Events

SGS Graduate Professional Development Events

Graduate Student Professional Development Day

In March 2025, SGS launched the inaugural Graduate Student Professional Development Day, an in-person event designed to help graduate students connect with industry leaders and explore potential career paths. SGS facilitated CV/resume reviews for attendees, ensuring they received personalized guidance to enhance their professional profiles. Moving forward, this annual event will coincide with Graduate Student Appreciation Week, typically held during the first full week of April. The 2026 Graduate Student Professional Development Day is scheduled for April 2, 2026.  

G.R.I.N.D. Conference 

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) hosts the annual G.R.I.N.D. (Graduate Research, Interdisciplinary Network, and Development) Conference each April. For the past three years, it has been part of the Office of Undergraduate Research's Spring into Research Week, providing graduate students with valuable opportunities to showcase their work. The conference features panel discussions, workshops, and oral/ poster presentations, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and professional growth. Dr. Kevin Bradley serves as the GSA's staff advisor, supporting its initiatives.

The 2026 G.R.I.N.D. Conference is scheduled for April 13 - 17, 2026, and will center around the dynamic theme: #TheImpactExpo. 

"Graduate research doesn't just analyze the world, it changes it."

#TheImpact Expo is a modern and innovative space where graduate students will show how their research is making a real difference in the world. This isn't your typical academic conference. #TheImpactExpo will highlight how graduate research connects real-life issues, from education to healthcare to politics, technology, and economics. The goal of the #TheImpact Expo is to show that graduate students are engaging in meaningful research that matters- not just within the confines of classrooms or labs, but in ways that extend far beyond, shaping communities, industries, and the world at large.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)

In April 2025, SGS hosted its first-ever Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition as part of Spring into Research Week. Developed by the University of Queensland, 3MT® challenges graduate students to distill and present their research in an engaging, three-minute talk using only a single static slide. Designed to sharpen academic, presentation, and research communication skills, 3MT® encourages students to convey their ideas concisely to a non-specialist audience. Each presentation is evaluated based on comprehension, engagement, and overall communication effectiveness. 

The 2026 3MT® competition will take place during the G.R.I.N.D. Conference, on April 15 and 16, 2026.

Graduate Student Research Presentation Symposium

On October 30, 2025, SGS held the inaugural Graduate Student Research Presentation Symposium. This in-person event, co-sponsored by the Morgan State Graduate Student Association, showcased the diverse and innovative research being conducted by graduate students across disciplines. Designed to foster academic exchange and celebrate scholarly achievement, the symposium featured oral presentations and an interactive workshop. The date for the next symposium will be announced during the Spring 2026 semester.