Announcements for Current Students

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

 

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.

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

Spring 2026 Registration Information for Graduate Students

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Dear Graduate Students,

The message below includes information relevant to both new incoming graduate students and those who will be continuing on as students in Spring 2026. Please review the information below carefully and reach out with any questions you may have. If you have not done so already, please be sure to enroll in classes prior to the start of the semester*, which begins January 20.

*Students who are using an employee tuition waiver should follow the timeline associated with their waiver.

Information for New Students
Departments and programs may have more specific guidance for new students on what courses they should be enrolling in. Students should reach out to the program or their academic advisor for guidance on which courses they should enroll in during their first semester. (This information may also be available on the program’s website or in the Graduate Catalog.)

If a student has holds on their account that prevent enrollment, such as the Student Financial Responsibility Statement or an immunization hold, they will not be able to register for classes until those holds have been cleared. We advise students to try to register early so that there is plenty of time to review and clear any holds before classes fill up or enrollment deadlines approach.

The Office of the Registrar’s website provides an overview of useful registration tools available in Student Admin along with registration-related forms. UConn’s Knowledge Base provides step-by-step instructions on how to manage your enrollment through the Student Administration system. If you have difficulty registering, please reach out to onestop@uconn.edu (or registrar@uchc.edu for UCH grads) for assistance. Please note, permission numbers for courses are typically managed by the course instructor.

Continuous Enrollment
Continuous enrollment is a requirement of all graduate programs. Continuing students who will not be registering in coursework or research credits must register for a zero-credit continuous registration course to maintain their active student status. Continuous registration courses include GRAD 5997, GRAD 5998, and GRAD 6998, as well as GRAD 5999 (Thesis Preparation) and GRAD 6999 (Dissertation Preparation). Enrollment in these sections should be completed before the first day of classes. There are financial implications when changing from being enrolled in credits to no credits as of the first day of classes. Changes from credits to a zero-credit placeholder cannot be made after the first day of classes.

Research Credits
Students should consult with their advisor regarding when it is appropriate to enroll in research credits for their course of study. Doctoral students should register for GRAD 6950. Plan A Master’s students should register for GRAD 5950. Each section number corresponds to the number of credits you will earn (e.g., GRAD 6950-001 will earn one credit, GRAD 6950-002 will earn two credits, etc.). All sections will show “Staff” (or similar) as the instructor. Through an automatic process later in the semester, students will be moved to a grade roster associated with their major advisor. Permission numbers are not needed for students to register for these research courses during the academic year and the permission number field should be left blank when registering. If you attempt to register and receive an error, contact onestop@uconn.edu for assistance. Be sure to include your 7-digit student ID in all correspondence.

Graduate Internship Courses
Students who will be engaging in an internship for which they plan to earn academic credit can find information about course options and how to enroll on The Graduate School’s Graduate Internship Courses page.

Cancelling Enrollment/Leave of Absence
Continuing students who wish to cancel enrollment prior to the start of the semester or any student who attends class and then decides to withdraw from all their courses should notify The Graduate School (TGS) by completing an online Voluntary Separation Notification Form as soon as possible. The add/drop period that extends through the 10th day of classes is only available to students who plan to be enrolled in credited coursework throughout the semester. A student who wishes to go down to zero credits or withdraw from their program completely will need assistance from The Graduate School and will be subject to the University’s Withdrawal Tuition and Fee Adjustment Schedule which will apply based on the date the student notifies TGS of the intent to withdraw via the online Voluntary Separation Notification process, not when they last attended classes. Visit The Graduate School’s voluntary separations webpage to learn more about options available, including the academic leave of absence process.

Deferral of Admission
If you are an incoming student for the fall semester and wish to request a deferral of your application/admission to a future semester, more information on that process is available on The Graduate School’s admissions FAQ and questions can be directed to gradadmissions@uconn.edu.

Day 10 Automatic Separation
Students who do not register for either credit-bearing classes or a continuous registration course by the 10th day are automatically discontinued from their program. If the student then wishes to be enrolled after Day 10, the student will need to request reinstatement to their program, which is not guaranteed and incurs a $65 fee. Students should also be aware that classes with insufficient enrollment will be cancelled and will then be unavailable even if the student is reinstated. A lapse in active student status may also affect access to University systems, such as student email and OneDrive, and may result in permanent data loss. Timely registration will maintain active student status and prevent this.

Additional Registration Information for GAs
Graduate assistants (GAs) are required to be enrolled as full-time students (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 GAs are expected to be registered for a minimum of six credits before the start date of their employment (~January 8, 2026). GAs who have not completed their registration for a minimum of six credits by their start date are not fulfilling one of the contingencies of employment and will be subject to termination from their assistantship. (GAs employed solely at UConn Health should follow UCH registration deadlines.)

Please note, the tuition waiver will not post to a GA’s fee bill until the GA is registered for at least 6 credits. Therefore, if a student is not fully registered in a timely fashion, this can result in a Bursar hold on the student’s account that blocks enrollment and other services, as well as incur late fees.

Students should consult with their advisor regarding when it is appropriate to enroll in research credits for their course of study. Doctoral students should register for GRAD 6950. Plan A Master’s students should register for GRAD 5950. GAs should NOT register for GRAD 6960 (Full-Time Doctoral Research) or GRAD 5960 (Full-Time Master’s Research). GRAD 6960 and 5960 are only 3 credits and will create duplicate fee charges or prevent the tuition waiver from populating if it is the only course the GA is registered for.

GAs employed at Storrs and regional campuses who fall under the Graduate Employee Union (GEU) are encouraged to visit the Graduate Assistant Onboarding webpage. This page provides information, resources, and to-do items specific to being a GA that helps GAs successfully transition into their assistantship.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to The Graduate School for assistance. Please include your 7-digit student ID number in all correspondence.

To register now, please log in to the Student Administration System.

Best,

Megan Petsa
Director of Graduate Student Administration

The Graduate School
University of Connecticut
The Whetten Graduate Center, Second Floor
438 Whitney Road Extension, Unit 1152 | Storrs, CT 06269-1152
860.486.0977 | www.grad.uconn.edu | Pronouns: she/hers

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

Fall 2025 Student Sessions:

What’s Your Job Offer Negotiation Game Plan? (Do you even have one?!)
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, sign-on bonuses, moving costs, growth opportunities, etc. We will also dive into communication techniques that will help you express your needs and value to the employer. And with GenAI as a resource, you will see how you can strengthen your negotiation abilities. Job offer negotiation does not have to be an awkward or uncomfortable conversation. 73% of employers anticipate salary negotiation for job candidates and in a 2022 report by Fidelity Investments, 87% of professionals ages 25 to 35 who countered on salary, other compensation or benefits, or both pay and other compensation and benefits got at least some of what they asked for.

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Kay Gruder, Associate Director of Graduate Student and Postdoc Career Programs & Services, UConn’s Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills

Research, Coursework & AI: Tips, Tricks, and Risks for Graduate Students
AI is here to stay. Join us as we explore some AI tools in academic research, best practices for using AI (including how to craft effective prompts), use cases for leveraging AI while maintaining academic integrity, and the importance of critically evaluating AI-generated content. Along the way, we’ll introduce the library resources and AI literacy initiatives can support you in your coursework and research. We’ll finish with a discussion of the academic consequences of inappropriate AI use.

Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitators: Kimberly Curry, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Support, The Graduate School & Erica Charis-Molling, Instructional Design and Learning Librarian, Homer Babbidge Library

Creating the Right Mentoring Team for You
A successful mentor/mentee relationship can be an incredible asset to your graduate school career. This session will discuss the importance and benefits of curating a mentoring team throughout your time in graduate school, how to identify and approach individuals that will provide the kind of guidance you need, and how to navigate the mentor/mentee relationship. We will discuss how to apply The Graduate School’s new Mentee Guide and share information about the Network for Enriched Mentoring (NEM).

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Mary Anne Amalaradjou, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, and Faculty Affiliate for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and The Graduate School

Designing Your Personal Brand: A Graduate Student’s Guide
In today’s competitive academic and professional landscape, a strong personal brand is essential. This session is designed to help graduate students from diverse disciplines understand the fundamentals of personal branding and how to effectively articulate their unique value proposition both on-line and off-line.

Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Theo Menounos, Assistant Director, UConn’s Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills

Register for a Session

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

Laptop Loan Program for Teaching Assistants

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If you have a teaching assistantship this coming semester, you can request and be loaned a Dell Pro laptop for the duration of the semester.

Data security is a primary goal of this program. If you have teaching responsibilities, you are interacting with student data, which the University is obligated to protect. The university-issued laptops are enrolled in a device management platform, which ensures that they have up-to-date security and comply with university policies. If they are lost, stolen, or compromised, ITS can remotely manage the issue and minimize data exposure. Personal, non-UConn devices are non-compliant, and if used for institutional business, put the University at risk.

To request a laptop, please submit the request form. We encourage you to submit your request early; supplies are limited.

After you submit this form, it will create a ticket with ITS Technology Support Center. Communication about the device, including pick up instructions, will be emailed to you through the ticketing system.

If you have any questions, please contact the Technology Support Center at techsupport@uconn.edu or techsupport.uconn.edu.

Upcoming Fall 2025 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 required that you are registered for a minimum of 6 credits before the start date of your employment (August 23, 2025) and it is recommended that you register by August 1. 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.

Students who have the “GEMB – Graduate Embargo” hold on their record, will be unable to register in classes until they are present in the U.S. If you are a student with this particular hold, please be sure to check in with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) immediately upon arrival and register for classes through Student Admin as soon as ISSS has removed the hold.

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

Graduate Student Appreciation Week

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Monday, April 7th to Friday, April 11th is Graduate Student Appreciation Week, a week full of activities and events designed to celebrate graduate students here at UConn. Visit the Graduate Student Appreciation Week webpage to learn more and view planned events for this year. (Pre-GSAW kick-off events will be held at the regional campuses during the week of March 31st to April 4th!)

The Graduate Student Symposium: Poster Competition

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The Graduate Student Symposium

The University of Connecticut is home to more than 7,000 graduate students, who work and study on all seven UConn campuses, and belong to more than 100 different graduate degree programs. While each of these students exemplifies the critical role of graduate education in shaping the future of Connecticut, geographical distance and disciplinary boundaries hinder their joint pursuit of knowledge and innovation.
The inaugural Graduate Student Research Symposium seeks to remove barriers and promote a sense of connection and shared purpose across ALL graduate campuses. By uniting graduate students through research, impact, and community value, we aim to unlock the transformative power of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Overview: The Graduate Student Research Symposium welcomes UConn graduate students from any graduate degree program on any campus of the University of Connecticut to present their in-progress research and its impact.

The program will be organized as follows:  First, graduate students from any UConn campuses, school or college complete a brief online application describing the topic and impact of their in-progress graduate research. Each applicant categorizes their work within one of six cross-cutting research areas or themes. Applications are due by Noon on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 (extended from March 24).

Selected participants present research posters that summarize their in-progress scholarly research to a panel of judges at the Graduate Student Research Symposium. Research posters should be 24” wide and 36” high and graduate students will have about five minutes to present their research and answer follow-up questions.

A workshop aimed at preparing participants for the symposium will take place at 10am on Monday, April 7, 2025.

The Graduate Student Research Symposium will take place at 11AM on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Finally, the Competition’s Overall Winner will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship to further their research, and the Competition’s Overall Runner-Up will be awarded $1,000. Additionally, the top presenter in each category will be awarded $1,000 and the runner-up in each category will be awarded $500.  

Judging Rubric: Graduate student poster presentations will be evaluated according to the following elements:

  1. Relevance & Impact. Research is clearly defined and motivated by its specific relevance to a scholarly field of inquiry and by its current or potential positive impact(s) on the broader community.  
  2. Visual Appeal & Design. Poster layout is organized and follows a logical sequence; fonts are legible; excellent use of images, graphics, and diagrams; and strong overall aesthetic appeal.
  3. Effective Communication & Presentation. Presenter is and effective and compelling in motivating their research; knowledgeable about their work and its impacts; and engaging and enthusiastic when interacting with their audience/judges.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: The deadline to apply for the Graduate Student Symposium is Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 12:00 pm (noon) EST (extended from 3/24!). 
  • Notice: Students will be notified if they have been selected to compete in the Graduate Student Symposium Poster Competition by Friday, March 28, 2025. 
  • Graduate Student Research Symposium Workshop: Applicants who have been selected are invited to take part in a preparation workshop on Monday, April 7, 2025, from 10am – 11:30am.
  • Graduate Student Research Symposium: Selected participants will compete in the inaugural symposium event on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 11am – 2pm. The top awardees will receive cash prizes as described above.

Submit Your Poster Application