GradNews

Welcome to the start of the spring 2020 semester!  For our new students, welcome to the start of your graduate career at SIUE!

• Major writing assignments or reserach papers on your plate this semester? Mark your calendars to attend our Grad Student Writing Labs and/or our Writing Bootcamp happening throughout the term.  Find dates/times and all other info on our Writing Resources website!
  
  
• If you're working on formatting your thesis, plan to attend our spring 2020 Thesis Workshop being held on Wednesday, January 29th at 3:00pm, for tips and tricks on formatting your thesis correctly.  RSVP here!
  
• GET SOCIAL at SIUE! To find out what events are happening on campus during this exciting time on campus, check out the Student Life website.

#5:  SIUE 101 on Blackboard  SIUE 101 is your one stop shop for key information about being a graduate student at SIUE.   You will have access to this course as long as your eID is active, so refer to it often.  To access SIUE 101, log into Blackboard.  Under My Organizations you will find SIUE 101.  Click on Graduate Students and browse away!

#4:  Graduate Catalog  Access the Graduate Catalog online anytime for information about your academic program's curriculum, course descriptions, graduation requirements, and academic policies.   

#3:  CougarNet  Login to CougarNet to view your class schedule, register for upcoming semesters, update your mailing address, view your financial statement, and much more!

#2:  GA Handbook  If you are serving as a Graduate Assistant, the GA Handbook which can be accessed on the Graduate Assistantship website is your number one resource for all policies and procedures relating to being a GA!

#1:  Your GPD and Faculty  Be proactive in developing a connection with your Graduate Program Director (GPD) and your other graduate faculty immediately in your graduate career.  They are your top resource for learning about your program's curriculum requirements, research opportunities, career pathways, and more.  Connect early and often to be sure you are on track and taking full advantage of all that your program and faculty have to offer!

The Graduate School awards travel grants to graduate students who are presenting a paper at a significant professional conferences or participating in a juried exhibit or performance.  Students who meet all eligibility requirements may receive up to $600 of funding from the Graduate School.

Check the Travel Grant website for all of the details and requirements well in advance of your travel plans!

Crushing your Grad School Goals?

Stressed out?  Unsure about how you're going to get everything done to progress towards your degree?  You are not alone!  Give yourself the gift of taking a few minutes to read 12 Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Grad School and reflect on how you can best overcome any obstacles that may be in front of you.   

Student Organizations & Leadership - Not Just for Undergrads Anymore

If you assume that student organizations and campus involvement are only designed for undergraduate students to participate in, you'd be mistaken.  As a gradaute student, you have the opportunity to become involved with campus organizations that align with your passions, academic disciplines, or leisure interests.  Engage with SIUE beyond just your academic department, and watch your graduate student experience come alive!  Rise to leadership positions and help to shape the SIUE campus culture while you sharpen your own leadership skills!

Discover the hundreds of campus organizations on the Get Involved at SIUE website and find the ones that speak to you!

Meet Saeed Onsorynezhad, doctoral student in Engineering Science

When you hear what Saeed Onsorynezhad's professors have to say about his dedication to teaching undergraduate students, it's no surprise to hear that teaching at the university level has become Saeed's career goal.  "Saeed is among those exceptional graduate teaching assistants who portrays quality, excellence, and service in performing his duties," says Dr. Serdar Celik.  Saeed was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award at the doctoral level this fall by the Graduate School, and he has served as a TA for a variety of Mechanical Engineering courses since 2016. 

Combining his love for teaching with industry experience gained as a mechanical engineer, Saeed says that his professional experiences have provided him with a broad view that allows him to better guide students in their understanding of engineering concepts.  His own scholarly efforts have also been recognized as he received a Research Grant for Research Doctoral Students (RGRDS) award from the Graduate School in 2019.  This research grant will help to support Saeed's  research in the area of impact dynamics of the piezoelectric beam.  This continued work has earned him publications in a number of premium technical journals and conferences. 

After Saeed completes his PhD in Engineering Sciences, he hopes to secure a faculty position at a university so that he can continue his pursuit of both scholarship and teaching. 

Saeed Onsorynezhad (left) with Graduate School Dean Jerry Weinberg (right) at the 2019 Graduate School Awards Reception

Know a deserving student or alum that we should highlight in Cougar Pride?  Contact us at graduateschool@siue.edu to let us know!