Calling all graduate students!

Presenting Your Research Poster to an Interdisciplinary Audience

Calling all graduate students!

How do you view the future of research and creative achievement at UMBC?

The Strategic Plan subcommittee on Research is hosting a dedicated focus group just for graduate students, and they want to hear directly from us. As the driving force behind much of the university's innovation, your perspective is vital to redefining what research means for the future of UMBC.

The subcommittee's work is currently guided by the following pillar statement:

"We will set new standards for research and creative excellence as an R1 institution, building an inclusive, transdisciplinary, and translational enterprise that advances scholarship, discovery, understanding, and innovation across all fields, and contributes to economic prosperity, cultural vitality, and the public good."

We encourage you to reflect on this prompt and bring your thoughts, feedback, and ideas to the upcoming session!

Event Details:

• Date: April 1st

• Time: 2:45 PM

• Location: ENG 102

This is a unique opportunity to have a direct say in UMBC's strategic direction as a premier research institution. We hope to see you there!

We're excited to announce that GEARS is partnering with the UMBC Career Center and the Office of Professional Programs to bring you - 

BYDB: Building Your Digital Brand, an interactive workshop designed to help you intentionally shape your online presence in today's competitive job market.

📅 April 28
🕔 5:00–7:00 p.m.
📍UMBC Commons, Room 329

Your digital presence plays a critical role in how employers, recruiters, and professional contacts perceive you, often before you ever submit an application or attend an interview. This event will help you take control of that narrative, starting with LinkedIn.

We'll explore the value of personal branding and why LinkedIn remains one of the most powerful tools for networking, career exploration, and professional visibility. Then we'll move beyond theory and into action through guided, hands-on activities where you will:

• Identify your brand core and craft a clear value proposition statement

• Translate your strengths, interests, and goals into a brand identity board

• Create a custom, branded LinkedIn cover photo

• Participate in a show-and-tell to share your work and gather inspiration from peers

Whether you're actively job searching, networking, or simply refining how you present yourself online, you'll leave with a clearer message, stronger visuals, and tangible updates ready to apply to your profile.

Snacks will be provided! Come with a device (laptop/iPad) to be able to work together! 

We hope to see you there; drop any questions in the comments below and share this with your fellow grad students!

Save your spot now through this Handshake link! 

Join us for the UMBC Annual Research Symposium 2026, featuring poster presentations showcasing research from all colleges at UMBC. Whether you are presenting or attending, this is a great opportunity to share ideas, engage with research from across campus, and connect with fellow scholars. There will also be a Panel Discussion afterward with the VP for Student Affairs and Vice Provost/Dean of the Graduate School and VP for Institutional Equity/Chief Diversity Officer!

Date: April 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: UC Ballroom

Who You Are:

• A graduate or undergraduate student from any college at UMBC who wants to share their research with the university community.

What to Expect:

• Poster Presentations from students across CAHSS, COEIT, and CNMS. Come and explore groundbreaking work from all corners of UMBC.

• $2,500 Prize Pool across four categories:

• BEST of CAHSS (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences)

• BEST of COEIT (College of Engineering and Information Technology)

• BEST of CNMS (College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences)

• Provost's Choice Award

• People's Choice Award

• Buffet Lunch for All Attendees – Enjoy a catered lunch featuring a variety of cuisines to accommodate diverse dietary preferences.

• Limited Free Poster Printing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are encouraged to bring posters they have already prepared for previous conferences or presentations.

Whether you are presenting your research or just want to explore the exciting projects happening across UMBC, we welcome you to participate in this celebration of academic excellence.

Click the link here to register today, or scan the QR code in the flyer! Full URL below:

https://forms.gle/AYC5NiG917QULX8NA

Follow our Instagram @gears_umbc for other updates on events and things! 

Thriving in Graduate Education: Empowerment, Equity, and Influence

A Panel Discussion with the VP for Student Affairs and Vice Provost/Dean of the Graduate School and VP for Institutional Equity/Chief Diversity Officer!

🗓️ Tuesday, 04/07

🕓 12-1 PM

📍 University Center Ballroom

As a part of the annual UMBC GEARS Research Symposium, we will be sponsoring a panel discussion, titled "Thriving in Graduate Education: Empowerment, Equity, and Influence at UMBC". It is open to all UMBC undergraduate and graduate students.

Our featured panelists:

• Dr. Renique Kersh, Vice President for Student Affairs

• Dr. Christa Porter, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School

• Tanyka M. Barber, Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer

The following four themes will be discussed:

• Equity & Access in Graduate Education

• Impostor Syndrome at Every Level

• Navigating the Academic Landscape

• Student Influence on Policy and Change

Have a question for the panelists? Submit it in advance via the QR code on the flyer - OR - via the link here. We want to hear from you!

Don't miss this engaging conversation on thriving in graduate education. We'll see you there!

AOK Library's Spotlight! Symposium, titled "Are You Good? Checking In With Maryland's Young Adults"

PowerPoint Roulette Night has been POSTPONED, and we will update this post as soon as we have more information for you guys! 🙂

Join GEARS for Powerpoint Roulette 🎰, where the slides are random and the chaos is guaranteed! Think you can present a slideshow you've never seen before? Come find out, and bring your friends!

When:

🗓️ POSTPONED

🕓 ...

Where:

📍...

Enjoy free pizza and beverages while competing for a chance to win prizes worth up to $100! Don't miss this fun-filled evening of surprise slides, friendly competition, and big wins… We'll see you there!

Sign up via this link here, or scan the QR code on the flyer to reserve your spot. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram @gears_umbc 🐾

Thank you all for taking the time to join our kickoff meeting. It was great to connect with everyone, share our goals, and begin building momentum together. Your participation and enthusiasm are truly appreciated.

As promised, here are the key materials and resources from the session:

• WAGs Participant Sign-Up Form  (Last day to sign up is February 27)

• Slides

• Meeting Recording

What are Writing Accountability Group, or WAGs at UMBC?

• What: Writing Accountability Groups (WAGs) are voluntary and facilitated by fellow UMBC graduate students.
• Who: WAGs are composed of a group of graduate students (usually 4–8 participants per group) interested in developing writing habits and accountability.
• Why: Develop habits of writing every day for a short, manageable period of time by setting goals and being accountable to WAG peers.
• When: WAG groups meet once a week for 60–90 minutes for 10–12 weeks. The group finds a weekly time mutually convenient to all group members.
  
• Where: The group decides on a mutually convenient location to meet, whether in person or online via WebEx or another videoconferencing platform.

Want to Learn More?

• AOK Library's Faculty has created a guide for facilitating Writing Accountability Groups. Visit here for more: https://lib.guides.umbc.edu/wags 

• WAGs were developed by Dr. Kimberly A. Skarupski, Ph.D., MPH. Visit here for more: https://www.wagyourwork.com/ 

Join us for the UMBC Annual Research Symposium 2026, featuring poster presentations showcasing research from all colleges at UMBC. Whether you are presenting or attending, this is a great opportunity to share ideas, engage with research from across campus, and connect with fellow scholars.

Date: April 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: UC Ballroom

Who You Are:

• A graduate or undergraduate student from any college at UMBC who wants to share their research with the university community.

What to Expect:

• Poster Presentations from students across CAHSS, COEIT, and CNMS. Come and explore groundbreaking work from all corners of UMBC.

• $2,500 Prize Pool across four categories:

• BEST of CAHSS (College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences)

• BEST of COEIT (College of Engineering and Information Technology)

• BEST of CNMS (College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences)

• Provost's Choice Award

• People's Choice Award

• Buffet Lunch for All Attendees – Enjoy a catered lunch featuring a variety of cuisines to accommodate diverse dietary preferences.

• Limited Free Poster Printing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are encouraged to bring posters they have already prepared for previous conferences or presentations.

Whether you are presenting your research or just want to explore the exciting projects happening across UMBC, we welcome you to participate in this celebration of academic excellence.

Click the link here to register today, or scan the QR code in the flyer! Full URL below:

https://forms.gle/AYC5NiG917QULX8NA

Follow our Instagram @gears_umbc for other updates on events and things! 

Want to turn your 'To-Do' list into a 'Done' list this Friday?

Join us to learn more about WAGs and how we can help you achieve your writing goals! 

GEARS and AOK Library presents Writing Accountability Groups for Spring 2026! 

• What: Writing Accountability Groups (WAGs) are voluntary and facilitated by fellow UMBC graduate students.
• Who: WAGs are composed of a group of graduate students (usually 4–8 participants per group) interested in developing writing habits and accountability.
• Why: Develop habits of writing every day for a short, manageable period of time by setting goals and being accountable to WAG peers.
• When: WAG groups meet once a week for 60–90 minutes for 10–12 weeks. The group finds a weekly time mutually convenient to all group members.
  
• Where: The group decides on a mutually convenient location to meet, whether in person or online via WebEx or another videoconferencing platform.