The weekly seminar is the cornerstone of the BilDS program, initiating a blend of professional development, community engagement, and multidisciplinary scientific research discussion. In these sessions, graduate students explore the use of improvisation as a tool to enhance communication across various scientific fields. They also participate in dialogues with faculty and peers about professional growth, and attend workshops focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), covering topics like social identities, microaggressions in the workplace, and mental health awareness.

Current Schedule

Fall 2024 Seminar Schedule

DateSpeakerSeminar Topic
Aug 30Alison Hall, Andrew McCraken, Anna Schmidt, Ericka GriggsGrad Fellowship Workshop Part 1 - Panel
Sep 6Miki Beach (¶¶Òõ̽̽ CAPS)Mental Health in Grad School
Sep 13Melissa PespeniCajita project-intro (AY24-25 REQUIRED, allows repeat participation from previous cohorts)
Sep 20Heather Ingram (University of Arizona)Universal Design 1.5hr (10-11:30am)
Sep 27Yolanda ChenYour Personal Development Plan - How to Use Creative Approaches to Develop Skills
Oct 4Jasmine HartInternship Presentation: Pythium Root Rot Resistance in the Tepary Bean Diversity Panel
Oct 11FALL RECESSNO SEMINAR
Oct 18Kellie Carim (USDA)Career Talk: Conservation and Diverse Partnerships
Oct 25Mark HendersonTime Series Analysis and Applications
Nov 1Joaquin NunezJob Search and Networking Strategies
Nov 8Amber Anderson (¶¶Òõ̽̽ Career Center)Career Development Workshop
Nov 15Steve Keller, Daniel SadlerBilDS Research Discussion: Geonomics and Climate Change
Nov 22Kristen FlorianData Visualization Workshop
Nov 29THANKSGIVING RECESSNO SEMINAR
Dec 6N/ACajita Project Gallery (10:30-11:30am) | Fall Celebration (2-5pm) - at Joaquin's house

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BilDS Seminar Schedule Archive

Spring 2024 



Spring 2024 BilDS Seminar Schedule
DateSpeakerSeminar Topic
Jan 19Reed ScottInternship Presentation: Using occupancy models to assess disease threats to wildlife populations
Jan 26Joe GunnScientific Reproducibility Workshop
Feb 2Erika LalaDEI Workshop: Microagressions in workspace
Feb 9Andrew McCrackenInternship Presentation: Searching for a culprit: investigating sea star wasting in the pacific northwest
Feb 16Emily LongmanScientific Film making
Feb 23Yolanda ChenTime and Health Management
Mar 1Gabriel Meyer-LeeInternship Presentation: Machine Learning For Cryo Electron Microscopy
Mar 8Ali MahmoodDEI Workshop: Religion diversity/literacy and Science Communication
Mar 15Spring RecessNO SEMINAR
Mar 22Ben CamberInternship Presentation: Arthropod Survey of Fort Leonard Wood
Mar 29Seth Frietze, Brent Lockwood, Melissa PespeniBilDS Research Discussion - Epigentics & Environmental Responses
Apr 5Zeina SalameImprov in Science Communication
Apr 12Ericka Griggs, Theresa Montgomery,
Sandra Nnadi, Dan Peipert		BilDS Research Discussion - Microbiome & Health
Apr 19BilDS Leadership TeamBilDS Community Update
Apr 26Brittany Mosher, Andrew McCrakenBilDS Research Discussion - Disease Modeling
May 3N/A"Spring Celebration at the Oakeldge Park 2-5pm *No morning seminar"
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    Spring 2023  


Spring 2023 BilDS Seminar Schedule
DateSpeakerSeminar Topic
20-JanMelissa Pespeniwelcome and community building
27-JanChris Danforth, Yolanda ChenProfessional Development: Internet presence
3-FebEric J von WettbergProfessional Development: Collaborations
10-FebAura Alonso-RodriguezInternship Presentation: Changes in phylogenetic diversity of rainforest moth communities following hurricane disturbance
17-FebNatalia AristizábalInternship Presentation: Bee Pollination Affects Coffee Quality, Yield, and Trade-Offs Between Them
24-FebJoe GunnComputational Workshop: Data management, organization, & reproducibility (Data Reproducibility)
3-MarJoe Gunn"Computational Workshop: Data management, organization, & reproducibility (Integrating RStudio & GitHub
for effective data management)"
10-MarMelissa Pespeni, Lola Chen, Mariah BoudreauWellness Break
17-MarSpring RecessNo Seminar
24-MarNick CheneyIdentifying and building mentor-mentee relationships
31-MarGillian Galford, Jill PrestonProfessional Devleopment: Finding a postdoc
7-AprPeer LedFinding a Postdoc- Peer Led Discussion
14-AprAnoobÌý PrakashInternship Presentation: Genomic assisted restoration of red spruce as a mechanism against rapid climate change
21-AprN/AEvaluation Survey
28-AprCancelledNo Seminar
5-MayN/ASpring Celebration
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    Fall 2023  


Fall 2023 BilDS Seminar Schedule
DateSpeakerSeminar Topic
1-SepMelissa Pespeni, Lori Stevens, Jill PrestonQuEST orientation for incoming trainees AY23-24
8-SepErika LalaDEI training: Social Identities + Socialization
15-SepCsenge PetakInternship presentation: The evolution of plant development in a variable environment
22-SepHillary Young; Doug Mccauley from UCSBProfessional Development Panel: From conservation to basic science
29-SepJoe Gunn, Joaquinn Nunez,QuEST Course Review
6-OctAnna SchmidtInternship presentation: Studying zooplankton migration behavior using experimental mesocosms
13-OctFall RecessNo Seminar
20-OctMelissa PespeniCajita project Intro
27-OctThomas O’LearyComputational reproducibility
3-NovCancelledNo Seminar
10-NovMichelle BoydTongue Tied:How to get Unstuck and Love your writing again
17-NovDan MunteanuInternship presentation:The city is a complex system
24-NovThanksgiving RecessNo Seminar
1-DecN/ACajita project gallery
8-DecN/AEnd of semester Celebration at the Boardroom, Board Game Cafe
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