Visitor’s Day

Graduate Student Panel

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)�

FIRST YEAR DUTIES

• 12 hours/week + Teaching Certification

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• Typical 1st year duties:
• Tutoring
• Grading
• Leading recitations
• Facilitating active learning in a large lecture & holding office hours

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TEACHING CERTIFICATION

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• Cohorts of 4-5 GTAs & 2-3 faculty mentors

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• Fall Activities:

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• Mock lecturing
• Grading against a rubric
• Writing an effective homework assignment
• Observing a freshman calculus class
• Case study of teaching scenarios

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• Spring Activities:

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• Facilitating group work
• Interview a current VT Math teacher
• Strategies for engaging students during class
• Lesson design & delivery
• Class observations + discussion
• Present example, lead group work, and teach a lecture in a VT Math class

CLASSROOM TEACHING

• You must pass the teaching �certification process and be �credentialed to be a teacher�of record.
• First time teachers receive �strong support from faculty �mentors and course coordinators.
• GTAs generally teach Pre-calculus or Calculus �and can progress to Differential Equations, �Multivariable Calculus, and Linear Algebra

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STIPENDS AND FINANCES

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• Monthly stipends about $2,400 per month �for 9 months.
• Tuition is fully covered.
• You pay $2,420 ($3,030 out of state) per year in fees.
• Summer support usually available.

Photo Collage

VT MATH STUDENT �ORGANIZATIONS

Julia Shapiro (1st year PhD):�Coding Theory

I am a 3rd year graduate student in the Applied Algebra Research Group lead by Gretchen Matthews. Our group studies:

• Algebraic Geometric Codes
• Quantum Codes
• Code-Based Cryptography
• Information Theory (Network Coding)
• Distributed Storage

I was a GRA Fall 2022-Summer 2024 with the VT Hume Center in Quantum Computing.

I am a DoD Cyber Service Academy Scholar: Fall 2024-present

I am a graduate ambassador for the department and I participate in outreach/leadership activities such as:

• Blacksburg Math Circle
• GPSS
• VT Science fair
• AWM
• Blacksburg High School STEMinist club

Jenny Smucker (1^st year PhD):�Analysis

I’m a 2nd year PhD student (4th year grad student) and my research lies at the interface of Harmonic Analysis and Number Theory. I’m currently studying multilinear operators motivated from point configurations and working with Dr. Eyvi Palsson. I am the president of AWM, an SGTA, and I’m on the oversight committee for the DRP.

I have been Instructor of Record for several different math classes, including Linear Algebra, Calc 1, Calc 2, Business Calc, and Calc for Life Sciences.

Megan Grey (4^th year):�Math Bio

I am PhD student studying collective behavior in bats with Dr. Abaid.

I have been an instructor of record for precalc, calc 1 and have TAed for lots of other classes.

I am an officer of AWM, CMBS, and BPiM.

Ben Bruncati (2^nd year MS):�Math Ed / Math Bio

I’m a 2nd year graduate student currently focusing on the implementation of active learning in higher level courses. I am in the process of switching to Math Bio and will investigate the impacts of climate change on the transmission of vector-borne diseases.

I have presented at a few conferences and am helping start a Spectra chapter at VT. I am a GTA for Calc for Life Sciences and Discrete Math. I love to bake and practice music in my free time.

Mike Ackermann (3rd year PhD): Data-driven modeling

My research uses numerical analysis and systems theory to develop new data-driven modeling approaches. I have had the opportunity to present this work at several conferences, both domestically and abroad.

Outside of research, I have:

• Taught calc 1
• TA’d for the CMDA Capstone course
• Been an officer in our Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) Student Chapter and the Mathematics Graduate Student Organization (MGSO)

I also enjoy trail running, backpacking, and lifting!

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Association for Women in Mathematics

The purpose of the Association for Women in Mathematics is to create a community in which women and girls can thrive in their mathematical endeavors, and to promote equitable opportunity and treatment of women and others of marginalized genders and gender identities. We aim to bring together undergraduate and graduate students interested in creating and maintaining such a community on Tech's campus. Any hokie who is "for" women in mathematics is welcome at all events.

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Spectra@VT

(coming soon…)

Spectra@VT is an organization dedicated to building community for and addressing issues specific to LGBTQIA+ mathematicians. All members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as allies, are invited to join. We plan to bring together undergraduate and graduate students by coordinating events both on and off campus.

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SIAM

The goal of SIAM is to promote applied mathematics and computational science to undergraduate and graduate students of mathematics-related disciplines. We provide a platform for students to share their research with their peers, learn from others, and develop networks with current and future mathematicians.

https://sites.google.com/view/vtsiamsc/home?authuser=0

Mathematics Graduate Student Organization (MGSO)

The MGSO exists to serve three primary functions:

• Advocate on behalf of mathematics graduate students at Virginia Tech,
• Serve as a liaison between students and department faculty/administration,
• Promote well-being and community among the student body.

Broadening Participation in Mathematics

The BPiM is a ‘’newer’’ group of department liasions made to make our program more inclusive and accessible.

• Addressing student concerns
• Mentorship program
• Help with Townhalls
• Encouraging diversity in speakers

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GPSS Senator Positions + Exec Board

GPSS works to improve campus life, scholarly development, and community for our constituency and serves as the liaison between graduate students and University Administration.

• GPSS Senator responsibilities include attending biweekly senate meetings
• Attending committee meetings like University Council, Campus Planning, etc (what you are assigned to)
• Senators report back to the department about changes being made to graduate school life
• GPSS Exec board - attend all GPSS meetings, work with your assigned role (mine is director of programs, I review travel grants)

Way to get involved at the graduate school level and gain leadership experience.

GPSS also works with GSO.

SGTA

Senior Graduate Teaching Assistants (SGTAs) are part of the hierarchy of support for GTAs. Their purpose is to provide peer mentorship to all math graduate students. The SGTAs act as mentors for other grad students, keep the math grads website updated, and hold several professional development seminars throughout the semester.