The university has established a dedicated inbox, federalupdates@illinois.edu, to answer faculty, staff and student questions regarding the changing federal landscape. In addition, the Federal Updates website offers key details and FAQs and will be updated as more information becomes available.

The Illini-Alert emergency notification system will be tested at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, March 4. Visit go.illinois.edu/illinialert for additional information and technical support. To receive prompt emergency notifications, add or update your cellphone numbers and email addresses at emergency.illinois.edu.

Starting fall 2025, the Division of General Studies will officially become the Division of Exploratory Studies - with a new name that more clearly reflects our commitment to supporting students as they explore their academic interests at Illinois. What does this mean for you? Moving forward, we’ll be referred to as Exploratory Studies, or EXP for short. Effective fall 2025, please update any references to DGS with EXP in your materials. Learn more at: explore.illinois.edu.

Do you work with or teach undergraduate students? Are they creating amazing research projects that deserve to be recognized? The 13th annual Image of Research – UR Edition competition is an opportunity to celebrate their research! All areas of study are invited to submit entries with an image and brief text articulating how the image relates to the research. Entries will be celebrated at the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Thursday, April 24, in the Illini Union Ballroom: $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place and $100 for the People’s Choice winner. The deadline is midnight CST March 25.

Jump Simulation Urbana, an entity within Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, invites undergraduate students actively enrolled at the U. of I. to apply to our summer internship. This 10-week opportunity will focus on XR development, art and design, education and professional connections. Students will develop research skills, acquire hands-on experience and be mentored by Illinois faculty throughout the experience. Applications are now open and will close March 31!

In this session, we will discuss AI applications and how they can help with dissertation research. This session is open to all doctoral students. Please complete the form to register for the workshop. It will be conducted through Zoom. We look forward to working with you! 

Registration for CU Community Fab Lab's Summer Camp opens at 8 a.m. March 3! Enroll your child, ages 10-15 years old, for our exciting summer camp sessions. These camps offer a wide variety of unique hands-on creative experiences for campers to explore. Camp experiences range from creating imaginative narratives, crafting one-of-a-kind works of art, learning to control electronics with code, crafting games to play, creating fabric art and digital fabrication techniques using special tools in the Fab Lab. Learn more at https://cucfablab.web.illinois.edu/summer-camps/. 

Experience the vibrant culture of India at "Discover India," hosted by IGSA at Foellinger Auditorium! The evening kicks off at 5 p.m. with an engaging exhibition showcasing India’s rich heritage followed by captivating performances that bring music and dance to life. To wrap up the night, groove to energetic beats at our DJ party! Entry is free and open to all — come explore, celebrate and immerse yourself in the culture of India. Don't miss this incredible journey through India's traditions, flavors and rhythms!

The Emerging Community Leaders at Illinois program, a collaboration between the Office of Public Engagement and United Way of Champaign County, is free for faculty and staff. It offers hands-on experience in nonprofits, volunteerism, fundraising and networking. The program runs from early April to mid-June, requiring about two hours per week for seminars, volunteer work or a group project. Applications are open until March 10. Learn more and apply here. Questions? Contact Kandace Turner at kyturner28@illinois.edu. 

The Student Leadership Awards and Scholarships program recognizes students and registered student organizations for academic excellence, a commitment to leadership at the U. of I. and a dedication to service at the local, national and international levels. This year, there are four Cultural, Cause or Service Awards and 11 Leadership Awards available to support students' thriving at Illinois! Learn more at go.illinois.edu/SLAS25.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 2025 Homecoming Week festivities are set for Sept. 21–27, and now we need your help selecting a theme! With over 600 ideas submitted, the list has been narrowed down to the top six choices: (1.) It's an Illini Thing, (2.) Illinois: Where Legends Begin, (3.) Live. Love. Laugh. ILLINI., (4.) You + I = Illini, (5.) Welcome Home with Open Arms (Think Alma Mater) and (6.) Make some IlliNOISE. Pick a favorite and cast your vote!

U. of I. students now have free access to Kaplan’s industry-leading test prep for graduate school, career credentials, licensure exams and skills development courses. The new program called “Prepare for Illinois’ Future Powered by Kaplan’s All Access License™, is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Get free access to 40+ courses such as the GRE®, GMAT®, MCAT®, LSAT® and more. Learn more at https://careercenter.illinois.edu/services/kaplantestprep.

Announcing Dairy Nutrition and Health: Analyzing Cow Wellness on Coursera. Led by Dr. Juan Loor, professor in the department of animal sciences, this course explores the health and nutrition of dairy cows, focusing on physiological changes around calving and their impact on nutrient needs. Learners will gain skills in managing production diseases, understanding metabolic changes and optimizing cow health and production.

Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence, developed by professor Robert Brunner, explores AI’s advanced infrastructure, automation, robotics and business impact. From cloud computing to self-driving tech and AI-driven decision-making, gain the expertise to harness AI’s full potential. Enroll for free with Coursera for Illinois.

The deadline is less than a week away for undergrads to apply to present at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium (scheduled for April 24 at the Illini Union). The URS is a daylong event where students can showcase their in-progress and completed research through posters, oral and creative presentations. Application deadline: March 7 at go.illinois.edu/URS. 

You are invited to submit proposals to the GAM Programs Committee for consideration in the CAS/MillerComm series of public events or the GAM Visiting Professors and Scholars Program. Partial funding is available. The MillerComm series features speakers and performers from all disciplines and of the highest caliber. GAM Visitors spend between one week to one semester on campus. Submissions are due March 25.

The ESL Program offers ESL 593 Academic Presentations Skills for international graduate students, faculty, staff and visiting scholars. This 7-week course includes authentic opportunities to practice explaining research and adapting to various audiences. Classes start Tuesday, March 25. For registration information, visit ESL Advanced Electives Courses.

The Illinois Experts web portal showcases the depth and breadth of research and scholarship expertise on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Originating as a joint project between the University Library and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, the site is intended to foster collaboration across disciplines and facilitate the discovery of — and access to — the latest advancements in cutting-edge research taking place at Illinois.

The Writers Workshop will be closed from March 15 to March 23 for Spring Break. We will re-open on March 24. You can book consultations up to 10 days in advance, so plan ahead for appointments before and after spring break!

The Office for Student Conflict Resolution is inviting all faculty, staff and students to apply to any of the various subcommittees(Subcommittee on Undergraduate Student Conduct, Subcommittee on Graduate Student Conduct, Subcommittee on Sexual Misconduct). More information can be found at: http://www.conflictresolution.illinois.edu/get-involved/subcommittees/. Application review will begin March 15.  Please submit any questions to conflictresolution@illinois.edu.

Volunteers are needed at the universitywide Commencement ceremony at Memorial Stadium from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 17. Please register here by April 14 to volunteer. An orientation and grab-and-go lunch will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Memorial Stadium. If you have any questions, please call the Commencement Office at 217-333-8834 or e-mail commencement@illinois.edu.

How does a wind turbine generate electricity? What makes an electric car move? How does a speaker produce music? Electromechanical energy conversion is at the heart of many technologies that shape our modern world. This seminar will explore the fascinating process of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy — and vice versa — through an engaging, hands-on approach. No prior technical knowledge is required — just curiosity and a willingness to explore! Join us for a fun and insightful session where physics, engineering and technology come to life through practical demonstrations.

The Doctoral Research Support Program and the Writers Workshop are hosting Writing in the Disciplines, an online series that connects doctoral students with faculty, journal editors and publishers to discuss writing styles and skills in specific disciplines. It complements existing services offered by the Writers Workshop as well as resources at the departmental level. These events are open to all current doctoral students. 

Join the IDEA Lab in this informational session through the basics of 3D printing, best practices and resources on campus as well as digital resources.

Systematic reviews require a rigorous and systematic approach to reviewing existing literature and discovering new knowledge. With the rapid expansion of literature across nearly all disciplines, AI-based tools can significantly enhance researchers’ efforts and efficiency. While not all self-proclaimed research assistant AI tools are adaptively useful, carefully selecting and integrating the right tools at the appropriate stages can advance knowledge discovery. This presentation aims to provide a basic understanding of AI tools for systematic reviews and their proper use.

Join us for an interactive workshop on Microsoft Copilot AI, a university-approved tool designed to enhance your research, writing and presentations. Copilot can also assist with lesson planning, note-taking and organizing information efficiently. Whether you need to find peer-reviewed articles, proofread your work, summarize meetings, create PowerPoint presentations or manage data in spreadsheets, Copilot AI provides the support you need to work smarter and more effectively. 

In this session, new podcasters learn how to create an intentional, personalized brand to really make their show their own. We cover promoting and marketing podcasts through social media and other ways to get word out!

Make plans to attend "Costimulatory Molecules for Immunomodulation to Enhance Immunity" at NCSA 1030 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, featuring Som Nanjappa, a professor of immunology. Register here.

Join us for an AI and Legal Practice Speaker Series event, featuring Mark Palmer of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. He will discuss the role of AI in the Illinois court system. Free and open to the public; a limited number of lunches will be provided to attendees. 

Join us for an exciting opportunity to discover this month’s theme: Applications of AI in Health and Well-Being. This monthly online and in-person event sparks inspiration for educators, technologists, researchers, students or those just curious about AI. Come chat and see real-world examples. Use the link to register and feel free to sign up to share a 5-minute presentation.

Join Dr. Emil Annevelink from Physics Inverted Materials as he discusses the approach toward chemical foundation models for digital prediction of experimental measurements. In this talk, he'll discuss scaling data-generation techniques using uncertainty quantification of machine learning models in order to produce rich datasets that can cover and simulate the entire chemical phase space of materials.    

University Housing is celebrating Mardi Gras in our dining halls on Tuesday, March 4, and you're invited! There will be a Gumbo Cook-Off in the SDRP lobby from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Taste them all and vote for your favorite! All dining halls will have a special dinner menu to celebrate Mardi Gras, including beignets and king cakes (caution – there’s a baby inside!). Guests can enjoy a meal in University Housing dining halls by using Illini Cash or credit card.

Students who are undocumented, DACA or TPS experience unique challenges in higher education. Join university staff, administration and faculty to learn to better support undocumented students at the U. of I. This training is an opportunity to hear from undocumented students and join a network of campus allies. Register to attend at the link above. For more information, visit open.illinois.edu.

Stay overnight in the Allerton Mansion or a guesthouse for a discounted rate ($110 per night) during its March 14-16 Weekend Wind Down. While spending the night, take part in optional activities like Puzzles and Pi(e), Talking and Tasting: An Intro to Wines of the World and hang out in the Solarium bar! View guestrooms and make your reservation here or by calling 217-333-3287.

Get the kids outside this winter at a Hot Chocolate Hike on Tuesday, March 4, at Allerton Park. Meet in the Main Parking Lot at 9:30 a.m. to explore the Wandering Woods and Fu Dog Garden. Children and their guardians are invited to join for an adventure including hot chocolate during the hike! $5 per person (adults free with registered child). Register here by March 3. All sales are final.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by taking part in Irish Baked Goods: Barmbrack and Soda Bread from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 17, in Allerton’s Mansion Carriage House. In this workshop, Chef Leah Bodine will teach the basics of creating the batter needed for these Irish favorites. $45 per person. Register here by March 10. All sales are final.

China's Global Implications: The Past and Present of European Debates. This talk by professor Dr. Dominic Sachsenmaier, who holds a chair professorship in “Modern China with a Special Emphasis on Global Historical Perspectives” at the University of Gottingen, reflects upon China as a contested concept in European intellectual and political life. Drawing on contemporary and historical examples, it explores how China figured both as a subject of intellectual curiosity and a globally relevant power. The talk then develops some ideas on the broader social and political environments of China.

University Housing dining hall menus will include fish on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent through Good Friday. Guests can enjoy a meal in University Housing dining halls by using Illini Cash or credit card.

Join a free distinguished lecture titled "Transforming women’s health in pregnancy and childbirth through research, collaboration and responsive innovation." At 1 p.m. Monday, March 3, in the School of Social Work room 2015. Speakers include Dr. John Allotey, a professor in epidemiology and women’s health at the University of Birmingham's WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women’s Health, and Dr. Soha Sobhy, a professor in global women’s health at the University of Birmingham's WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women’s Health specializing in high-risk pregnancies.

Come see comedian Mickey Housley for the Friday Funnies series. Originally from Houston, Housley is a fan favorite and a mainstay among college campuses. He started his career as a karaoke star and applied his stage presence, energy and animation to win Houston's Knockout Competition and place second in the Funniest Person in Houston Contest. Housley has appeared on Comedy Time TV, Comcast Sports Net, FOX's "Showtime at the Apollo" and Amazon's best-selling "Chronicles of a Stand-Up Guy." Student organization Hive Society Improv will open for Housley for a night of fun and laughter!

Join Ryan Walsh of Valqari as he presents via Zoom at the Spring 2025 Kent Seminar Series from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 6. Presentations this semester focus on topics related to autonomy in transportation. Food and soft drinks will be provided beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Illinois Center for Transportation Classroom.

Make sure your students are prepared to take on service with community organizations! We CU and the Illinois Leadership Center are hosting a workshop on Entering Community Partnerships on Thursday, March 13. The workshop will provide students with guidance on how to successfully collaborate in and reflect upon community service partnerships. Dinner will be served; space is limited. This workshop is open to all Illinois students. Interested students can register here.

Experience a performance in the galleries by video artist ACVilla and keyboardist/vocalist Thollem McDonas as part of their national tour. The Sudden Sound Concert Series presented by Krannert Art Museum and Improvisers Exchange features leading artists in avant-garde jazz and music improvisation. Curated by Jason Finkelman, director of Global Arts Performance Initiatives at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

SPEAK stands for Song, Poetry, Art and Knowledge. It’s an open-mic public performance space at Krannert Art Museum curated by local artist, Shaya Robinson, featuring guest performers and welcoming all to the mic.

Mark your calendars for the Writers Workshop's Spring Break Writing Retreat! From March 17-19, we'll host productivity groups, in-person and online, from 9 a.m. to noon. All writing groups consist of a short goal-setting conversation, quiet writing time and a concluding reflection and wrap-up. Ideal for graduate students seeking to create a writing routine, make progress and meet deadlines on long-term writing projects or to jump-start a new writing project. Please note that you only need to register once to attend any or all of these dates.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to an Open Forum co-sponsored by the Senate Library Committee and the University Library. The Forum will cover a variety of topics (see link above) and include remarks from Dean of Libraries and University Librarian Claire Stewart about the state of the Library and future library initiatives. Attend in person or register here for a Zoom link.

Roughly three out of every four people face some degree of anxiety when speaking in front of others. In this workshop, learn strategies and mindsets to help cope with these experiences and more related to speech and presentation apprehension. Hosted by the Speakers Workshop (https://speakersworkshop.illinois.edu/).

HUDA J. FAKHREDDINE is a writer, translator and professor of Arabic Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. She will talk about translating Salim Barakat's book, "The Universe All at Once," and Ibrahim Nasrallah's "Palestinian."

The U. of I. will host the 2025 Illinois Academy of Science State Exposition on May 2 and 3. This is the premier statewide science research competition for grades 7-12. We are seeking volunteer judges for the exposition. All levels of expertise are welcome. All volunteer judges must have completed high school. Please click HERE to learn more about volunteer opportunities or HERE to learn about judging.

March is Women's History Month – commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. The Women's Resources Center invites you to join us for open mics, lectures, book clubs, awards and more. See the calendar of events at go.illinois.edu/WHMCalendar.

Circular Action for People and Planet: Using Coffee and Creativity in Innovative Networks and Operations (CAPPUCCINO) is a collaborative project between U. of I. and the University of Birmingham funded by the BRIDGE Sustainability Seed Fund. It will bring together diverse experts in the U.S., U.K. and Brazil to explore the creation of sustainable circular economies, focusing on the commodity of spent coffee grounds from campus cafés. CAPPUCINO is sponsoring a hybrid symposium series March 7, March 26, and April 28 for those interested in this effort. Register to present or attend >>>

Featuring Rebekah Fitzsimmons (Carnegie Mellon and iSchool Visiting Research Fellow), Tan Debnath and Glen Layne-Worthey (both of the iSchool). Join our research team to explore data from 78 years of children’s book reviewing in the CCB’s Bulletin! BYOD - Bring Your Own Device. Free donuts will be available.

Join these two Quick Start Workshops to learn how to make your PDF accessible to everyone. In Part 1 of this workshop, you'll explore key accessibility tips, including how to use Acrobat Pro to adjust reading and tab order, edit tables and add alt text to images. In Part 2, you'll explore using the Acrobat accessibility checker and repairing the PDF. Additional workshops on document and course accessibility are scheduled throughout the spring semester. Sign up and expand your accessibility skills! 

The Cancer Center at Illinois is excited to present "Costimulatory Molecules for Immunomodulation to Enhance Immunity," presented by Dr. Som Nanjappa, professor of immunology in the department of pathobiology, as part of the Cancer Center at Illinois Seminar Series. Find the seminar abstract and Dr. Nanjappa's bio at this official announcement. REGISTER HERE to attend in person or online.

Join Illinois alumna Daryl Varney for a session on personal finance and take control of your financial future with greater confidence. This session will equip you with essential financial planning tools, insights into different investment accounts and strategies to enhance your financial literacy. Discover practical steps to set and achieve your financial goals, ensuring a more secure and informed financial journey.

Inspired by nature and the bountiful natural elements found at Allerton, budding artists ages 13 to 18 are invited to learn and create at Allerton Park’s Teen Art Studio: From Realism to Abstraction from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 29. Students will learn observational drawing in graphite, pen and ink and charcoal that move into abstractions of nature. $45 per person. Register here by March 15. 

Please join us for a roundtable discussion featuring distinguished professors Inmaculada Pérez Martín, Agamemnon Tselikas and George Xenis, who will reflect on their work championing the study of classical and medieval Greek letters and literatures. This discussion will serve as the culmination of our first annual Global Book History at Illinois workshop, and the event is free and open to all!

This workshop will provide the opportunity to learn about the use of extracellular vesicles as markers of disease progression from Mayo Clinic faculty as well as become acquainted with newly emerging technologies to capture and detect EVs by faculty at Illinois. The poster session will provide an informal venue for exploring new collaborations. The full agenda includes campus and external speakers, a poster session and boxed lunches. Register by April 9. 

Join us for a weekly Friday Forum and Conversation Cafe lunch series with local and national speakers tackling some of our most pressing social justice issues. Topics this semester include DEI, democracy, immigration, environmental justice, interfaith and more. Free lunch provided! This week’s speaker: Diana Rashid, National Immigrant Justice Center, in conversation with La Colectiva students who will provide "An Immigrant Advocate’s Perspective".

Join HRI and the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity for International Women's Day 2025! This annual event brings together faculty, staff, students and community members at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to recognize people who have made a difference in academia. Each speaker will have five minutes to tell the story of the woman in their discipline that changed the field in important ways. 

The Counseling Center will host events for students to learn about safer substance use as they approach Unofficial St. Patrick's Day and spring break. Interested students can stop by, take a brief assessment and talk to a counselor about strategies customized to their personal habits. There will also be prizes, games and t-shirts!

Join us for a talk by recent Center for Advanced Study associate David Wright Faladé on his new work, a nonfiction treatment of his novel "The New Internationals," based on his parents.

During this month’s Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar Series, Keith Hays (OVCDEI) and Marc Thompson (CITL) will provide practical resources to help you achieve accessibility in your course design and instruction. This session will explore key tools to create accessible and inclusive learning experiences while following state and federal accessibility standards. Register here.

QualCoder is a free and open-source tool for analyzing qualitative data, including text, PDFs and audio visual data. In this workshop, we’ll talk about installing QualCoder, setting up a coding system for text data and viewing reports of coded data. 

Looking for a new way to conduct your research? Tired of getting zero results in your database searches? This workshop will break down how to identify resources and search for articles, books and other scholarly works. We’ll cover chasing citations, creating optimal keyword searches, using built-in database functions to improve your searches and other strategies to make you a more efficient researcher.

Are you overwhelmed by organizing your sources? Zotero is a free, open-source citation manager that helps you store and organize your files and insert formatted citations into papers. You will leave this hands-on workshop with a Zotero library set up and ready to use!

This Illinois REDCap workshop will focus on advanced ways Illinois REDCap can be used to collect research data, including how to build or edit projects with a Data Dictionary, collecting data with repeatable instruments and collecting longitudinal data with defined events. It is recommended (but not required) that you have a REDCap account prior to attending the workshop. Information about accessing Illinois REDCap is available here: https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/redcap. Attending the “Introduction to Illinois REDCap” or having a working knowledge of REDCap is recommended.

Infographics can be an effective way to convey small bits of information very quickly, while drawing viewers in due to their visual appeal. In this workshop, students will learn about best practices for creating infographics and be introduced to several free online tools that allow users to create their own infographics, including Infogram and Visme. The session will end with a practice activity where participants are encouraged to use the webtool of their choice.

Are you having trouble organizing all of your sources but don’t know where to start? A citation manager can help you store your files, create citations and insert formatted citations into papers. This hands-on workshop will introduce you to three popular citation managers — Mendeley, Zotero and Endnote. We will go over pros and cons of each one and give you a preview of how they work to help you choose the best fit for your citation needs.

Collaborating with National Taiwan University, the Center for Digital Agriculture brings you the "Global Perspectives on Digital/Smart Agriculture" joint seminar series! Join us virtually from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday March 12, for a session on "Circular Bioeconomy Agriculture." Learn about net-zero transitions, turning food waste into aviation fuels, using biomass as materials for electronics and more. Free to attend – more info here.

Learn how to use NCSA's Delta supercomputer. In this virtual workshop, you will learn about Delta's advanced architecture that supports a wide range of scientific domains, particularly those that benefit from GPU acceleration such as machine learning. Hands-on exercises will teach how to access Delta, manage the user environment and run jobs and software. Registration required by March 13.

Join us as we hear from five graduate students and recipients of fellowships through the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity. This online forum will include student presentations and Illinois faculty discussants.  Research talks include discussions from Egypt, Pakistan, Iran and Senegambia. Full details at https://go.illinois.edu/GraduateForum. 

Join us for a film discussion on "Funmilayo Ransome Kuti," a powerful movie that tells the story of a fearless female leader who sparks a revolution against colonialism and patriarchy in Nigeria. The film is based on the renowned Nigerian activiist Fela Kuti. Watch the film on Amazon Prime and then join doctoral student Adetutu Faburoso for a discussion.

This speaker series brings together researchers on campus whose work touches on environmental impacts (e.g., air quality, water quality, weather patterns) on health to share their current research and to foster discussion and collaboration. We meet noon to 1 p.m. Central Time most Tuesdays on Zoom. This series is hosted by the iSchool’s Center for Health Informatics, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the U. of I. Office of Strategic Initiatives.

The annual Silicon Valley Leadership Summit is approaching - please share with your students! This is an annual conference that brings together students with Illinois alumni who hold leadership positions within their companies. Panelists answer questions on their path towards technology and entrepreneurship, philosophies towards leadership and advice for students looking to transition to the industry.

One critical component that makes research impactful is the effective presentation of data. In this workshop, you will learn some effective strategies for clear and effective data presentation in the context of journal articles, research posters and PowerPoint presentations. By the end of this workshop, you will learn new methods for analyzing figure and table design, how to write with figures and how to apply these lessons to a variety of contexts. Register with your Illinois email by March 9 to receive the Zoom meeting details.

The iSchool's Center for Informatics Research in Science and Scholarship will host Haohan Wang, professor at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, presenting “Toward Agentic AI Scientist for Biomedical Discovery” on Wednesday, March 5, as part of its Generative AI and the Future of Research speaker series.

Learn more about the cultural background and pronunciation of commonly used Kazakhstani names guided by our native presenters from Kazakhstan. Feel free to submit or bring names to practice! You must register here in advance in order to receive the Zoom meeting link to attend this training.

Join us for a special Names of Kazakhstan training! This session will introduce the diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds that shape names in Kazakhstan. Learn key pronunciation techniques, name structures and cultural insights to help you confidently say names correctly and respectfully. Open to faculty, staff, scholars and graduate teaching assistants. Registration is required. Questions? Contact ISSS Training and Programs at isss-programs@illinois.edu.

Rain Garden Rumble is a fun way to learn more about native plants found at the Red Oak Rain Garden. To enter, send completed brackets to RedOakRainGarden@illinois.edu by Monday, March 17. Games begin the following day at 11 a.m. on Facebook and Instagram. Brackets, rules and more details are at the link above. The winning bracket receives an Illinois Extension branded “rain-care” kit – an umbrella and rain gauge!

This session will address the features of Individual Development Plans and their use in mentoring graduate students. We will discuss some best practices for the faculty mentor’s role in the IDP process as well as how IDPs fit into new changes to NSF requirements for funded graduate students. We will also explore a case study about complexities of using IDPs as a part of your mentoring. Join online at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace. 

We are examining the effects of complementary protein in a meal on the rate of building muscle proteins. The study requires three days of participation, including two full-day trials with blood and muscle sample collection. You get $250 upon completion, information about your body composition (muscle and fat) and results of your lower body strength testing. Contact Zan for more information!

Help us uncover electric vehicle adoption intent and charging infrastructure use across our University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. You do not need to own an electric vehicle to respond. Completing the online survey will take 10 minutes. Please access the survey here: https://go.cee.illinois.edu/EV-campus-survey. You’ll have a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card in our raffle. 

Researchers in linguistics are inviting university instructors to participate in a multicampus study on AI expectations for writing assignments in U.S. universities (IRB24-1457). The purpose of this study is to identify common writing assignments across different university contexts, and to what extent they allow or restrict AI use. All viewpoints on AI are welcome in this survey. If you have any questions about this survey, please reach out to Rurik Tywoniw (rtywoniw@illinois.edu). Thank you for your time and interest! Survey Link: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3BNvGoD645fU7Eq.

Help make the next Alcohol Fitbit! The Alcohol Research Lab is looking for participants for a validation study of transdermal biosensing bracelets. Participation involves attending three laboratory sessions, wearing a transdermal bracelet and filling out surveys for two weeks. Up to $400 in compensation for participation.

Are you interested in a study involving research that will lead to advances in screening, treatment and care of Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder? We seek participants who currently have MDD or AD and participants who do not have either of these conditions. Participating in the study will involve completing surveys about physical and mental health and participating in an interview.

We are developing a technology to support cognitive and social aspects of everyday life for older adults (60+). If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty with thinking, memory or concentration, we would like to gather your thoughts about this technology in a group discussion. Participants will be compensated. Visit this link or contact us: HFA-SPARC@illinois.edu or 217-300-5445.

We are seeking recreational athletes 18-55 years who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 to participate in a research study. Your participation will consist of one session lasting about 30 minutes at a lab on the U. of I. campus or at a private location of your choice. You will be asked to provide a blood sample via a capillary blood draw (no needle draw), complete a noninvasive breathing test and a written survey. In exchange for your participation, you will receive a $20 gift card. To get more information and participate, please contact Natasha Mazumdar at nmazumd2@illinois.edu.

Interested in improving services and programs offered to students? Seeking current Main Library staff (student workers welcome to participate) for a study on the services and programs that could better meet student needs and how? Participation involves a single interview expected to take 30 minutes to 1.5 hours to complete. For more information, email keseanh2@illinois.edu.

Researchers at the U. of I. are seeking individuals ages 35–70 with misophonia (disorder in which certain sounds trigger strong emotional/physical responses) for a study comparing misophonia across three continents. Participants will be paid a total of $100 (anyone driving more than 30 minutes each way will be reimbursed for their travel). For more information, please contact misophonia@illinois.edu. 

Looking for adults ages 40-75 for a study on prolonged sitting and cognition. The study tests interrupting sitting with short, high-intensity exercises and measures brain and cognitive functions before and after. Participants earn $280 with travel expenses covered if living 30-plus miles from Champaign. Interested? Click here to join.

The Office of Community College Research and Leadership is seeking participants for a 15- to 20-minute survey that aims to improve the post-transfer experience in Illinois. Please participate if you have successfully transferred from a community college in Illinois and are currently enrolled in a four-year college or university in the state. Participants will have the chance to enter a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card. Learn more and take the survey.

The Infant Cognition Lab is conducting a brief, one-time, in-person study on young infants’ ability to understand that agents can hold false beliefs about objects. Infants sit on their parent's lap and watch a live show while their looking times are measured. Parking is provided. In thanks, choose $15 in cash or a child’s gift. If interested, email infantlab@illinois.edu or call 217-333-5988.

Healthy adults ages 18-40 with no hearing loss are invited for a study on listening in noise. Study involves online survey to determine eligibility followed by lab visits for those who qualify. Visits include hearing screening, listening to sounds and measuring ear and brain activity. Compensation for lab visits. To participate, complete our survey.