The Graduate School is pleased to announce a new Academic Skills Program for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at Syracuse University. The program represents an outgrowth and integration of the former BioInspired Graduate and Postdoctoral Development Program and the Graduate School’s Digital Badge in Research Communication.
The goal of the program is to equip participants with co-curricular skills needed to succeed in their professional careers. Consisting of four professional credentials offered on a four-semester cycle, the program demonstrates participants’ proficiencies in the areas of 1) Research Skills and Scholarly Publishing, 2) Scholarly Communication, 3) Project Management, and 4) Communicating with the Public. These areas are often part of the “hidden curriculum” that is not often formally addressed in graduate degree programs or postdoctoral mentoring but that is critical to professional success.
The credentials take the form of digital badges you can list on your CV and add to your LinkedIn profile. To complete any of the four credentials, you must attend three of the four workshops offered for that credential and submit an artifact (see options below) that demonstrates your proficiency in the content area. Acceptability of artifacts is at the discretion of the Graduate School. Participants may elect to complete any or all of the credentials offered in the program.
Artifact submissions and general inquiries about the program may be directed to Ava Breitbeck at acbreitb@syr.edu.
Interesting in pursing the Research Skills & Scholarly Publishing badge in Fall 2025? Sign up to receive workshop reminders and related info!
Graduate students and early-career scholars often engage in research as a central part of their academic work. Pursuing this credential provides an opportunity to learn core principles of scholarly research and writing, and prepares participants with actionable skills that streamline and demystify the research process.
Research Skills & Scholarly Publishing workshops
Advanced Literature Searching
Facilitated by Emily Hart, Life Sciences Librarian & Research Impact Lead
Date: Monday, September 15th, 2:30-4:00pm
Location: Bird Library 046 (ETC)
Join Emily Hart, Life Sciences Librarian and Research Impact Lead, for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn about key resources for finding the latest literature in your field. You’ll also learn techniques for organizing your research, including developing search strategies, setting up search alerts, and planning for your literature review. This workshop will be tailored to attendees’ prior knowledge. Please complete the registration form and survey questions to help Emily prepare a workshop targeted to your needs.
REGISTER HERE
AI & Research: Tools, Ethics, and Applications
Facilitated by Juan Denzer, Engineering & Computer Science Librarian
Date: Friday, October 10th, 10:00-11:30am
Location: Bird Library 046 (ETC)
This session will introduce graduate students and postdocs to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in academic research. We’ll explore practical tools for literature review, data analysis, and writing assistance, while also discussing ethical considerations and limitations. The session will include demonstrations and opportunities for discussion on how AI can be responsibly integrated into scholarly workflows. Demonstrated tools will include both University-licensed and publicly available tools.
REGISTER HERE
Cultivating Credibility: Rigor and Responsibility in Research
Facilitated by Stephanie Michaels, ORIP/IRB Assistant Director
Date: Friday, October 24, 1:00-2:30pm
Location: online via Zoom
Rigor and responsibility are essential to producing credible, ethical, and impactful research. This training introduces these principles as the foundation of responsible research conduct. Participants will examine how thoughtful study design, transparent reporting, and ethical decision-making contribute to trustworthy science. Designed for early-career researchers, the session fosters habits and mindsets that go beyond compliance to supporting a lasting reputation for excellence and integrity.
REGISTER HERE
Navigating the Journal Publication Process
Facilitated by Emily Hart, Life Sciences Librarian & Research Impact Lead
Date: Tuesday, November 4th, 2:30-4:00pm
Location: Bird Library 046 (ETC)
Publishing papers is critical to your graduate development, but the process can be opaque and even confusing. Indeed, as an author, you are faced with a bewildering array of publishing options, each with their own nuances. Join Emily Hart, Life Sciences Librarian and Research Impact Lead, for a hands-on workshop exploring the academic journal publishing process, including topics like:
- Identifying high-quality journals
- Types of peer review
- Publishing models and open access
- Author’s rights
- Preprints and repositories
REGISTER HERE
Research Skills & Scholarly Publishing artifacts
Possible artifacts for this credential can include:
- Complete one online Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training course listed below and submit documentation of completion. Courses range in length from 3-6 hours. (For more information on the CITI programs, visit https://about.citiprogram.org/ and log in using your SU email address and password.)
- Basic Human Subjects – Biomedical
- Basic Human Subjects – Biomedical & Social/Behavioral Focus
- Basic Human Subjects – Social/Behavioral Focus
- Biosafety/Biosecurity
- Good Clinical Practice
- Health Information Privacy and Security
- Laboratory Animal Welfare
- Responsible Conduct of Research
- Complete the online Research Ethics for All (RE4All) training and submit documentation of completion. This training is designed for researchers engaged in community outreach and/or who work with individuals with disabilities. Click the link for more information.
- Provide an article you have submitted to a peer-reviewed academic journal article or a book chapter you have submitted to a proposed edited volume. With your artifact submission, provide evidence that your article or chapter is under consideration for publication (i.e., “under review”). If your submission is in response to a call for papers, please provide a copy of the CFP.
- Submit a developing or work-in-progress manuscript to receive formal feedback at a seminar or conference (e.g., a roundtable works-in-progress discussion) Please note that you must present at a session designed for in-progress manuscripts for this artifact to count for credit. Alongside your proposal submission, provide evidence of participation (e.g., a seminar or conference program) along with a description of the feedback you received and how you plan to incorporate that feedback into your manuscript.
- Give formal feedback at a seminar or conference (e.g., a roundtable works-in-progress discussion) Please note that you must present at a session designed for in-progress manuscripts for this artifact to count for credit. Alongside your proposal submission, provide evidence of participation (e.g., a seminar or conference program) along with a description of the feedback you received and how you plan to incorporate that feedback into your manuscript
- Publish a book review in a peer-reviewed journal. Provide a copy of your published review along with a link to the book reviewed from the publisher’s website.
- Complete and receive acceptance for an IRB protocol. Provide a copy of your IRB acceptance letter as well as a description of any modifications you made during the approval process.
To have another artifact considered for credit, please email Ava Breitbeck at acbreitb@syr.edu with your proposed artifact idea and a brief explanation of how your artifact demonstrates competency for the credential.
For our research and scholarship to be effective, we must know how to communicate our work with the broader scholarly community. Pursuing this credential, participants gain skills in effective written, visual, and oral communication for academic audiences. Sessions include introductions to scientific writing and graphic design, figure and poster design, and oral research talks.
Effective Scholarly Communication workshops (details TBA)
Introduction to Scientific Writing
Facilitated by Dr. Lenny Grant, Assistant Professor of Writing & Rhetoric
Introduction to Graphic Design
Facilitated by Ken Harper, Associate Professor of Visual Communications
Figure & Poster Design
Facilitated by Dr. Jessica MacDonald, Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Engaging Oral Research Talks
Facilitated by Dr. Kendall Phillips, Professor of Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Effective Scholarly Communication artifacts
Possible artifacts for this credential can include:
- Present your work at an academic conference or a campus-based research symposium (such as ECS Research Day or the SOE Graduate Research Symposium), in the form of an oral or poster presentation. Your artifact submission should consist of your presentation abstract or a confirmation of acceptance; your written text, prepared notes, and/or slides (oral presentation) or graphic image of your poster; and the conference/symposium program or schedule.
- Transform work written as part of your program (e.g., a term paper or qualifying exam essay) into a journal article or book chapter manuscript. Submit both the original and revised versions of your work, with a brief description of your revision process. Also submit evidence that your article/chapter is under consideration or has been accepted for publication.
- Become a peer reviewer for a (blind review) journal in your academic discipline and complete a minimum of one review of an assigned article. Submit editorial correspondence soliciting your review of the manuscript, along with the review you provided. If the article was published, provide a link from the journal’s website.
- Apply for a nationally competitive fellowship or scholarship. Provide your application materials and the call for applications or other description of the fellowship or scholarship.
- Provide application materials for an academic job (CV, cover letter, research and/or teaching statements, writing sample if required; letters of reference are not needed). Provide the job posting.
- To have another artifact considered for credit, please email Ava Breitbeck at acbreitb@syr.edu with your proposed artifact idea and a brief explanation of how your artifact demonstrates competency for the credential.
Project management is a vital skill whether you intend to pursue a career in academia, industry, or elsewhere. Pursuing this credential equips you to engage in productive project management. You will learn strategies to secure project funding, manage collaborative teams, delegate responsibilities, and engage with project stakeholders.
Project Management workshops (details TBA)
Getting Your Project Started & Funded
Leading Collaborative Teams
Project Execution & Stakeholder Management
Project Management Panel Discussion
Project Management artifacts
Possible artifacts for this credential can include:
- Apply for a grant to support your research. Submit your application/narratives, including any sections relevant to managing the research project (e.g., research aims, management and/or collaboration plan, budget), along with the grant notice/announcement and proposal requirements. Funding opportunities other than grants (e.g., short-term funded research positions) may qualify if connected to a specific research project you propose.
- Complete and publish a preregistration plan for an independent project, thesis, or dissertation. Your plan must be submitted to an online repository (such as OSF or OpenIPCSR). Submit your completed preregistration plan alongside a link to your published document.
- To have another artifact considered for credit, please email Ava Breitbeck at acbreitb@syr.edu with your proposed artifact idea and a brief explanation of how your artifact demonstrates competency for the credential.
Through deliberate and thoughtful communication, scholars are able to gain support for their work and reach broader, more diverse audiences than their professional communities. However, many scholars find it difficult to situate their research in the public sphere. Pursuing this credential will help you develop strategies for effective engagement with the public, while building proficiency in media relations outreach, and public discourse around science and scholarship.
Communicating with the Public workshops (details TBA)
Navigating Public Perceptions of Science and Academia
Media Engagement Strategies
Persuasive Communication Strategies
Social Media for Professionals
Communicating with the Public artifacts
Possible artifacts for this credential can include:
- Deliver a talk at a TEDxSyracuseUniversity or similar event. Submit a video link or other evidence of your participation.
- Participate in a local community event related to your scholarly work (i.e., serving as a judge at a science/history fair). Submit documentation of your participation and a description of your role.
- Publish an op-ed or blog post related to your research with an established media outlet (e.g., The Daily Orange). Provide a link to your published text.
- Engage in an interview or podcast on your scholarly work with a media professional, for a general audience. If possible, provide a link to the publicly available version of your interview/podcast. Alternately, provide a transcript or video/audio file, with a description of where and how it was published.
- Participate in the Syracuse University Three-Minute Thesis Competition.
- To have another artifact considered for credit, please email Ava Breitbeck at acbreitb@syr.edu with your proposed artifact idea and a brief explanation of how your artifact demonstrates competency for the credential.
