus on health geography, advancing an interdisciplinary agenda to examine the causal pathways linking neighborhoods, health behaviors, and disparities using a variety of methodological approaches. Beyond research, Debs provides national leadership within the American Association of Geographers, having served as Chair of the National Councilors and Vice Chair of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. At UConn, she is currently a member of the Graduate School’s Executive Committee, subcommittee for Graduate Success with the Graduate Faculty Council, and a member of CLAS’s AI Committee.

Kent Holsinger, Ph.D.

Kent Holsinger served as Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School from 2012 until his retirement in 2024. He earned his PhD in biological sciences at Stanford University. He held postdoctoral positions at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California Davis before joining UConn as an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. In 2012, he was appointed as a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor — the university’s highest faculty honor.

Matthew Mroz, Ph.D.

Matthew Mroz leads UConn’s Research Development efforts as the Interim Director of Research Development, overseeing efforts within the Office of the Vice President for Research to support faculty research advancement and external funding success. His portfolio includes OVPR Internal Funding and research support programs, research opportunity matching, enhancement of collaboration/team science, research development training and education, and proposal development support. He also contributes to research strategy discussions and the building of external partnerships. He has a PhD in English Literature and Rhetoric and extensive experience in teaching, scholarship, and academic administration.

Connect with The Graduate School on social media for updates and highlights from UConnGSAW26 on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook.

UConnGSAW26, We See You, We Celebrate You!

   

The world moves forward because of UConn, and all we do is possible because of YOU.

Grad Chat: Fall 2025

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Join the Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Support, Kimberly Curry, for low-stakes conversations concerning the UConn Graduate Student Experience through GRADCHAT.

GRADCHAT is a relatively new forum for graduate students to discuss topics that impact the graduate school experience. The purpose of GRADCHAT is to foster community and connection among graduate students, especially students representing marginalized groups. From time to time, special guests may be featured in a GRADCHAT session, but GRADCHAT is one way we can have open dialog about issues that matter.

GRADCHATs are held virtually via Webex, and the link can be accessed HERE. Conversations will NOT be recorded. Graduate students across all regional campuses are encouraged to attend and connect!

Fall 2025 Dates/Topics:

  • October 3 – New Grad Students/First Gen Grad Students
    Topic: What is hiding in “The Hidden Curriculum?”
    Status: Completed
  • October 17 – Graduate Students with Disabilities (visible/invisible)
    Topic: How can we support one another?
    Status: Completed
  • October 31 – Graduate Students of Marginalized Groups
    Topic: What does it mean to be part of an underrepresented group in graduate school?
    Status: Completed
  • November 21 – Graduate Student Advising
    Topic: How important is the major advisor?
    Status: Completed
  • December 5 – The Greater Graduate Community
    Topic: What do you need to build community?
    This session is in collaboration with The Graduate School’s Network for Enriched Mentorship (NEM) initiative, where students in the program will be invited to share their experiences.
  • Status: Completed

We hope you will take advantage of this student-centered dialogue designed to provide support for one another, and do not forget to pass on the news to your colleagues.

Creating Effective Presentations: 11/13

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Leading up to Postdoc Research Day on December 11, 2025 (Student Union Theatre), University of Connecticut’s Postdoc Working Group, in collaboration with The Graduate School, invites all postdocs and graduate students to attend a workshop on Creating Effective Presentations, taught by Dr. Faye Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, UConn College of Engineering.  

This workshop will take place in Homer Babbidge Library, Room 2118C, Storrs Campus, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. 

What You’ll Learn: 

  • How to translate your research for a general audience 
  • Tips for oral presentations
  • Opportunities for graduate students to connect with current postdocs in related fields 

Who Should Attend: Postdocs, graduate students, and anyone interested in improving their presentation skills. Bring a friend or colleague when attending! 

Register Now

You can read more about Postdoc Research Day here, and if you plan to attend the December 11 program, please sign up here as an attendee. For any questions related to Postdoc Research Day or this event, please contact: Melanie V. Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success, at Melanie.sinche@uconn.edu or Michael I. Nyarko, Graduate Assistant, at rdu25001work@uconn.edu 

Postdoc Research Day: 12/11/2025

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The University of Connecticut’s Postdoc Working Group, in partnership with The Graduate School, invites you to attend Postdoc Research Day. This one-day research event will be held in the Student Union Theater, Storrs Campus on Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

Goals for the Program:

  • Provide an opportunity for postdocs to present their research to a general audience.
  • Offer professional development training to prepare postdocs for the next steps in their careers.

As part of the event, 18 postdoctoral scholars presented their research in 3-minute talks designed for a general audience, and 8 additional postdocs presented posters.

The following postdocs received awards for their 3-minute talks:

  • First Place ($2,000 in research funding): Cao Thuy Giang Nguyen, Biomedical Engineering, “Innovative Material Platforms for Precision Therapeutics in Brain Tumors and Neurological Disorders”
  • Second Place ($500 in research funding): Shadi Izadidehkordi, Allied Health, “Preventing HIV among People Who Use Drugs in a Methadone Clinic”
  • People’s Choice Award ($500 in research funding): Hoang Quan Truong, Biomedical Engineering, “Novel Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications”

Three postdoc winners

(Left to right: Shadi Izadidehkordi, Cao Thuy Giang Nguyen, Hoang Quan Truong)

The complete program, including the agenda, presentation titles, participating departments, and presenter information, is available in the event booklet. The booklet is available for viewing and download below.

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The general university community is invited to sign up for Postdoc Research Day. We encourage faculty, staff, and students to REGISTER HERE and attend in support of their postdocs.

Employers interested in connecting, exploring collaborations, and discovering talented postdoctoral researchers across diverse disciplines are encouraged to REGISTER HERE. 

Leading up to this event, The Graduate School is organizing a workshop titled “Creating Effective Presentations” for all postdocs and graduate students on November 13. This in-person session will be held from 4:30-6pm in 2118C Homer Babbidge Library and will be led by Dr. Faye Assanah. Click here for more details.

Additional details regarding directions and other resources will be shared with registrants soon. For questions about Postdoc Research Day, please contact: