2022 Conference Schedule

March 9th 12:00 - 5:00 pm

• Making Connections: Student Organizations, Resources and Employer Fair (12:00 - 1:50 pm)

  Come out and make some connections!  This virtual fair allows you to:

  • Meet with other students from various STEM-related student organizations.
  • Learn about multiple FIU resources committed to your success.
  • Connect with professionals in the industry for potential internships and employment.

  Have your resume critiqued by Career & Talent Development and dress to impress! This might just lead to your next internship or job opportunity! 

   

  List of Employers, Resources, and Student Organizations:

  List of Student Organizations, FIU resources, and Employers

  Coast Guard Recruiting Command	Federal Bureau of Investigation	ManTech International Corporation	Miami Dade County Public Schools	Santander Consumer USA	Agroecology Program
  Asterix	Counseling & Psychological Services	College Life Coaching	Disability Resource Center	FIU in DC	FIUTeach
  Honors College	Marc-U Star	Office of Scholarships	Peer-Led Team Learning	Pre-Health Advising	Quantifying Biology in the Classroom
  Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work	The Assistance for Academic Achievement (AAA) Tutorial Program	Transfer & Transition Services	Beta Beta Beta (BBB)	CURE	Environmental Health Student Association
  Google Developer Student Club	Out in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics	QBIC Club	Undergraduate Research Society (URS)	Upsilon Pi Epsilon	Women in Cybersecurity (WiCys)

• Uncover the Possibilities: Healthcare Careers in Brief (2:00 - 2:50 pm)

  Curious about careers in healthcare but not sure what options there are? Join us for a brief overview of the different career possibilities within the field. Learn about the essential qualifications for health careers and where you can get more information on your journey into the world of health.

  Link to recording: https://youtu.be/EKx7k-pGeog

  Presenters:
  Christina H. Callahan, Assistant Director, Office of Pre-Health Advising
  Michelle Coven, Academic Advisor III, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences 
  Veronica Diaz, Academic Advisor III/Project Lead, College of Arts, Sciences & Education
  Grey Fernandez, Academic Advisor, Department of Global & Sociocultural Studies
  Julia Gonzalez, Graduate Student Services Coordinator, Dietetics & Nutrition
  Clive Powell, Academic Advisor II, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  Fiorella Suyon, Public Health Admissions Coordinator, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
  Kelly Sydnor, Coordinator of Student Services, School of Social Work
  Reyni Valerio, Program Manager, Center for Women & Gender Studies

• Represent! Diversity in STEM (3:00 - 3:50 pm)

  This panel session brings together alumni, faculty and community members in the world of STEM. Learn how they leveraged their strengths to take advantage of opportunities, the mindset they fostered to help them grow, and the opportunities that exist when diversity is truly embraced.

  Link to recording: https://youtu.be/DIAUYVrFsIk 

  Moderator: Stephen Secules
  Dr. Stephen Secules is an assistant professor in FIU’s School of Computing Construction and Engineering Education. His research focuses on equity and culture in engineering education and helping foster more inclusive understandings for engineering faculty. Dr. Secules also teaches foundational courses within the B.S. in Interdisciplinary Engineering and PhD in Engineering and Computing Education programs, and organizes the Equity Research Group.

  Panelists:
  Cristy Charters is an associate teaching professor in KFSCIS and has been teaching at FIU since 2011. As an FIU alumni, Prof. Charters first worked in industry as a software developer for Florida Power and Light Company.  After 15 years, she decided to combine her love of computer science with her love of teaching, first becoming a high school computer science teacher and then joining FIU as an adjunct and then eventually as a teaching professor.  

  Cheryl L. Holder, M.D. has dedicated her career to caring for underserved populations and promoting diversity in the health professions through pipeline programs. Holder is a founding faculty member of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. s the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Community Initiatives, Holder integrates diversity, inclusivity, and social justice in all HWCOM programs and operations. She also teaches medical, nursing, social work, and physician assistant students about working in underserved communities through the Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP program.

  Dr. Gregory Murad Reis is an Assistant Teaching Professor for the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences and Researcher at the CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment. His current research interests are centered on the challenges of marine robotics and STEM Education. He is currently working on curriculum development and robots design for K-12 education. Gregory has published several papers in conferences and journals, having been awarded TOP 20 best papers in several conferences around the world.

  Juan C. Oves, Jr. is a fourth year medical student, Public Health graduate, and former HIV counselor for a community-based organization in South Florida. He decided to pursue family medicine after a career in health promotion and disease prevention. The focus of his public health career was on LGBTQ health, transgender care, and HIV medicine. His passion for academic medicine and teaching is driven by his continual involvement during medical school in promoting LGBTQ health education, cultural competency training, and helping develop learning tools for medical students, faculty, and community providers.

• In the Lab: Getting in on Research as an Undergrad (4:00 - 4:50 pm)

  Research is a critical element for those interested in graduate programs and careers in STEM and FIU has numerous research opportunities. Join us for a panel discussion where students share about what it's like to be a student researcher and the steps they took to get In the Lab. Come prepared with questions!

  Link to recording: https://youtu.be/EUYslHyGmf8 

  Moderator: Mark A Finlayson
  Dr. Mark A. Finlayson is Eminent Scholar Chaired Associate Professor of Computer Science and Interim Associate Director in the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences (KFSCIS) at Florida International University (FIU).  His research intersects artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and cognitive science. He directs the FIU SCIS Cognition, Narrative, and Culture (Cognac) Laboratory whose members focus on advancing the science of narrative, including: understanding the relationship between cognition, narrative, and culture; developing new methods and techniques for investigating questions related to language and narrative; and endowing machines with the ability to understand and use narratives for a variety of applications. He received his Ph.D. from MIT in computer science in 2012 under the supervision of Patrick H. Winston. He also holds the M.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT (2001) and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1998). Dr. Finalyson's full biography.

  Student Researchers:
  Andy Garcia, Biological Sciences BS
  Nya Martin, Biomedical Engineering BS
  Amanda Perez, Mechanical Engineering BS
  Ana Ruas, Biological Sciences BS
  Akul Sigh, Computer Science BS
  Kiara Taibi-Briz, Environmental Studies BS

   

March 10th 12:00 - 5:00 pm

• Making Connections Cont'd: Student Organizations, Resources and Employer Fair (12:00 - 12:50 pm)

  Here's a second chance to come out and make some connections!  This virtual fair allows you to:

  • Meet with other students from various STEM-related student organizations.
  • Learn about multiple FIU resources committed to your success.
  • Connect with professionals in the industry for potential internships and employment.

  Have your resume critiqued by Career & Talent Development and dress to impress! This might just lead to your next internship or job opportunity! 

  List of Employers, Resources, and Student Organizations:

  List of Student Organizations, FIU resources, and Employers

  Coast Guard Recruiting Command	Federal Bureau of Investigation	Forest Service	Idaho National Lab	ManTech International Corporation	Miami Dade County Public Schools
  Santander Consumer USA	Agroecology Program	Asterix	Counseling & Psychological Services	Center for Academic Success	Center for Student Engagement
  College Life Coaching	Disability Resource Center	FIU in DC	FIU Graduate Admissions	FIUTeach	Honors College
  Marc-U Star	National Student Exchange	Office of Scholarships	Peer-Led Team Learning	Pre-Health Advising	Quantifying Biology in the Classroom
  Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work	The Assistance for Academic Achievement (AAA) Tutorial Program	Transfer & Transition Services	Beta Beta Beta (BBB)	CURE	Environmental Health Student Association
  Geology Club	Google Developer Student Club	Out in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics	QBIC Club	Undergraduate Research Society (URS)	Upsilon Pi Epsilon
  Women in Cybersecurity (WiCys)

• Accepted: Graduate Student Panel (1:00 - 1:50 pm)

  Are you considering graduate school, but aren't sure what to expect?  This panel discussion brings together students currently pursuing graduate studies in STEM. Panelists will share in their own stories, the lessons learned, and offer tips you can take advantage of now as an undergraduate.

  Link to recording: https://youtu.be/TVvNz2pGd2s

  Panelists:
  
  Sheila Alemany is a current third-year Ph.D. candidate at FIU and an NSF graduate research fellow. Her research area as a graduate student focuses on the intersection between cybersecurity and machine learning, known as adversarial ML. Lastly, she has completed two research internships at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in their cybersecurity group.

  Isabel Diaz graduated from the FIU Honors College in Spring of 2020 with a B.S. in Chemistry, B.A. in Natural and Applied Sciences, and a minor in sociology/anthropology. Currently, she is working as a TA for general chemistry and as a graduate assistant at the pre-health office. She is excited to begin medical school this upcoming summer!

  Disha Petal is a 2nd year PhD student in the Computer Science department participating in the LEARNCS lab. The focus of the lab is on studying the broadening of participation for women and minorities in CS. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in CS, also from FIU, in Spring 2020. Disha also previously worked as a software developer at an airline commerce company enhancing C++ applications.

  MD Rifat Hossain (Member, IEEE) received his B.S. degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh in 2013. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering with Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA. He is conducting research works at the Power System Computational Laboratory under Prof. Dr. Sumit Paudyal. His research interests include power system dynamics, and control, smart grid, optimization, and artificial intelligence applications for dynamic modeling.

  Tanja Zerulla received her B.Sc. Honors in Animal Biology from the University of Alberta in Canada where she first discovered her passion for animal behavior research. She is interested in studying why animals act the same or different from each other. As a Ph.D. candidate at FIU, Tanja's current research investigates how different fish individuals perceive, transmit, and react to social information. She has also taught and designed biology courses at FIU, mentored multiple undergraduate students, and created science communication videos for TikTok.

• Discover Your Options: Careers in STEM (2:00 - 2:50 pm)

  Have you asked yourself, "What can I do with this degree?" Join us for this session! Learn about existing and emerging careers within the STEM field. Our experts will offer insight into the steps you can take now and the resources geared towards helping you work towards those career goals.

  Link to recording: https://youtu.be/mflbClnQbsg 

  Presenters:
  Jessica Armenteros, Career Advisor, College of Engineering & Computing
  Sarah Hadeed, Career Advisor, College of Arts, Sciences & Education
  Audrey Johnson, Career Specialist, Liaison to CS & IT

• Landing that Job: Recruiters Speak (3:00 - 3:50 pm)

  This panel brings together recruiters and hiring managers in STEM-related fields. They will share their perspectives on hiring trends, best practices when applying, what they look for during interviews, and general tips for University students interested in careers in STEM. Come prepared with questions to learn how to Land that Job!

  Link to recording: https://youtu.be/8EMSP5ZJT90   

  Panelists:

  Rachel Eleam, Idaho National Labs
  Lt. Tiago Goncalves, Coast Guard Recruiting Command
  Michaela Hall, Forest Service
  Jordan Redding, Santander Consumer USA
  Tiffany Yan, ManTech

• Applying for Grad School: Details You Need to Know Now (4:00 - 4:50 pm)

  Applying to graduate programs can be an intimidating and confusing process. This presentation will highlight the different elements that students must take into consideration when applying to graduate schools. Topics include application tips, entrance exams, research experience, faculty mentorship and best practices when planning for your graduate program goals.

  Link to recording: https://youtu.be/ECRl84HANM0

  Presenter:
  Nanett Rojas is Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions. In this role, she advises Associate Deans and directors on graduate policies and procedures. Nanett has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from FIU (’93, ’14). In addition to her role within Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Services, she also teaches in the Honors College. Nanett has reached doctoral candidacy and is working towards her Ph.D. in Higher Education at FIU.