GradUpdate

In this issue, Using Visual Thinking to Communicate the Essence of Graduate Students’ Research, Every Semester Needs a Plan, Writing a Literature Review, Network to career success, TA Institute, Summer Sustainability Scholars Program, Foundations of Pedagogy, and more.

Registration Open

Using Visual Thinking to Communicate the Essence of Graduate Students’ Research
Online | Tuesday, Jan 21 | 10 am – 12 pm

Register

Events and Opportunities

A selection of upcoming events are highlighted below. 
Visit  community.grad.ubc.ca and grad.ubc.ca/current-students/professional-development for our full events calendar.

ACADEMIC

Every Semester Needs a Plan
Online | Thursday, Jan 9 | 11 am – 12 pm
Join ncfdd.org through UBC’s subscription, then register.

CAREER

Social Insurance Number (SIN) Clinic
Service Canada agents will be on campus to help you obtain your SIN
In-person | Tuesday, Jan 7 | 9:30 am – 3:30 pm Register

Employer on Campus: Government of Canada
In-person | Thursday, Jan 9 | 12 – 1:30 pm Register

Network your way to career success
Online | Tuesday, Jan 14 | 12 – 1 pm Register

Employer on Campus: Connor, Clark & Lunn Investment Management
This global investment manager based in Vancouver offers a wide range of roles and career paths. Team members have academic training in the fields of math, science, engineering, data science, and/or computer science. A background in Finance is not a requirement to join their team.
In-person | Thursday, Jan 16 | 1 – 2 pm Register

Entrepreneurship for Arts Graduate Students
A series of three synchronous online and two in-person workshops that will allow you to learn a variety of skills and techniques to develop a venture idea.
Jan 21 – April 1 | various times | Learn more and register

Sustainability Scholars Program, Summer 2025
Paid, part-time internship, May 1 – Aug 15. Learn more at info sessions:
Online | Wednesday, Jan 15 | 12 – 1:30 pm Register
Online | Thursday, Jan 16 | 5 – 7 pm Register
Resumes, Cover Letters & Best Practices: Refining Your Scholars Application Online | Tuesday, Jan 21 | 5 – 6:30 pm Register

Life Sciences BC’s 6th Annual Career Connect Day 2025
This dynamic full-day event brings together life sciences employers from across the sector, post-secondary students, and job seekers.
In-person, Vancouver Convention Centre | Friday, Jan 24 | 9 am – 4 pm | $25
Learn more and register.

RESEARCH

Introduction to Spatial Data in R
Online | Monday & Tuesday, Jan 13 & 14 | 10 – 11 am Register

Data Bites – Best Practices for File Formatting
Online | Tuesday, Jan 14 | 12:30 – 1 pm Register

TEACHING

How Do I Get Started?”: Exploring in/relation and Storying Instructor Experiences
Online | Thursday, Jan 9 | 1 – 2:30 pm Register
Prior to attending, take a tour of the in/relation website and listen to episode 1 of the Stories in/relation podcast.

Foundations of Pedagogy
Online | Feb 3 – March 31 | Mondays 2 – 4:30 pm
Successful completion involves participation in 7 out of 8 classes including pre-work, teaching one 10 minute mini-lesson and writing a first draft of your teaching portfolio. Upon completion, you will be awarded CIRTL Associate status.
Learn more and apply by Jan 13

CTLT TA Institute
Online and in-person | Jan 13 – 16 | various times | Session details & Registration. Sessions include:

• Establishing a Positive TA Experience Working with Faculty Members: Dos and Don’ts
• Facilitating Discussions
• Marking, Assessment, and Feedback as a TA
• AI in Teaching and Learning Spaces
• Active Learning and Inclusion: Using Student Gender, English as an Additional Language, and Neurodivergence Case Studies
• TA’ing a Community Engaged Learning Course: Exploring Roles, Tension Points and Opportunities for Professional Development
• Leveraging TAship for Future Career & Self-Advocacy, Negotiation, and Boundaries
• Developing a Classroom Community
• Learn About Your Rights as a TA: Intro to TA Union
• Social Class in Our Classrooms
• Effective Use of the UBC Early Alert System
• and Designing High Impact Experiential Learning

WRITING AND COMMUNICATION

Writing a Literature Review: Mapping the Scholarly Conversation
Hybrid | Thursday, Jan 16 | 10 – 11:30 am Register

SSHRC Storytellers Challenge
Submit a 3-min video or audio clip of your SSHRC-funded research and win prizes. 3 UBC graduate students were in 2024’s SSHRC Top 25!
Learn more and submit by Tuesday, Jan 21 at 2 pm.

Refined project communication plan
Online Mitacs training | Wednesday, Jan 15 | 9 am – 12 pm | Mandatory online pre-requisite “Enhance your communication skills”.
Learn more and register for this or upcoming sessions through Mitacs Edge.

Framing your project in a masterful presentation
Online Mitacs training | Thursday, Jan 16 | 7 – 10 am | Mandatory online pre-requisite “Refine your writing and presentation skills”.
Learn more and register for this or upcoming sessions through Mitacs Edge.