GradSWE Events Schedule
Spring 2024
GradSWE Lunch: Using MATLAB with Python
April 4, 2024 | 12-1 pm | 2045 LUMEB (Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building)
In this session we will discuss how to work together with Python and MATLAB, being able to interchangeably call algorithms developed in one of the two languages from the other, thus expanding the possibilities when carrying out Data Science projects. The session focuses on and pivots around the different reasons why a Python user would call MATLAB algorithms! RSVP here.
GradSWE March Social: Bracelet Making
March 27 | 7-8pm
Dive into a world of creativity and connection by joining us for the GradSWE March Social on March 27th, 2024 from 7pm to 8pm. Get the opportunity to connect with fellow grad students while crafting bracelets and enjoying delicious snacks! RSVP here.
GradSWE Committee Meet and Greet and Info Session
March 21st | 5:15-6:30pm | Hydro-Systems Laboratory Room 2015
Interested in joining the 2024-2025 GradSWE and weSTEM Conference committee? Come learn about the committee positions available at the GradSWE Meet and Greet. We will have a short presentation detailing the responsibilities of each committee position followed by a Q&A session with current GradSWE Committee members. Please RSVP here if you are interested in attending! Note that RSVP is not required to attend, but it will help us know how many people to expect.
GradSWE Lunch - Culture Not Costume
March 6 | 12 - 1 pm | 2043 LUMEB (Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building)
Join our next lunch talk “Culture, not Costume” with Dr. Sang Lee, Associate Director of Social Justice Leadership at Diversity and Social Justice Education. Dr. Sang will explore the nuances of cultural appropriation vs. appreciation and ways to engage others in this conversation. Join and learn on how to appreciate our diversity in campus together! RSVP here.
GradSWE February Social: Game Night
February 27 | 6-8 pm | CEEB 2015 (Hydro-Systems Laboratory)
Come join us for Game Night on February 27th, 2024 from 6pm to 8pm featuring Scribbl.io and Kahoot accompanied by snacks! Whether you're an artist or a trivia aficionado, it will certainly be an evening of friendly competition and entertainment. Please fill the link here.
GradSWE Lunch - Advocacy for Gender Equity
January 31 | 12 - 1:30 pm | 2005 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory (MEL)
What's all the buzz about advocacy regarding gender equity in STEM and how can you get involved? The landscape covering STEM and gender equity advocacy can be quite large. There are some basic things you can do to stay current on the issues and make sure your voice is heard. Join us and learn from Stacey DelVecchio and Teresa Cushing, co-chairs of the SWE Central Illinois Advocacy Committee. Stacey and Teresa are both engineers who have a passion for advocacy. They have advocated for SWE in Washington DC on the importance of gender equity in STEM. They've also worked within the SWE Central Illinois Section to help the members understand the role they can play in advocacy. RSVP here!
Fall 2023
GradSWE Holiday Party and Gift Exchange
December 8 | 5 - 7 pm | CEEB 2015 (Hydro-Systems Lab)
Join GradSWE for a festive end-of-semester holiday party, dinner, and gift exchange! We will be hosting an Ugly Sweater Competition alongside the White Elephant gift exchange. Participants can bring a wrapped gift (~$15-20 value) and don their most delightful or hilariously hideous holiday sweaters for a chance to win a prize! If you'd rather skip the gift exchange, you're still welcome to attend the social. Please sign up here.
GradSWE November Social: Museum Visit
November 18 | 11 am - 1 pm | Spurlock Museum, Krannert Art Museum
Join us for a delightful afternoon of museum tours right on our campus! Explore two captivating museums with fellow students, delve into the world of history and art, and make new friends along the way. Mark your calendar and don't miss this opportunity to discover the cultural gems our university has to offer. RSVP here.
GradSWE - Exceptional Service: Careers at Sandia National Laboratories
November 16 | 12 - 1:30 pm | 3100 Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building
Sandia National Laboratories is one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 17 national labs at which amazing science is performed and difficult problems are tackled. In our talk, we’ll give an overview of the breadth of research performed and career pathways at Sandia. We’ll share our experiences joining Sandia as postdocs and our paths to research staff. We’ll highlight graduate internship, postdoctoral, and postdoctoral fellowship positions. RSVP here!
GradSWE x SWE mentorship program: Meetup!
November 11 | 3 - 4 pm | Illini Union Basement
GradSWE and SWE are planning to have an event this Saturday on November 11th from 3-4 pm in the Illini Union Basement. There will be cookies, board games and bracelet making supplies! This is a really great change to connect with SWE members, provide mentorship to undergraduates, and hang out with both SWE and GradSWE! Please fill out this form if you plan to attend and/or are interested in participating in a mentorship program with GradSWE later in the year. The link to sign up is here.
Happy Hour: GradSWE x CSGo
November 11 | 8 PM
GradSWE is hosting a joint Happy Hour event with the Computer Science graduate organization. Join us for a chance to unwind, chat and have fun! Keep an eye out for venue updates on the Slack channel.
GradSWE Lunch - Using LinkedIn for Networking
October 19 | 12pm - 1.30pm
You know that a strong network can help you advance in your career. But using LinkedIn for networking can make you feel uncertain and awkward at times. In this workshop, Mike Firmand from Career and Professional Development will help you to learn strategies for using LinkedIn for your professional success. You will learn about some basics to using LinkedIn, how to find people, strategies for making first contact, and how to maintain your connection with them over time. Food will be provided. RSVP here!
GradSWE October Social: Group Cooking Class
October 15 | 11 am - 1 pm | ARC Instructional Kitchen
Unleash your inner chef and join our custom group cooking class for a taste of autumn magic, spiced with a dash of Halloween fun!
Follow the instructions to sign up here. Please note that there is a $5 registration fee to guarantee your spot. Given the limited availability, we recommend signing up as soon as possible.
GradSWE September Social: Picnic on the Quad
Saturday, September 23 | 5pm | UIUC Quad
Come hang out with us on the quad for a laid-back picnic featuring free snacks. It's a great chance to meet fellow grad students! Afterward, we'll catch a screening of 'Barbie' at the Illini Union. Don't forget to bring your blankets and soak up the cozy fall vibes! RSVP here.
GradSWE Lunch - Demystifying the Publishing Process with IEEE
Thursday, Sept 21st | 12pm - 1:30pm | 3100 Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building
Identifying where to publish your research can be a daunting task. Should you write a conference paper, a journal article or both? What is peer review, an ORCID ID, a predatory journal and other publication jargon? In this session, IEEE University Partnership Program Senior Manager Jalyn Kelley, will provide insights into publishing with IEEE. Join Jalyn’s talk if you want to learn more! RSVP here.
Spring 2023
GradSWE Committee Meet and Greet and Info Session
Tuesday, March 21st | 5:15pm - 6:30pm | Hydro 2015
Interested in joining the 2023-2024 GradSWE and weSTEM Conference committee? Come learn about the committee positions available at the GradSWE Meet and Greet. We will have a short presentation detailing the responsibilities of each committee position followed by a Q&A session with current GradSWE Committee members. Please RSVP here if you are interested in attending! Note that RSVP is not required to attend, but it will help us know how many people to expect.
Values-Driven Career Decision Making Lunch
Thursday, March 23rd | 12pm - 1pm | DCL 2240
Success and satisfaction in your career (during and beyond grad school) depends on making sure your work is aligned with what really matters to you. But how well do you know what that is? Join us for an interactive session with the Career and Professional Development team, to learn more about identifying your core value. RSVP Here!
International Women's Day Social
Saturday, March 25th | 6:30pm - 8:30pm | Hydro 2015
Join GradSWE in celebrating International Women's Day & Women's History Month with a trivia night and potluck dinner! Winning team will receive Starbucks gift cards. All attendees are encouraged to bring a dish representing their home country/state/heritage, to celebrate that we have such a diverse network of women from around the world. Please RSVP here so that we can plan accordingly.
SWE/GradSWE Mentorship Program Professional Event
Monday, March 27th | 6:00pm - 7:00pm | DCL 2240
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming professional event focused on sharing graduate school experiences. Pursuing advanced education comes with its own set of challenges, and we understand the importance of having a support system to navigate those challenges. This event will provide a platform for undergraduates to connect with graduate students, learn from their experiences, and receive valuable advice. Let us know here if you are coming so that we can arrange enough donuts for everyone!
Stress Management Lunch
Friday, March 31st | 12pm - 1pm | DCL 2240
Join us for a workshop with trained Stress Management Peer Leaders from the McKinley Health Center to explore stress management strategies and relaxation techniques that can help us maintain comfortable and productive levels of daily stress in Grad school. Food will be provided. RSVP Here!
From Lab to Launch-What it's like to follow a startup journey after Grad School
Friday, April 14th | 12pm - 1pm | DCL 2240
Join us as we host our University of Illinois Alumni, Arpit Dwivedi'22 (MechSE, PHD) for a talk on alternative career paths, where he will share his experience on his startup journey. Food will be provided. RSVP Here!
Speaker Bio: Arpit Dwivedi received a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is the founder and CEO of Cache Energy, a startup developing ultra-long duration energy storage technology. Cache's mission is to make clean energy accessible and affordable everywhere. Cache was the winner of the Department of Energy, Energy Innovation Prize and has raised significant private investment to commercialize its novel energy storage technology. Arpit previously founded METNMAT Innovations, a technology consulting company providing access to materials R&D at various industrial scales.
Past Events
Writing in Grad School Lunch
Thursday, February 16th | 12pm - 1pm | DCL 2240
Join us for an interactive session with the Illinois Writers Workshop. This workshop will provide advice and activities to help you cultivate effective writing habits in graduate school, including maintaining a writing routine, using tools to stay on track, and managing feedback. This workshop will also feature tips about giving great research presentations.
Fall 2022
Acing Your Interview Lunch
During an interview, you only have a short time to convey you are a great fit for a position or organization. Learn from a Career Center expert the most common types of interviews, how to prepare for an interview, how to structure answers to interview questions, and tips for following up after an interview.
Writing Effective Fellowship Proposal in STEM Lunch
Fall semester is a fellowship semester! The ability to craft an effective funding proposal is a skill that can reap a lifetime of rewards. You will learn how to identify funding opportunities, strategize the components of an effective proposal, think like a grant-writer, and leave with the template that you can adapt to a competitive applicant. Come and learn with the writing expert from Graduate College Office of External Fellowships!
Microaggressions in the Workspace and Intercultural Communication
Join us as we host the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations for an interactive workshop. This workshop sheds light on the subtleties of discrimination in a professional environment. Through the use of interactive activities, we will explore how to intervene and respond to microaggressions in the workplace. We will also examine how to build culturally diverse communities.