Events planned this week to celebrate, highlight achievements by Purdue graduate students, postdocs

The Office of the Provost is offering a series of activities this week to showcase the scholarship and research of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars happening at Purdue University. Undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni are invited to attend.

“Each spring semester, Purdue looks to celebrate the impressive achievements of our graduate students and postdoctoral scholars while offering stimulating scholarship- and research-focused activities and competitions designed to bring together our university community,” said Haley Oliver-Jischke, senior vice provost for academic and student success. “Once again, we have another exciting week’s worth of events that will shine the spotlight on the unique contributions of our postdoc researchers and the amazing work and talents of our graduate students.”

What’s on tap this week

OIGP Spring Reception — April 22

The Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs (OIGP) Spring Reception is an all-day event starting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday (April 22) in the North and South ballrooms of the Purdue Memorial Union. Now marking its 17th year, the OIGP reception celebrates interdisciplinary graduate student research, showcasing over 100 research poster presentations and a keynote from this year’s winner of the Most Outstanding Interdisciplinary Project Award. The event also will feature two panel discussions focusing on career path experiences in academia and industry.

• For more information and an agenda of the day’s activities, go here.

Three Minute Thesis — April 22

Purdue’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is at 7-9 p.m. Wednesday (April 22) in Stewart Center’s Fowler Hall. The international science communication competition developed by the University of Queensland challenges graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to condense their years of research into a three-minute presentation. Participants also will learn to communicate scientific research to a nonspecialist audience.

• This event is free and open to the public, but a ticket is required.
• Prizes: winner, $5,000; runner-up, $3,000; people’s choice, $2,000.
• For more information, go here.

Say It In 6

Winners from Purdue’s version of the Say It In 6 competition, which took place in March, will be announced during the 3MT event at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday (April 22). The 3MT competition is open to all graduate and professional students, nondegree students, and postdoctoral fellows. Purdue entries will be published on the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars website and social media pages.

Based on Smith magazine’s “Six-Word Memoirs” concept, Say It In 6 challenges participants to explain their research experience — in a clear, concise and, most importantly, creative way — by using only six words and a single visual aid.

• Prizes: winner, $1,000; runner-up, $500; people’s choice, $500. Winners will be announced at the 3MT competition on Wednesday (April 22).
• For more information, go here.

OGSPS awards celebration — April 23 (invite only)

The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars will host an awards celebration on Thursday (April 23) for this year’s awardees and their nominators, department heads and deans. This invitation-only event is designed to promote networking among attendees in a reception setting, which is a change from previous banquet-style celebrations.

Every year, OGSPS highlights mentoring, teaching and research achievements of graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, faculty and staff. Awardees are selected through a competitive process and honored at an annual awards celebration. Awards are presented in the following categories:

• Vice Provost’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor
• OGSPS Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Award
• OGSPS Excellence in Teaching Award
• OGSPS Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award
• OGSPS Mentoring Award for Graduate Students
• Most Outstanding Interdisciplinary Project Award
• Say It In 6
• InnovatED authors
• Three Minute Thesis

“As a Purdue postdoc, mentoring has been a huge learning experience for me,” said Postdoctoral Mentoring Award winner Amogh Sirnoorkar, a research associate for the Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM, known as CATALYST, in the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “The most rewarding moments have been the ones where students from multiple disciplines started asking their own questions rather than simply pursuing answers to others’ questions.”

As part of the award celebration’s new format, OGSPS sponsored a “Lunch and Learn” activity led by Anthony Cawdron, event coordinator and estate manager at Westwood. All award nominees and competition finalists were invited to participate in a live demonstration on how to network at professional receptions earlier this month. Also new this year, OGSPS recognized all college finalists as the winner for their respective college. They were honored with a framed certificate signed by Oliver-Jischke.

InnovatED magazine

This annual publication celebrates the innovative research and real-world impact of Purdue’s graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Ten exceptional scholars are featured for their work reflecting the Boilermaker spirit — bold, driven and committed to taking the next giant leap. From groundbreaking discoveries to community-centered solutions, InnovatED showcases the research shaping the future of every discipline at Purdue.

• Go here to read the latest digital edition of InnovatED.