March 24, 2025

Laney Graduate School Student Makes History at NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships

Congratulations to neuroscience PhD candidate Nikki Boon for making history on Friday, March 14, at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships as the first-ever national champion in the indoor pentathlon in Emory University history.

Boon set a record when she became the first woman ever at the Division III level to reach 4,000 points in the indoor pentathlon and the second-ever Emory student-athlete to win an indoor national championship.

Check out Boon's full story.

Invest in Tomorrow’s Leaders: Emory Day of Giving is March 26–27

The James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies prepares students for success through rigorous scholarship, groundbreaking research, and transformative programming.

With generous support from donors like you, Laney equips students to thrive in a competitive job market and an evolving global landscape. Your investment empowers students to discover new ways to apply their degrees and translate their skills into meaningful careers.

We invite you to invest in Laney Graduate School—to support tomorrow’s leaders and shape the future of graduate education.

During this year’s Emory Day of Giving, the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement will spotlight the following giving opportunities:

Graduate School Fellowship Support Fund: Provides stipend support to ensure that all graduate students have access to an enriching university experience
Laney Graduate School Professional Development Support Fund: Enables students to advance their professional development by presenting at conferences, conducting research, and more.
Laney Graduate School Fund for Excellence: Supports strategic priorities identified by the Dean to address the immediate needs of the graduate school.

Grad Appreciation Week: A Celebration of You!

Graduate Appreciation Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the dedication, resilience, and contributions of our graduate students. Whether you're conducting groundbreaking research, balancing academics with professional growth, or fostering meaningful connections within the Laney community, this week is all about honoring your hard work and impact!

Join us for a series of events designed to show our gratitude, provide opportunities to unwind, and connect with fellow students from April 7 to 11.

Don’t miss these events:

April 11 | Grad Appreciation Picnic

Join us for the Grad Appreciation Picnic, a celebration of community, connection, and the incredible graduate students who make Laney Graduate School thrive. This is a chance to step away from your research and coursework, relax in good company, and enjoy great food in a welcoming atmosphere.

Whether you’re catching up with friends, meeting new peers, or simply soaking in the camaraderie, this picnic is all about celebrating the strength and spirit of our graduate community. Come take a well-deserved break, and let us show our appreciation for all that you do!

⏰ Time: 4 - 6 p.m.

📅 Date: Friday, April 11
📍 Location: The Quad (Rain or Shine)

April 9 | Professional Headshots

A strong professional image makes a lasting impression! Take advantage of our free professional headshot session as part of Grad Appreciation Week. Make your LinkedIn, academic profiles, and professional portfolios stand out with a professional headshot! RSVP needed.

⏰ Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

📅 Date: Wednesday, April 9
📍 Location: N. Decatur Building, Suite 200

🔗 RSVP here

April 1 | Navigating Careers and Building Connections: A Conversation with LGS Alumni

Join us for a unique networking event featuring two insightful panels and a reception!

By attending, you'll have the opportunity to learn from Laney Graduate School alumni who have chosen diverse career paths as well as network with alumni and students across multiple disciplines.

Panelists will share their professional journeys and provide valuable networking strategies and insights. Attend both panels and the reception to maximize your networking potential and build meaningful connections!

Both LGS students and alumni are welcome to participate in this event.

⏰ Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm

🗓 Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

📍 Location: Miller-Ward Alumni House

🔗 Register here

April 2 | Master Your Job Search

Join us on Wednesday, April 2 for two engaging virtual workshops designed to help graduate students and postdocs elevate their job search strategies. Learn how to make your profile stand out, connect with industry professionals, and leverage LinkedIn’s tools to advance your career.

Beyond Graduate School — What PhDs Need to Know About the Academic Job Market

⏰ Time: 12 – 1 p.m.

🔗 Register here

Beyond the Professoriate — What to Do if You’re Getting Interviews but No Job Offers

⏰ Time: 2 - 2:30 p.m.

🔗 Register here

Both sessions will be recorded.

Handshake: Model Validation Expert Program Application

The Handshake MOVE program bridges academic research and AI, providing thorough model validation to build trust in AI systems.

Handshake is recruiting exceptional master's and doctoral students, candidates, and graduates from all fields to join our AI research community. This program brings subject-matter experts together to enhance the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) within specialized domains and subdomains. The MOVE program runs year-round, though project availability will vary by domain.

This is a paid opportunity:

Compensation ranges from $50 - $125/ hour, depending on domain expertise and degree type
The compensation reflects our commitment to ensuring your contributions are rewarded at a level commensurate with your expertise

Apply here

Nat C. Robertson Graduate Fellowship in Science and Society

The Nat C. Robertson Endowment in Science and Society in collaboration with the Institute for the Liberal Arts (ILA), offers a year-long graduate student fellowship open to current LGS PhD students in any discipline.

Why should you apply? The fellow will:

work with ILA faculty to facilitate a pre-existing course in the fall,
develop a new course, team-teach an existing course with an ILA faculty member, or propose a semester-long project with undergraduates that builds on the fellow’s research interests and integrates multiple disciplines (in the spring).

Award: $12,000 for one academic year

Application deadline: March 28, 2025

Apply here

Piedmont TATTO Fellowship on Sustainability and Curriculum Development

Piedmont TATTO Fellowship is accepting applications for graduate students in all disciplines. Through this fellowship, students will have the opportunity to expand their teaching repertoire around sustainability, environmental, and social justice issues.

This one-day workshop offers fellows the opportunity to:

Learn from campus experts
Explore engaged learning opportunities
Experience creative teaching strategies
Develop teaching materials.

Stipend: $500 upon completion and approval of a syllabus and attendance at an end-of-summer field trip.
Application deadline: April 18, 2025
Learn more here

View more on our Fellowships and Grants web page

Interviewing Skills: The STAR Technique & More

The English Language Support Program (ELSP) is looking for participants for an upcoming two-part interview skills workshop designed to help students articulate their academic experiences clearly and effectively. Whether preparing for a job interview or another professional opportunity, this series will provide valuable strategies for success.

Workshop Overview:

Part 1:

Learn the STAR Technique and how to apply it to common interview questions.
Develop responses that highlight achievements, experiences, and skills.

Part 2:

Receive personalized feedback from English Language Specialists and peers.
Participate in mock interviews to refine responses.
Practice using voice and body language to convey confidence and engagement.

📅 When: Two 90-minute sessions over two weeks in early April

Those interested in participating can express interest here.

Questions? Contact Heather Boldt, director of ELSP.

Parenting Series: Raising Resilient Teens

As a parent or guardian raising a teenager, challenges may arise as your child grows, changes, and increases autonomy. This interactive two-part workshop offers parents and guardians the support they may need.

March 26 | Session 1: The Power of Connection - Protecting Mental Health and Social Development

This session will focus on how positive parent-youth relationships serve as a critical buffer against anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

⏰ Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

📅 Date: March 26

🔗Register here

April 22 | Session 2: Preparing for Independence

This evidence-based, engaging series session will focus on communication, resilience & the path to adulthood. Gain the knowledge and tools to nurture strong, resilient, and optimistic tweens and teens.

⏰ Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

📅 Date: April 22

🔗Register here

Submit questions ahead of time here.

Both sessions will be recorded and distributed to registrants following each series.

Academic Success Resources

Are you looking for some help related to procrastination, imposter syndrome, test anxiety, perfectionism, or attention and concentration challenges? Check out the resources available on CAPS’ website.

In addition, the LGS Student Affairs Team is here to support every phase of your educational journey, so reach out any time! They can connect you to resources, answer questions you might have, or discuss concerns.

Explore these topics and other student affairs-related topics by contacting an LGS Student Affairs team member:

Jennifer M. Cason, EdD, assistant dean of student affairs and deputy Title IX coordinator

Emily Neutens, associate director of student affairs

Shannon Marsh, student affairs program coordinator