Program Overview

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Graduate Research Certification Program

The Graduate Research Certification (GRC) is a year-long professional development program designed to equip graduate, professional, and select undergraduate students with foundational skills and knowledge to successfully design, conduct, and complete research projects.

Program Overview

Through this program, students will enhance their research competencies by participating in cohort meetings that promote thoughtful discussion around research ethics, best practices, and scholarly communication. Throughout the program, students will present their research, creative, or scholarly work, complete a culminating experience, and engage in other meaningful training activities that support their development as researchers.

Eligibility Requirements

Graduate Students

• Currently enrolled in a graduate degree program
• In good academic standing

Undergraduate Students

• In good standing in the UNLV Honors College and/or UNLV Ronald E. McNair Baccalaureate Programs and/or graduates of the UNLV Graduate College Grad Rebel Advantage Program
• Completed a minimum of 90 credits with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA
• Currently enrolled

Application Process

The online Graduate Research Certification application will be available. Eligible undergraduate students will be invited to apply using this online application. As part of the application, a statement of interest outlining relevant experience and goals for participating in the Graduate Research Certification program is required.

Program Requirements

To successfully complete the Graduate Research Certification (GRC) program, students must fulfill all program requirements. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate and the GRC achievement will be recorded on their official UNLV transcript.

• Attend 3 cohort meetings with curated learning opportunities
• Register and present research, creative, or scholarship activity in one of the following settings:
  • Rebel Grad Slam - Fall
  • GPSA Research Forum - Spring
  • Professional Conference
  • Undergraduates Only: Undergraduate Research Symposium
• Complete two free on-demand training programs through Nature Masterclasses on topics such as grant writing, science communication, publishing, and research integrity
• Draft and submit a research statement for faculty review
• Complete all program surveys

Research Presentation Requirements

Undergraduate students in the GRC program must submit to and present their research/creative/scholarly activity at either a university-level research forum or a professional conference. Graduate students in the GRC program must submit to and present their research/creative/scholarly activity at the Rebel Grad Slam.

University-Level Research Forums

Undergraduate GRC students in the McNair program may opt to present at the McNair Scholars Forum. All undergraduate student participants may also choose to present at the Undergraduate Research Forum.

Rebel Grad Slam

Graduate students in the GRC must present their research/creative/scholarly activity at the Rebel Grad Slam. If they cannot present at this venue, then they may fulfill the research presentation requirement by presenting at a professional conference with prior approval.

Professional Conference

If graduate students cannot participate in the Rebel Grad Slam, then with permission, the students may present their research/creative/scholarly activity at a professional conference in their field in order to fulfill the presentation requirement. Undergraduate students who cannot participate at a university-level research forum can, with permission, present their research/creative/scholarly activity at a professional conference in their field.

Cohort Meetings

Attendance at cohort meetings is expected unless an exception is approved in advance.

• Cohort Meeting 1: Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
• Cohort Meeting 2: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Cohort Meeting 3: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Workshop Summary Options

The following workshops will help fulfill the requirements for the Graduate Research Certification. To receive credit for a workshop, a 1-page summary is required.

• Understanding Advisor, Grad Coordinator, and Committee Roles & Responsibilities
• The Importance of Gender Pronouns
• Critical Mixed Methods
• Gen AI: Getting Started, Benefits, Ethics, and Pitfalls
• Paths after Graduation for F-1 and J-1 International Students
• Finding Grant Funding
• Navigating the Non-Profit Job Market
• Mentorship Matters: Building Successful Research Relationships
• Grounded Grad Rebel Series: Cultivating Mindfulness
• Grounded Grad Rebel Series: Finding Your Work-Life Fit
• Multilingual Writing at Grad School in the Age of AI
• Preparing for Rebel Grad Slam: How to Effectively Translate Your Academic Work for a General Audience
• Professional Communication Series: Research Abstracts
• The Essentials of Lab Management
• How to Make Bad Plots
• The Importance of Gender Pronouns
• Big Data & Sustainability: Research and Community Impact
• Reading and Writing about Academic Literature: An Introduction to Writing a Literature Review
• Resume vs. CV Workshop
• Gaining Confidence as a Graduate Student, Researcher, and/or Professional
• Preparing for Rebel Grad Slam: How to Effectively Translate your Academic Work for a General Audience
• Research/Thesis/Dissertation/Scholarly Writing
• Building Mentorship Skills for Academic Careers
• How to Write a Conference Proposal: Advice on Finding Calls, Writing an Abstract, and Submitting your Scholarship
• Post-Graduate School: Exploring Non-Academic Pathways + Translating Your Skill-set
• Professionalism 101
• Time Management: Strategies for Success
• Difficult Conversations & Conflict Resolution
• Research Poster Design
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae: How to Create Them and When to Use Them
• Getting Started with ORCID
• Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research: Which should you use?
• Rebel Grad Slam: Tips & Tricks
• Public Speaking 101
• I've published - now what? How to locate and understand citations, metrics, and more
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
• Thesis/Dissertation Writing
• Rebel Grad Slam
• GPSA Sponsorship
• Preparing Manuscripts for Publications
• Engaging Policymakers & Establishing Dialogue Around Research
• Ethics & Professionalism
• Grant Writing
• Giving Great Virtual Presentations
• Creating and Maintaining a Curriculum Vitae
• Writing Effective Research Abstracts
• Launching the Leader in You
• How to Give Constructive Feedback on Colleagues' and Mentees' Writing Materials

Resources for the Research Process

• All human subjects research conducted by UNLV faculty, staff, and students must be approved by the UNLV Institutional Review Board before the research project begins
• UNLV Division of Research
• UNLV Graduate College YouTube Channel
• Demystifying the Journal Article
• How to Create a Fabric Presentation Poster from a Powerpoint or PDF