PROMISE AGEP: Maryland Transformation is pleased to invite you to attend and participate in the 2017 University System of Maryland PROMISE AGEP Research Symposium and Professional Development Conference on February 17, 2017. This conference replaces the former PROMISE Research Symposium, and adds a professional development component that will prepare graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for faculty positions in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM, which includes social sciences) disciplines. This year, PROMISE also invites undergraduate students to come to hear graduate students’ presentations, and to participate in workshops that will prepare them to be graduate students with an eye on becoming future faculty members.

This conference seeks to provide a venue that will allow students to present their work at any stage, receive feedback in preparation for presenting at larger venues, and provide training that will prepare participants for faculty careers.The event is free and meals are provided. Please apply to present at the conference using the rules in the “Call for Presentations” section below and register using Eventbrite link to register to attend the conference.

Event: PROMISE Research Symposium

Location: University of Maryland College Park

Adele H. Stamp Student Union – Center for Campus Life

3972 Campus Dr

Colony Ballroom

College Park, MD 20742

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Attire: Business Casual

Transportation: There will be free transportation from UMBC to UMCP. Please send an email to promisestaff@gmail.com by Feb. 7, 2017 with the subject title, “2017 Research Symposium Bus,” with your name, school, and phone number. The bus depart from the UMBC Commons Loop at 7:40 AM. This location is between The Commons, The Physics Building, and The Public Policy Building – on Commons Drive, near The Commons Garage. [This is NOT the Administration Drive loop in front of campus.] The bus will depart from UMCP at 4:15 PM and arrive at UMBC around 5:15 PM.

Parking details and additional information will be added to the comments section of this post. 

RSVP: This event is open to both people who are presenting and to observers. To present at the conference, please follow the directions as per the “Call for Presentations” section below. All attendees are required to register on Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-2017-university-system-of-maryland-promise-agep-research-symposium-professional-development-tickets-29756428278?err=29)

• Presentation slots are limited to graduate students within the University System of Maryland.
• A custom webpage will be designed for each presenter. The presenter’s website will include a photo, bio, abstract, synopsis of research, and list of other relevant publications or presentations as applicable. Students who participated in 2014, 2015, and 2016 can update their current pages.
• Postdocs from universities and organizations outside of the University System of Maryland can participate as mentors and judges for poster sessions.
• All graduate students and postdocs are invited to participate as audience members and attend the professional development workshops.
• Undergraduate students are invited to attend to learn from the presentations, and to participate in special workshops dedicated to preparing for graduate school, with a focus on thinking about becoming a professor in the future.
• Faculty from within the USM are invited to serve as judges to provide constructive feedback.

Join us! Registration is free. 

Agenda

Colony Ballroom, Adele Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland College Park

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Arrival, Breakfast Refreshments, Registration, Poster Set-Up

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Opening Remarks, Traditional Oral Research Presentations

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Networking Break

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM: “TED-Style” Talks

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM: Lightning Round Talks

12:00 PM: Buffet Lunch Mentoring Discussions

12:45 PM – 1:30 PM: Poster Session and Dessert Reception

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Professional Development Workshops

• For graduate students and postdoctoral fellows:
  • “Invitation to Engage: Becoming a Faculty Member in Maryland”
    •  Welcoming remarks: Office of Academic Affairs, University System of Maryland
    • Panel: Faculty and Administrators from USM schools
    • Roundtable discussions with faculty
    • Report out and declarations of engagements
• For visiting undergraduate students
  • “Preparing for Graduate School – A Pipeline for Future Faculty” 
    • Sponsor: The University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB)

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Closing Reception and Awards Ceremony

Types of Presentations

This conference will feature STEM-based oral presentations, posters, and professional development seminars. Participants are invited to submit abstracts to participate in three oral categories, and one poster category.

Oral Category 1: Traditional Research Presentations

[7 minutes presentation, 3 minutes critique, 2 minutes of questions, traditional PowerPoint presentation]

Oral Category 2: TED-Styled Talks

[5 minute talks + 5 minutes for critique/questions, PowerPoint presentation with images only – no text]

Oral Category 3: Lightning Round Talks

[2 minute talks with timer on the screen, no PowerPoints, no critique.]

Call for Presentations

If you are interested in presenting, please follow the schedule below:

December 31, 2016: “Letter of Intent” to present. This very short email should include  name, school, department, choice of oral category (1, 2, 3) or poster, and potential title of your presentation. Email to promisestaff@gmail.com with the title, “2017 PROMISE Research Symposium – Intent to Present.”

“TED-Styled” and “Lightning Round” titles must be tailored to appeal to a general audience.

January 20, 2017,  Deadline for “Intent to Present” emails for Lightening Round and Poster Presentations only. Everyone who expressed an “Intent to Present” as of Dec. 31, 2016, will be in line for the presentation style of their choice. Those who did not specify a category will be given a space for a poster. All of the slots in the “Traditional Presentation” Category #1, and the “TED-Styled Talk” Category #2, are taken, and we will not accept any more requests for those categories. We have some slots remaining in the “Lightning Round” Category #3, and we have slots remaining for posters.

January 31, 2017: Abstracts and the information below are required for all presentations types. Email all materials from all four categories below to promisestaff@gmail.com, with the subject: “2017 PROMISE Research Symposium Presenter Information.”

1. Formal Abstract (250 words or less). Biographical Sketch (250 words or less)
   • Font: 12 Point, Times New Roman
   • Heading, Left-justified:
     • Title (Bold)
     • Name (Italicized)
     • Department (No abbreviations)
     • University (No abbreviations)
2. General Summary of Graduate Research (250 words or less)
3. High Quality Photograph
4. Numbered List of up to 5 publications and or/presentations. Please give precedence to publications and conference proceedings as applicable.

All presenters must register. Click and register by clicking the orange button below.

• Supervise and monitor Equity & Diversity Content Specialists, State Equity Coordinators, & Key Consultants in design and delivery of technical assistance and training;
• Provides coaching and training to staff on CEE’s approach to technical assistance and selected topics;
• Coordinate with our partners at WestEd and AIR to identify content specialists and key consultants for TA delivery;
• Collaborate and work in coordination with Associate Director of Technology & Communication and with Associate Director of Research & Continued Improvement for project delivery;
• Provide technical assistance and training that address one or more of the equity issues pertaining to race, gender, national origin (ELs), and/or religious beliefs;
• Develop new trainings, services, and products related to educational equity, school improvement, and/or teaching and learning that are relevant to State Education Agencies (SEAs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs);
• Collaborates with external evaluator to ensure appropriate data collection in the region;
• Model and participate in a highly collaborative team environment;
• Gather data for programmatic and organizational improvement;
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships, with other equity and education focused organizations, to expand organizational opportunities available to clients;
• Participate in development efforts including, but not limited to, writing public and private grant applications; and
• Other duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree in an education or comparable field.
• At least five years of management experience related to equity and/or education work.
• Five or more years of equity, compliance, civil rights, special education, or elementary/secondary education related experience required, including at least three years designing and running high-impact technical assistance or professional development at a state, district or school level.

• Knowledge of current K-12 education issues, especially as related to civil rights, equity, access, and opportunity;
• Experience in group facilitation and/or training;
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated commitment to MAEC’s guiding principles;
• Strong computer and technology skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office (Examples: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher), Google docs, and interest in and ability to learn new platforms;
• Proven ability to build and leverage relationships with diverse audiences and partners;
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically, prioritize time, and manage implementation plans in fast-moving, changeable environments; and
• Flexible schedule, including willingness to travel, and ability to work evening, and weekend hours, as needed.

Are you in the field of the Biological Sciences?

Are you trying to improve your elevator speech? Or, are you working how to effectively  deliver your research to a particular audience?

If you answered “yes” to the above questions, then, this multi-day conference is an opportunity for you!

Currently, applications for the 2017 Young Scientist Seminars (YSS) are now open (application deadline is Dec. 15, 2016). The YSS is open to PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in the biological sciences. Four accepted applicants will have the opportunity to attend a multi-day workshop in San Franscisco, CA where all expenses are provided by the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. The event is organized by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and iBiology.

As per their website, winners will have the opportunity to:

”

• Participate together in a workshop to receive first-rate science communication training from the Alda Center for Communicating Science. During the workshop, they will make improvements to their 30-minute research talks.
• Record their improved 30-minute research talks in a studio after the workshop.
• Receive a $500 honorarium.
• Have their studio-recorded research talks featured on iBiology.org and broadly advertised!”

For more information regarding the application requirements and more details about the Young Scientist Seminars, please visit https://www.ibiology.org/ibioseminars/young-scientist-seminar-series.html.

by David Hoffman