Professional Development Events

It is said that 80% of data analysis is spent on the process of cleaning and preparing the data for exploration, visualization, and analysis. This R workshop will introduce the dplyr and tidyr packages to make data wrangling and manipulation easier. Participants will learn how to use these packages to subset and reshape data sets, do calculations across groups of data, clean data, and other useful tasks.

Pandas is a Python package that provides fast, flexible, and expressive data structures designed to make working with 'relational' or 'labeled' data both easy and intuitive. It enables doing practical, real world data analysis in Python. In this workshop, we'll work with example data and go through the various steps you might need to prepare data for analysis. We will cover: Pandas data structures Loading data Subsetting and filtering Calculating summary statistics Dealing with missing values Merging data sets Creating new variables Basic plotting Exporting data

This three-hour workshop will cover charts in more detail, review pivot tables, and the widely-used VLOOKUP function. We recommend first taking the introductory workshop Excel Data Analysis: Introduction.  

This event is our 2025 Banking and Finance Week (held VIRTUAL* on zoom), on February 11, 12, and 13, and provides you with opportunities to meet with firms throughout the week at multiple targeted events, to explore full-time jobs and internships in Investment Banking, Private Equity, Asset Management, and Finance.

Do you need to have a breakthrough in your writing and research productivity? Do you promise yourself every term that you're going to be highly productive, but end up falling short year after year? Do you want to learn why our Faculty Success Program consistently improves over 90% of participants' productivity every session? If so, join us for one of our most popular webinars where you will learn: How to avoid the biggest mistakes academic writers make during the academic term How to maximize your research and writing productivity How to combat professional isolation and create a supportive writing community

In this workshop, we provide a basic introduction to how to interact with your computer via terminal. We are going to focus on Bash (Bourne-Again Shell) or Zsh (Z Shell), which are one of the most commonly used Unix/Linux shells. Prerequisites: None.

Graduate students who receive stipends, salaries, or are in a niche tax situation can attend this workshop for tax guidance. This workshop walks you through calculating the taxable portion of your academic income and minimizing your tax liability using your higher education expenses. Whether you received a Form W-2, a Form 1098-T, some other unusual document, or no tax forms at all, this workshop is for you. Register Here

Focusing on a case study, we will discuss how assignments can be crafted with an eye for students’ diverse skills and needs. Our case study will exemplify scaffolding assessments with practice, feedback, and revision to allow students ample opportunities to show what they know. What are Spark Talks? Spark Talks are short 20-minute sessions that aim to spark interest in new or different approaches to teaching and learning, as well as foster connections and conversations around instruction at UC Berkeley. Spark Talks are interactive presentations that digest recent research articles into practical terms for instructors. Instructors are also invited to stay after the session to connect with colleagues and CTL staff. Spark Talks are an opportunity to welcome IN our instructor colleagues and start cross-campus dialogue on teaching. As part of the Spark Talk series, this session aims to: INtroduce one specific evidence-based teaching practice from the recent literature on teaching and learning INform instructors about the considerations for applying this particular practice (what, why, and how) INvestigate a few examples of how this technique could be implemented in a course INspire instructors to explore using this new technique in their course Instructors are encouraged to follow up with CTL in 1-on-1 consultation to continue to explore what this particular teaching practice might look like in their own course contexts. This session will run for 20 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes reserved for questions and networking.

Grab your strategic plan and learn the secret to making it work day-to-day and week-to-week! How to Align Your Time with Your Priorities is a step-by-step guide to holding a weekly planning meeting (aka The Weekly Meeting). In this webinar you'll learn: What works…and what DOESN'T work when it comes to weekly planning Why weekly planning is the bridge between your strategic plan and getting control of your workday The 30-minute technique that will help you make sure that the most important things get done each day And much more... This is a HANDS-ON webinar where you'll not only learn the technique but actually do it!

This workshop will provide an introduction to graphics in R with ggplot2. Participants will learn how to construct, customize, and export a variety of plot types in order to visualize relationships in data. We will also explore the basic grammar of graphics, including the aesthetics and geometry layers, adding statistics, transforming scales, and coloring or panelling by groups. You will learn how to make histograms, boxplots, scatterplots, lineplots, and heatmaps as well as how to make compound figures. Prerequisites: D-Lab’s R Fundamentals(link is external) or equivalent knowledge; previous experience with base R is assumed.

Are you starting a research project at UC Berkeley that involves human subjects? If so, one of the first steps you will need to take is getting IRB approval. Numerous questions can come to mind when first negotiating getting a project approved. When should you apply? Does your project require review, and if so, what kind? This course will walk you through the process of getting IRB approval for your project. After this course, you will approach getting your project approved with confidence that will save you time and avoid potential delays. Specifically, we will: Describe the origins of the institutional review board and its purpose. Introduce you to IRB at UC Berkeley. Walk through the different types of protocols to determine the best one for your project. Create a protocol and explain in-depth the different portions that make up your eprotocol. Discuss the review and amendment process.

This workshop provides an introduction to visualization with Python. We will cover visualization principles and plotting with Matplotlib and Seaborn, working through examples in a Jupyter notebook and documentation of each plotting package. We’ll also learn about styles and customizing plots. Throughout the workshop, we’ll discuss the plot types best suited for particular kinds of data. The following plot types will be covered: Histogram Barplot Boxplot Scatterplot Lineplot Subplot We'll also learn about styles and customizing plots. Throughout the workshop, we'll discuss the plot types best suited for particular kinds of data.

Join an interactive session to exchange ideas and collaborate with GradPro staff and your fellow graduate students. Together, you’ll explore strategies for fostering strong, productive relationships with academic mentors and advisors. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Learn more and sign-up for the group chat in the registration form.

Are you responsible for designing a course and syllabus for this coming summer or next fall? Are you interested in developing a syllabus for the academic job search? In this workshop, participants will learn ways to turn their syllabus ideas into integrated courses and will work out criteria for selecting course materials, assignments, and methods of assessment.

This introductory workshop covers basics of GitHub using GitHub Desktop, a GUI Git client. This workshop is designed for people with no previous experience with Git or GitHub. We will cover key concepts and workflows, including version control, repository creation, branching, merging, and collaboration. You'll gain hands-on experience navigating GitHub, managing repositories, and contributing to projects, making it easier to streamline your work and collaborate with others.

This workshop offers a general introduction to the GPT (Generative Pretrained Transformers) model. No technical background is required. We will explore the transformer architecture upon which GPT models are built, how transformer models encode natural language into embeddings, and how GPT predicts text.

Faculty receive little guidance and preparation for stepping into leadership roles. This lack of guidance is especially true for those not seen as stereotypical leaders. Faculty often wonder when might it be appropriate to step into a leadership role, if at all. What should be some considerations? How does one shift into academic leadership roles? In this webinar, answers to these questions will be provided and self reflection will be encouraged. Register via the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (create an account using your CalNet login)

The 14-Day Challenge is an opportunity for you to experiment with daily writing, online community, and supportive accountability. It's very simple: You commit to write every day for at least 30 minutes. At the beginning of your writing time, you login to our online community, start the timer, complete your writing, and post your progress at the end. You take 5 minutes to support other writers in your group by commenting on their progress. This is NOT for you if: 1) you don't want to post your progress on a daily basis and/or 2) you don't want to interact with other people. If you're up for the challenge, then we can't wait for you to join us! Register via the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (create an account using your CalNet login)

Held “in person” in Stanley 177 The aim of this workshop is to make the conventions of interviewing more transparent and provide basic strategies for your success in presenting yourself to employers. You do not need to be currently on the job market to benefit from participating in this event; you will gain insights into interviewing dynamics and tips for preparation that can serve you in the future. PLUS…. learn about helpful campus resources such as Handshake, Vault and BigInterview. (Feel free to bring your lunch, there will be light snacks) Register

"Skills and Strategies for Managing ADHD in Grad School" presentation offered by Graduate Peer Support Providers at UC Berkeley. This presentation is free and available for all graduate students at Berkeley. Please complete this registration form to let us know if you will be able to join us!

Berkeley Career Engagement (BCE) is pleased to invite you to the 2025 Spring Architecture & Environmental Design Career & Internship Fair Network with representatives and learn more about full-time and internship opportunities. Find out about recruiting timelines and application procedures. Student Registration is not required. All majors and degree levels are welcome to attend; employers will specifically be seeking to fill Architecture and Environmental Design roles. This fair is open to currently enrolled UC Berkeley students and eligible alumni with a current Handshake account. Be sure to bring your UC Berkeley Student ID and copies of your updated resume to the fair. Business casual attire is recommended.

📢 Communication is key—whether it’s with professors, recruiters, or future employers. In this quick session we'll dive into crafting messages that are both authentic and professional across platforms like email, LinkedIn, Zoom, and in person. In just 15 minutes, you’ll get actionable tips to help you communicate confidently and make a great impression, followed by a quick Q&A. Let’s sharpen your skills for every conversation that counts!

Join this session to hear from researchers at UC Berkeley and UC Davis who have gathered and analyzed data from instructors, undergraduates, and graduate students to explore the stories we tell about generative AI in higher ed. Learn about the concerns and priorities students have about AI in their education and take-aways from instructors grappling with tough questions about AI in the classroom. Join us to explore how data can guide campus decision-making about generative AI policies and learning opportunities. Presenters: Madeline Long Arnold, Institutional Research Analyst, Graduate Division, UC Berkeley Audrey A Thomas, Institutional Research Analyst, Division of Undergraduate Admissions, UC Berkeley Matthew T Stenberg, Postdoctoral Fellow, Graduate Division, UC Berkeley Matt Steinwachs, Assistant Director for the Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE), Office of Undergraduate Education, UC Davis This session will run for 45 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes reserved for questions.

Description: Unlock the secrets to finding a workplace that aligns with your values and enhances your career satisfaction with our virtual event, "Beyond the Job Ad: Decoding Company Culture and Values." This session will provide you with the knowledge and tools to assess company culture and values, ensuring you make informed career choices. What We’ll Cover: Understanding Company Culture: Learn about the significance of company culture and its impact on job satisfaction and career growth. We’ll highlight valuable tools and resources like Glassdoor and LinkedIn to help you research and evaluate company culture effectively. Studies indicate that Gen Z values a positive work culture and strong company ethics. According to a Deloitte survey, 77% of Gen Z respondents said it’s important to work at organizations whose values align with theirs. Assessing Company Values: Discover how to evaluate a company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as sustainability and social responsibility. We’ll guide you on how to assess your own needs and ensure they are met by your potential employers. Join us to gain insights on how to go beyond job ads and truly understand the organizations you’re considering. Don’t miss this opportunity to find a workplace that aligns with your values and supports your career aspirations. Register Now

Join Historian and political commentator Heather Cox Richardson joins UC Berkeley professor of law and history Dylan Penningroth for a conversation on Forging a New Political System, 2024 and Beyond. In a timely conversation about the reshaping of the United States’ two major political parties. A professor of 19th century American history at Boston College, Richardson provides an incisive perspective on current politics to the more than three million readers of her nightly newsletter, Letters from an American. To learn more visit the Berkeley Graduate Lectures Website.

Improve your teaching and prepare for the academic job search. Come find out what is typically addressed in a teaching philosophy statement and participate in activities that will help you get started.