Events

Hybrid Event - New Cabell Hall, Conference Room 552 (Register for Zoom link)
Are you a graduate student or postdoc in a STEM-related field who is interested in different governmental agency career paths at the interface of health and policy? The Science Policy Initiative (SPI) and PhD Plus program will be hosting a virtual panel discussion with three UVA-grads-turned federal agency leaders at the FDA and NIH, with backgrounds in biomedical engineering, immunology, and biochemistry. The panel will span perspectives from people who are working across the health policy spectrum, from “in-the-weeds” policy analysts at the NIH to people who are working more closely in the medical products/device regulatory side of an agency to ensure the safety of the public’s health through federal review and guidelines at the FDA. The discussion will begin with a few questions centered on the panelists’ paths in health or biomedical policy, followed by an audience Q&A session.Featured Panelists:Dr. Isaah Vincent (PhD), Program Officer at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)Dr. Lyda Glaw (PhD), Assistant Director at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Dr. Mia Rochelle Lowden (PhD), Chief Diversity Officer at the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)This event will be hosted in a hybrid format—please consider joining us in person in New Cabell Hall, Conference Room 552 to view the panel discussion together, with free snacks and drinks! All interested students should register before 12:00 noon on Wednesday, December 4, to make sure you receive a calendar invitation, including a location reminder and Zoom link prior to the event. REGISTER HERE 
APPLY ONLINE - Instructions below

PhD Plus is sponsoring three UVA representatives to serve as a 2025 COVES Fellows. Eligible applicants are current graduate students or postdoctoral researchers from the Engineering, Medicine, or Science fields. The application deadline is Friday, December 13th at 11:59 PM. See below for submission instructions.

ABOUT

The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week fellowship program of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (VASEM). The goal of the COVES Fellowship program is to strengthen ties between the scientific community and state government in the Commonwealth of Virginia, while encouraging and equipping early career scientists and engineers to enter public service. Graduate student and postdoctoral researchers selected as COVES Fellows will serve as science advisors in legislative offices, executive agencies, or prominent companies and nonprofits in the state of Virginia where they will gain experience in the creation and translation of state policies related to science and engineering. 

COVES Fellows will be current graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia, selected based on career interests, desire to learn, and scientific integrity. Fellows will be matched to host offices based on mutual interest and placement availability. Prior to the Fellowship, Fellows will attend science communication training and orientation that will provide an introduction to governance and policy-making in the Commonwealth. In addition to their work in policy offices, COVES Fellows will be paired with a mentor from VASEM and will participate in VASEM briefings, committee meetings, and the annual summit. 

2025 COVES Fellows will serve from May 27, 2025 - August 15, 2025 and receive an $9,000 stipend and $2,000 in professional development funds.

For more information, VASEM is hosting information sessions with past fellows. Register below if you are interested in attending:

  • COVES Information Session: Q&A with former fellows - November 8, 2024 at 1 PM EST; Registration link
  • COVES Information Session: Q&A with former fellows - November 20, 2024 at 1 PM EST; Registration link

HOW TO APPLY:

THE APPLICATION FORM AND REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND HERE.

PLEASE SUBMIT ALL MATERIALS AS A SINGLE PDF DOCUMENT TO covesfellowship@vasem.org.

ALL MATERIALS ARE DUE BY DECEMBER 13, 2024 AT 11:59 PM.

New Cabell Hall, Conference Room 552
Need time to work on your fellowship or faculty application, or anything else? Do you like to write in a group setting? Join our Mini-Writing Retreats! Each session will start with a brief welcome and some helpful tips, but the focus of each session will be on writing—turning your ideas and draft materials into a final application.  REGISTER HERE Each retreat will be held in-person in New Cabell Hall, in Conference Room 552. Snacks and beverages will be provided for attendees. Additionally, Sam Lake and Kelly Oman, PhD Plus' Assistant Directors of Research Communication, will be there to answer questions and provide feedback on your draft materials. UPCOMING WRITING RETREAT DATESWe will continue to announce and share additional events during the spring semester in the coming months. Oct. 23 (Wednesday) from 3:00 - 5:00 PM Oct. 29 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 08 (Friday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 12 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 19 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMDec. 04 (Wednesday) from 2:00 - 4:00 PM  
New Cabell Hall, Conference Room 548
Need time to work on your fellowship or faculty application, or anything else? Do you like to write in a group setting? Join our Mini-Writing Retreats! Each session will start with a brief welcome and some helpful tips, but the focus of each session will be on writing—turning your ideas and draft materials into a final application.  REGISTER HERE Each retreat will be held in-person in New Cabell Hall, in Conference Room 548. Snacks and beverages will be provided for attendees. Additionally, Sam Lake and Kelly Oman, PhD Plus' Assistant Directors of Research Communication, will be there to answer questions and provide feedback on your draft materials. UPCOMING WRITING RETREAT DATESWe will continue to announce and share additional events during the spring semester in the coming months. Oct. 29 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 08 (Friday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 12 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 19 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMDec. 04 (Wednesday) from 2:00 - 4:00 PM  
New Cabell Hall, Conference Room 552
Need time to work on your fellowship or faculty application, or anything else? Do you like to write in a group setting? Join our Mini-Writing Retreats! Each session will start with a brief welcome and some helpful tips, but the focus of each session will be on writing—turning your ideas and draft materials into a final application.  REGISTER HERE Each retreat will be held in-person in New Cabell Hall, in Conference Room 552. Snacks and beverages will be provided for attendees. Additionally, Sam Lake and Kelly Oman, PhD Plus' Assistant Directors of Research Communication, will be there to answer questions and provide feedback on your draft materials. UPCOMING WRITING RETREAT DATESWe will continue to announce and share additional events during the spring semester in the coming months. Nov. 08 (Friday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 12 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 19 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMDec. 04 (Wednesday) from 2:00 - 4:00 PM  
New Cabell Hall, Conference Room 548
Need time to work on your fellowship or faculty application, or anything else? Do you like to write in a group setting? Join our Mini-Writing Retreats! Each session will start with a brief welcome and some helpful tips, but the focus of each session will be on writing—turning your ideas and draft materials into a final application.  REGISTER HERE Each retreat will be held in-person in New Cabell Hall, in Conference Room 548. Snacks and beverages will be provided for attendees. Additionally, Sam Lake and Kelly Oman, PhD Plus' Assistant Directors of Research Communication, will be there to answer questions and provide feedback on your draft materials. UPCOMING WRITING RETREAT DATESWe will continue to announce and share additional events during the spring semester in the coming months. Nov. 12 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMNov. 19 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMDec. 04 (Wednesday) from 2:00 - 4:00 PM  
New Cabell Hall, Conference Room 552
Need time to work on your fellowship or faculty application, or anything else? Do you like to write in a group setting? Join our Mini-Writing Retreats! Each session will start with a brief welcome and some helpful tips, but the focus of each session will be on writing—turning your ideas and draft materials into a final application.  REGISTER HERE Each retreat will be held in-person in New Cabell Hall, in Conference Room 552. Snacks and beverages will be provided for attendees. Additionally, Sam Lake and Kelly Oman, PhD Plus' Assistant Directors of Research Communication, will be there to answer questions and provide feedback on your draft materials. UPCOMING WRITING RETREAT DATESWe will continue to announce and share additional events during the spring semester in the coming months. Nov. 19 (Tuesday) from 1:00 - 4:00 PMDec. 04 (Wednesday) from 2:00 - 4:00 PM  
New Cabell Hall, Conference Room 552
Need time to work on your fellowship or faculty application, or anything else? Do you like to write in a group setting? Join our Mini-Writing Retreats! Each session will start with a brief welcome and some helpful tips, but the focus of each session will be on writing—turning your ideas and draft materials into a final application.  REGISTER HERE Each retreat will be held in-person in New Cabell Hall, in Conference Room 552. Snacks and beverages will be provided for attendees. Additionally, Sam Lake and Kelly Oman, PhD Plus' Assistant Directors of Research Communication, will be there to answer questions and provide feedback on your draft materials. UPCOMING WRITING RETREAT DATESThis is the last retreat of the year, but stay tuned for additional events during the spring semester.
ZOOM (Register for link)
Mondays, once a month, 12-1pm online | Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 11, Dec. 2 | Register hereAccelerate to Industry, or A2i, is a professional development program dedicated to enhancing graduate and postdoctoral training for careers outside academia. First developed by the North Carolina State University Graduate School, this program connects graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with industry companies to explore employment opportunities.The Industry Insights series introduces graduate students and postdocs to the wide world of industry. Throughout this series, students and postdocs will hear about different opportunities within the life sciences industry, as well as the landscape and ecosystem of working in a corporate setting.The first session of this 4-part series is on Monday, September 9 from 12-1pm on Zoom and will feature Lauren Celano, co-founder and CEO of Propel Careers, a life science search and career development firm focused on connecting talented individuals with entrepreneurial life sciences companies. Lauren will provide an overview of career opportunities in the life sciences sector and the state of the industry job market, including opportunities, challenges, and strategies for success. This talk will include bench research-focused opportunities as well as non-bench opportunities ranging from medical affairs, clinical research, regulatory, program/project management, alliance management, business development, consulting, data science, and more. This talk will highlight various skills, aptitudes, and competencies that thrive in the various types of roles in this sector, as well as opportunities and career considerations given the current state of the life sciences industry. We will cover hiring trends, growing career areas, financing considerations for organizations that impact career options, and innovation trends. Given the flux in the life sciences sector over the last few years, this talk is meant to provide insights to the audience regarding opportunities and information to be aware of to inform a successful career search. Register today!Lauren Celano is the co-founder and CEO of Propel Careers, a life science search and career development firm focused on connecting talented individuals with entrepreneurial life sciences companies. 
New Cabell Hall 489
In this 90-minute Future Faculty workshop, you’ll learn how to write a reflective teaching statement (also known as a teaching philosophy statement). You’ll explore the various components of a teaching statement, evaluate sample statements from various disciplines, and be introduced to a rubric for evaluating teaching statements based on search committee expectations. You’ll also have a chance to reflect on your own teaching philosophy and practices, and consider how you wish to communicate these in writing. INSTRUCTORSJessica Taggart, PhD – Assistant Director, Center for Teaching ExcellenceAdriana Streifer, PhD – Associate Director and Associate Profession, Center for Teaching ExcellenceREGISTER HERE