Tech-ing It to the Next Level: Innovate Your Work, Elevate Your Impact!
We are excited to announce that this year, Talent Development and the Innovative Learning Center are coming together to create Professional Development Week at Tulane!
This expanded format will offer a mix of virtual webinars and in-person workshops, providing greater flexibility to fit busy schedules.
Introducing ILC TU-TORIALS
Join the new and fresh ILC TU-TORIALS sessions culminating on Friday, featuring edtech experts and industry leaders. Grab some swag and hear insights from fellow faculty, students, alumni, and colleagues. Attendees can join in person and virtually via Zoom.
Friday, April 11, 2025
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Lavin-Bernick Center (LBC) 2nd Floor, Uptown Campus and via Zoom
Registration Details
Tulane employees, faculty, staff, researchers, and administration register for sessions through the PDW 2025 site.
Tulane students, undergrads, grads, postdocs/fellows, and affiliates register for sessions through the buttons linked on this site.
10:00 AM
From Classroom to Career: How BioRender Powers Research & Biotech Innovation
*Students are invited to attend this session.
Join us for an engaging session featuring Giorgio Zenere, a Tulane PhD alumnus in Biomedical Sciences, Immunology, and Gene Therapy, as he shares his journey from academia to the biotech industry. Discover how BioRender has been essential in his research—from visualizing complex scientific concepts as a student to streamlining communication in his professional work. Giorgio will provide insights into how mastering visual science communication can enhance research impact, improve collaboration, and boost career opportunities. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from his expertise and see how BioRender can be a game-changer in both academia and industry!
Speakers
- Giorgio Zenere, PhD, MBA & Tulane Alum
- Mina Fonseca, MPH, Enterprise Customer Success Manager, BioRender
Work Smarter, Not Stressed: Level Up Your AI-Powered Productivity Hacks
Feeling overwhelmed by endless tasks and information overload? It’s time to work smarter, not harder, with AI-powered productivity tools! In this interactive session, discover how artificial intelligence can help you streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and supercharge your efficiency—whether you’re tackling emails, managing projects, or enhancing professional development. Learn practical hacks to integrate AI into your daily routine, freeing up time for high-impact work while reducing stress. Walk away with actionable strategies and AI tools that will transform how you work, learn, and collaborate.
Speakers
11:00 AM
Faculty Show & Tell: Engaging Distracted Learners
Every course is different, and so are the educators who use Top Hat. In this rapid-fire panel, you’ll hear from fellow instructors on how they’re addressing engagement in large enrollment courses, bringing interactivity to the classroom, and improving student outcomes. Learn how they got started with Top Hat, the lessons learned, and the go-to features they use to make learning more effective.
Speakers
- Katie Black, PhD, Dept of Neuroscience, School of Science & Engineering, Tulane University
- Lauren Dunaway, PhD, MPH, RD, LDN, Dept of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
- Toni Weiss, Lawrence M.v.D. Schloss Senior Professor of Practice, Dept of Economics, School of Liberal Arts & Exec. Dir. CELT, Tulane University
- Sumi Voora, Professional Services Manager, Top Hat
- Susie Liebschner, Enterprise Client Lead, Top Hat
Supercomputing for Scholars: Powering Research Innovation with Advanced Tech (Panel)
In today’s data-driven world, high-performance computing (HPC) is revolutionizing research across disciplines—from biomedical sciences to engineering and social analytics. This session will explore how supercomputing technologies can accelerate complex simulations, analyze massive datasets, and unlock new frontiers in research. Learn how scholars are leveraging HPC, big data analytics, and AI-driven computing to drive innovation and discovery. Whether you're new to research computing or looking to optimize your workflow, this session will provide insights, resources, and strategies to harness advanced technology for scholarly success.
Speakers
12:00 PM
Adobe Creative Jam Contest Awards and Student Showcase Panel
*Students are invited to attend this session.
Join us in celebrating the incredible creativity and innovation of our students at the Adobe Creative Jam Contest Awards & Student Showcase Panel! This exciting session will feature standout projects from the competition, highlighting how students have leveraged Adobe’s powerful creative tools to bring their ideas to life. Hear directly from the winners as they share their creative processes, design inspirations, and strategies. Whether you’re a fellow student, educator, or creative enthusiast, this showcase is a chance to be inspired, gain insights into digital storytelling and design, and celebrate the next generation of creative talent.
Speakers
- Olivia French, Tulane University Student, MD/MPH Program
- Alicia Lyon, Tulane University Student, Public Health & Spanish
- Margaret Parsons, Tulane University Student, Linguistics & Computational Science
- Steven Watson, Adobe Customer Success Manager
1:00 PM
Career Conversations Panel Featuring Industry Experts
*Students are invited to attend this session.
Join us for an insightful Career Conversations session, where industry experts will share their experiences, career paths, and strategies for success. This interactive workshop offers a unique opportunity to gain insider perspectives on navigating different career trajectories, developing essential skills, and leveraging emerging technologies in the workplace. Whether you're exploring career options, considering a transition, or looking for advice on professional growth, this session will provide practical guidance, real-world insights, and networking opportunities to help you shape your future with confidence.
Speakers
- Mike Griffith, PhD, Executive Director of Strategic Digital Innovation, Tulane IT and Alum (Facilitator)
- Mina Fonseca, MPH, Enterprise Customer Success Manager, BioRender
- Zach Pendleton, Chief Architect, Instructure
- Miguel Solis, Co-Founder & CEO, Huntrix and Tulane Alum
- Steven Watson, Customer Success Manager, Adobe
ILC @ PDW
Check out all of the sessions throughout the week at PDW2025!
Monday, April 7th
- 10:00 AM - Research Technology Services at Tulane: An Orientation (Zoom)
- 12:00 PM - AI Beyond ChatGPT (Hybrid)
Tuesday, April 8th
- 11:00 AM - Fuel Your Research: Advanced Computing & Analysis at Tulane (Zoom)
- 1:00 PM - Empower Excellence with Tulane's Tech Toolkit (Zoom)
Wednesday, April 9th
- 1:00 PM - A Quickstart Guide to Research Data Security & Compliance (Zoom)
- 3:00 PM - Data, Decisions & Discovery: A Conversation on Qualtrics in Practice (Hybrid)
Thursday, April 10th
- 11:00 AM - Research Data Security: Navigating Complex Compliance (Zoom)
Credits:
Created with an image by JuliaDorian - "Taking Notes During Business Conference Education, Training, and Professional Development"