Professional Development and Career Preparation

CECS Workshops and Events

CECS will host several workshops over the academic year.  Topics covered are designed to address graduate students' issues, provide support, and to prepare students for academic and career success.

Rackham Professional Development Opportunities

Rackham offers a variety of resources and programming to contribute to your professional and academic development of students in our Ph.D. programs

Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)

A Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) is employed to teach courses, or coordinate, lead, or assist in the instructional process in direct interaction with students in assigned classes, labs, quizzes, problem sessions, or during office hours. GSIs have a critical role in teaching undergraduate students at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.  Students who receive an appointment are in good standing in their CECS graduate degree program.

Instructional Training

Doctoral students appointed as GSIs attend GSI Teaching Orientation provided by CECS before teaching courses.  Also, students also participate in ongoing professional development training while holding the appointment.  

Depending on needs, a select few master's level students receive an appointment as GSIs.  

Center for Research on Learning and Teaching in Engineering Ann Arbor 

The Center for Research on Learning and Teaching in Engineering (CRLT-Engin) on the Ann Arbor campus offers workshops that are open to all interested individuals.  Each fall, the CRLT-Engin provides required training for GSI teaching in the CECS.  A list of other upcoming workshops that may be of interest to GSIs and all students.

Graduate Student Professional Development Workshop Series Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies, these events provide an opportunity to network with faculty, staff, and other graduate students, while growing your personal and professional skills.

Questions? Contact Graduate Studies Office @ [email protected] 

Graduate Student Research Assistant

A Graduate Student Research Assistantship (GSRA) program is a vehicle to provide financial support for the academically-related research activities of active University of Michigan graduate students.  Students who receive appointment are in good standing in a University of Michigan CECS graduate degree program and may perform personal research (including thesis or dissertation preparation) or assists faculty performing research that is relevant to his or her academic goals.

There are many opportunities at UM-Dearborn for graduate students to get involved in the cutting-edge research conducted on campus by our faculty members. 

Research Labs

Each Fall, during Open Lab Day, students have the opportunity to meet with faculty conducting research in an area of interest and faculty have the opportunity to meet with students who show interest in being a research assistant.  

Computer and Information Science Labs

Electrical and Computer Engineering Labs

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Labs

Mechanical Engineering Labs

The intent of the CECS Doctoral Student Conference Travel Grant is to provide opportunities for Ph.D. students to become familiar with, participate in, and build a network in their academic professions. As part of its commitment to advancing excellence in research and training, the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) may provide 50% matching funds for conference attendance. The remainder of the funding comes from other campus awards, the student's department, faculty advisor, or combination of the three.

Doctoral students are eligible to apply for a CECS Conference Travel Grant award if:

• The graduate student is in good academic standing in a CECS Ph.D. degree program.
• The student has responded to a formal call for papers.
• The student is presenting a poster or paper at a national or international professional conference.

Only applications submitted a minimum of two weeks before the conference date will be considered. Applications for retroactive funding are not considered. There is a limit of one award per student (either Publication Grant or Travel Grant) per academic year.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for the Student Conference Presentation travel grant through Experience+ (up to $500 for travel-related expenses and/or $40 for presentation materials).

In compliance with DAG 501.2-3 this award will be processed through the Financial Aid system and may have tax implications. Please contact your tax advisor with any questions. This award may also affect need-based aid in your financial aid package. These instances are handled individually and you will be contacted directly if it appears you may be affected.

Note to Faculty: Awards will be processed through Financial Aid. Do not put travel charges on your P-Card before talking to the Dean’s Office.

Students must apply for CECS Doctoral Student Conference Travel Grant through Infoready. 

The intent of the CECS Doctoral Student Publication Grant is to provide funding to offset the costs of research publication. As part of its commitment to advancing excellence in research and training, the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) may provide 50% matching funds for reimbursement of research publication fees. The remainder of the funding comes from other campus awards, the student's department, faculty advisor, or combination of the three.

Doctoral students are eligible to apply for a CECS Doctoral Student Publication Grant award if:

• The graduate student is in good academic standing in a CECS Ph.D. degree program.
• The student has responded to a formal call for papers.
• The student has an accepted paper that requires a publication fee or overlength fee to be published.

Only one grant can be received per publication. Grants for publications with multiple authors should be requested by only one author of the teams choice. Only applications submitted before the publication date will be considered. Applications for retroactive funding are not considered. There is a limit of one award per student (either Publication Grant or Travel Grant) per academic year.

In compliance with DAG 501.2-3 this award will be processed through the Financial Aid system and may have tax implications. Please contact your tax advisor with any questions. This award may also affect need-based aid in your financial aid package. These instances are handled individually and you will be contacted directly if it appears you may be affected.

Note to Faculty: Awards will be processed through Financial Aid. Do not put these charges on your P-Card before talking to the Dean’s Office.

Students must apply for CECS Doctoral Student Publication Grant through Infoready. 

CECS Experiential Learning 

The CECS Experiential Learning Program collaborates with industry to provide graduate students with career exploration through internship opportunities.  Students receive real-world experience and the tools to succeed in their chosen career. 

CECS Career Development Resources

The office offers many services from job search techniques and mock interviews to networking strategies.  Students can stop by the office for assistance.

Career Services

The Office of Career Services provides a variety of services that support students in all areas of career development and job search. Career Services offers career counseling in addition to career-related workshops and resources to all students.

The NCFDD is a nationally recognized, independent organization that provides online career development and mentoring resources for faculty, post-docs, and graduate students. The institutional membership was funded by a partnership between CECS and the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UM-Ann Arbor, and makes these resources available to all UM-Dearborn faculty.