NHERI Graduate Student Council
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective and New Members
General Information
Q: What is NHERI GSC?
A: NHERI GSC stands for Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure Graduate Student Council. It is a student-run organization established by NHERI, in October 2021, to connect and support the next generation of natural hazards researchers and scientists.
Q: How do I register to become a member?
A: Please use the following link to register to become a member: https://bit.ly/NHERI_GSCouncil.
Q: Do I have to pay to register for membership?
A: No, registration for membership is free.
Q: I am not studying in the U.S. Can I still participate?
A: Yes, we welcome graduate students from universities around the world. Our meetings and most of our events are held online, which makes it easy to participate and contribute.
Q: Do I need to be in a specific major, discipline, or field?
A: No, if your research interest/project is related to natural hazard assessment/recovery/mitigation, you are welcome to join NHERI GSC!
Q: How soon can I become a member of NHERI GSC after I become a student?
A: After enrolling in your university as a Master/Ph.D. student, you are welcome to join NHERI GSC in your first semester.
Q: How diverse is the organization?
A: Our membership is quite diverse with graduate students from over 10 nations and different fields of study within natural hazards that include engineering, architecture, urban planning, computer science, medical, earth, and social sciences.
Q: What are the "Research Standing Subcommittee"?
A: Research Standing Committees comprise a group of members, who work on specific activities to achieve the programming of NHERI GSC. They work hand in hand with Officers to ensure the smooth running of NHERI GSC and together shape the entire membership experience. Currently, we have 6 Working Groups:
- Research
- Research Standing Subcommittee Representatives
- Earthquake
- Wind
- Coastal
- Geotechnical
- Social Science
- Simulation/Computational Modeling
- Reconnaissance
- Workshops & Mentoring
- Networking & Community Building
- Membership
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Social Media & Outreach
If you would like to join any of the Research Standing Subcommittees, please use this link to register: https://bit.ly/2023NHERIGSC_RSRApplication.
Getting Involved
Q: How can I get involved?
A: First, register to become a member. Once you join, you will have the option to join one or more of our several Research Standing Subcommittees. You can also attend our monthly meetings (General and Executive meetings) and other events such as workshops, panels, conferences, etc. See the following links for more on our meetings and events:
- Meetings: https://www.designsafe-ci.org/learning-center/nheri-graduate-student-council/explore/meetings/
- Events: https://www.designsafe-ci.org/learning-center/nheri-graduate-student-council/explore/events/
Q: What are the opportunities for leadership?
A: We encourage members to run for leadership positions such as Officers, Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Research Standing Subcommittees, and as Representatives of the Research Standing Subcommittees, so that they can shape the experience of all members. Members who have attended two or more meetings/events are eligible to serve in a leadership role. In order to overwhelm leadership, members may only serve in one leadership position at a time. For more details on specific leadership roles, please visit: https://www.designsafe-ci.org/learning-center/nheri-graduate-student-council/explore/leadership/.
Q: How do I get involved in the Research Standing Subcommittees?
A: To get involved in a specific Research Standing Subcommittee, please reach out to the Research Standing Subcommittee Representative (RSR) of interest at a General or Executive Meeting. You can find a list of leadership at the following link: https://www.designsafe-ci.org/learning-center/nheri-graduate-student-council/explore/leadership/. Q: Are there opportunities for research collaboration? A: Yes, through our Research Standing Subcommittees, Research Challenge, and other engaging events you can collaborate with other natural hazard graduate researchers. Additionally, we highly recommend joining a Research Standing Subcommittee that more closely aligns with your own research; there you will be able to meet with other graduate students working in your field.
Q: Can I publish a paper in NHERI GSC?
A: While NHERI GSC does not currently publish student papers, NHERI GSC hosts a Mini-Conference and other opportunities for student presentations, which is a great opportunity for networking, meeting peer researchers, and improving your research/dissertation.
Q: Can I be a reviewer in NHERI GSC?
A: When a conference or other event requiring peer review is open, you can request to serve as a reviewer. Many times, NHERI GSC will send out an email to members requesting volunteer reviewers.
Q: Can I network among my peers?
A: Yes. Many opportunities exist through our various events (workshops, meetings, socials) and Slack.
Benefits and Opportunities
Q: What are the main benefits of becoming a NHERI GSC member?
A: In general, you can improve your research/dissertation by attending workshops and presenting at conferences. NHERI GSC is also a great fit for those seeking academic, industry or public service jobs based on the cooperation of faculty, facilities, and firms with NHERI through workshops and conferences funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Q: Can I get funding to attend conferences?
A: NHERI GSC members who attend at least two meetings/events can apply for funding to attend the NHERI Summer Institute (https://www.designsafe-ci.org/learning-center/summer-institute/). At least 5 NHERI GSC members who apply for the NSF Travel Award each year will be selected. Funding to other events, including conferences, may also be offered based on available funding. All funding is subject to the terms of the National Science Foundation.
Q: Can I get access to the NHERI facilities?
A: To access and learn more about any of the NHERI facilities, please visit: https://www.designsafe-ci.org/about/.
Q: Can I showcase my research work and ask questions?
A: Yes, opportunities for research presentation are available in our events (such as research challenges, workshops, Mini-Conference, and other conferences) where you can receive constructive peer review.
Q: What are the topics of workshops?
A: Past and upcoming workshops include NSF proposal writing, academic publishing, reconnaissance, simulation/computational tools, and others. Workshops will vary in topic based on the interests of members and availability of potential speakers.
Support and Help
Q: Who do I go to when I need help?
A: Reach out via email to the Chair of Membership (Daniel Yahya, diy0001@auburn.edu), Vice Chair (Wesam Mohamed, wesammm2@illinois.edu) or our NHERI Liaison (Robin Nelson, robin.nelson@utsa.edu).
Q: How do I stay up to date on NHERI GSC activities?
A: NHERI GSC communicates events and opportunities through emails, our Google Events Calendar, and on social media. Please, refer to the links below:
- Events Calendar — https://bit.ly/NHERIGSCEvents
- LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngsc
- Twitter — https://twitter.com/NheriGsc
- Instagram — https://instagram.com/nherigsc
- Facebook — https://bit.ly/NHERIGSCFacebook