2026 Summer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

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We are pleased to announce that The Graduate School’s Summer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship will begin accepting applications on February 1, 2026!

The Graduate School is committed to helping graduate students achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals during their time at the University of Connecticut. In support of this goal, The Graduate School invites applicants for the Summer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, which is intended to support the successful completion of the dissertation. Please review the eligibility criteria for this fellowship carefully before applying. This is a one-time $2,000 fellowship. If awarded, the funds will be distributed during the summer term and paid through the Office of the Bursar. Please note that The Graduate School will validate each student’s status as of the Summer 2026 semester and are entitled to rescind the fellowship if a student has graduated or is no longer an active student.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. The applicant must be a doctoral student in a program that requires a dissertation.
  2. The applicant must be an active student when they apply and are awarded. Students who complete their degree during the prior semester cannot be awarded.
  3. The applicant must have documented successful completion of the General Examination by submitting the Report on the General Exam.pdf to the Office of the Registrar’s Degree Audit team no later than February 28, 2026.
  4. The applicant must have documented successful completion and submission of the dissertation proposal by submitting the Dissertation Proposal form.pdf to the Office of the Registrar’s Degree Audit team no later than February 28, 2026.
    • The Dissertation Proposal form may be submitted to Degree Audit without IRB/IACUC approval. The milestone will be posted as “in progress” and that will satisfy eligibility for this application. IRB/IACUC approval must be submitted to Degree Audit when received so that the milestone may be updated to “complete” on the student record.
    • Students in the following doctoral programs may submit their application without having the Dissertation Proposal milestone on their account:
      • Business Administration
      • Communication
      • Clinical Psychology
      • Industrial and Organizational Psychology
      • EPSY – Research Methods, Measurement, and Evaluation
      • EDLR – Learning, Leadership, and Education Policy
    • The applicant is not eligible if they have previously received a Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship.
    • Students at UConn Health (with the exception of Public Health doctoral students) and UConn Law are not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

    Please note, while we hope to provide funding to all eligible applicants, fellowships are not guaranteed, as funds are limited and pending budgetary approval.

    The application period for this fellowship is February 1-February 28, 2026. Applications received outside of these dates will not be processed. You can access the application form and more information on this page.

    If you have questions regarding your eligibility for this fellowship, please contact gradschool@uconn.edu before applying.

    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.

    Industry Insights

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    The Graduate School, together with the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, invites you to attend Industry Insights, a series of virtual events designed to introduce graduate students and postdocs to a variety of industries. Each series will be held online and will feature working professionals from different industries. The discussions will be based on the skills required to enter and succeed in these industries.

    The first series of the program, taking place in the spring of 2026, will focus on the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

    The online events will take place:

    To register for any of the events, please visit this link. Once registered, you will receive the link to attend virtually.

    Fourth Session: Monday, April 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

    Speakers include:

    Guleid Awale, PhD, Senior Scientist, Pfizer

    Guleid Awale, PhD, is a Senior Scientist in the Pharmaceutical Sciences – Small Molecule (PSSM) department at Pfizer, based in Groton, Connecticut. He earned his BSE, MSE, and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. In his current role, he works on pharmaceutical development with a focus on translating solid oral drug candidates from early-stage research into robust, scalable dosage forms. His work spans formulation development, process understanding, and experimental design in support of drug product advancement. Previously, he was a part of the Professional Development Program (PDP) at Pfizer in the Lake Forest, IL site, where he gained experience in the formulation, analytical, and project management portions of the business.

     

    Meghan Monroy, PhD, Principal Scientist, Lilly

    Meghan Monroy, PhD, is a Principal Scientist at Lilly, where her work focuses on structure-guided approaches to understanding and modulating integrin function. She specializes in X-ray crystallography, structure-based drug design, and cross-functional scientific collaboration.

    While working in industry, she is completing her PhD at Northeastern University. Her doctoral research integrates structural biology and bioengineering strategies, including targeted protein degradation, to investigate how to influence immune cell trafficking for therapeutic development.

    Throughout her training across academia and industry, she has developed expertise at the interface of fundamental discovery and translational science. She is committed to translating science into meaningful patient impact.

    On this panel, Meghan will share insights into navigating graduate training, building bridges between academia and industry, and shaping a career path aligned with both scientific curiosity and long-term impact.

    Third Session: Monday, March 30, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

    Speakers include:

    Christine Endicott, PhD, Senior Scientist, Alexion Pharmaceuticals

    Christine Endicott, PhD is currently a senior scientist at Alexion Pharmaceuticals in New Haven where she leads teams in the biologics downstream process development group. Prior to her role at Alexion, Christine earned her PhD in chemical engineering from UConn in 2021. Before entering UConn’s PhD program, Christine worked at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, NY, in the downstream process development group. Christine also has an MS (Cornell University, 2010) and BS (UConn, 2008) in chemical engineering.  

    Sarah Goldstein, PhD, MBA, Director of Oncology Global Medical Affairs, Eli Lilly

    Sarah Goldstein, PhD, MBA, is the Director of Oncology Global Medical Affairs at Eli Lilly, where she leads strategic medical initiatives supporting genitourinary oncology programs across the product lifecycle. She partners closely with cross‑functional and global stakeholders to translate clinical evidence into impactful medical strategies that advance patient care. Sarah has extensive experience shaping medical narratives, guiding evidence generation, and supporting scientific engagement in complex oncology landscapes. Sarah earned her PhD in cellular and molecular biology at the University of Connecticut, as well as her Master of Business Administration. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology at Connecticut College.

    Third Session available here: https://youtu.be/o7-vMrL8x3o

    Second Session: Monday, February 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

    Speakers include:

    Martha Brown, PhD, Executive Director, Discovery Research Site Strategy and Operations, Boehringer Ingelheim

    Dr. Martha Brown is the Executive Director of Discovery Research Site Strategy and Operations at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. With a 27‑year tenure at the company, she has held a range of strategic and scientific leadership roles across Research and Development. Her experience includes leading High Throughput Screening and overseeing Structural Biology for all on‑site small‑molecule research programs.

    Dr. Brown earned her PhD in Biology from The Johns Hopkins University and has dedicated her career to advancing scientific innovation, operational excellence, and the advancement of innovative therapies that bring meaningful benefit to patients in need.

    O. Hecmarie Meléndez-Fernández, PhD, Associate Director, Precision Medicine & Diagnostics, Eli Lilly and Company

    Hecmarie Meléndez-Fernández, PhD, is a Neuroscientist by training, and serves as an Associate Director in Precision Medicine Diagnostics at Eli Lilly & Company. Her industry experience spans clinical trial management, project portfolio management, medical content creation focused on clinical care care gaps and disease state education. 

    Hecmarie was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Integrative Biology, at the University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras. Initially focused in academia, Hecmarie pursued multiple academic and research opportunities within Neuroscience, obtaining a T32 fellowship from the NIH, a CLIMB fellowship from NIGMS, an SfN Neuroscience Scholars Fellowship, among others, working at Baylor College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Northwestern and West Virginia University. Her doctoral dissertation focused on understanding the effects of disrupted circadian rhythms on aortic endothelial function, metabolism and sleep, within the context of sex differences. 

    Hecmarie is passionate about supporting people from underrepresented backgrounds in science, so they can achieve their maximum potential and career goals, just as she has. In graduate school she developed the Non-Academic Careers in Science seminar series, where she coordinated webinars with PhD-holding scientists outside academia, to educate current graduate students on careers outside the traditional academic research path. She has a long-standing history of leading and participating in outreach and service efforts, such as Científico Latino, in which she has volunteered in different capacities, since 2023. Additionally, she participates in mentorship and outreach opportunities through local organizations (e.g., Girls Inc, Indiana Latino Institute, Project Stepping Stone, etc.), where she provides scientific and professional development support. Knowing how important this support has been in her development, and how she can also positively impact others, her motto is “Pay It Forward”.

    Second Session available here: https://youtu.be/k1cGuXfU8HY

    First Session: Friday, January 30, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (NOTE: Date Change)

    Speakers include:

    Manisha Sinha, PhD, Founder of Clarity Bio

    Manisha Sinha, Ph.D., is a strategic R&D leader, a well-published translational biologist, founder of Clarity Bio, and an adjunct faculty member with a proven track record of advancing programs from target validation to clinical candidates. With 12+ years of experience at Biogen and high-growth biotechs, she leads multi-disciplinary teams to advance complex therapies while mentoring the next generation of scientists to lead with data-driven rigor and operational excellence in the life sciences industry.

    Cassandra Tierney, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist and Lab Head, Pfizer

    Cassandra Tierney, PhD is a Senior Principal Scientist and Lab Head at Pfizer, where she leads a CLIA‑regulated genomics laboratory dedicated to advancing biomarker strategies and delivering pharmacogenomics insights that inform drug exposure in clinical trials. With deep expertise in qPCR, NGS, digital PCR, and the development of laboratory‑developed tests, Cassandra combines scientific rigor with a passion for mentorship. She actively supports early‑career scientists through her role as a mentor in Pfizer’s R&D rotational program and continues to teach as an adjunct instructor in human biology. Cassandra earned her PhD in Molecular & Cell Biology (Genetics) from the University of Connecticut.

    First Session available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULCs2p8meBI

     

    Spring 2026 Graduate Student Timely Topics Series

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    The Graduate School’s Timely Topics is a series of learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with subject matter experts on topics relevant to graduate education. The student track of this series features sessions that highlight University resources and supports, answer questions about academic processes and procedures, and provide strategies to help students successfully navigate their graduate career. All sessions are offered virtually.

    Register for a Session | View the full student track schedule and session descriptions

    Spring 2026 Student Sessions:

    Getting to Conferral: Master’s Degrees and Graduate Certificates
    This session will discuss the Office of the Registrar’s degree audit process for master’s degrees and graduate certificates, including 6th Year Certificate programs. Degree Audit staff will share auditing terms and timeline, degree requirements for Plan A and Plan B, as well as the thesis submission process. Time will be available at the end of the session for participants’ questions.

    Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
    Time: 11am – 12pm
    Facilitator: Sandra Cyr, Master’s Degree and Graduate Certificate Programs Registrar Specialist

    Getting to Conferral: Doctoral Degrees
    This session will discuss the Office of the Registrar’s degree audit process for doctoral (Ph.D.) students. Degree Audit staff will share auditing terms and timeline, degree requirements, the master’s on the way process, and the dissertation submission process. Time will be available at the end of the session for participants’ questions.

    Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
    Time: 2pm – 3pm
    Facilitator: Jenn Horan, Doctoral Degree Registrar Specialist

    You’re Not an Imposter! (We promise.)
    Many graduate students struggle with feeling like an imposter, including feeling like they don’t belong in graduate school and will be “found out”. This session will dive into Imposter Phenomenon, including its roots, how it impacts our academic and personal lives, and strategies to combat it.

    Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
    Time: 11am – 12pm
    Facilitators: Kim Curry, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Support, The Graduate School & Megan Petsa, Director of Graduate Student Administration, The Graduate School

    Accessible Scholarship: Building Inclusive Theses and Dissertations
    Your research deserves to be accessible to everyone. In this workshop, you’ll discover how simple choices like using descriptive headings, true tables, and alt text, can remove barriers and make your dissertation or thesis inclusive for all readers. These same practices will strengthen your ability to create accessible materials in your future academic or professional work. In addition, with new Title II regulations taking effect by April 2026, now is the perfect time to understand accessibility standards and ensure your work meets these upcoming requirements.

    Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
    Time: 11am – 12pm
    Facilitator: Karen Skudlarek, IT Accessibility Coordinator, ITS

    From Grad Student to Postdoc: Navigating a Successful Transition
    Are you considering a position as a postdoc after you graduate? Moving from graduate school to a postdoctoral position marks a significant shift in your education and training. This workshop will help you prepare for that transition by addressing key topics such as selecting a postdoc, understanding expectations, establishing productive mentoring relationships, and setting professional goals. Participants will also explore how to balance research, career development, and personal wellbeing during this pivotal stage.

    Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
    Time: 11am – 12pm
    Facilitator: Melanie Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoc Success, The Graduate School

    Register for a Session

    Learn more about all of The Graduate School’s Timely Topics

    Upcoming GA Registration Deadline

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    As a reminder, all students employed as Graduate Assistants are required to maintain full-time student status (6 or more credits), as noted in their offer letter and The Graduate Catalog. Employment as a GA is a result of student status, therefore it is recommended that you register by December 1, and it is required that you are registered for a minimum of 6 credits before the start date of your employment (either January 7 or January 8, 2026). Please be aware that if you do not enroll in the minimum 6 credits required to maintain full-time student status, the University cannot employ you as a GA.

    To register now, log into Student Admin. You can also find helpful information, resources, and to-do items specific to your role as a GA, including information about GA health insurance and deadlines for enrolling in GA payroll deductions to pay your fee bill, at the Graduate Assistant Onboarding page.

    If you have any questions about this requirement or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to megan.petsa@uconn.edu.

    Spring 2026 Conference Participation Award

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    We are pleased to announce that The Graduate School’s Conference Participation Award (formerly the Doctoral Student Travel Award) will be accepting applications from December 1, 2025, through January 15, 2026.

    The Graduate School is committed to helping graduate students achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals during their time at the University of Connecticut. In support of this goal, The Graduate School offers a Conference Participation Award to support students’ ability to present their research at national or international meetings and conferences, including both in-person and virtual events. This conference participation fellowship in the amount of $750 will be awarded for Spring 2026 and paid through the student’s fee bill. If awarded, students will be notified in mid-February. Please review the eligibility criteria for the fellowship carefully before applying.

    Students are responsible for knowing any and all travel advisories, restrictions, and relevant University policies and should plan accordingly. Students should stay up to date with information shared by the U.S. Department of State and the University’s Travel Services office.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • The applicant must be a doctoral or MFA student.
    • The applicant must be enrolled in the semester for which the fellowship is awarded, e.g., spring semester for applications due by January 15.
    • The applicant must have successfully completed at least 30 credits toward their degree program prior to applying for this fellowship unless their program requires less than 30 credits with a prior master’s degree.
      • If a student has attained a master’s degree from another university and their program only requires 15 doctoral credits with a master’s degree, they qualify for eligibility upon completion of all 15 credits.
    • The applicant is not eligible if they have previously received a Doctoral Student Travel Award or Conference Participation Award.
    • The funds are intended to be used for participation in a conference at which the student is presenting their research.
    • Students at UConn Health and UConn Law are not eligible for this award.

    Please note, fellowships are not guaranteed, as funds are limited and pending budgetary approval. We hope to provide funding to all eligible applicants, but eligible students who are not awarded in this cycle will be encouraged to apply in the next cycle.

    The deadline for application is January 15, 2026. Applications received following this date will not be considered. You can access the application form and more information on this webpage.

    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