Announcements

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.

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

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The Graduate School is delighted to host the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Konover Auditorium in The Dodd Center for Human Rights and is open to degree-seeking graduate students from all UConn campuses.

2026 Three Minute Thesis and Graduate Student Showcase Winners, Judges, and Graduate School Leadership

This event celebrated the impact, creativity, and purpose behind graduate students’ work through short, engaging presentations for a general audience. Those who missed the event or attended and would like to watch it again can view the full event recording here or watch the Grand Prize winner, Wesley Leong’s presentation, here.

As the Grand Prize winner, Wesley Leong will represent UConn at the regional, national, and eventually the international 3MT competitions. The event was also featured in UConn Today, and you can read the article here.

Winners 2026 (starting with grand prize winner)

Wesley Leong Grand Prize, All disciplines; 1st Prize, Arts, Humanities, and Social Science PhDs
Becky Nathanson 1st Prize, Master's Degrees and Professional/Clinical Doctorates
Steven Toro 1st Prize, STEM PhDs
Musawir Abrar Runner-Up, Master's Degrees and Professional/Clinical Doctorates
Aadrita Hazra Runner-Up, STEM PhDs
Vaishnavi Sivaprasad Runner-Up, Arts, Humanities, and Social Science PhDs
Neuzi Abecassis People's Choice, Master's Degrees and Professional/Clinical Doctorates
Kenia Rodriguez People's Choice, Arts, Humanities, and Social Science PhDs
Leila Sharifi People's Choice, STEM PhDs

 

Finalists 2026 (in order of presentations):

CATEGORY 2: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science PhDs

1:10 PM Abigail Beckham CLAS Anthropology Who Cares?: Disasters, Emergency Management, and Community Care in New England
1:15 PM Ananda Griffin CLAS Philosophy What We Learn from Tears and Laughter: Emotions as a Resource for Knowledge
1:20 PM Constance Holden CLAS History Who Am I & How Did I Get Here?: Research Lore and Life as a Historian
1:25 PM Wesley Leong CLAS Psychological Sciences A Neural Signal for Representing and Remembering Objects across Vision and Language
1:30 PM Kenia Rodriguez CLAS English Beyond Representation: Blackness in Latine Young Adult Literature
1:35 PM Aleksandra Rusowicz CLAS Psychological Sciences The Trauma of Sexism: Rethinking Women's PTSD Risk
1:40 PM Vaishnavi Sivaprasad Neag School of Education Educational Psychology When WOW Becomes WHY: How Awe Makes Us More Curious to Learn

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

2:00 PM Neuzi Abecassis CAHNR Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Root-Knot Nematodes: A Silent Threat Beneath Our Crops
2:05 PM Musawir Abrar School of Fine Arts Digital Media & Design Worker Misclassification: The Human Cost of Not Counting
2:10 PM April Jimenez CAHNR Animal Science Everything Starts with the Seed
2:15 PM Soyeon Lee School of Fine Arts Digital Media & Design The Garden of Liberation: When a Plant Name Tells a Colonial Story
2:20 PM Becky Nathanson School of Social Work Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative Just Being There: How One Visit Changes Two Lives
2:30 PM Keitha Reckord Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing School of Nursing Beyond the Liver: Five Questions Can Make a Difference

CATEGORY 3: STEM PhDs

2:35 PM Saurav Adhikari School of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences Impact of Impurities on Oiling out during Drug Crystallization
2:40 PM Salman Ahmadipouya College of Engineering Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Stopping Carbon Before It Reaches the Atmosphere
2:45 PM Madisyn Brooks CLAS Physics The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Discovers Black Holes that Are Too Massive Too Early
2:50 PM Alex Castillo CLAS Chemistry Shapeshifting carriers for sustained drug release from porous nanocontainers
2:55 PM Lidan Gao CAHNR Nutritional Sciences Can Fiber Feed Gut Bacteria to Protect the Liver?
3:00 PM Patricia Hare The Graduate School & School of Dental Medicine Molecular Biology & Biophysics One Small Cell, One Big Challenge: The Persistent Problem of Pseudomonas
3:05 PM Aadrita Hazra The Graduate School Immunology Detach, Disarm, Defend
3:25 PM Elias Oakes CLAS Physics The Clouds that Made Us: Zooming In on Star Formation in Our Galactic Neighbors
3:30 PM Anita Oppong Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing School of Nursing The Work of Being a Cancer Survivor
3:35 PM Sarah Pasqualetti CLAS Molecular and Cell Biology Big Problem, Tiny Solution: Bacterial Influences on Plastic Degradation
3:40 PM Shreya Savla The Graduate School Neuroscience Building a MAP towards Stroke Treatment
3:45 PM Leila Sharifi School of Pharmacy Pharmaceutics Handle With Care
3:50 PM Deep Shikha Srivastava CLAS Chemistry A Thread That Can Feel - Graphene Oxide Fibers!!
3:55 PM Steven Toro The Graduate School Skeletal Biology and Regeneration A Tattoo That Delivers Medicine
4:00 PM Caroline Vieira Da Silva CLAS Molecular and Cell Biology The Bacteria's Jacket: Identification, Characterization, and Biological Significance of the Surface Layer Protein AvsA in Aeromonas veronii
4:05 PM Linge Yang CAHNR Agricultural and Resource Economics Farmland Is Disappearing--But Are We Running Out?

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.

Ebad Jahangir, Ph.D.

Ebad Jahangir, Ph.D. is an engineering and technology leader with more than 25 years of experience spanning aerospace, advanced technology development, systems engineering, and strategic partnerships. He currently serves as Associate Director of Strategic Technologies & Partnerships at RTX Technology Research Center, where he works at the intersection of emerging technologies, research, and industry collaboration. Dr. Jahangir is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University, where he has taught graduate courses in systems engineering, and has extensive experience working with industry, government, and academia to translate complex technical ideas into practical solutions. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and brings a strong passion for mentoring the next generation of engineers and researchers.

Barbara Kream, Ph.D.

Dr. Kream is Professor in the Department of Medicine at UConn Health and holds joint appointments in the Departments of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Orthopaedic Surgery. She currently serves as Associate Dean of the Graduate School at UConn Health. Dr. Kream received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mount Holyoke College and a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biophysics from Yale University. She did postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin and UConn Health and was the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship award from the National Institutes of Health. As an NIH-funded investigator, Dr. Kream studied the hormonal regulation of bone remodeling. Dr. Kream is a member of the Graduate Faculty in Biomedical Science and Dental Science. She previously served as Chair of the Graduate Programs Committee and Director of the MD/PhD program at UConn Health.

Fyiane Nsilo-Swai

Fyiane Nsilo-Swai is the Social Sciences Librarian at the University of Connecticut Library, where she serves as liaison to Anthropology & Archaeology, Communication, Political Science, and Sociology. She has more than 20 years of experience supporting student and faculty research and specializes in information literacy, evidence synthesis, and scholarly communication. A proud UConn alumna, Fyiane earned her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Connecticut before completing her Master of Library and Information Science at the University of Rhode Island. Fyiane works closely with graduate students and researchers to help make complex research accessible and impactful for a wide range of audiences. She is an active contributor to professional organizations, a recipient of the NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award, and has co-authored scholarly work on undergraduate research and academic librarianship.

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.

Fall 2025 Research Apprenticeship Program

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Application Due: April 4, 2025

UConn graduate students who are interested in mentoring early career undergraduate students to assist them in the graduate student’s research are invited to submit a proposal for consideration. Selected proposals will be used to create an undergraduate research opportunity based on the information provided by the graduate student.

 

The Research Apprenticeship Program provides graduate students with research assistance and experience in mentoring. Early-career undergraduate students who have little or no prior research experience a pathway to involvement in research with a PhD student mentor. Each graduate student will be paired with one undergraduate student during Fall 2025 to work together on a research project proposed by the graduate student. To apply: Research Apprenticeship Program.

 

Research Apprenticeship Program Details

    • Graduate students must have a viable research project with which they need assistance and the ability to provide training to the undergraduate students.
    • Graduate students must be available to mentor the student apprentice over the semester and provide a substantive learning experience that allows students to develop foundational research skills and gain a greater understanding of the research process as they work on a concrete research project.
    • This program is intended to foster new undergraduate/graduate student connections. Graduate student mentors agree to select a student they are not currently working with and/or have not previously worked with in a research capacity.

 

Compensation and Hours

    • Research apprentices earn up to $500, paid as a stipend. To earn the full $500 award, apprentices will need to dedicate approximately 32 hours over the course of the semester.
    • In recognition of the commitment to mentoring an apprentice, graduate student mentors will receive a $500 stipend at the end of the semester.
    • Research Apprenticeship Program apprentices are required to present their research at the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition in October or April.

 

To apply: Research Apprenticeship Program.

 

This program is supported by The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) in collaboration with the Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS)/McNair Program, Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), and The Graduate School.

 

For questions about the program, undergraduate students may contact Dr. Micah Heumann, Director in the Office of Undergraduate Research, at micah.heumann@uconn.edu and graduate students may contact Dr. Mary Bernstein, Associate Dean of The Graduate School, at Mary.Bernstein@uconn.edu.

New Position Open: Director of Graduate Student Success

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The Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) team of The Graduate School is seeking an energetic, collaborative, and creative leader for the position of Director of Graduate Student Success. To view the entire job description, see the list of qualifications, and apply for the position, please visit this page on the UConn Careers website. This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on March 26, 2025. 

Hagan International Scholarship 2025-2026

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The Hagan International Scholarship is a worldwide competitive scholarship for graduate students.

Applicants must not hold U.S. citizenship, must not be over 24 years of age as of the Submittal Deadline, and must have received an acceptance letter for the upcoming fall semester from a college or university located in the U.S.

The scholarship provides up to $7,500 each semester for up to four consecutive semesters and can be used to obtain a graduate degree or to help pay for the first two years of a professional program.

A Free Workshop provides recipients with a practical understanding of important life skills not typically covered in the school curriculum.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Must not hold U.S. citizenship.
  2. Must not be over 24 years of age as of the Submittal Deadline.
  3. Must provide a complete copy of applicant’s undergraduate Transcript showing the Award Degree.
  4. Must have received an acceptance letter for enrollment the upcoming fall semester from a college or university located in the U.S.
  5. Must be a first-time full-time student in graduate school or post baccalaureate professional program.
  6. Must be fluent in the English language and must provide a copy of applicant’s English proficiency test results.
  7. Must provide a Graduation Schedule prepared by the institution and approved by the Department Chair.
  8. Must contribute toward the cost of applicant’s education by working 240 hours from January 1 to September 1, prior to the start of the fall semester each academic year. Employment and/or paid internships must be performed under supervision for compensation. Work can be full-time or part-time.
  9. Must provide a copy of parents Financial Statement.

The submittal deadline for this scholarship is March 15, 2025. For more information, see this brochure. Please visit www.hsfmo.org to submit your application and materials. Additional questions can be directed to scholarships@hsfmo.org.

 

2025 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, 2025!

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 given 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 2025 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, 2025.
  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, 2025.
    • 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, 2025. 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.

    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 2025 Student Sessions

    Seeking External Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities
    UConn’s Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF) advises and mentors students seeking prestigious, nationally-competitive scholarships and fellowships. In this session, staff from ONSF will discuss several specific opportunities that might be of interest to both early- and late-career graduate students (e.g., NSF-GRFP and Fulbright), and highlight resources to help graduate students from all backgrounds identify opportunities for which they might be eligible.

    Date:  Wednesday, January 29, 2025
    Time:  11am – 12pm
    Facilitator:  Vin Moscardelli, Director, Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships

     

    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 12, 2025
    Time:  11am – 12pm
    Facilitators:  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 12, 2025
    Time:  2pm – 3pm
    Facilitators:  Jenn Horan, Doctoral Degree Registrar Specialist

     

    Promoting Mental Health
    This informative and interactive workshop will increase graduate students’ knowledge of the range of mental health resources on campus as well as helpful self-care and stress management strategies.

    Date:  Wednesday, March 5, 2025
    Time:  11am – 12pm
    Facilitator:  Alyson Faires, Staff Psychologist, SHaW Mental Health

     

    Building Financial Credit and Dealing with Debt
    In this workshop, we’ll discuss financial credit, credit scoring, and how to use credit wisely. Further, we will also talk about dealing with debt and what to do when you can’t pay your bills. This workshop will be provided by the UConn Financial Education Program.

    Date:  Wednesday, April 2, 2025
    Time:  11am – 12pm
    Facilitator:  Faye Griffiths-Smith, Personal Finance Educator, UConn Extension

    Register for a Session

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

    “Distinguished Graduate Fellows” and “Impact Scholars” Programs

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    Official guidance on The Graduate School’s new Distinguished Graduate Fellows and Impact Scholars fellowship programs for incoming students has been made available to the Executive Committee of The Graduate School, the Graduate Faculty Council, Department Heads, Directors of Graduate Studies, Graduate Student Administrators, Associate Deans for Graduate Education, and Academic Deans. Please reach out to those groups or jack.corcoran@uconn.edu from The Graduate School for access to this guidance.