Grad PIRATE Talks
Promoting
Innovative
Research
And
Teaching
Excellence
Grad PIRATE Talks provide a forum for graduate student research and teaching assistants to network, share their research, and improve their teaching skills. Each session will feature a 30-40 minute presentation by one or more graduate students followed by a 20-30 minute moderated discussion.

2026/2027
Fall 2026
Strategies for Communicating Your Research
Date TBD
Panelists: TBD
2025/2026
Fall 2025
Failing Forward: A Research-Based Conversation
October 22, 2025
Moderator: Dr. Debra Jackson
Panelists:
- Rose Baker (Rehabilitation Sciences)
- Benjamin Brisard (Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry)
- Kelsey Coates (Biology)
- Patrick Garrett (Biomedical Sciences)
- Mackenzie Hoey (Bioenergetics and Exercise Science)
- Muhammad Kamran (Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry)
- Sarah Radel (Integrated Coastal Sciences)
- Becky Skinner (Nursing)
- Jordan Stanley (Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry)
- Alexandra Stevenson (Integrated Coastal Sciences)
Spring 2026
What Makes a Great TA?
March 24, 2026
Moderator: Dr. Debra Jackson
Panelists:
- Briana K Toplin (Counselor Preparation and Research)
- Elly Scrantz (Health Psychology)
- Thomas Vitti (Health Psychology)
- Dr. Chevelle (Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies)
- Dr. Stephanie Wallio (Department of Psychology)
2024/2025
Fall 2024
Research in Action: Best Practices in Community Engaged Research
October 24, 2024
Moderator: Dr. Debra Jackson
Panelists:
- Jillian Eller (Integrated Coastal Sciences)
- Colin Finlay (Biology)
- Mariela Garcia Vega (Integrated Coastal Sciences)
- Jessica Miller (Biology)
- Jacquelyn Moore (Integrated Coastal Sciences)
- Shalimar Moreno (Integrated Coastal Sciences)
Spring 2025
Artificial Intelligence: The Uses and Abuses of AI in Teaching
April 7, 2025
Moderator: Dr. Debra Jackson
Panelists:
- Nicole Allen (Rhetoric, Writing, and Professional Communication)
- Jack Atkinson (Business Administration)
- Addison Carrasquillo (Communication)
- Parker Estes (Fine Arts)
- Guy W. Wyatt (Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry)
- Naomi Jainarine (Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry)
- Kristin Outland (Communication)
- Amanda “Anie” Patterson Partin (Rhetoric, Writing, and Professional Communication)
- Amanda Powell (Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry)
- Brittany P. Roenker (Bioenergetics and Exercise Science)
- Grayson Sink (Chemistry)