Grad Cohort Workshop for Women
PLEASE NOTE: The 2024 Grad Cohort Workshops will be in-person events.
Date: April 11-13, 2024
Deadline:
November 30, 2023 (11:59 PM ET)
Are you a graduate student in computing-related studies, interested in interacting with successful women in your field who can give you advice on topics such as how to find and develop your research topic, how to prepare for your career after graduate school, and how to balance work and life?
If so, please join us at the next CRA-WP Grad Cohort for Women!
At the Grad Cohort for Women, you will spend two days interacting with about 20 senior female computing-related researchers and professionals, who will share pertinent information on graduate school survival skills, as well as more personal information and insights about their experiences. The workshop will include a mix of formal presentations and informal discussions and social events. By attending Grad Cohort for Women you will be able to build mentoring relationships and develop peer networks that will form the basis for ongoing activities during your graduate career and beyond.
The CRA-WP Grad Cohort for Women, initiated in 2004, is generously funded by sponsors from industry, academia, the National Science Foundation, and the computing community. The workshop aims to increase the ranks of senior women in computing-related studies and research by building and mentoring nationwide communities of women through their graduate studies.
This is an NSF-funded program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number (1840724). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Master and Ph.D. students in computer science and engineering or a closely related field, who are attending an institution in the U.S. or its territories, or an institution in Canada, and who identify as women. Students who have not previously attended a Grad Cohort Workshop will be given priority.
If there are extenuating circumstances for applying beyond the timeframe listed in the eligibility requirements, please make sure you address this in the application. Extenuating Circumstances beyond an applicant’s control include, but are not limited to:
- Documented medical condition or serious illness
- Documented learning disability
- Death of a family member or friend
- Involuntary call to active military duty
- Maternity/family leave
While we would like to include all students interested in a research career, we are limited by funding and space.
We make every attempt to achieve broad diversity goals by considering multiple factors including institution, citizenship, racial and ethnic background, disabilities, etc. Research success is not a criterion in the selection or application because our goal is to include those who might benefit the most from advice, although we do give priority to Ph.D. students over MS only students. Beyond this, some funding comes from the home departments, so acceptance of some students may depend on whether the home department is willing to support additional students.
We do our best to include as many universities as possible with the goal of the most widespread dissemination. The intent is that the students who attend should be able to share their experiences with their colleagues in their home institutions when they return. We also give priority to students who have not attended Grad Cohort for Women before.
- Full name, email, number, city, and state
- Gender identity, race, ethnicity, citizenship, residency status, disability status, veteran status
- ACM or ACM SIGs membership and interest, IEEE-CS membership and interest
- Primary academic affiliation, department, research area(s), degree program and number of years, department chair and advisor name, and email
- CV Link URL, previous attendance to either Grad Cohort
- Short response – Why do you want to attend Grad Cohort?
- CRA Privacy preferences
2023 Grad Cohort for Women
Friday, April 21, 2023
How to Make the Most of Student-Advisor Relationships
Preparing Your Thesis Proposal and Becoming a Ph.D. Candidate
Keynote: The Three Legged Stool
Perspectives from Grad Cohort Alums
Ph.D. Career Paths and Job Search
Strategies for Human-Human Interaction
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Empower Your Authentic Voice
2022 Grad Cohort for Women
A Research Mindset
Academia vs. Industry Research Positions
Balancing Graduate School and Personal Life
Building Self-Confidence
Building Your Professional Persona
National Science Foundation: The ABC’s of NSF
Finding a Research Topic
Master’s vs. Ph.D.
Networking
Perspectives From Grad Cohort Alums
Ph.D. Academic Career Paths and Job Search
Ph.D. Non-Academic Career Paths and Job Search
Preparing Your Thesis Proposal and Becoming a Ph.D. Candidate
Presentation and Other Verbal Communication Skills
Publishing Your Research
Strategies for Human-Human Interaction
Summer Internships
Industry vs. Academic Research Positions
Teaching Your First Course
How to Make the Most of Student-Advisor Relationships
Keynote – Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Computing Research: Questions Graduate Students Should Ask
We are currently accepting sponsorship for the 2022 CRA-WP Grad Cohort Workshops! We welcome sponsorship at any level and would be happy to provide recognition in all printed and web materials.
Sponsor Benefits:
Access to the CRA-WP Graduating Class Directory
Sponsorship Level | Directory Access |
Platinum | October |
Gold | December |
Silver | February |
Bronze | N/A |
Access to the Grad Cohort Database
Sponsorship Level | Database Access |
Platinum | January |
Gold | February |
Silver | March |
Bronze | N/A |
Application Process & Application Status
What information is needed in the application?
- Full name, email, number, city, and state
- Gender identity, race, ethnicity, citizenship, residency status, disability status, veteran status
- ACM or ACM SIGs membership and interest, IEEE-CS membership and interest
- Primary academic affiliation, department, research area(s), degree program and number of years, department chair and advisor name, and email
- CV Link URL, previous attendance to either Grad Cohort
- Short response – Why do you want to attend Grad Cohort?
- CRA Privacy preferences
How are the participants selected?
While we would like to include all students interested in a research career, we are limited by funding and space.
We make every attempt to achieve broad diversity goals by considering multiple factors including institution, citizenship, racial and ethnic background, disabilities, etc. Research success is not a criterion in the selection or application because our goal is to include those who might benefit the most from advice, although we do give priority to Ph.D. students over MS only students. Beyond this, some funding may come from the home departments, so acceptance of some students may depend on whether the home department is willing to support additional students.
We do our best to include as many universities as possible with the goal of the most widespread dissemination. The intent is that the students who attend should be able to share their experiences with their colleagues in their home institutions when they return. We also give priority to students who have not attended Grad Cohort for Women before.
When will I learn the status of my application?
Please note that invitations are distributed in waves and as we move along in the process, we will communicate decisions through email, please keep a close eye on your inbox.
We thank you for your patience as we work through the process of extending invitations. Please do not email us to inquire about the status of your application before mid-late January of 2023 and please make sure to check your spam folder before inquiring.
If I missed the deadline for the Grad Cohort for Women application this year, is there any other way I can attend this year?
Unfortunately, you cannot, but the next Grad Cohort for Women is not too far away! Applications will become available in August for the next Workshop. We encourage you to sign up for CRA-WP Updates to receive notifications for upcoming applications.
Travel & Financial Support
Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed by CRA through funds generously provided by our Grad Cohort sponsors.
To maximize the safety of all attendees, we have put in place the following protocols for the in-person event.
Failure to complete and/or follow any of the required COVID-19 Conference Protocols may result in removal from the event and denial of reimbursement requests.
Where feasible, limited virtual participation may be available for individuals with a qualified exemption.
Recommendations
- Participants are strongly encouraged to conduct PCR Testing within 72 hours prior to boarding their flight to the workshop. This will ensure each individual is healthy before arriving onsite.
Requirements
- Participants must be fully vaccinated – Provide proof no later than 14 days prior to the event start time that you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including any and all booster dose(s) for which you are eligible;
- Participate in guided Rapid Antigen Testing on-site – Testing will occur prior to event registration check-in. You will need results prior to receiving workshop credentials.
- Masks – All participants must use a mask at all times during the workshop with the exception of while actively eating during meals and for presenters who are actively giving a talk.
In the event of a positive COVID-19 result, the individual agrees to:
- Immediately notify CRA of any positive result
- Isolate in a hotel room (if you are not local and are away from home)
- Not attend any further conference activities
- Prepare an isolation plan and share it with CRA
Participants understand that despite CRA’s efforts to ensure a safe environment for the workshop there remains a risk of contracting COVID-19. Participants agree to follow these COVID-19 protocols and understand and assume the risks associated with attending the event.
General Inquiries
For questions, please contact GC-WomenInfo@cra.org
Program Chairs
Coordinator
Alejandra Guzmán
Sr. Program Associate