Shop Talks

The world of scholarly publishing is changing and evolving in many directions. This workshop is designed to help authors find and use the library and other tools to navigate the complex publishing landscape. Topics covered in the workshop include:

• Understanding open access journal options
• Learning to evaluate journals
• Identifying and avoiding “predatory publishers”
• Determining the right publication for your work

Presented by Margaret Vaverek, Service Engagement Librarian, University Libraries

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Everything you ever wanted to know — or didn't realize you needed to know — about the process of submitting an IRB Application at Texas State: how, what, where, when, and why does it take so long?

We are here to help graduate students, faculty supervising thesis or dissertations, and faculty or staff researchers understand the process from A to Z so you can submit well-prepared applications that get approved on the first review.

Presented by: Michelle Davis, Compliance Specialist, Research, Integrity, & Compliance
Breanna Moran, Compliance Specialist, Research, Integrity, & Compliance

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This virtual workshop will equip you with the communication tools you need to effectively engage with professors, peers, and advisors. Learn how to craft professional emails, navigate office hours with ease, and handle advisor relationships with confidence. We’ll also cover best practices for collaborating with classmates, ensuring you make a positive impression in all your academic interactions. Join us to sharpen your skills in professional communication and build the confidence to handle any situation that comes your way!

Presented by Ashley Carrington, Student Development Specialist II for Retention, The Graduate College

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Do you feel unproductive at times or believe you should be doing more? This presentation is focused on identifying the difference between healthy boredom and the concept of laziness. In our current fast-paced lives it is important that we don't evaluate ourselves by the completion of our task list. This discussion will help you develop a well-balanced understanding of your experience and utilize your strengths in keeping the mental engine running.

Presented by Dr. Nicole Adams, Psychologist, Counseling Center &
Dr. Alicia Batshone, Psychologist, Counseling Center

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This workshop provides an introduction to methods and methodologies, particularly in the context of thesis and dissertation writing. Participants will learn how to identify a methodology and how methodology informs research writing as well as considerations for both qualitative and quantitative methods that are rigorous, reliable, and replicable. In addition, participants will learn about the role of a methods section in research writing and how to differentiate methods, results, and discussion sections.

Presented by Dr. Lauren Brentnell, Associate Director, University Writing Center

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Elevate your professional presence on LinkedIn with essential strategies. Discover how to craft a standout profile, strategically network, and unlock hidden opportunities in the job market. This Shop Talk session will provide actionable insights to help you navigate LinkedIn with confidence and maximize your career potential.

Presented by: Ross Wood, Associate Director of Career Education and Veteran Resources, Career Services

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the job search process for applicants and employers. Many organizations now use AI-supported tools, applicant tracking systems, and automated review processes to manage large pools of applications. At the same time, job seekers can use AI tools to prepare stronger, more targeted job-search materials. Because these changes have emerged quickly, graduate students need practical guidance for understanding how AI is shaping the hiring process and what that means for the materials they prepare.
In this workshop, you will learn how resumes, cover letters, and related application materials may be read by multiple audiences, including hiring managers, search committees, applicant tracking systems, and AI-supported screening tools. Specifically, it will focus on practical strategies for using AI to improve clarity, organization, audience alignment, and responsiveness to job descriptions while keeping your materials accurate, specific, and grounded in your own experience. We will also discuss how academic job searches differ from many other hiring contexts and how AI can support your preparation even when automated screening is not part of the review process. You will leave with a clearer understanding of how AI is shaping the hiring landscape, how to prepare job-search materials for human and AI-mediated review, and how to use AI tools as part of a thoughtful, strategic writing process.

Presented by Dr. Timothy Ponce, Assistant Professor of Technical Communication, English Department

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This Shop Talks session is designed for doctoral students seeking tenure-track and lecturer positions at four-year colleges and universities. It covers the entire interview process. Specifically, we will discuss what questions to expect during preliminary and on-campus interviews, how to interact with the interviewers before and after the interview, what to wear, how to avoid common mistakes in phone and Zoom Interviews, and how to prepare for different elements of an on-campus visit. (The negotiation of job offers will be covered in a separate session).

Presented by Dr. Patti Giuffre, Associate Dean, The Graduate College

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This Shop Talk introduces writers to graduate-level writing expectations. It addresses graduate-level research writing with a focus on the general structure of research-based assignments such as research proposals and research studies for comprehensive exams, theses, or dissertations. Attendees will learn about the parts of these documents, the logic behind how they are written, and how to assess samples of research writing for their strengths and weaknesses in meeting the expectations of the genre. Although writing up literature reviews, methods, results, and conclusions will be discussed, this Shop Talk will serve as a broad overview of the genre.

Presented by Dr. Sarah Hart Micke, Director, University Writing Center

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At this workshop, one of the librarians of research, will cover search tips that can help when searching library databases. No matter what discipline you’re in, these search tips will help you conduct more effective searches. The workshop will also cover related library services and resources, as well as citation management tools & software that you can consider incorporating into your research to help keep you organized.

Presented by Sam Marsh, Research Librarian, University Libraries

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Curious about AI use in the research process? This workshop introduces AI literacy concepts, strategies, and tools. Attendees will leave with an understanding of how they can use AI responsibly and save time during their next research project.

Presented by Audrey Stewart, Assistant Director of Information Literacy and Instruction, University Libraries &
Sam Marsh, Research Librarian, University Libraries

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