Weekly Digest Feb. 16
June 11, 2026
To Graduate Students, Graduate Faculty, Graduate Support Staff, & Directors of Graduate Education | Week of February 16, 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
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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
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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.
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Status check: Program completion status can be viewed in Workday under Academics > Overview, where “Pending Completion” will appear under Status. ➡️ Apply here
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🧰 Resources & Reminders
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Grad Mixer Wednesdays: “Research Communication Skills for Graduate Students." This session focuses on strategies to strengthen oral and written communication of research. The event is hosted by the Graduate College Center for Communication Excellence.
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Career Conversations: “Showcasing Your Graduate Skills — Translating Academia for Employers” - This interactive workshop focuses on identifying transferable skills developed through graduate training and communicating those strengths effectively in resumes, cover letters, and interviews for employer audiences.
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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.
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Beyond Professoriate: "Why Generic Resumes Won’t Get You a Job Offer” - This Zoom webinar examines why generic resumes are less effective in today’s AI-driven job market and explores strategies for tailoring application materials, accessing the hidden job market, and strengthening overall job search approaches for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
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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.
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For questions: ronaldemcnair@iastate.edu
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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.
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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.
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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.
- Interpersonal Communication Seminar Series: This two-part seminar series supports graduate students in navigating challenging relationship dynamics and strengthening professional communication skills. Part I: Planning and Participating in Difficult Discussions focuses on preparing for and engaging in conversations with advisors, labmates, and colleagues. Part II: Networking with Small Talk emphasizes strategies for initiating conversations and building professional and academic connections.
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Individual Public Speaking Consultations (New): Individual consultations are available to support the development of presentation skills, including crafting compelling introductions and conclusions, organizing ideas clearly, delivering with confidence, and responding effectively to audience questions. Support is available for a range of speaking contexts, including the 3-Minute Thesis, GPSS Research Conference competitions, conference presentations, proposal and preliminary exams, final oral defenses, and other academic presentations. ➡️ Learn more and book your appointment
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Preparing Future Faculty Program (PFF) : ISU’s PFF program extends departmental graduate training by offering new teaching, mentoring, and learning possibilities, which give postdoctoral associates, Ph.D. students, and master's students further credentialing for a competitive edge in the academic job market. PFF's goal is to better prepare graduates for faculty careers through a combination of seminars, mentoring, and practical classroom and service experiences.
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Application deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year: March1, 2026 ➡️ Learn more here
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🤝 Partners
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Cyclone Support Resource Fair: The Cyclone Support Resource Fair brings together campus partners to highlight the wide range of services available to support student success. Hosted in Cyclone Support Central, the event offers opportunities to connect with representatives, ask questions, and learn more about navigating campus resources in a welcoming environment.
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Accelerate to Industry+ (A2i+): "The Offer Letter Is Signed — Now What?". This workshop focuses on practical strategies for managing a first paycheck and building financial habits that support long-term growth and stability following a job offer.
- Date: Friday, February 20, 12:00-1:00 p.m. ➡️ Register for the workshop
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People to People Career Fair: Hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, this career fair is open to all majors and class levels. The event provides opportunities to connect with organizations, build professional relationships, gain industry insights, and explore internships, full-time positions, and graduate or professional school pathways.
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Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC): “Resume Workshop & Technical Interviews.” This in-person event offers resume reviews and a guided technical interview experience led by PEC staff. Donuts will be provided.
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Design Career Fair: This career fair highlights opportunities related to degree programs offered by the College of Design and provides connections with employers in design-related fields. Registration is not required for students.
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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.
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Who should attend: Teams of faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students with innovations or ideas
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Program format: Three Zoom sessions, virtual coaching with experienced instructors, and customer interviews
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Program start date: February 25, 2026
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Benefit: Participants who successfully complete the program are eligible for a travel grant of up to $1,000
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🎓 Internships & Fellowships
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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.
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Eligibility: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents with a minimum 3.0 GPA
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Application deadline: February 26, 2026 ➡️ Learn more and apply here
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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.
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Application deadline: February 27, 2026 ➡️ Learn more and apply here
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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.
- Application deadline: February 26, 2026 ➡️ Learn more and apply here
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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.
- Application deadline: February 28, 2026 ➡️ Learn more and apply here
🏛 Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS)
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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.
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Theme: Shaping the Future: Graduate Leadership in Research, Technology, and Innovation
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Date: February 20, 2026. 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
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Location: Great Hall, Memorial Union
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Highlights: Poster, creative, and oral presentations; keynote speakers; networking opportunities ➡️ Learn more here
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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