Professional Development Workshops
Our workshops are designed to help undergraduate researchers build the skills and
confidence you need to thrive in academic and professional settings. From strengthening
communication and presentation abilities to exploring career pathways and preparing
for graduate school, these sessions provide practical tools for success. By participating,
you will gain valuable experiences that complement your research and support long-term
growth. Just another way we help you build Skills For Every Future.
Workshop Offerings
November 12, 2025: Mastering LinkedIn: From Profile Setup to Professional Networking
(click title to complete required registration via EAB Navigate)
Students should bring personal laptops so they can begin with a step-by-step guide
to setting up a complete and appealing LinkedIn profile to effectively showcase their
skills, academic achievements, and project work. Attendees will discover strategies
for growing their personal network with thoughtful engagement and professional etiquette
and maintaining a LinkedIn presence with regular updates and contributions to discussions
in your field.
This presentation is designed to empower students with the tools to use LinkedIn not
just as a job search platform, but as a continuous career development tool.
Jessica Gibson has worked in student services at USC for 12 years providing academic
support to student-athletes, supporting students in their career development, and
supervising student and full time staff. A native South Carolinian, she completed
a B.S. in Psychology from Wofford College and a Master of Social Work from the University
of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. She is a licensed Social Worker with experience
in school social work, disaster relief, and higher education student affairs.
October 14, 2025: Research Ethics and the Bigger Picture
The Office of Undergraduate Research is honored to welcome Dr. Jordan Lewis, Assistant
Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at USC, for a professional
development workshop on Research Ethics and the Bigger Picture. This workshop will
provide a crash course in research ethics and give students a working understanding
of how to think critically about ethical dilemmas in research. The interactive workshop
will include case studies based on real-world scenarios. The workshop is designed
for undergraduate students who are engaged in or interested in research.
Dr. Lewis is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences
at USC Columbia. He completed his Postdoctoral training at Yale University in the
Ecology and Evolutional Biology Department. He completed his Ph.D. in the Population
Biology, Ecology and Evolution Program at Emory University where he also earned a
doctoral certificate in bioethics. He received a B.S degree in Biology and Environmental
Science from Winthrop University. Dr. Lewis is a native of Orangeburg, SC.
September 8, 2025: Funding for Undergraduate Research
The University of South Carolina champions students’ involvement in faculty-mentored
creative, research, and scholarly pursuits through competitive grant funding. Learn
more about funding opportunities for students at any stage of the research experience
from the Office of Undergraduate Research and other organizations on campus. The
meeting will be held in Russell House 205
Ongoing: Getting Started in Research
There are so many great opportunities for you at the University of South Carolina,
it can be overwhelming. This interactive workshop is designed to help you explore
research opportunities across disciplines. You will identify your research interests,
learn how to find and reach out to potential factuly mentors, and begin developing
a roadmap for your research journey.
University Libraries
University Libraries offers a variety of free workshops to support research and teaching
at the university.