Training Upon Request
Workshops Available Upon Request:
*please use the contact information provided to set up the workshop you are interested in
Professional Email Communication
Contact Diane Witters at dwitters@mines.edu
Abstract: The content and style of our emails convey an enduring impression to our readers. How can we recognize how we are coming across to our audience, control the signals we are sending, and handle our professional email correspondence for a variety of purposes? In this seminar, we offer strategies for improving email messages and show how to craft content that is concise and effective.
Giving Professional Talks: How can we design and deliver presentations that communicate ideas?
Contact Diane Witters at dwitters@mines.edu
Abstract: This seminar aids participants in addressing questions such as these: What makes a professional talk engaging and effective? How do I determine the amount of background or context that my audience needs to understand the key points and insights from my research? How can I avoid overwhelming my listeners with non-essentials? How can I adapt my presentation to different audiences? What are some available resources that provide practical guidance for crafting research-based presentations?
Graduate Student – Advisor Partnership: Communication Counts
Contact Diane Witters at dwitters@mines.edu or Roel Snieder at rsnieder@mines.edu
Abstract: Graduate students and advisors need to rely on each other. Students require the support and guidance from their advisor, and advisors need the contributions that graduate students make to their research. Effective communication is essential for this partnership to be productive. We present common pitfalls in the communication between graduate students and advisors, and provide best habits for optimizing this professional partnership.
Time Management and Mitigating Stress
Contact Diane Witters at dwitters@mines.edu or Roel Snieder at rsnieder@mines.edu
Abstract: Is it a pipe dream to think we can take care of ourselves AND our obligations? We all want to be efficient, productive, and check off some high-priority goals while we are on campus. We would also like to preserve our long-term physical and emotional health. This seminar explores some practical time management tools and a healthier state of mind that have been helpful to Mines graduate students as they juggle multiple responsibilities. We target some common questions from graduate students about how to make best use of our energy and focus for accomplishing our projects while also showing respect for our well-being.
Advanced Literature Search and Evaluation in [Your Discipline]
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Search engines like Google and Google Scholar are not sufficient for literature search in research. Using discipline specific databases strategically can ensure efficient and systematic discovery and evaluation of literature, including traditional publications and grey literature, such as technical reports, government publications, patents, data sets, maps, and other unpublished scholarly work. This workshop provides an overview of the scholarly communication landscape in your discipline. We also provide hands-on opportunities for you to learn how to take advantage of literature databases designed for your discipline, how to scope and narrow down your search, and how to use metrics and other criteria to help you evaluate resources.
Research Refresher: Getting up to Speed on Conducting Research in [Your Discipline]
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Has it been a while since you’ve conducted research? Are you returning to graduate school after some time in industry? This seminar provides you with a 30 minute update on conducting research in your discipline, including: an overview of and hands-on practice in the databases and journals available to you, tips for staying organized as a researcher, a review of the elements to consider when evaluating sources for research and information on how the library can help you succeed in your studies at Mines.
Research Impact, ORCID, and Expert System
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Measuring and enhancing research impacts are becoming challenges every researcher faces in this digital age. This talk will provide an overview of the current landscape of the research information ecosystem, introduce some current metrics (e.g. citation metrics and altmetrics etc.) and other approaches for measuring research impact, and discuss actions our university and individual researchers can take in practice. ORCID iD, a persistent, unique author identifier, and Research Profiling and Networking System (Expert System) will be highlighted as two important building blocks for a connected research dissemination environment that enables collaborative and high-impact research.
Reference Management Tools and Good Practices
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Reference management software can help you organize research articles, notes, data sets and other types of references, automatically format bibliographies while writing, and share references with collaborators. In this seminar, we will compare a few popular programs including EndNote, Zetero, and Mendeley etc. to highlight their pros and cons. The focus will be how to choose one based on your research workflow and how to optimize your workflow using the tools. Please feel free to bring your computer if you’d like to test some of these programs during the session. And you are welcome to share any tips about these programs with everyone.
What Happens to Your Thesis?
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Learn how your soon-to-be-completed thesis fits into the scholarly communications environment. We provide you with an overview of how your actions as authors contribute to your readers’ success; how your thesis can be discovered by and made available to other researchers; and how your publishing decisions can have an impact on your audience.
Literature Review in a Systematic Approach
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Reviewing literature in a systematic approach is often required for writing a thesis, a manuscript, or a research grant proposal. This workshop will help you develop a system to efficiently search the literature, assess quality, synthesize, analyze and report your findings from the literature on your research topic. The methodology developed from systematic reviewing can ensure that your literature reviews are comprehensive and serve as a solid foundation for your research projects.
History Detectives: Using Archival Materials for Research
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: While the research focus is often on current publications and data, historical materials from archives can provide valuable information for the researcher. Using examples of historic and primary source materials in mining, geology, oil shale and ropeway engineering from the Library’s Special Collections, we will work with you to identify and explore historic records as relevant to current research.
Citing and Reuse of Published Materials: Copyright and Creative Commons Licensing
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: This workshop will help you identify and obtain permissions needed for reusing published materials in your own research and writing. We will start with introducing basics of copyright and creative commons licensing. A few hands-on practices will demonstrate how to get permissions to reuse different types of published materials and how to properly credit the original authors in your own work.
Author Rights and How to Retain Them
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Authors own the copyright of their work when the work is created. But many academic publishers require authors to transfer their rights to the publishers during the publishing process. Currently, in most cases, when the rights are transferred, the author no longer have the freedom to disseminate and reuse their work. In this workshop, we will provide an overview of what rights you may want to retain as an academic author. And you will learn some tools, such as Author Addendum and alternative publishing and dissemination approaches, to retain your author rights of your work.
Modern Scientist 101: Part 1 – Tools for Managing Research Workflow
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: The research paradigm is shifting again in the digital age. Conducting research as a modern scientist requires an open mind for collaboration and skills for life-long learning. The workshop series, Modern Scientist 101, explores tools and best practices in managing research workflow and output across the research lifecycle. The first workshop in the series will provide an overview of how conducting research is reshaped by collaborative and interdisciplinary research trends as well as by available technology. We will have hands-on activities to learn LabArchive, an Electronic Lab Notebook system, and Open Science Framework, a scholarly commons threading the entire research lifecycle. Last, we will discuss what principles can guide us to choose a tool and build up our best practices.
Modern Scientist 101: Part 2 – Authorship, Collaborative Authoring Tools and New Approaches of Scientific Publishing
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Scientific publishing is essential for your academic endeavor but can sometimes be a mysterious process. Designed for graduate students, this workshop will provide an overview of the publication process, including how to select a target journal, how to write a cover letter and respond to peer reviewers, and how to handle the intellectual property and ethics issues. We will introduce some collaborative authoring tools (e.g. Overleaf, Open Science Framework etc.) and discuss good practices. Last, we will highlight a few new approaches of disseminating your research output, such as data journal, open registry of your study and/or protocol, emerging preprint server, and open repositories.
Modern Scientist 101: Part 3 – Copyright, Intellectual Properties and Open Scholarship
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Open data and open science promote equal access, facilitate reproducible research, and enhance research impact in the digital era. However, many researchers have concerns on how to properly protect their intellectual property, especially copyrights and patenting rights, while being open with their research. This workshop explores resources and licensing tools that may help researchers with these concerns.
Modern Scientist 101: Part 4 – Building Up Your Scholarly Identity
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: For early-career researchers, it’s the best time for you to start building up your scholarly identity. This workshop will guide you to: (1) create and populate an ORCID profile (orcid.org); (2) correct and maintain your online profile (e.g. Google Scholar Profiles and Impact Story etc.); (3) use the scholarly networks (e.g. ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and Mendeley etc.) properly. During the process, we will help you understand your rights to post your work on these sites, how to interpret metrics on these sites, and what other scholarly activities (e.g. peer review contributions) may be integrated into your scholarly profile.
Modern Scientist 101: Part 5 – Organizing Your Files and Research Data: Best Practices
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Organizing and managing the numerous research output on your computer and lab server can be a daunting task, especially for collaborative project. Through case studies, this workshop will help you learn how to systematically name files and organize them in folders for a specific project. We will also discuss file formats, versioning and backup issues along with some tools that may help you with your personal files and research data. Last, we will explore how these principles and tools can be applied under an Electronic Lab Notebook environment.
Modern Scientist 101: Part 6 – Reproducible Data Analysis using Script-based and Open Source Tools
Contact Ye Li at yeli@mines.edu or Brianna Buljung at bbuljung@mines.edu
Abstract: Reproducible data analysis is an inseparable part of reproducible research. Using script-based computing and authoring tools like R / RStudio enables researchers to share their raw data, processing and analyzing scripts, and final report in one package and on an open platform (e.g. GitHub) efficiently. More and more disciplines encourage researchers to adopt such transparent workflows for their data analysis. This workshop will demonstrate the process with the open sources tools and help you develop your own workflow and templates. We will also host two-day Software Carpentry / Data Carpentry Workshops on this topic for those of you who would like a more comprehensive learning experience.