New Graduate Student Orientation - January 5, 9:00 AM, UC442

If you are starting a graduate program at the University of Guelph in W2017, you are invited to the orientation session on Thursday, January 5, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in room 442 University Centre. You are asked to register by taking a short survey at bit.ly/2hqbHBt. The program and other information about services available to graduate students on campus can be found by visiting bit.ly/2gpncVp

SSHRC Storytellers contest for students - tell Canadians about SSHRC-funded research in 3 min or 300 words

The SSHRC Storytellers contest invites undergraduate and graduate students to show Canadians how social sciences and humanities research is affecting lives, the world and the future for the better. Students must tell Canadians about a SSHRC-funded project at their school in 3 minutes or 300 words. The project can be the student's or a professor's (with permission of course). The submission must be an original work such as a video, audio, text or infographic featuring research funded by SSHRC and carried out at the institution at which the student is enrolled at the time of submission.

If you and/or your advisor are engaged in SSHRC-funded research, and you would like to learn more about the contest, check out the contest Rules and Regulations. The Phase 1 submissions period is January 9, 2017 at 10 a.m. EST and January 31, 2017 at 4:59 p.m. EST.

Brock Doctoral Scholarship - applications due February 15, 2017

The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Services is happy to announce that one of Guelph's most prestigious scholarships, the Brock Doctoral Scholarship is available for outstanding Doctoral applicants who will be starting their programs in S17, F17 or W18. The application deadline is February 15, 2017. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/brockdoctoral

3MT competition - coming to a College near you in March.

The campus-wide 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) finals competition will be held on March 28, 2017. College competitions will be held in early March. Get all the details by clicking here. This is a great way to promote your research so start working on your presentation now.

What is a PhD anyway?

Jennifer Polk asks PhDs what their degree means to them. Read the results in University Affairs by clicking here.

Are you career competent?

Joseph Barber explains why graduate students and postdocs should understand the importance of being able to communicate about their competencies to prospective employers during their job search. Read his article in Inside Higher Ed by clicking here.

A modest proposal for modest proposals

Heather Dubrow argues that students should be encouraged to think in terms of hypotheses rather than theses, and research questions or problems rather than their putative solutions when it comes to dissertation proposals. Read her article in Inside Higher Ed by clicking here.

How to Write a Cover Letter

Melissa Dennihy describes how to write a successful cover letter in Inside Higher Ed. Click here to read her article.

GSLI newsletter December 12 to February 1, 2017

The new issue of the GSLI newsletter is now available. Go to bit.ly/2hsyqwm to download a copy of the newsletter. This is the last newsletter in 2016. We'll be back in January. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

The value of participating in non-academic career activities

Rebecca Pero explains why grad students should seek out non-academic career activities while pursuing their PhD in this article in University Affairs.

GSLI Newsletter - October 5 to November 30

The new issue of the GSLI newsletter is now available. Click here to download a copy of the newsletter.

GSLI Newsletter - September 26 to October 28, 2016

We hope the semester is off to a good start for you, and will continue to go well. To help with that, the new edition of the GSLI newsletter is now available. There are a substantial number of writing and teaching workshops available in September and October, so check them out and see which one(s) would be helpful to you. We are now in the midst of "scholarship" season so check out the information sessions and links to information about major scholarship applications (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, OGS, etc) that are due during the semester. As always, workshops are free to all registered graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

Do you have the "soft skills" you need to satisfy an employer?

You have completed and defended your thesis and now you want to enter the job market. Are you ready?
Two recent posts discuss the "soft skills" that you need to be successful on the job.

Are You Career Competent? In an article from From Inside Higher Ed, Joseph Barber outlines the competencies that employers are looking for in new employees.

A similar article in EAB outlines the soft skills that employers want most in their new recruits.

The LEGO grad student

A PhD student has created a social media series with LEGO blocks to cope with grad school challenges that s/he (the student is staying anonymous for now) describes as "A hollow head struggling to make it through a blocky world".

Check out the posts here and see which ones you can relate to.

GSLI newsletter - September 10 to September 30, 2016

Hello everyone:

Welcome to the new semester. To start you off, the new edition of the GSLI newsletter is now available. There are a substantial number of writing and teaching workshops available in September, so check them out and see which one(s) would be helpful to you. As always, they are free to all registered graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

GSLI newsletter - August 26 to September 30, 2016

The August 26 to September 30 issue of the GSLI newsletter is now available for download in this folder. There are lots of writing workshops available this September. In addition, if new grad students are joining your lab, please let them know about the grad orientation sessions.

They can click here to register for the general session on September 6, or here to register for the international session on September 15.

We hope that you enjoyed the summer, however you chose to spend it.

The 80-20 rule and job searches.

David Jensen discusses the 80-20 rule and how it applies to job searches in Science. To obtain free access to this article, you must visit the site while connected to the UoG network.

Ten tips to build your academic reputation

Robert MacIntosh from Times Higher Education provides tips to help you build your academic reputation

Counselling in 140 characters

In Inside Higher Ed, Alfreda James discussed the benefits of having an active Twitter account.

We are not asking our PhDs the right questions about jobs

Melissa Dalgleish writes that we are not asking PhD graduates the right questions such as how hard it is and how long it takes to find jobs, and whether or not those jobs are fulfilling and use the skills students have developed.

The not-so-splendid isolation of doctoral study

In Chronicle Vitae, Rebecca Schuman offers advice to doctoral students to avoid the sense of isolation that many feel while pursuing their degrees.

The multiple job offer blues

On the online career hub, Chronicle Vitae, Dean David D. Perlmutter at Texas Tech University offers his insights on how to handle multiple job offers.

GSLI newsletter - July 15 to August 31

The July 15 to August 31 issue of the GSLI newsletter is now available for download in this folder. Please note that the newsletter will not be published again until August 24.
We hope that you are enjoying the summer, however you have chosen to spend it.

GSLI newsletter - July 4 to July 29, 2016

The July 4 to July 29 issue of the GSLI newsletter is now available for download in this folder.

GSLI newsletter - July 4 to July 29, 2016

The GSLI newsletter covering the period July 4 to July 29 is now available. Click here to download the newsletter.

GSLI newsletter - June 16 to July 15, 2016

The GSLI newsletter covering the period June 16 to July 15 is now available. Click here to download the newsletter.

Should you have a blog?

Some people think they are great. Others feel they are not a good use of time. PhD student Caroline Wood explains why she maintains her blog in a guest blog post in Digital Science.

Can critical thinking skills be taught?

John Schlueter discusses the debate in this article in Inside Higher Ed.

GSLI Newsletter - June 6 to June 30

There are workshops scheduled this month so check out the GSLI newsletter to learn more. In addition, this month includes links to information about the transition of UoG email to Office 365 and a link to information presented at the recent new grad orientations, in case you missed them.

Check out the report on the TRaCE Project

The new issue of University Affairs features an article on the TRaCE project, which is a one-year experiment in data gathering and community building among PhDs in the humanities. The 4 goals of this project are to:

(1) track humanities PhDs;
(2) report on where they are, whether inside or outside the academy, and what they have achieved;
(3) connect them with each other and with faculty and students inside the academy;
(4) sponsor exchanges of knowledge among PhD students, faculty and PhD grads who are pursuing careers in non-academic sectors.

The article provides links to more detail on the Trace project, and a new 5-year project, Trace 2.0, which will reach out to PhDs in the social sciences, as well as MFAs and PhDs in the arts.

GSLI newsletter for May 23 to June 30

There are several workshops scheduled this month and next so check out the GSLI newsletter to check them out. In addition, this month includes links to information about the transition of UoG email to Office 365 and a link to information presented at the recent new grad orientations, in case you missed them.

Tips for managing your advisor.

This article in Inside Higher Ed provides tips for PhD students on managing their advisor.

Should you look for a postdoctoral position?

Inside Higher Ed reports on a new study indicating that a postdoctoral position is not the best option for all new science PhDs.

Tips for using Twitter in Science

An article in McGill's Arthropod Ecology blog provides some tips for grad students who want to use Twitter in science.

Beyond the Professoriate online conference

The current issue of University Affairs has announced the online conference entitled Beyond the Professoriate, which is scheduled for May 7 and May 14. Click here for more information.

GSLI newsletter (May 9 to June 30) is now available

Download your copy of the GSLI newsletter by clicking here.

Report on preparing PhDs for careers.

The Conference Board of Canada recently released a report entitled "Inside and Outside the Academy: Valuing and Preparing PhDs for Careers". The report examines employment opportunities for PhDs inside and outside academia, as well as examples of professional development initiatives in Canada and other countries. You can download the report for free if you access the link to the Conference Board site on campus.

More PhDs are starting their own businesses

A recent article in the Globe and Mail discusses the growing trend for PhDs to leave academia and start their own businesses. Click here to read the article.

Where do Ontario PhDs get jobs?

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario just released a report discussing where 2300+ students who earned a PhD in Ontario in 2009 ended up. Click here to read a graphic summary of the report. Click here to download the full PDF report.

GSLI newletter and New Graduate Student Orientations

The latest issue of the GSLI newsletter is now available and can be downloaded by clicking here.

The general New Graduate Student Orientation session is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3 from 9 am to 12 pm in Library room 384.
Students are asked to register for this session by taking a short online survey here.

The New International Graduate Student Orientation session is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 from 2 to 4.30 pm in UC room 103.
Students are asked to register for this session by taking a short online survey here.

Programs for for the New Graduate Student Orientations are available by clicking here. Attendees of each session will also be given a hard copy of the program.

The link above also provides other general information about graduate studies at the University of Guelph, including a list of campus units that offer services of interest to graduate students, and their brochures.

How to ask for a reference letter.

You needed reference letters to get into grad school. Was the approach you used a good one? Dr. Adam Chapnick (deputy director of education at the Canadian Forces College and an assistant professor of defense studies at the Royal Military College of Canada) provides advice on how to ask for a reference letter in this article from University Affairs.

Calling all Postdocs

The Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS-ACSP), with support from NSERC, CIHR and SSHRC, is conducting a survey to provide information about the Canadian postdoctoral population. If you are a postdoctoral scholar who is either associated with a Canadian institution or receiving funding from within Canada, then you are a member of CAPS-ACSP. The deadline to fill out the survey, which is expected to take about 20 minutes, is April 29, 2016. Click here to go to the survey.

Why humanities research is important

Dr. Jane Ohlmeyer, Chair of the Irish Research Council and a professor of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin, speaks about the central role humanities research plays in forging a positive future in Europe. Click here to read the article. Although the article is focused on Europe, many of the sentiments expressed by Dr. Ohlmeyer about the value of humanities research apply in North America as well.

New Grad Student Orientation - Summer 2016

Are you starting a grad program at the University of Guelph in Summer 2016? If so, you are invited to the orientation session for new students to be held in the library's Florence Partridge room (384) from 9 AM to 12 PM on May 3.

If you plan to attend, please register by visiting our registration page.

You can download a copy of the program and brochures describing services available to graduate students on campus from the Grad Orientation information folder.

GSLI newsletter for April 11 to April 27 is now available

If do not receive the biweekly GSLI newsletter via email, you can download it at the GSLI news link.
Comments or questions can be sent to gsli@uoguelph.ca.

Recent articles that may be of interest to grad students

From Scholarly Kitchen: an article on how readers discover content in scholarly publications

From Inside Higher Ed: an article about digital overtaking print in educational publishing

From the journal, Science - working life column: advice for grad students to embrace uncertainty

Seminar on Passing Oral Exams now available on YouTube

The seminar on March 8, 2016 by Dr. Lee Foote on Passing Graduate Oral Exams, Candidacies and Defenses is now available to watch on youtube.
Click here to watch the video.

GSLI newsletter

Not getting the GSLI newsletter every 2 weeks? The GSLI newsletter will now be available with a link to a dropbox folder. A message indicating that the next issue is available will be posted here.

Alternatively, you can subscribe to the GSLI listserv and receive the newsletter in your inbox. To subscribe, send an email to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UOGUELPH.CA with the command (paste it!): SUBSCRIBE GSLI. The listserv system will then send you further instructions.

MITACS Step workshops at Guelph this semester

Mitacs Step workshops are free and open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Lunch as well as opportunities to network with fellow participants will be provided.
If you do not have a Mitacs Step account, click here to create one before registering using the direct links provided below.


Career Professionalism
March 24, 2016
University Centre, Room 103

Information & Registration Link
It’s the seemingly little things we do or say that can lead to our success or hold us back. This workshop examines the critical yet unspoken rules of the workplace, from email etiquette to appropriate dress, workplace communication, and first impressions. You will leave with the tips, tricks and tools needed to succeed when working closely with others in any situation.

Foundations of Project Management II
March 28 -& March 29, 2016
University Centre, Room 103

Information & Registration Link
This workshop builds on Project Management I to deepen your understanding of how to be an effective project manager. You will examine risk assessment, estimation, budgeting, and resource schedule crisis management with a continued focus on building and managing teams. You will leave with the confidence and know-how to lead successful projects in academia and the workplace from day one.

*Mandatory prerequisite: Foundations of Project Management I

Selling the (underappreciated) value of a liberal arts education

This article in the Ottawa Citizen describes research by Ross Finnie, Professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Director of the Education Policy Research Initiative at the University of Ottawa. He finds that employment outcomes for liberal arts students are much better than people think. http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/selling-the-underappreciated-value-of-a-liberal-arts-education

Canada needs more PhDs

An article in University Affairs by Dr. Brenda Brouwer, President of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies and vice-provost and dean of Graduate Studies at Queen’s University, describes why Canada needs more PhDs. http://www.universityaffairs.ca/opinion/in-my-opinion/canada-needs-more-phds/

Let’s end the myth that PhDs are only suited for the ivory tower.

Read Dr. Brenda Brouwer's article in the Globe and Mail entitled, Let’s end the myth that PhDs are only suited for the ivory tower. Dr. Brouwer is the President of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies and vice-provost and dean of Graduate Studies at Queen’s University. The article can be found at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/lets-end-the-myth-that-phds-are-only-suited-for-the-ivory-tower/article29075308/

Call for Proposals: Graduate Student SoTL Grant

the Graduate Student Teaching Development Program offers funding for graduate students to propose, initiate, research, and disseminate the results of a three-semester research project that investigates an aspect of teaching and learning in the post-secondary context. Details about the application process can be found at: http://opened.uoguelph.ca/en/students/graduate-student-sotl-grant.asp

Grad students should seek out collaborations

An interesting article from Inside Higher Ed about the need for graduate students need to seek out opportunities for collaboration at every stage of their graduate career. The article can be found at: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/02/29/why-grad-students-should-seek-out-opportunities-collaboration-essay