The UH Graduate School has an Ombudsperson for Graduate and Professional Students. The Ombudsperson provides a safe setting for graduate and professional students to confidentially raise and discuss their concerns about workplace and academic issues, address interpersonal difficulties, and receive assistance in identifying options for resolving the conflicts and concerns.

What an Ombudsperson Does

• Provides a confidential forum for raising issues and expressing concerns.
• Listens without judgement and offers impartial feedback.
• Assists the graduate/professional student in exploring options to address concerns.
• Identifies and refers the graduate/professional student to resources for addressing problems and concerns.
• Clarifies policies and procedures that apply to the graduate/professional student’s problem or issue.
• Provides coaching on effective communication for difficult conversations.
• Analyzes and reports trends in complaints and concerns, and provides recommendations for institutional improvements.
• Promotes highest standards of university governance and a supportive, ethical and healthy organizational culture.

UH Ombudsperson - Funda Suhin, Ph.D.
Dr. Suhin is an associate professor of supply chain management. Her teaching and research interests are in operations and supply chain management. She is passionate about the UH community and student well-being. Over her career, she has worked with graduate students in a wide variety of roles, including teaching graduate courses, directing graduate student research, and coordinating a doctoral program in Bauer College of Business. She has served on numerous committees related to graduate student education and policies, and as a graduate student mentor.

Learn More about the Office of Ombuds Services

Contact the Ombudsperson: gradombuds@uh.edu

The JCPenney Suit-Up Event is an exclusive shopping opportunity for University of Houston students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Attendees can save up to 30% off plus an additional $25 off a $100 purchase on professional attire, including suits, blazers, blouses, dress shoes, and more.

In-Person Shopping (Two Locations - Same Event)

Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026

Meyerland Plaza - JCPenney
730 Meyerland Plaza Mall, Houston, TX 77096
Time: 4–7 PM CST

First Colony Mall - JCPenney
6535 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Time: 3–6 PM CST

How It Works:

• Check in at the registration table upon arrival
• Receive a physical coupon (one per person)
• Shop during the private event hours
• Complete purchases at the JCPenney register

What to Bring:

• UH ID or driver’s license
• A form of payment

Virtual Shopping Option
Dates: Begins Sunday, February 1, 2026 (available for one month)

Website: www.jcpenney.com/m/suit-up

How It Works:

• Text GOCOOGS to 67292 to receive your coupon
• A digital coupon code will be sent near the event date
• Use the code at checkout on the JCPenney website

This event is a great opportunity to build or refresh your professional wardrobe at a discounted rate—perfect for career fairs, interviews, and professional events.

Looking for a fun way to give back, earn service hours, or get involved in the Houston STEM community? SEFH needs volunteers to help support Texas' largest student science fair—no experience required!

Dates: February 13–14

Why Help Out?

• Flexible shifts before and during the fair
• Great for résumés, service hours, and networking
• Hands-on roles like registration, setup, logistics, and more
• Open to all majors—just bring energy and closed-toe shoes!

Requirements

• Age 12+ (college students easily qualify)
• Volunteers under 16 must bring a guardian (not you!)
• Show up, help out, and have fun

Sign Up

🔗 More Info
🔗 Register Here

Join in and help make this year's fair an awesome experience for young scientists across Texas!

UH is a member of the Gulf Coast Consortia (GCC), one of the largest inter-institutional cooperatives in the world. Are you interested in a postdoc or research position at a GCC member institution? Open positions can be found on the GCC Job Board.

This service, sponsored by the GCC and its member institutions, provides opportunities for job seekers from GCC member institutions and employers to learn more about each other. The GCC’s mission is to build interdisciplinary collaborative research teams and training programs in the biological sciences that intersect the computational, chemical, mathematical, and physical sciences.

Graduating Ph.D. students and postdocs from GCC institutions can post their resumes and search for jobs at GCC institutions. To place a resume on the Job Board, register as a Job Seeker and enter the requested information.

K-Scholastic is hiring academic tutors to work with K-12 students in the Houston area. This is an in-person position, and applicants must have a personal vehicle.

Details:

• Minimum availability: Two evenings per week
• Starting pay: $30/hour, with increases based on experience
• Location: Various in-person sites in the Houston area

How to Apply:
Email your résumé and a brief statement of interest to reports@kscholastic.com or complete this form.

The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE NNSA) is seeking applicants for the Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (SSGF) and the Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship (LRGF). The session is designed to help students understand both doctoral programs, navigate the application process, and ask questions during a live Q&A.

Program History & Community:
The DOE NNSA SSGF began in 2006, followed by the LRGF in 2018. Today, 38 fellows represent 18 institutions nationwide, and 108 alumni work across industry, academia, nonprofit organizations, DOE laboratories, and other government agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Each summer, recipients from both programs convene to present research, build collaborations, and explore current challenges and innovations in stewardship science.

Additional Resources:

• SSGF: Application details and the current 11×17 fellowship poster
• LRGF: Application details and the current 11×17 fellowship poster
• Both Programs: Annual Stewardship Science publication featuring research by fellows and alumni

Questions?
Attend the webinar, visit the program websites, or contact fellowship staff via email.

Applications are now open for the UHTB Innov8 Hub’s Spring 2026 startup acceleration program, a 12-week immersive experience designed to support innovators and entrepreneurs ready to launch and scale technology-driven startups.

Selected founders will work alongside expert mentors and advisors, collaborate with a cohort of peers, and refine their ideas through hands-on programming. The experience culminates in a final pitch event, where participants will compete for cash prizes and increased visibility for their ventures.

Program details

• Application deadline: Jan. 30, 2026
• Cohort begins: Feb. 16, 2026

Entrepreneurs developing innovative technologies and seeking structured support are encouraged to apply.

👉 Apply Here

The Innov8 Hub looks forward to welcoming the next cohort of founders and supporting the growth of their ideas this spring.

The Improving Access to Career and Educational Development (I-ACED) program provides financial, academic, and professional support for students pursuing graduate degrees in engineering and STEM fields. Participants benefit from scholarships, mentorship, and hands-on research opportunities at Jackson State University, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, Texas Southern University, and the U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center (ERDC).

Benefits include:

• Up to $10,000 in tuition scholarships (limited full awards available at Rice University)
• Career development, mentorship, and peer support
• Internships or research experiences at ERDC or partner institutions
• Paid research rotations and scholar engagement activities
• All-expenses-paid tour of ERDC facilities

Areas of Study:

1. Digital Twinning
2. Biotechnology
3. Sustainability and Resilience

Eligibility:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or admitted refugees accepted into a participating graduate program and demonstrate financial need (via FAFSA).

Fall 2025 Info Sessions:

• Sept. 25 | 3:30–4 PM CDT
• Oct. 16 | 3:30–4 PM CDT
• Nov. 20 | 3:30–4 PM CST
• Dec. 18 | 3:30–4 PM CST

Register and Apply Now — Applications for Fall 2026 are open through April 15. Early submission is encouraged.

For questions, contact Lesia Guinn (Program Manager) at lesia.guinn@rice.edu or Dr. Maria Wettergreen (Program Director) at mwettergreen@rice.edu.

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine have established a new opportunity for students pursuing careers in healthcare.

Through this partnership, graduates of NSM’s Master of Science in Biology with a Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Sciences program who meet specific academic and admissions criteria will receive automatic interview invitations for admission to the Fertitta Family College of Medicine.

Designed to better prepare students for professional degree programs in medicine, dentistry, and allied health fields, the one-year master’s program provides advanced coursework, research and internship experiences, and individualized advising.

For program details and eligibility requirements, visit NSM’s Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program webpage.