How to Succeed In Graduate School:

Understanding Graduate School Lingo!

Sibrina N. Collins, Ph.D.University of Washington

Seattle, WAsc24@u.washington.edu

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 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