All Articles

Weekly Digest Feb. 9

June 11, 2026

To Graduate Students, Graduate Faculty, Graduate Support Staff, & Directors of Graduate Education | Week of February 9, 2026

 

Below are this week’s updates from the Graduate College, sharing upcoming deadlines, career and professional development opportunities, internships and fellowships, and events to support graduate success. Please follow the links provided for more information.

🗓️ Action Items & Deadlines

  • Graduation Requirements & Deadlines (All Graduate Students): Graduation requirements are available on the Graduate College website, and graduation deadlines are posted more than a year in advance. Early planning is strongly encouraged to ensure all requirements and deadlines are met for the intended graduation semester. ➡️ Learn more here
  • Spring 2026 Graduates – Final Opportunity to Apply for Graduation: Applications for Spring 2026 program completion will be accepted February 7–February 20 with a $20 nonrefundable late application fee. Academic plans must have been fully approved in Workday by December 19, 2025, and the Expected Completion Date (ECD) must be May 15, 2026. Applications will not be accepted after February 20; students who miss the deadline must apply for summer graduation instead.
    • Status check: Program completion status can be viewed in Workday under Academics > Overview, where “Pending Completion” will appear under Status. ➡️ Apply here

🧰 Resources & Reminders

  • Grad Mixer Wednesdays: “Graduate Student Research Experiences." This session explores strategies for strengthening graduate research experiences and preparing for capstones, including dissertations, theses, and creative components. The event is hosted by the Graduate College Center for Communication Excellence.
    • Date: Wednesday, February 11 (4237 Student Innovation Center) ➡️ Learn more here
  • Thesis/Dissertation Informational Seminar: This online seminar provides an overview of thesis and dissertation requirements, processes, and key considerations for graduate students.
    • Date: Wednesday, February 11, 3:00-4:30 p.m. (Virtual) ➡️ Register here
  • Career Conversations: “Purposeful Networking: Building Meaningful Professional Connections” - This interactive workshop focuses on practical strategies for initiating authentic conversations, connecting with professionals across fields, and building long-term relationships that support ongoing career development.
  • Virtual Graduate Career Fair: This free virtual career fair is open to ISU graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and alumni and connects participants with employers actively recruiting master’s and Ph.D. candidates across disciplines.
  • Beyond Graduate School: "How to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market” - This multi-day Zoom series explores essential job search strategies, tools, and techniques for navigating a competitive employment landscape. Each session focuses on a key aspect of the job search process to support strategic career planning for master’s students.
  • Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Program – 2026 Cohort: The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is accepting applications for the 2026 cohort. The program prepares qualified undergraduates for graduate school entry, with a primary goal of increasing Ph.D. attainment. McNair Scholars receive support in academic research, graduate school preparation, and personal and professional development. Eligible applicants include undergraduates interested in graduate school or scientific research who will be juniors or above in Fall 2026.
  • Regalia Legacy Award: This award honors the legacy of Dr. Lyn Brodersen Cochran, a distinguished Iowa State alum known for service and academic leadership. This award provides a complete set of Ph.D. graduation regalia to a first-generation Ph.D. student graduating Spring 2026 who demonstrates multidisciplinary scholarship and a commitment to uplifting others in higher education.
    • Eligibility: First-generation Ph.D. student graduating Spring 2026
    • Nomination deadline: February 16, 2026 ➡️ Learn more and nominate here
  • Individual Career Consultations: Individual career consultations are available through the Graduate Career Coaches, offering personalized support for career exploration, resume or CV development, preparation of job application materials, and guidance on job search strategies. These services support graduate students at various stages of their professional development. ➡️ Visit the Graduate Career Services website to learn more and book your appointment.
  • ISU Grad School Fair: Learn about graduate education at Iowa State University, including more than 250 graduate programs supporting academic and professional advancement. Attendees can explore programs, connect with faculty and campus resources, and learn about career pathways. Prizes and complimentary food will be available.
    • Date: Tuesday, March 10, 12:00-3:00 p.m. (Student Innovation Center) ➡️ Learn more here
  • Writing the Literature Review Workshop Series (Center for Communication Excellence & Parks Library): This two-part workshop series supports the development of effective literature reviews for research projects. Part 1 focuses on locating and evaluating relevant scholarly sources, while Part 2 emphasizes constructing an original argument that builds the case for a research project.
  • Public Speaking Seminar Series: This two-part seminar series supports the development of core public-speaking skills for graduate audiences. Part I: What’s Important to Speaking Success? explores attention-grabbing introductions, clear signposts, and memorable conclusions. Part II: Choosing Organizational Patterns That Make Listening Easy focuses on audience-centered structures that make messages clear and engaging.

 

🤝 Partners

  • Love Data Week 2026 (University Library): Love Data Week is an annual celebration that brings together data enthusiasts to learn about, appreciate, and engage with data through workshops, seminars, visualizations, and related activities. Hosted by the Iowa State University Library, the week may include data visualization workshops, data displays, community activities, and other themed events celebrating the role of data in research and discovery.
  • Engineering Career Fair: This career fair brings together recruiters from more than 300 companies, offering opportunities to explore engineering roles, connect with employers, and learn about career pathways across industries.
    • Dates: Tuesday, February 10, 12:00-5:00 p.m. (Scheman Building & Hilton Coliseum) ➡️ Learn more here
  • Project Management Skills for Emerging Researchers Workshop: ResearchPOST is offering a free, three-session workshop designed to support graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career research staff in developing essential project management skills for research projects. Sessions cover core project management concepts through lectures, hands-on activities, and group discussions. Participation is limited to 25 individuals.
  • Business, Industry, and Technology Career Fair: This career fair provides opportunities to explore career pathways, engage with employers, and learn about internships, full-time positions, and current industry trends.
    • Date: Wednesday, February 11, 12:00-5:00 p.m. (Hilton Coliseum) ➡️ Learn more here
  • Your Opportunities at Caterpillar: This virtual webinar highlights the development programs available at Caterpillar and provides insight into early career pathways within the organization.
  • Spring 2026 I-Corps Program (Iowa State University): The Spring 2026 I-Corps program is a five-week, virtual curriculum focused on customer discovery and assessing the commercial potential of research-based innovations. The program supports teams in exploring pathways to market or broader societal impact through guided instruction and individualized coaching.
    • Who should attend: Teams of faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students with innovations or ideas
    • Program format: Three Zoom sessions, virtual coaching with experienced instructors, and customer interviews
    • Program start date: February 25, 2026
    • Benefit: Participants who successfully complete the program are eligible for a travel grant of up to $1,000
    • Questions: icorps@iastate.edu ➡️ Learn more here ➡️ Apply here

 

🎓 Internships & Fellowships

  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Summer 2026 Internships: Oak Ridge National Laboratory is accepting applications for Summer 2026 Research Student Internships and Technical & Professional Internships. These paid opportunities allow current and recent graduate students to work alongside leading experts at a premier U.S. science and energy laboratory. 
    • Eligibility: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents with a minimum 3.0 GPA
    • Application deadline: February 26, 2026 ➡️ Learn more and apply here
  • NASA OSTEM Summer Internship Programs: NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) internships provide practical work experience through hands-on projects alongside mentors who are research scientists, engineers, and professionals across a wide range of disciplines.
  • National Institutes of Health - Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research: The NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) offers graduate students hands-on research experience in biomedical and health-related fields, including biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, physics, computer science, and bioinformatics.
  • Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development – Summer Internship Program (France): The OECD Summer Internship Program offers master’s and doctoral students the opportunity to gain experience within an international organization focused on economic, social, and policy issues. The program is designed to engage highly qualified students from diverse academic backgrounds.

🏛 Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS)

  • 14th Annual GPSS Research Conference: Graduate and professional students are invited to present research, creative work, and innovative ideas at the 14th Annual GPSS Research Conference.
    • Theme: Shaping the Future: Graduate Leadership in Research, Technology, and Innovation
    • Date: February 20, 2026. 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
    • Location: Great Hall, Memorial Union
    • Highlights: Poster, creative, and oral presentations; keynote speakers; networking opportunities
    • Awards: Cash prizes up to $750, plus a $300 People’s Choice Award
    • Registration deadline: February 9, 2026 ➡️ Register Here ➡️ Learn more here
  • Professional Advancement Grant (PAG): GPSS is also accepting funding requests from graduate and professional students seeking financial support for conference travel. Applications are considered on a monthly basis. ➡️ Learn more here: Awards Information | Allocations | PAG Program

Questions? Contact the Graduate College at grad_college@iastate.edu or visit us at www.grad-college.iastate.edu