How To Succeed In Graduate School

How to Succeed In Graduate School: Understanding Graduate School Lingo! Sibrina N. Collins, Ph.D. University of Washington Seattle, WA [email_address]

Overview
Masters vs. PhD
Graduate School Landscape
Common language, phrases, and acronyms!
Who are the major players?
The Dating Game: Choosing a Research Mentor
Family Support: The Research Group
Unwritten Rules of Graduate School
Telling Your Story: Research Conferences

From the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest!! Wayne State U, 1994 Ohio State, 2000 Postdoc, LSU (2000-01) AAAS, 2001-02 Detour! Claflin University, 2003-06 Henry Ford High School, 19?? Detroit, MI Director, UW, 2006-

Our Legacy in Science and Engineering!

Masters vs. PhD
Money
Stipend support are typically offered for PhD programs; far fewer for Masters programs
Research
PhD programs prepare you to do research; Masters programs offer “hands-on” experience
Time
Masters, 1-3 years; PhD, 4-6 years
Check out the Menu: Kinds of Masters Degrees
In some PhD programs, you earn a Masters degree along the way
Coursework (non-thesis) MS; MS (thesis-option)
Earning potential increases!!
Salary for B.S. chemist is ~$35K; M.S., $45K; Ph.D., $72K
Salary for B.S. physicists is ~$42K; M.S., $58K; Ph.D., $80K
Salary for B.S. chemical engineer is ~$54K; M.S., $62K; Ph.D., $83K

Graduate School Landscape: Language, Phrases, Acronyms!
Degrees
M.S. = Master of Science
M.A. = Master of Arts
Ph.D. = Doctor of Philosophy
Examinations
Cumulative exams (or “cumes”), placement exams, qualifying exams, Ph.D. candidacy exams
Graduate School Status
M.S. student, M.S. candidate, Ph.D. student, Ph.D. candidate (A.B.D. = All But Dissertation)
TA (Teaching Associate)
RA (Research Associate)

What is the Difference Between a Thesis and a Dissertation? (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
In academia, a thesis or dissertation is a document that presents the author's research and findings and is submitted in support of candidature for a degree or professional qualification.
The thesis or dissertation is normally the culmination of a candidate's research; submission of the thesis represents the completion of the final requirement for the degree being sought.
Theses submitted as part of the requirements for a masters degree are usually much shorter than those submitted as part of a Ph.D. (or other research-oriented doctorate).

Graduate School Landscape!
Who are the Major Players?
Deans, Department Chairs
Professors (Assistant, Associate, Full Profs, Research Professors)
Postdoctoral Researchers
Laboratory Technicians
Graduate Students
Science and Engineering Research Groups!
A typical research group will include a professor, postdoc, grad students, undergrads, and in some cases high school students.

The Dating Game: Selecting a Research Mentor!!!
Date (Shop) Around—Keep Your Options Open!
Get to know the family (institution)!
Why is dating (shopping) so important?
~1-3 years, M.S.; ~4-6 years, Ph.D.
Will we ever break up?
You will always have a bond with your research mentor!

Dating Criteria—What am I Looking For?
Research Interests
Size of the research group
How the research mentor (PI) manages the group
Time-to-degree
Funding Support
Published research
Peer-reviewed articles

What’s my role in the research group? What about my funding support?
Contribute to science and engineering
Original research project
Results presented at research conferences, grant proposals, peer-reviewed journals
Spend ~40 to 80 hours/week
Social Support/Network
Funding Support
TA = Teaching Associate
RA = Research Associate
Fellowships (e.g. GEM, NSF, NIH)

What Can I Really Expect?
1-2 years of coursework
Possible TA responsibilities
Join a research group
Research is a test in patience
Tons of experiments—some will work
Committee (MS, PhD)
Candidacy examinations
Learn to Cope with Stress
Adapt to changing demands
Manage to stay productive

Maintaining Balance between Professional and Personal Life
Devote time for keeping or developing relationships
Get involved in at least one activity that is not department related (e.g. exercise class)
Encourage friends and family to visit

Telling Your Story: Attending Research Conferences
Presenting Your Own Research
Communication Skills
Network Opportunities
Conference Activities
Technical Presentations
Panel Discussions/Workshops/Short Courses
Get Involved
AISES, AIChE, ACS, NOBCChE, NSBE, SACNAS, NSBP, NSHP

Unwritten Rules of Graduate School
Work Hard!!!
Research vs. Coursework
Selective Reading of Scientific Literature is mandatory
Communicate with your research mentor
Attending Scientific Conferences
Establish a Supportive Network
Have Fun!

Career Options-Industry, Government, Academia!
Research Scientist/Engineer
Forensic Scientist
Pharmaceutical Sales
Science Policy
Technical Writer
Journalist
Finance
Patent Law

Acknowledgments
National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM)
University of Washington (UW), GO-MAP
Lori Miller, MPH, UW GenOM Project
Alveda Williams, Ph.D., Dow Chemical Company
Resources
Bavor, C. “A Princeton CS Major’s Guide to Applying to Graduate School.” http://www.cs.princeton.edu/academics/upgradpgm/gsg/php
Porter, L.A., “Confessions of a Graduate School Survivor,” In Chemistry Magazine , November 2004, 10-11.
Collins, S.N; Ravnik, S.E. “Graduate School: Tricks, Tips, and Dirty Little Secrets,” In Chemistry Magazine , November 2004, 12-14.
Stewart, C. “Unwritten Rules of Graduate School,” Minority Scientists Network, June 2002.
El-Ghoroury, N.H.; Salvador, D.; Manning, R.; Williamson, T. “A Survival Guide for Ethnic Minority Graduate Students.” http://www.apa.org/apags/diversity/emg.html

How To Succeed In Graduate School

by UW Graduate Opportunities & Minority Achievement Program on Jul 24, 2009

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

1 Embed 16

Statistics

How To Succeed In Graduate School Presentation Transcript