Newsletter #5 - October 25, 2022

Hope everyone is doing well. We are getting lots of information about events in October and November that you should know about:

Women in Physics is hosting Tea Time with Professors this Thursday at 2:30 PM in CS 302. Enjoy some tea and chat with faculty. See the attached flyer.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will be hosting a virtual open house for its Medical Physics Graduate Program on November 9^th 6:00 – 7:30 PM. Program Director, Dr. Rebecca Howell will provide an overview of the program and the admissions process. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A with Dr. Howell and existing students. 2022 Loyola Biophysics Alum Natalie West will be one of the graduate students at the online event to answer questions. You can access the event through the following link: https://gsbs.uth.edu/events/event?id=dffe2b89-7ce9-4986-9fd7-d30a51ed19f2
Reminder: Schedule a meeting with your physics advisor to discuss spring registration. Every physics student has a faculty advisor to help you with determining your physics and math courses (as well as other academic advice). You should schedule a meeting with your advisor to discuss your spring schedule and get their signature on the green form in order to register for physics classes.
Lehigh University Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering will be hosting a virtual information session for their graduate program on October 31^st at 9 – 10 AM Eastern and 9 – 10 PM Eastern. Faculty and students from across the department will share general tips for success in identifying the right program and applying to graduate school. You'll also get the inside scoop on ECE's graduate programs, how the admissions process works, and the benefits of being a member of the department's vibrant intellectual community. You can register here. Attend one of these webinars to help you understand the requirements and responsibilities of ECE grad students and give you a clearer picture of how these advanced degrees can advance your future:
Want to work on a NASA Sponsored Challenge? Interested in designing and developing a structure to assist in examining extreme exoplanets. Here is the NASA HOEE Starshade Challenge. This challenge is intended for Undergraduate Students in Physical Science (physics, astronomy, engineering, material science, aerospace engineering, and any related majors) and promotes various skills you have learned throughout your college career. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their level of mastery in their degree and learn to problem solve and think critically to design and produce an ultra-low mass The Starshade is intended to help examine extreme exoplanets from an Earth stationed observatory. We encourage you to build a team and work with a faculty advisor to use this challenge as a Capstone/Final Project or for-credit design course. There are two phases to this challenge, where requirements and technical background are further explained at https://aip.org/starshade . Your designs will be examined by a NASA-led committee and rewarded accordingly. The top 3 teams from Phase I will receive $2000 intended for research, travel, or other educational purposes. Teams that move on to Phase II will be given an honorarium of$1000 to construct a scale model of their designed Starshade. Winning designs will receive the prizes below: $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $2,000 for third place. The timelines for each Phase are below:

Phase I timeline: September 13 - December 15

Phase II timeline: January 15 - April 30

On November 1^st at 3pm PST/6pm ET, there will be an informational webinar where I can answer any questions regarding the Starshade Challenge. Please register for the webinar here to receive the Zoom information. If you have any immediate questions, please contact Janessa R. Slone at slonej1@my.erau.edu.

The Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) PREP program at the University of Chicago has opened applications for full-time pre-doctoral research roles for Summer of 2023. These roles, working closely with faculty supervisors and which normally last two years, serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics, with program alumni consistently placing in top PhD programs. The program also offers unique research and professional training opportunities at the University of Chicago. They will host an information session on October 27 at 10:30 a.m. central to answer questions about the application process, please register here to attend. Positions with the following faculty are available:
The Biophysical Society will be hosting its 2022 Virtual Graduate Fair on November 14 and November 15^th. This fair will bring together students and recruiters from many different schools, each reflecting different programs and opportunities in biophysics and related fields. Students can explore options, connect with recruiters and current students, and gain insights into the next step of their career. Registration is FREE! You can register here
Learn about the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science Graduate Program. On Friday, November 18, starting at 1 p.m. EST join us for an open house of the Rosenstiel School's campus on Virginia Key (virtually). Prospective graduate and undergraduate students are welcome to attend with their families to learn more about the different research areas of the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. You'll get a chance to see our world-class facilities firsthand, and learn about research opportunities for students. Guests will meet via Zoom for a virtual tour and "walk" through campus. On the tour, they will visit many spots on campus and hear from representatives from many of our world-class labs including: Shark Research and Conservation Lab; Aquaculture's Experimental Hatchery; Climate Risk and Preparedness Lab; Rosenstiel Library; SUSTAIN (Hurricane Simulation) Lab; Aircraft Center for Earth Studies; Aplysia Lab; Benthic Ecology Lab with Rescue-A-Reef; Cnidarian Immunity Lab; Our Research vessel - the Walton Smith; Canes on Canes Hurricane Preparedness Group; and SALT Waterfront Restaurant. You can register here.
Check out org. Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers (PREDOC) is a consortium of universities and research institutions that aims to foster a talented, diverse, and inclusive population in the quantitative social sciences. Pre-doctoral opportunities (pre-docs) are full-time jobs supporting faculty research that typically last two years. They are a great option for people who are considering a PhD but aren't completely sure they're ready, or that a PhD is what they want. Please see the attached flyer.