Dear Graduate and Professional Students,

We are pleased to share the following opportunities for engagement on campus and beyond. Check out our website and Twitter account and reach out to the Graduate Studies Team.

The Pennsylvania midterm elections take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. The nonpartisan website Pitt Votes provides information on how registered voters can vote in-person from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Polling Place Search tool on Pennsylvania’s election site can help you find your polling place. 

If you requested a mail-in ballot, it must be received by 8 p.m. on November 8, so mail yours today! If you need a stamp, you can purchase one on-campus in the Panther Post student mailroom in Towers B.

Open to all Pitt first-gen students! 

A first-gen graduate student is a student who is in the first generation of their family to earn a bachelor's degree and who is now earning a graduate degree.

In honor of National First-Generation College Celebration Day on Tuesday, November 8, please join us for Pitt’s First-Gen Day motivational panel discussion from 6-8 p.m. in the Alumni Hall Connelly Ballroom. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and networking with your peers from 6-7 p.m. Hear from the following first-generation college faculty, staff, and alumni from 7-8 p.m.:

• Kellie Kane, Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Executive Director of Admissions, Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
• Dr. Darris Means, Associate Professor, School of Education
• Dr. Tagbo Niepa, Assistant Professor, Swanson School of Engineering
• Dr. Emiola Oriola, Director, Office of Inclusion and Belonging
• Moderator: Linda Williams-Moore, Assistant Dean of Community and Inclusion

Register to secure your seat. This event is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Office of New Student Programs.

#CelebrateFirstGen  #PittFirstGen

The Year of Emotional Well-Being offers an opportunity to engage collectively with a focus on restoring and enhancing our emotional well-being. This is a time of burgeoning research and collective reflection on our emotional needs and the qualities that make for a good life.

The Steering Committee invites University of Pittsburgh students, staff, and faculty to submit applications to support activities connected to the theme. Applications for up to $5,000 to support faculty, staff, student, administrator and supervisor, and general community emotional well-being are invited.

December 1, 2022, is the first deadline for proposals for the 2022-23 academic year. February 1, 2023, is the second deadline for proposals for the 2022-23 academic year. Learn more about the call for proposal and submit your application via Competition Space.

The Residences on Bigelow, a new Pitt-owned apartment building near campus, will have 50 open apartments starting in January 2023. The apartments are furnished and open to graduate students and postdocs. Currently, approximately 60% of the residents of the building are graduate students. Visit the Residences on Bigelow webpage to learn more about the apartments, rental rates, and great amenities, which include Wi-Fi, a fitness center, campus shuttle, security, and more. Anyone interested in leasing an apartment should email the Off-Campus Living office.

The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) offers a variety of affordable living options on and near campus and houses several students from Pitt and other local universities. Units include single (residence hall style) rooms, efficiency spaces, and 1-4 bedroom apartments. Information about housing options and application requirements can be found on the PTS Student Housing webpage.
Those interested in leasing a room or apartment at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary should email the Seminary’s Housing Office.

University Center for Teaching and Learning is seeking to appoint a Graduate Student Assistant (GSA) in the Center for Diversity in the Curriculum. This appointment is for the spring and summer 2023 terms. A GSA appointment includes a monthly stipend, individual health insurance coverage in the UPMC Health Plan for graduate students, and a tuition scholarship including most fees.

This is a unique opportunity for a master's or PhD student with a functional knowledge of DEI best practices and a background in organizing, advocacy, or social justice. In this role, the GSA will gain experience in the areas of equity in the curriculum and inclusive pedagogy. For more information about applying, email Dr. Sera Mathew, Director of Equitable and Inclusive Teaching.

Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs offer scholarships which are open to Pitt undergraduate and graduate students in all fields and provide an opportunity to experience in-depth immersion in another culture via study abroad. Applications are due February 1, 2023. Winners receive a scholarship in the amount of $3,500 to $5,000. Check eligibility requirements and learn more.

Department of Defense SMART Scholarship-for-Service Fellowships are open to STEM graduate students and provide a combined educational and workforce development opportunity, including a summer internship at a DoD facility. Applications are due December 1, 2022. Winners receive a stipend, tuition, and health insurance for up to five years. Check eligibility requirements and learn more.

Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowships are open to early career PhD students in any research-based field who have demonstrated superior academic achievement and are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the U.S. Applications are due December 15, 2022. Winners receive an annual stipend of $27,000 for three years. Check eligibility requirements and learn more.

Join the Center for Creativity for a night of performance on Wednesday, November 9 at 8:30 p.m. to wrap up LGBTQIA+ History Month in style.

Come to share your work celebrating queer history and experience, or to listen and support Pitt's LGBTQIA+ community. Learn more and register.

Teaching at a community college can have a high impact on students beginning their higher education journey and often includes a strong community-focused work environment. Join the CIRTL network for the “Exploring Careers at a Community College” panels on November 10 and on December 1.

Bring your questions and prepare to explore this wonderful career path.

Curious about graduate programs and careers in science, technology, engineering, math, or medicine?

During this virtual panel session on Monday, November 14 from 6 to 7 p.m., Pitt faculty members will share insights into their own career paths and the graduate and professional programs their schools offer. Register to attend, and please share with your colleagues and interested undergraduate students.