Grad Slam 2022 Fast Facts

Here is an overview of the different facets of Grad Slam from when & where, to eligibility, support, and prizes. Click on the category you are interested in.

• Final Information for Competitors

  The final will be held live at the UCR Alumni Center on Thursday, March 3rd from 3:00 PM-5:00 PM. We ask that competitors arrive at the Alumni Center at 2:00 PM to be interviewed by Campus Communications prior to the competition. The competitors, judges, and staff will be in person while the general audience will attend remotely through a Livestream. Competitors, judges, and staff will be required to take the UCR Wellness Check before arriving at the UCR Alumni Center and bring a face covering to wear throughout the competition. Please note that presenters will not be asked to wear a face-covering when they're presenting or when they're drinking, or consuming food. Parking details will be provided to competitors closer to the day of the event. 

  Audience Choice Award

  Competitors can invite friends and family to the Livestream event for an opportunity for friends and family to vote for an Audience Choice Award winner. The Audience Choice Award winner will not only be recognized as the crowd's favorite but will win a $1,000 stipend. The voting will take place electronically via a Google Form and will be open to the general audience, family, and friends who attend the Livestream event. Votes are limited to one per person. Competitors can have invitees register for the live stream event here: https://ucr.zoom.us/j/96953164952?pwd=a1RJV1RVcW40T3pZZFZOQVJlMExGZz09 

  Judging

  The judging rubric will be identical to the preliminary and semi-final rounds. The difference in the final round is that every competitor will be judged by all the judges present. 

  Dress Rehearsals

  In preparation for the Finals, we have allotted two dress rehearsals to take place at UCR's Alumni Center. As a reminder, complete your UCR Wellness check before arriving at the UCR Alumni Center, send Laura McGeehan your PowerPoint slides before rehearsals, bring a face covering, and use your regular parking permits to park your vehicle. If you cannot attend the dress rehearsal, you can register for additional feedback sessions with the staff from the Grad Success Writing Center or with the APRO Staff.

  1st Dress Rehearsal: Friday, February 25 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM @ the UCR Alumni Center with Anika Speer and the APRO Staff

  2nd Dress Rehearsal: Tuesday, March 1 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM @ the UCR Alumni Center with Trina Elerts and the APRO Staff 

  Grad Success Writing Center Feedback sessions: https://ucr.mywconline.com/index.php?logout=YES.

  APRO Staff Feedback Sessions: Contact Laura McGeehan at laura.mcgeehan@ucr.edu

• Semi-Final Information for Competitors

  Preparing for the Semi-Final Rounds

  Most of you have signed up for a 15-minute one to one feedback session here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xBO3LuGYcbKDMuJVCQ8EStbHwUeNA51lDZ0USmHspXc/edit#gid=0

  You have already received a Zoom link for the feedback session, but you only need to attend your 15-minute slot. If you enter the Zoom early, you will be in a waiting room with a staff member until your scheduled time. Please let us know ASAP if you will not be able to join your assigned session so that we can open it up to another contestant. Nancy, Laura, or Jenny will be present during the feedback sessions to address any technological/logistical questions about the Semi-Final rounds. 

  Semi-Final Rounds: February 17, 2022

  Semi-Final rounds will be held via Zoom. Your presentations will be recorded by Graduate Division staff and distributed to judges to be evaluated asynchronously. You may join the Zoom meeting from your home or office. If you need a computer or a room to present on the day of the competition - please email Laura by Friday, February 11, 2022. You have already been scheduled for a Semi-Final round, based on your preference. We will send you the Zoom link and let you know the order that you will present as we approach the day. All students must sign in to their scheduled Zoom 15 minutes prior to the start time and stay for the entire hour. 

  On the day of the competition and during your round, the Graduate Deans will give a short welcome. They will introduce each student's name, their program, and the title of their presentation. The student will then share their screen with their PowerPoint (if applicable) and staff will time their presentation as soon as the student starts presenting. Please remember that your presentation may not exceed 3 minutes, that you can have up to 3 slides, with one click per slide to transition to the next slide if needed. For more information about the rules, please consult our Grad Slam 2022 website. Graduate Division staff will record the presentations to be distributed to the judges to be viewed asynchronously. 

  Please consult our Video and Technical Rules section for information about presenting on Zoom, but we have additional information here for the Semi-Finals. When you share your screen, Graduate staff will be able to maximize your image and record you as in the first snapshot below, or if you use the slides as a background option, in the second snapshot. 

  We are hoping to notify students who are advancing to the finals by February 22, 2022. Please contact the APRO staff if you have any questions. 

  1. Typical Sharing Screen (not using slides as a background)

  

   

   

  2. Slides as a Background Image 

  
• Why should I enter Grad Slam?

  Professional Development

  Gain valuable experience in presenting your research to non-academic audiences.  

  Public Speaking

  Grad Slam provides an opportunity to hone your public speaking skills. 

  Network

  Presenting your research can open the door to new opportunities.

  Expand your CV/Resume

  Participating in Grad Slam will look great on your CV/Resume.

  Prize Money

  You could win up to a $12,000 stipend! In addition, The Center for Ideas and Society is offering an incentive for graduate students with research in (or related to) the Humanities.  Students who both participate in a preparatory professional development workshop on either January 11, 2022 or January 18, 2022 and submit a Grad Slam video for the competition by January 24, 2022 will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

• Application & Contestant Selection

  Application

  The online application should be completed by students who have completed the Mandatory Competitor Orientation and who have attended at least ONE Grad Slam Preparation workshop. Complete the steps below to be considered for the Grad Slam 2022 Competition. 

  1. View Mandatory Competitor Orientation video (https://youtu.be/bTlmrEIxz1M) to become familiar with Grad Slam competition guidelines.
  2. Attend at least ONE of the following preparation workshops that will be held online via Zoom. If you cannot attend either workshops, you will need to sign up for APRO office hours with Laura McGeehan. 
     • "How to Formulate Your Ideas and the Importance of Elevator Presentations" by Bri McWhorter. 
       • Tuesday, Jan. 11 2022 from 4:00 P.M - 5:00 P.M.  
       • RSVP Here: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022 
     • "Presenting Effectively With Visual Aids" by Anika Speers. 
       • Tuesday, Jan. 18 2022 from 12:00 P.M - 1:00 P.M.  
       • RSVP Here: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022
     • APRO Office Hours will be from January 4, 2022 - January 23, 2022
       • Every Tuesday: 2:00 P.M - 3:00 P.M  
       • Every Wednesday: 11:00 A.M-12:00 P.M   
       • RSVP: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022
  3. Complete the online application by January 24, 2022 (Link: https://forms.gle/gva15f42wVLdg2hZ6 ). Note: The application link will take you to a Google Form that can only be accessed if you are logged in to your UCR mail.

  Contestant Selection

  There are four levels of the Grad Slam competition.  

  Preliminary Round

  Students interested in competing in Grad Slam 2022 submit a video of their three-minute presentation. A panel of judges will score the videos and up to 16 semi-finalist will be chosen. Videos will be due by January 24, 2022.

  Semi-Final Round

  Semi-Final rounds will be held online via Zoom where Semi-Finalist will be presenting live in the comfort of their homes or environment of their choosing.  A panel of community leaders and UCR management will serve as judges and score the presentations asynchronously. Semi-Finals will take place online via Zoom on February 17, 2022.

  UCR Final Round

  The UCR Grad Slam Final will be held at UCR's Alumni Center on March 3, 2022.  The Final will be live-streamed for a wider audience. The UCR Grad Slam Final will be in front of a panel of distinguished judges, UCR Leadership and the Graduate Division Staff.  To provide a safe, Covid-aware space, no live audience members will be present.  

  UC-Wide Competition

  The UCR Final winner will compete at the UC system-wide Grad Slam event.  Details about the 2022 competition are still unavailable due to COVID restrictions.  Typically, this event is held in Northern California (Oakland/San Francisco).  If the event format is in-person, all expenses will be covered for the finalist to attend the competition.

• When & Where

  Preliminary Round:  

  Students interested in competing in Grad Slam 2022 must submit a video of their three-minute presentation. From those submissions, a panel of judges will score the videos and up to 16 semi-finalist will be chosen.  In order to upload your video for the preliminary round, you will need to complete the Mandatory Competitor Orientation and application. The Mandatory Competitor Orientation will include rules and guidelines and go over the judging criteria. Once the training is completed, you will be provided with the application link with instructions on how to submit your video.  Video submissions will be due by January 24, 2022.

  Semi-Final Rounds: 

  Semi-Finalist will be notified by February 22, 2022 to confirm their availability and participation. Semi-Final rounds will be held online via Zoom where Semi-Finalist will be presenting live in the comfort of their homes or environment of their choosing.  The Graduate Division conference room (UOB 145) will be available for those needing a reliable internet connection. Please refer to the Video & Technical Rules tab for suggestions on how you can successfully present through Zoom. Semi-Finals will take place online via Zoom on February 22, 2022

  UCR Grad Slam Finals:

  Finalists will be notified by February 22, 2022 to confirm their availability and participation. The UCR Grad Slam Final will be in-person at UCR's Alumni Center on March 3, 2022.  The UCR Grad Slam Final will be in front of a panel of distinguished judges, UCR Leadership and the Graduate Division Staff.  To provide a safe, Covid-aware space, no live audience members will be present.  The Final will be live-streamed for a wider audience.

  UCOP Grad Slam Finals:  

  Date, location and format of the UCOP Grad Slam Finals are TBA.

• Eligibility & Participation

  All eligible UCR graduate students are invited to apply to participate in Grad Slam.  To be eligible participants must:

  • All graduate students currently enrolled full-time in UCR's Master's or Doctoral Graduate Programs in good standing. MD students are not eligible. 
  • Be no more than one year beyond normative time
  • Be enrolled through Spring 2022
  • Complete the Mandatory Competitor Orientation (https://youtu.be/bTlmrEIxz1M) to indicate participation interest by January 22, 2022. To participate in the Professional Development event on January 11, 2022, complete the Mandatory Competitor Orientation (https://youtu.be/bTlmrEIxz1M) by January 9, 2022.
  • Submit an online application along with your presentation video by January 24, 2022.
  • Be available to be present during a semi-final round (online via Zoom), the UCR Finals (in-person at UCR's Alumni's Center), and the UCOP Finals (TBD). 
  • Upload PowerPoint in accordance with guidelines and instructions by the APRO Staff during the approved upload dates. 
  • Not have been selected a UCR Grad Slam winner previously and not have been selected as a UCR Grad Slam 1st Runner-Up, UCR 2nd Runner-Up, or UCR Audience Choice Grad Slam winner in the 2020 competition.
• Preparation & Support

  Grad Slam represents an important professional development opportunity. Students have the opportunity to hone their skills in public speaking, engaging a broad audience, PowerPoint preparation, and effective use of visual aids. To help students prepare and commit, APRO is offering the following workshops and feedback sessions:

  For students considering the Grad Slam 2022 Application:

  Virtual Interactive Workshop

  • Grad Slam Pitch by Bri McWhorter. 
    • Tuesday, Jan. 11 2022 from 4:00 P.M - 5:00 P.M.  
    • RSVP Here: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022 

  APRO Virtual Office Hours

  APRO professional staff will hold office hours to provide tips, pointers, and answer any questions relating to the Grad Slam Competition. 

  • APRO Office Hours will be from January 4, 2022 - January 23, 2022
    • Every Tuesday: 11:00 A.M-12:00 P.M   
    • Every Wednesday: 2:00 P.M - 3:00 P.M  
    • RSVP Here: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022

  Presenting Effectively with Visual Aids

  • "Presenting Effectively With Visual Aids" by Anika Speers. 
    • Tuesday, Jan. 18 2022 from 12:00 P.M - 1:00 P.M.  
    • RSVP Here: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022

  For students participating in Grad Slam 2022:

  Virtual Interactive Get Connected Workshop

  • Grad Slam Pitch by Bri McWhorter. 
  • Tuesday, Jan. 11th from 3:00 P.M - 4:00 P.M.  
  • Register for this event:  https://grad.ucr.edu/register/?id=11402a57-445e-44a4-9568-e40acf9d05b4 

  Presenting Effectively with Visual Aids

  • "Presenting Effectively With Visual Aids" by Anika Speers. 
    • Tuesday, Jan. 18 2022 from 12:00 P.M - 1:00 P.M.  
    • RSVP Here: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022

  Grad Slam Contestant Feedback Sessions

  • TBA

  To attend a feedback session, you must practice presenting your Grad Slam presentation. Anyone who is not presenting will be asked to leave the room.

• General Rules & Prizes

  General Rules

  Presentations can be no longer than 3 minutes. Contestants will have only a 3 second "grace period" after the 3 minutes have elapsed; if they continue speaking past the "grace period," they will be disqualified. Contestants may use a PowerPoint presentation with up to a maximum of three slides (not including title slide, which we will create for you). PowerPoints may include embedded audio or video but may not include animation. The judges will evaluate the presentations according to the following criteria:

  • Clear and effective presentation
  • Accessible to a general audience
  • Foregrounds research's intellectual significance or creative work's impact

  Prizes

  The prizes are all fellowships and regular rules of financial aid apply:

  The Center for Ideas and Society is offering an incentive for graduate students with research in (or related to) the Humanities.  Students who both participate in a preparatory professional development workshop on either January 11, 2022 or January 18, 2022 and submit a Grad Slam video for the competition by January 24, 2022 will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

   

  • UCOP Grand Prize: $7,000
  • UCOP First Runner-Up: $4,000
  • UCOP Second Runner Up: $2,000
  • UCOP Audience Choice Award: $1,000
  • UCR Grand Prize: $5,000
  • UCR First Runner-Up: $2,000
  • UCR Second Runner-Up: $1,000
  • Audience Choice Award: $1,000
  • Up to 8 Honorable Mentions: $250
• Video & Technical Rules

  Please note: competitors will not be judged on video/recording quality. Judging will focus on the presentation and the ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience. 

  Presentation/Slides:

  • Slides are optional. Maximum, 3 contestant generated PowerPoint Slides, which may not be created or edited by a professional. PowerPoint MUST be used. No Prezi, Google Slides, or other presentation formats are allowed. 
  • Do not include a title slide within your presentation. We will provide the title slide and it will not be counted towards the 3-slide maximum. 
  • If you use slides, you, the presenter, should occupy a section of the screen. Please make sure to maximize your image on Zoom by dragging the lower hand corner of your picture box. 
  • Participants can use embedded videos in their presentation slides. It is important to note that because participants only have one click per slide, videos must be embedded videos that start, pause, continue, and stop on their own. 
  • No PowerPoint animation effects or special effects are allowed (use of PowerPoint animation tab not allowed). Refer to the Mandatory Orientation Video for additional information. 

  • Slides can include images and visual elements (charts, visualizations, photos, clip art, etc.) created by the student or someone other than the student. Images and visual elements must either be public domain, intellectual property of the student, or fall under "fair use" provisions. Click on the links below for more information. 

    • MIT'S Guide to Using Images
    • "Can I Use that Picture?" Flowchart

  Video Recording:

  • The first video recording for preliminary rounds will be uploaded through the Grad Slam Application on Google Drive. Because videos will be uploaded to Google Drive, your 3-minute video submission cannot be bigger than 10 GB.  For questions regarding video submission concerns, contact the APRO staff.
  • Participants must have a strong internet connection (preferably hardwired ethernet, but excellent wifi is okay) and a suitable device (PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone with audio and camera).
  • Must use Zoom to record yourself.  
    • Tip for recording your video on Zoom:  When you click on record, you should get two options: “Record to the Cloud” and “Record to this computer”.  Selecting “record to this computer” will allow you more options to resize your image while screen sharing or using your slides as background.  Using “Record to the Cloud” does not accommodate for resizing.  
    • Please ensure that the video box is large enough to ensure that APRO staff and judges can view you as the presenter. To enlarge the video box, you can simply select the corner of your video box and drag to the desired size. Make sure your video box is not covering any text or images on your powerpoint slide.
  • Try to limit the amount of distractions in your background. Solid colored walls, backgrounds with minimal objects and patterns are okay. 
  • Your face and shoulders should be fully in the frame. Do not let the frame cut off the top or bottom of your head. 
  • Although NOT required, we recommend using the "Slides as Virtual Background" feature when recording. To use this feature, click on "Share Screen" and then "Advanced" options.   You can then expand your image in the window by drawing on one of the corners of the image. Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom installed on your electronic device.  Practice your presentation using the "Slides as Virtual Background" feature before attempting to record. We recommend that you record to your computer, not to the cloud when using slides as background.
    • For more information on using the "Slides as Virtual Background" feature in Zoom:  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360046912351-Sharing-slides-as-a-Virtual-Background
    • If you do not have the technical capabilities to use the "Slides as Virtual Background" feature in Zoom, please contact Laura McGeehan (Laura.mcgeehan@ucr.edu) to make other arrangements.
  • The three-minute video must be continuous - no edits or breaks - and the submitted video must be of a single, unedited take. Students may not use editing software to modify any part of the video. 
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.
  • Submissions may not contain any copyrighted material, such as licensed graphics. 
  • One video per individual may be submitted.

  Recommendations:

  • Although you are not being judged by the quality of your video, we recommend saving your video file in the highest quality possible. For a quality video display, your video size should ideally be 1920x1080. 
  • Be as brief and concise as possible when introducing yourself.
  • Remain in a quiet, well lit area. Restrain from having echos in the background. 

   

• Scoring
  • Clarity
    • Did the speaker provide adequate background knowledge to make the talk and the importance of the project understandable?
  • Organization
    • Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
  • Delivery
    • Does the student’s body language, eye contact, pace, and vocal range contribute to the presentation’s effectiveness?
    • Does the student deliver the talk without relying excessively on notes?
    • Is the student’s presentation style confident and enthusiastic?
  • Visuals
    • Are the student’s visuals (slides, images, video, props, etc.) well-designed, clear, legible, and concise?
    • Do the visuals both enhance the presentation and emphasize the primary points of the talk?
    • No visuals?
      • 5 points = I understood the presentation and it kept my attention despite the lack of visuals
      • 1 point = The presentation needed visuals to help me understand or to keep my attention
  • Appropriateness
    • Was the topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate to an intelligent, but non-specialist audience?
    • Did the speaker avoid discipline-specific jargon or explain it when necessary?
  • Significance
    • Does the student foreground why this project matters in his/her field?
    • If the student presents on collaborative work, was the student’s unique contribution clearly specified?
  • Engagement
    • To what extent did the talk speak to the judges’ intellectual curiosity?
    • Did it make the judges want to learn more about the topic?

   

• Judges

  Final Round Judges

  Dr. Christine Victorino, Associate Chancellor of UC Riverside 

  Christine Victorino serves as Associate Chancellor at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).  Dr. Victorino serves as a principal advisor to university leadership and plays a key role in developing and executing UCR’s strategic vision and goals. Dr. Victorino completed her Ph.D. in Education at UC Santa Barbara and holds an adjunct faculty appointment in UCR’s Graduate School of Education.

  Jake Orta, MPA Senior Assistant to the City of Riverside Mayor - Economic Development

  Jake Orta was born and raised in Riverside, California. After high school, Jake went on to study at Cal State San Bernardino where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Financial Management.  After being selected as one of only a handful of students in the country for the prestigious Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute’s Global Leaders Fellowship program, Jake then worked on “The Hill” in Washington, D.C.  This year, Jake was accepted into the American Enterprise Institute’s Leadership Network because of his commitment to advancing effective public policy that increases the opportunity for all Americans. He currently serves the people of Riverside as the Senior Assistant to Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson.

  Jeff Horseman,  Staff Writer, Press-Enterprise

  Jeff Horseman grew up in Vermont and honed his interviewing skills as a supermarket cashier by asking Bernie Sanders “Paper or plastic?” After graduating from Syracuse University in 1999, Jeff began his journalistic odyssey at The Watertown Daily Times in upstate New York, where he impressed then-U.S. Senate candidate Hillary Clinton so much she called him “John” at the end of an interview. From there, he went to Annapolis, Maryland, where he covered city, county, and state government at The Capital newspaper before love and the quest for snowless winters took him in 2007 to Southern California, where he started out covering Temecula for The Press-Enterprise. Today, Jeff writes about the Riverside County government and regional politics. Along the way, Jeff has covered wildfires, a tropical storm, 9/11, and the Dec. 2 terror attack in San Bernardino. 

  Rick Dulock,  Program Director at KVCR

  Rick Dulock is originally from Gainesville, Florida. He fell in love with NPR as a student board operator for 91.9 KVCR in 1996 and since then has worn many hats including Development Director and Pledge Producer. Rick has served as Program Manager since 2011 and is currently working on bolstering KVCR's Weekend Showcase with limited series and unique public radio offerings.

  Maria Franco Gallardo, Former Director of Academic Preparation, Recruitment & Outreach, UCR

  Maria Franco-Gallardo served in a variety of positions at the University of California, Riverside starting in 1987.  From 1990 until her retirement in 2021, she worked in the Graduate Division in various roles including Director, Academic Preparation and Outreach; a leadership role in which she provided guidance and support to undergraduate and graduate students who participated in various outreach programs, especially underrepresented students in the STEM fields.  She conducted outreach activities at both state and national levels and served on several educational leadership committees designed to increase the pipeline of underrepresented students in higher education and the UC system, in particular. 

  Erin Power, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services, RUSD

  Erin Power currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for Riverside Unified School District where she has held various roles since 2016.  Erin has over twenty years of experience in business services for public education, with much of her career spent in higher education at neighboring Riverside Community College District. At Riverside Unified, Erin oversees all business operations including Budget, Accounting, Payroll, Purchasing, Risk Management and Nutrition Services. Erin obtained her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside in 2001 and in 2015 she earned her MBA from Brandman University.  Erin is a resident of Riverside with her husband Dave and three kids.

   

  Semi-Final Round Judges

  Diane Elton, Retired Director of former International Education Center, UCR

  Diane Elton is the Director (Retired) of UC Riverside’s former International Education Center. Nationally, she serves on the Membership Engagement Committee of NAFSA: Association of International Educators which has oversight for the group’s international conference career center and resume mentoring in the field of international educational exchange.  Additionally, Diane has been a NASFSA reviewer for juried sessions, posters and publications. She has also reviewed scholarship and opportunity applications for international agencies of Japan and the United States.  For UCR, Diane has served on multiple scholarship/fellowship selection committees, including Fulbright and Grad Slam panels. Currently, Diane serves as Board Secretary for the World Affairs Council of Inland Southern California and past president of the International Relations Council of Riverside, having led the group to Best in Nation status for its Sister City programs.

  Jay Gilberg, Instructor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, UCR

  Jay Gilberg was the Founder and CEO of ABCOW Staffing, one of the largest independent staffing firms in San Diego CA for 20 years. ABCOW was awarded the INC500 designation as one of the nation's 500 fastest growing privately held companies over a 5-year period. The company specialized in direct-hire and temporary staffing services in the accounting and administrative areas. After selling the company, Gilberg continues to pursue his entrepreneurial passion as an Instructor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UC Riverside, where he assists students, faculty and small business entrepreneurs in commercializing their technologies. In addition to teaching and advising startups, he oversees his multi-location real estate business.

  Dr. Kevin Pham, Assistant Professor, Gettysburg University

  Kevin Pham is an assistant professor of political science at Gettysburg College. He teaches courses on political theory from a global perspective. He has a master’s degree in conflict resolution from the University of Amsterdam where he was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and a PhD from UC Riverside. He was the 2019 UCR Grad Slam champion, where he presented “Self-Help: The Vietnamese Battle of Ideas.”

  Cati Porter, Executive Director, Inlandia Institute

  Cati Porter is a poet, essayist, and executive director of the Inlandia Institute, an Inland Empire non-profit organization devoted to recognizing, supporting, and expanding regional literary activity in all its forms. She is the author of the poetry collections The Body at a Loss, My Skies of Small Horses, and Seven Floors Up, as well as five chapbooks. Recent essays have appeared in Shark Reef, Lady / Liberty / Lit, The Manifest-Station, and Salon. She received her MFA from Antioch University in Los Angeles and currently lives in Riverside, California.

  Dr. Nolan Ung, Senior Data Analyst, Ellison Institute for Transformative Research, USC    

  Dr. Ung received his B.S. and Ph.D. in Botany and Plant Science from the University of California Riverside, where he combined traditional cell biology and microscopy techniques with video bioinformatics and image analysis as a part of the NSF funded IGERT and GRFP fellowships.  This interdisciplinary skill set took him to a post-doctoral researcher position at UCLA where he started his journey into cancer biology by studying the role of miroRNA in B-cell Leukemia. Currently, Dr. Ung is the Senior Data Analyst for the Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC, A cutting-edge, interdisciplinary cancer treatment and research center, where he works with the various research groups to facilitate biological insight through statistical analysis, data mining, and data visualization. He fosters collaboration and consults with PI’s and researchers to design research projects from start to finish. He also co-chairs the microscopy committee and spearheads an internal workshop aimed at teaching basic programming and data analysis to traditional molecular biologists. During his years at UC Riverside, Nolan was vice president of the Botany and Entomology Club and co-chair of the Botany and Plant Science Graduate Student Association.

  Fabian Villalobos, Associate Engineer, RAND Corporation

  Fabian Villalobos is an Associate Engineer at the RAND Corporation where he works on public policy research for the Department of Defense. He is an alumnus of the Materials Science & Engineering graduate program at the University of California, Riverside. He is also an inventor and consultant. In his spare time, Fabian enjoys reading, martial arts, and writing short stories.

  Dr. Antara Chakravarty, Postdoctoral Researcher, Yang Lab, Stanford University

  Dr. Antara Chakravarty is a postdoctoral researcher in the Yang Lab at Stanford University School of Medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 2021 from UC Riverside, where her research focused on plant-based vaccines. While a graduate student, Antara served as a Lead Consultant for the TA Development Program from 2019-21 and was a Finalist in UCR's 2018 Grad Slam Competition.

  Dr. Jessica Tingle, Postdoctoral Researcher, Ashley Lab, University of Akron

  Dr. Jessica Tingle is a postdoctoral researcher at Akron University in Ohio. She earned her PhD in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology from UC Riverside in 2021, studying the evolution and biomechanics of specialized locomotion in snakes. She continues to study snake locomotion as a postdoc, now with a greater focus on muscular mechanisms. As a UCR graduate student, she participated in Grad Slam for several years, winning the UCR Palm Desert Audience Choice award as a Finalist in 2019; served as the STEM Coordinator of the Graduate Student Mentorship Program; and was a consultant in the Graduate Writing Center.

  Preliminary Round Judges

  Shonte Thomas, Associate Dean of Students of the Ethnic & Gender Center, UCR

  Estella Acuna, Director of Chicano Programs, UCR

  Jamal J. Myrick, Director of African American Programs, UCR

  William/Billy Caganap, Director of Asian Pacific Student Programs, UCR

  Dennis Mclver, University Honors Counselor - Admissions & Courses, UCR

  Kathy Redd, Director of CNAS GSAC and EMC, UCR

  Dr. Shaun Bowler, Dean of Graduate Division, UCR

  Dr. Emma H. Wilson, Associate Dean for Graduate Division, Professor in Biomedical Sciences, UCR

  Dr. Ertem Tuncel, Professor & Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCR

  Cheryl L. Gerry, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, UCR

  Dr. Dena Plemmons, Director of Research Ethics and Education Program, UCR

  Dr. Hillary J. Jenks, Director of Graduate Success , UCR

  Alexis Blair Smith, Student Academic Specialist, Graduate Division, UCR

  Trina B. Elerts, Graduate Student Affairs Officer, UCR

  Kara Oswood, Director of Academic Affairs, UCR

  Andrea Gonzales, Financial Operations Manager, UCR

  Julie Murray Porter, Director of Marketing and Communications, UCR

   

• Resources

  Mandatory Competitor Training video:  https://youtu.be/bTlmrEIxz1M

  UCOP Examples of UC-Wide Competition winners:  https://gradslam.universityofcalifornia.edu/past-winners/

  UCOP Grad Slam official page:  https://gradslam.universityofcalifornia.edu

  2016 UCOP Final winner from UCR: https://youtu.be/14KtIkne68E

  Presenting Effectively With Visual Aids Workshop, Dr. Annika Speer, UCR

  • Profile: https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/annika
  • Presentation Video
  • Presenting Effectively with Visual Aids, Workshop Slides.pdf (2.71 MB)

  Grad Slam Pitch Workshop, Bri McWhorter, Activate to Captivate

  • Website link: https://www.activatetocaptivate.com/
  • Grad Slam Pitch, Workshop Flyer.pdf (80.43 KB)

  UC Berkeley Professor Jonathan Shewchuk’s “Giving an Academic Talk":  https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~jrs/speaking.html

  Explaining Quantum Computing to Kids, Students, and Professionals: https://youtu.be/OWJCfOvochA

  How to Talk like TED by Carmine Gallo, Article by Guy Kawasaki: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140306161616-2484700-how-to-talk-like-ted/

  Giving Oral Presentations from English Communication for Scientists by Jean-luc Doumont: https://www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks/english-communication-for-scientists-14053993/giving-oral-presentations-14239332/

• FAQ

  Research Topic

  Do I have to use the same research topic and presentation throughout the course of the Grad Slam competition?

  The research topic should remain consistent throughout the Grad Slam rounds. Participants are able to edit their presentation slides and delivery methods according to relevant feedback provided by judges and/or APRO staff. 

  Can I present on a proposed research project?

  Yes, so long as your topic remains consistent throughout the Grad Slam Competition. 

  Is Grad Slam a STEM research centered competition?

  No. Students from all Graduate programs are not only invited but encouraged to participate!

  Technology & Access

  Why can't I access the Grad Slam Application link provided? 

  The application link will redirect you to a Google Form to complete: this is the application to Grad Slam Competition. The application can only be accessed by UCR students who are logged into their UCR Emails. If you cannot access the application, ensure you are signed into your UCR Email. If the issue persists, contact the APRO staff. 

  How do I access the Zoom links for the Grad Slam Preparation workshops? 

  Once you have registered for the workshops, you will be sent a Zoom link via email 24 hours before the start of the workshop. If you do not receive an email, make sure to contact the APRO staff. You can register for the Grad Slam preparation workshops here: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022

  Where can I access information from the Grad Slam Preparation Workshops? 

  You can access information about the presenters, workshop slides, workshop videos, and informational flyers on the "Resource Tab" above. You will find information on the following workshops:

  • Presenting Effectively With Visual Aids Workshop, Dr. Annika Speer, UCR
  • Grad Slam Pitch Workshop, Bri McWhorter, Activate to Captivate

  How can I meet the eligibility requirements if I miss the workshops and the office hours?

  Please contact Laura.mcgeehan@ucr.edu asap to set up office hours prior to the preliminary video deadline on Monday, January 24th.

  What if I do not have access to the technology needed to record/present for the preliminary and/or semi-final rounds? 

  Technological access is very important to the Graduate Division and to the APRO Staff. Please review the links regarding lending and borrowing technological services from IT & Library Services below. You can also reach out to the APRO staff as soon as possible to set up an appointment to use technology provided by the Graduate Division. This option will require students to record their videos on campus.

  • UCR Library Laptop lending Kiosks
  • IT Laptop Lending Kiosks
  • UCR Library: Borrowing, Renewing, Returning
  • Using the UCR Library

  What if I do not have access to Microsoft Office?

  UCR provides Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus for all current students at no cost. As a current UCR student, you can register yourself via the Office365 Portal provided by Microsoft; follow the steps posted here to get access to: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher & Outlook.

  What happens to my recorded videos that are used for the preliminary and semi-final rounds? 

  Recorded videos by Grad Slam competitors will be stored in a secure, limited access Google Drive until the end of the Grad Slam competition date on March 3, 2022. The Google Drive will be accessible to Graduate Division's Academic Preparation, Recruitment & Outreach (APRO) Staff and the judges selected for the preliminary and semi-final rounds. The preliminary and semi-final video recordings will be used solely for judging purposes and will not be displayed on any websites, social media, or platforms. Participant information, media, and presentations will only be disclosed from the final round of the Grad Slam competition. If the participant is chosen to compete in the final round of the Grad Slam competition, they will waive their right to any content and information from the final round of the competition. 

  Language & Content

  What is considered appropriate language for the competition?

  For the most part, it is up to participants to make choices about language and demeanor in their presentation, taking into consideration the context of their goals for the Grad Slam competition and for delivering information about their work to a general audience. Please keep in mind that, while we do everything we can to secure diverse and accomplished judges, it is still possible that some may react negatively to profane/sensitive language.

  Will a Content Warning message be provided if needed?

  Participants will have the option on the Grad Slam 2022 Application to indicate if they would like a brief content warning message to be provided to the judges. If students agree to include the content warning, it will be disclosed to the judges before they view the student's video. This option ensures that students do not have to vocalize a content warning during their video recordings or presentations and allow students the maximum amount of allotted time to present. If participants have any questions or concerns, they can connect with the APRO staff.

  Presentation Technicalities

  How many clicks can I make when going through my research presentation?

  Presentation clicks are solely for transitions between slides. Clicks are limited to one click per slide, regardless of how many slides the participant wishes to include in their presentation (Reminder: there is a maximum of 3 slides that could be included). 

  Can I use videos in my presentation slides? If so, can I click multiple times to start, pause, continue, and stop my video?

  Participants can use embedded videos in their presentation slides. It is important to note that because participants only have one click per slide, videos must be embedded videos that start, pause, continue, and stop on their own. 

  What is the "Slides as Virtual Background" option?

  Although NOT required, we recommend using the "Slides as Virtual Background" feature for the Preliminary and Semi-Final rounds. To use this feature, click on "Share Screen" and then "Advanced" options.   You can then expand your image in the window by drawing on one of the corners of the image. Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom installed on your electronic device.  Practice your presentation using the "Slides as Virtual Background" feature before attempting to record. We recommend that you record to your computer, not to the cloud when using slides as background.

  • For more information on using the "Slides as Virtual Background" feature in Zoom:  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360046912351-Sharing-slides-as-a-Virtual-Background
  • If you do not have the technical capabilities to use the "Slides as Virtual Background" feature in Zoom, please contact Laura McGeehan (Laura.mcgeehan@ucr.edu) to make other arrangements.

  What are the rules for using images?

  Slides can include images and visual elements (charts, visualizations, photos, clip art, etc.) created by the student or someone other than the student. Images and visual elements must either be public domain, intellectual property of the student, or fall under "fair use" provisions. Click on the links below for more information. 

  • MIT'S Guide to Using Images
  • "Can I Use that Picture?" Flowchart

  Should I include a title slide in my preliminary and/or semi-final video?

  Do not include a title slide in your preliminary or semi-final videos. The APRO staff will provide participant and presentation title information for the judges. The background for the first slide of your presentation should be the first slide of your research presentation.

  Will I be disqualified if I go over the 3 minute presentation rule?

  Participants are given up to 3 minutes to present; it is up to the participant to consider if they would like to use the maximum time allotted. Participants will be given a 3 second grace period after the 3 minute maximum mark has been met. If participants go over the 3 minute and 3 second mark, they will be disqualified.

• Contact Us

  Contact us:

  • APRO Office Hours Appointments will be held from January 4, 2022 - January 23, 2022
    • Every Tuesday: 11:00 A.M - 12:00 P.M. 
      • Zoom: https://ucr.zoom.us/j/98474364795?pwd=ajAreGtoVmkyMzY0ZWt1d1lRNERSZz09&from=addon
    • Every Wednesday: 2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
      • https://ucr.zoom.us/j/96472948300
    • RSVP Here: https://grad.ucr.edu/register/GS2022

  Laura McGeehan Director, Academic Preparation, Recruitment and Outreach Laura.mcgeehan@ucr.edu UOB 134
  Nancy Cruz Admissions & Recruitment Specialist Nancy.cruz@ucr.edu UOB 136