Writing and Research Workshops - Summer 2023

The Graduate Writing Center offers a wide variety of writing workshops, ranging from general to more specialized topics. We also provide information on selected campus offices that provide assistance with research, data management, and data analysis.

All workshops are conducted on Zoom unless otherwise noted.

Note: We are still in the process of scheduling summer workshops, so more workshops will be added soon.

Past Workshops

Workshop Videos

General Workshops

UCLA IRB Review: Policy and Procedures
Tiffany Rose & Anya Rosensteel, UCLA Office of the Human Research Protections Program (OHRPP)
This workshop will provide an overview of the UCLA IRB application process and related policies and procedures.
Wednesday, July 12th, 3:00-4:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1314503

Mindful Writing Retreat Sessions (Online)
Marilyn Gray, Director, Graduate Writing Center
The mindful writing retreat will integrate simple techniques from mindfulness to support the writing process and cultivate an approach to writing that fosters balance, self-care, and well-being. Please bring a current writing project because much of the retreat time will be allocated for writing. All sessions will be conducted remotely via zoom.

1) Friday, July 7th, 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1314494

2) Friday, July 14th, 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1314495

3) Friday, July 28th, 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1314497

4) Friday, August 4th, 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1314498

Writing the Personal Statement
McKenna Davis, Engineering, Graduate Writing Consultant
Jackie Davis, World Arts & Cultures, Graduate Writing Consultant
Andrew Malmuth, Sociology, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will cover strategies for writing personal statements for fellowship applications, residencies, and PhD programs. Among other topics, we will discuss organization, introductions and conclusions, and use of examples. Students from all schools and departments are welcome to attend. The workshop will be offered twice:
1) Wednesday, August 9th, 5:30-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1323662
2) Thursday, August 10th, 5:30-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1323663

Navigating Graduate School: Academic Success Strategies for First-Generation College Students*
Kimberly Miranda, Chicana/o and Central American Studies, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
This workshop will provide useful strategies for navigating graduate school successfully. We will focus on tips and tricks that will help you succeed, as well as elucidate aspects of the "hidden curriculum," or things you're expected to know but not explicitly taught. We will cover a broad spectrum of topics such as managing writing requirements, using organizational tools to stay on track, communicating effectively with mentors to meet your needs, and networking at conferences to build professional relationships.
*We are defining a first-generation college student as a student whose parent(s) or guardian(s) did not complete a four-year degree in the United States.
Thursday, August 24th, 5:15-6:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1328436

Humanities & Social Sciences Writing Workshops

Strategies for Writing About Statistics
Caroline Diehl, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will review how to report a variety of statistical findings in writing, including results from ANOVAs, linear and logistic regression, and t tests, as well as how to use APA formatting for statistics. We will also discuss how to present statistical findings clearly and accurately when writing results and discussion sections.
Wednesday, July 19th, 5:15-6:15 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1314499

Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (General)
Various Workshop Presenters
This workshop will discuss strategies for applying for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. This highly competitive fellowship provides three years of fellowship funding to successful applicants. The workshop will focus on the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria for NSF grants, the structure of the research proposal and personal statement, suggestions for writing style, and tips for Fastlane submission.
1) Friday, August 18th, 1:00-2:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327812
2) Wednesday, September 6th, 5:15 - 6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327817

Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (Humanities and Social Sciences)
Lika Balenovic, Comparative Literature, Graduate Writing Consultant
Jackie Davis, World Arts and Cultures, Graduate Writing Consultant
Andrew Malmuth, Sociology, Graduate Writing Consultant
Ross Fenimore, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in humanities, social sciences, and related fields. The workshop will then focus on strategies for writing effective applications for grants and fellowships to support graduate study and research, especially for students seeking doctorates and research MAs. We will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Wednesday, September 13th, 4:30-6:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327819

Science and Engineering Writing Workshops

Strategies for Writing Scientific Papers
Adriana Mendez Leal, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will focus on strategies for self-editing structure and style in scientific writing. It will also address strategies for improving flow, clarity, and conciseness, as well as general tips for healthy writing.
Tuesday, July 18th, 1:00-2:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1320582

Creating Effective Figures and Visual Aids
McKenna Davis, Engineering, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop focuses on strategies for designing effective figures and visual materials. The workshop will also introduce different software packages that can be used to create high-quality figures and offer further resources for learning these programs.
Wednesday, July 19th, 1:00-2:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1320584

Organizing and Managing Larger Projects
McKenna Davis, Engineering, Graduate Writing Consultant1
Adriana Mendez Leal, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will give an overview of how to organize and manage large scale writing projects, especially in STEM fields.
Thursday, July 20th, 1:00-2:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation:
https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1320585

Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (Engineering and Physical Science Focus)
McKenna Davis, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Graduate Writing Consultant
Dominique Stumbaugh, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Graduate Writing Center Consultant
Shannon Yu, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will discuss strategies for applying for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship with a physical science focus. This highly competitive fellowship provides three years of fellowship funding to successful applicants. The workshop will focus on the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria for NSF grants, the structure of the research proposal and personal statement, suggestions for writing style, and tips for Fastlane submission.
Tuesday, August 22nd, 4:30-6:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327814

Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (Life and Bio Science Focus)
Paheli Desai-Chowdhry, Biomathematics, Graduate Writing Consultant
Aidan Howenstine, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Graduate Writing Consultant
Leezet Matos, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
Shannon Yu, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will discuss strategies for applying for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship with a life science focus. This highly competitive fellowship provides three years of fellowship funding to successful applicants. The workshop will focus on the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria for NSF grants, the structure of the research proposal and personal statement, suggestions for writing style, and tips for Fastlane submission.
Thursday, August 31st, 4:30-6:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327816

Writing Successful Grant and Fellowship Applications (STEM Focus)
McKenna Davis, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Graduate Writing Consultant
Adriana Mendez Leal, Psychology, Graduate Writing Consultant
Ross Fenimore, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will first briefly review funding opportunities for graduate students in STEM fields. The workshop will then focus on strategies for writing effective applications for grants and fellowships to support graduate study and research, especially for students seeking doctorates and research MAs. The workshop will also cover tips for organizing the application process.
Tuesday September 12th, 4:30-6:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327818

ESL Workshops

Self-Editing Strategies for Non-Native Speakers of English
Abraham Encinas, English, Graduate Writing Consultant
This workshop will provide concrete strategies and online tools to enable non-native speakers of English to improve their writing and editing process, check grammatical issues, make appropriate vocabulary choices and approach issues like article and preposition usage in their own writing projects.
Wednesday, July 26th, 5:15-6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1314500

Grants/Fellowships Workshops

Writing the Fulbright U.S. Fellowship Application
Jackie Davis, Fulbright Recipient, Graduate Writing Consultant
Jessie Stoolman, Fulbright Recipient, Graduate Writing Consultant
Shannon Yu, Graduate Division Fellowship Services
This workshop will cover strategies for writing the Fulbright U.S. fellowship application. We will discuss the structure and content of key documents using examples. We will address writing tips for fellowship applications as well as specific advice for this Fulbright fellowship.
Friday, July 14th, 12:15 PM-1:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1314501

Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Various Workshop Presenters
We will offer a series of NSF targeted workshops. The workshop will discuss strategies for applying for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. This highly competitive fellowship provides three years of fellowship funding to successful applicants. The workshop will focus on the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria for NSF grants, the structure of the research proposal and personal statement, suggestions for writing style, and tips for Fastlane submission.

1) NSF GRF (General)
Friday, August 18th, 1:00-2:30 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327812

2) NSF GRF (Engineering and Physical Sciences Focus)
Tuesday, August 22nd, 4:30-6:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327814

3) NSF GRF (Life and Biological Science Focus)
Thursday, August 31st, 4:30-6:00 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327816

4) NSF GRF (General)
Wednesday, September 6th, 5:15 - 6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327817

Applying for the NIH Training Fellowship
Caroline Diehl, NIH NRSA Recipient, Writing Consultant
This workshop will cover the application process and required components of an NIH NRSA application. We will discuss preparation, documents required, and writing strategies for the F31, but the F30 and F32 are very similar. We will also address how to find appropriate materials/resources for a complete application.
Thursday, September 28th, 5:15-6:45 PM
This workshop will be conducted remotely via Zoom. RSVP on Handshake to receive an invitation: https://ucla.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1327827

Statistical Software Workshops and Consultation

For walk-in consulting information, Stat books for loan, and the most up-to-date listing of seminars, please see the Statistical Consulting Services web page of the Institute for Digital Research and Education.

Research Workshops at the Library

To see the most complete, current schedule of UCLA Library advanced research workshops, consult the UCLA Library research workshop page.

Research Guides
Online research guides link to key resources and reference books for certain courses and disciplines. Subject guides, course guides, and general research guides are available.

Research Appointments
Graduate students are encouraged to contact the Library's subject specialists for more specialized and personalized assistance with research, library resources, and subject databases; find a complete list of all subject specialists here.

Copyright Questions
Contact the Library's copyright experts for assistance with copyright, publishing, intellectual property, and other related issues at copyright@library.ucla.edu.