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CECS will host several workshops over the academic year.  Topics covered are designed to address graduate students' issues, provide support, and to prepare students for academic and career success. Workshops offered at a regular interview include:

Navigating the Advisor-Advisee Relationship

In this workshop, students learn about the best practices between advisees and advisers, including setting expectations, boundaries, communication, and more. Students will identify University resources to support a healthy relationship with their advisor and learn how to address conflict in a productive manner. 

Regularly offered in Fall.

Preparing for a Career in Industry

In this workshop, students interact with a panel of doctorate-holding engineers working in industry. Students will learn perspective in transitioning from the academic program to a fulfilling industry career. Panelists will share their experiences about navigating a career with an earned doctorate, including the steps students should take during their academic program and what they can expect after graduation.

Regularly offered in Winter.

Building a Culture of Academic Integrity 

In this workshop, students learn about academic integrity, including its definition, how it is addressed at a University level, and best practices for integrity in the era of artificial intelligence. Students will discuss ongoing challenges inside and outside of the classroom related to academic integrity.

Regularly offered in Fall and Winter.

Supporting Mental Health for International Doctoral Students

In this workshop, students will learn about some of the major challenges and norms in mental health faced by international doctoral students. Students will also learn about the University resources to support their mental health, including Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and discuss best practices.

Regularly offered in Fall.

Doctoral Tea Break

Students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend Doctoral Tea Breaks hosted regularly throughout the academic year. In these social events, there is no agenda, but instead an opportunity to meet your fellow doctoral students and support networks within the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Regularly offered in Fall and Winter.

Rackham Professional Development Opportunities

Rackham offers a variety of resources and programming to contribute to your of students in our Ph.D. programs. 

Rackham is committed to enhancing the development and training offerings related to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all University of Michigan graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and is now offering a professional development DEI Certificate. This program (open only to University of Michigan graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) is designed to prepare participants to work in a diverse environment while fostering a climate of inclusivity.

The Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Program allows doctoral students to pursue a fully supported and funded internship during their graduate training (summer, fall, or winter). Internships offer students a mentored professional learning experience in diverse career settings.  

Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship

The Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship supports outstanding doctoral students who have achieved candidacy and are actively working on dissertation research and writing. We seek to support students working on dissertations that are unusually creative, ambitious, and impactful.

Approximately 240 Rackham doctoral students are nominated each year by Ann Arbor programs.  Starting from 2023 cycle, we are pleased to announce that Rackham extended nomination for this prestigious fellowship to Rackham doctoral students at ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn.

In collaboration with Rackham Graduate School, the  offers programs to help graduate students prepare to pursue and succeed in faculty careers. Topics include preparing for the job market, learning about current issues in higher education, tenure and faculty worklife, and effective teaching for a diverse student body.

Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)

A Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) is employed to teach courses, or coordinate, lead, or assist in the instructional process in direct interaction with students in assigned classes, labs, quizzes, problem sessions, or during office hours. GSIs have a critical role in teaching undergraduate students at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.  Students who receive an appointment are in good standing in their CECS graduate degree program.

Instructional Training

Doctoral students appointed as GSIs attend GSI Teaching Orientation provided by CECS before teaching courses.  Also, students also participate in ongoing professional development training while holding the appointment.  

Depending on needs, a select few master's level students receive an appointment as GSIs.  

Center for Research on Learning and Teaching in Engineering Ann Arbor 

The Center for Research on Learning and Teaching in Engineering (CRLT-Engin) on the Ann Arbor campus offers workshops that are open to all interested individuals.  Each fall, the CRLT-Engin provides required training for GSI teaching in the CECS.  A list of other that may be of interest to GSIs and all students.

Graduate Student Professional Development Workshop Series Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies, these events provide an opportunity to network with faculty, staff, and other graduate students, while growing your personal and professional skills.

Questions? Contact Graduate Studies Office @ [email protected] 

Graduate Student Research Assistant

A Graduate Student Research Assistantship (GSRA) program is a vehicle to provide financial support for the academically-related research activities of active University of Michigan graduate students.  Students who receive appointment are in good standing in a University of Michigan CECS graduate degree program and may perform personal research (including thesis or dissertation preparation) or assists faculty performing research that is relevant to his or her academic goals.

There are many opportunities at ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn for graduate students to get involved in the cutting-edge research conducted on campus by our faculty members. 

Research Labs

Each Fall, during Open Lab Day, students have the opportunity to meet with faculty conducting research in an area of interest and faculty have the opportunity to meet with students who show interest in being a research assistant.  

Computer and Information Science Labs

Electrical and Computer Engineering Labs

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Labs

Mechanical Engineering Labs

The intent of the  is to provide opportunities for Ph.D. students to become familiar with, participate in, and build a network in their academic professions. As part of its commitment to advancing excellence in research and training, the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) may provide 50% matching funds for conference attendance. The remainder of the funding comes from other campus awards, the student's department, faculty advisor, or combination of the three.

Doctoral students are eligible to apply for a CECS Conference Travel Grant award if:

• The graduate student is in good academic standing in a CECS Ph.D. degree program.
• The student has responded to a formal call for papers.
• The student is presenting a poster or paper at a national or international professional conference.

Only applications submitted a minimum of two weeks before the conference date will be considered. Applications for retroactive funding are not considered. There is a limit of one award per student (either Publication Grant or Travel Grant) per academic year.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for the  travel grant through Experience+ (up to $500 for travel-related expenses and/or $40 for presentation materials).

In compliance with DAG 501.2-3 this award will be processed through the Financial Aid system and may have tax implications. Please contact your tax advisor with any questions. This award may also affect need-based aid in your financial aid package. These instances are handled individually and you will be contacted directly if it appears you may be affected.

Note to Faculty: Awards will be processed through Financial Aid. Do not put travel charges on your P-Card before talking to the Dean’s Office.

Students must apply for CECS Doctoral Student Conference Travel Grant through . 

The intent of the  is to provide funding to offset the costs of research publication. As part of its commitment to advancing excellence in research and training, the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) may provide 50% matching funds for reimbursement of research publication fees. The remainder of the funding comes from other campus awards, the student's department, faculty advisor, or combination of the three.

Doctoral students are eligible to apply for a CECS Doctoral Student Publication Grant award if:

• The graduate student is in good academic standing in a CECS Ph.D. degree program.
• The student has responded to a formal call for papers.
• The student has an accepted paper that requires a publication fee or overlength fee to be published.

Only one grant can be received per publication. Grants for publications with multiple authors should be requested by only one author of the teams choice. Only applications submitted before the publication date will be considered. Applications for retroactive funding are not considered. There is a limit of one award per student (either Publication Grant or Travel Grant) per academic year.

In compliance with DAG 501.2-3 this award will be processed through the Financial Aid system and may have tax implications. Please contact your tax advisor with any questions. This award may also affect need-based aid in your financial aid package. These instances are handled individually and you will be contacted directly if it appears you may be affected.

Note to Faculty: Awards will be processed through Financial Aid. Do not put these charges on your P-Card before talking to the Dean’s Office.

Students must apply for CECS Doctoral Student Publication Grant through . 

CECS Experiential Learning 

The CECS Experiential Learning Program collaborates with industry to provide graduate students with career exploration through internship opportunities.  Students receive real-world experience and the tools to succeed in their chosen career. 

CECS Career Development Resources

The office offers many services from job search techniques and mock interviews to networking strategies.  Students can stop by the office for assistance.

Career Services

The Office of Career Services provides a variety of services that support students in all areas of career development and job search. Career Services offers career counseling in addition to career-related workshops and resources to all students.

The NCFDD is a nationally recognized, independent organization that provides online career development and mentoring resources for faculty, post-docs, and graduate students. The institutional membership was funded by a partnership between CECS and the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at ÂÜÀòÉç-Ann Arbor, and makes these resources available to all ÂÜÀòÉç-Dearborn faculty.