WISE annual dinner for first year graduate women in sciences
This year's WISE annual welcome dinner for graduate women in the sciences was held at Rackham on September 26. The dinner featured a panel of their more experienced graduate students, including Nicole Campbell (Applied Physics), Jeannie Hernandez (Cellular, Mollecular and Developmental Biology), Lori Kumler (School of Natural Resources and the Environment) and Jane Wang (Applied Physics).
The panelists passed on advice about how to make the most of graduate school. Most panelists stressed the importance of finding an advisor that was supportive and with whom you were compatible. "Talk to graduate students in your program to find out about different advisors and attend department lectures to learn about the research of different faculty in your department," remarked one panelist.
One audience member asked how to choose a thesis topic when there are so many options. Panelist Jane Wang suggested that students pay attention to what articles they choose to read outside of class readings and to talk to faculty who are doing research in the areas that interest you.
Wang also advised students to set a work schedule for yourself and stick to it– but be sure to schedule time away from the lab. Research can be all-consuming, warned Wang, and it's important to balance that with other interests and activities to avoid burnout.
Panelists also suggested that students find ways to make friends with students outside of their department so that not every conversation is about school and the lab, and so that they have someone objective to talk with about school– and work–related frustrations.
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