Deadlines have a funny way of sneaking up on you
You achieve nothing,yet you pass out
Yet you pass out.
It is a rare graduate student that escapes the lure of Facebook. So, many a gel have overrun, too many timers have been ignored and often culture flasks neglected lie…All in pursuit of that perfect status!
As with all facebook feeds, reading from the bottom up tells the story as it unfolds.
Reader Submited Content
by Shilpa Lyer
Ever need a soundtrack to your graduate school carreer? Well, Senetor Shilpa Lyer of the GSA has rewritten a classic song of the 90’s describing her feelings towards her research. These works were previously published on her blog and can be found by following the link below: http://shilpaiyer.blogspot.com/2009/11/now-isnt-this-ironic.html#links
The First is a take on the song originially written and performed by Alanis Morissette. The second is a spoof on Facebook for graduate students.
Now this is ironic…
A grad student turned ninety eight
Took the walk,got scooped the next day
You’re starving,but look how much you weigh
You race to save your gel,but you’re too late
Isn’t it ironic…don’t you think
It’s like the roton who won’t listen to a word you say
It’s a free slice,but it’s already stale
It’s the paper draft that just didn’t take
Who would’ve thought..it needed figures.
Mr.Smarty Pants’ head began to sway
Fell asleep at a talk,one he gave meeting day
I screamed”Eureka!I knew I was right”..
Oops I’m looking at it from the wrong side
Well isn’t that nice
And isn’t it ironic..don’t you think
Well your PI has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When your gel didn’t run well,and the bands aren’t right
Your post doc has a weird sense of humor when
He says you have to play music to his mice
And he isn’t joking
It’s showing up with a cloning manual on a date
It’s talking prion disease while sharing a steak
It’s writing a grant proposal to your future wife
It’s making her first author
And being set for life
That isn’t ironic..do you think…
Very normal…I do think
Graduate student research days provides a forum for aspiring scholars to present their research to an audience of their peers. This year there were 12 sessions with 3 students placing in each section. congratulations to those who placed and all those who participated.
http://main.uab.edu/Sites/gradschool/students/current/groups/researchday/83820/
Session 1 – Education and Social & Behavioral Sciences
2nd place – Billy Mann – High School Education
1st Place – James Munger – Public Administration
Session 2 – Bio-Sciences and Public Health
3rd Place – Jennifer Ingram – Biology
2nd Place – Amanee Salaam – Biomedical Engineering
1st Place – Anna Sorace – Biomedical Egnineering
Session 3 – Public Health and Social & Behavioral Sciences
3rd Place – Payal Patel – Public Health
2nd Place – Suguna Badiga – Nutrition Sciences
1st Place – Yulia Khodneva – Health Education/Health Promotion
Session 4 – Life Sciences
3rd Place – Michael Alberti – Pathology
2nd Place – Paul Bonvallet – Cellular & Molecular Physiology
1st Place – Rachel Gill – Cell Biology
Session 5 – Life Sciences
3rd Place – Ravindra Boddu – Cell Biology
2nd Place – Vishnu Cuddapah – Neurobiology
1st Place – Baldeep Khare – Biochemistry & Molecular
Genetics
Session 6 – Physical Science and Engineering
2nd Place – John Tipton- Materials Engineering
1st Place – Thomas Anthony – Computer Engineering
Session 7 –Physical Science and Engineering
3rd Place – Shaun Crawford – Environmental Health Sciences
2nd Place – John Smith – Materials Engineering
1st Place – Jiabei Lin – Chemistry
Session 8 – Life Sciences
3rd Place – Hadiya-Nicole Green – Physics
2nd Place – Jason Ashley – Pathology
1st Place – Jonathan Huang – Biology
Session 9 – Life Sciences
3rd Place – Bonnie Culpepper – Biomedical Engineering
2nd Place – Chris Freeman – Biology
1st Place – Brian Dizon – Microbiology
Session 10 – Mathematics and Computer & Information
Sciences
3rd Place – Kendrick White – Applied Mathematics
2nd Place – David O’Gwynn – Computer & Information
Sciences
1st Place – Sagar Thapaliya – Computer & Information
Sciences
Session 11 – Life Sciences
3rd Place – Katherine Tuggle – Environmental Health Sciences
2nd Place – Julie Schram – Biology
1st Place – Michelle McClure – Genetics & Genomic Sciences
Session 12
3rd Place – Marla Hertz – Microbiology
2nd Place – Roberta Challener – Biology
1st Place – Kurt Zimmerman – Pathology
by Tyler Greer
The Graduate Student Association presented an award at this year’s Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship ceremony — to the dean himself.
The GSA honored Bryan Noe, Ph.D., dean of the UAB Graduate School, with the Lifetime Award for Excellence in Mentoring.
“Dr. Noe has provided an incredible amount of mentoring and leadership throughout his storied career,” says Jeffrey Bolland, president of the GSA and fifth-year microbiology doctoral student. “Dr. Noe has been an amazing mentor to the GSA. He has enabled us to accomplish many impressive feats. Many of these things absolutely could not have been accomplished without Dr. Noe’s mentorship.”
Noe came to UAB as dean of the UAB Graduate School in November 2005.
“Receiving this award was truly a humbling and gratifying surprise,” Noe says. “As I always indicate in my comments during the Mentorship Awards ceremony, the most rewarding part of being a faculty member and having the opportunity to assist the next generation of scholars to realize their career aspirations is to follow their career trajectories after they have earned their degree or completed their postdoctoral training.
“Reading the letters from those individuals who nominated me for this award was a humbling reminder of how immensely rewarding having helped others during
their training periods can be,” Noe says.
From the author of phdcomics.com Jorge Cham comes the entire collection of comics in a bound copy.
Spread over 4 volumes, you too can own what I find to be the most relatable webcomic there is. As a graduate student, I personally find all of the characters realistic and well done. I would also like to suggest “Seminar Bingo” for everyone out there stuck in yet another seminar you don’t understand (worth looking up on your own).
Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to go to Grad School by Adam Ruben. This one came recommend to me, and while it was not extremely insightful or helpful in getting through graduate school, I found it very humorous and a great read when I needed a break. This book reminded me of a text version of PhD comics but without a relatable hero.
To best sum up this book, I feel the breakdown of chapter 3 is quiet explanatory: “Grad Student life: In Chapter 3 you will learn tips and tricks for your day-to-day life, including techniques for free food theft, alternatives to hygiene and, given current stipend levels, the surprising nutritional value of sawdust. “
Demystifying Dissertation Writing by Peg Boyle Single. As the author states early on, “My goal is quite simple and straightforward: for you to experience greater efficiency and enjoyment while writing. If you experience anxiety, blocking, impatience, perfectionism or procrastination when you write, then this system is for you. I want you to be able to complete your writing so that you can move on with the rest of your life.”
This book covers the author’s system used by productive writers and makes them applicable to the dissertation process. It enforces and promotes the idea of writing partners or groups to ensure you are not isolated. Resulting in feeling alone.
Five strategies for successful writing are covered in great detail:
Personal notes: while focused on the dissertation-writing process, a lot of these 5 strategies for successful writing apply to multiple aspects of graduate research, and I found myself using these principles when setting up timelines for research and talking with my advisor about project goals. In addition, the section on using Endnote (and similar software) will likely prove helpful in the future.
by Ed Druschitz
Is a 500 page dissertation staring you down? Do you feel scared, confused, unsure of where to start? Are you unsure how to manage your time effectively so both you and your adivser are happy?
Well, your in luck! The GSA has been out and about reading books on the topic, bringing you a review of a few books you may want to consider purchasing, or at least borrowing from your local library (you cheapskate).
Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day by Joan Bolker. First off, lets admit that 15 minutes a day is too good to be true, and this author admits it is. However, she asserts that 15 minutes is better than nothing at all. In this book she offers suggestions on how to create an “Addiction to Writing” so you feel compelled to write every day. Setting goals and deadlines are covered. Dealing with distractions, both internal and external, and writers block are also covered.
My notes: This book was very motivational, and I found myself more energized to sit down and write- even this short review. The book covers psychological barriers to writing as well as other topics relating to your dissertation such as choosing an advisor and committee.
by Anne Bet
This fall, the University of Alabama at Birmingham chartered its first Toastmasters International club. Toastmasters is a nonprofit organization with over 12,500 clubs in 113 countries. A distinguished leader in public speaking and leadership training, the company is spread throughout the world and organized by clubs, areas, divisions, and districts. These subgroups belong to eight regions that connect a network of over 250,000 members globally. Members are often attracted by the organization’s renowned reputation with employers and the self-paced environment. Toastmasters offers a unique program that helps members achieve communication and leadership goals. Using manuals and learning modules, speaking techniques are practiced alongside of leadership skills like time management and effective evaluation. Additionally, experienced speakers and leaders can focus their expertise through many advanced manuals such as “Persuasive Speaking”, “Technical Presentations”, “Humorously Speaking”, and “Interpersonal Communication.”
The UAB Toastmasters Club held its first meeting in May of this year and continues to meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. The club was founded by Anne Bet (Microbiology), a graduate student and Past President of the National Institutes of Health Evening Speakers Club who noted, “When I joined Toastmasters, I wanted to stop being so nervous! I had no idea that it would also help get my next job, get into grad school, or build an international network.” Since the club’s inception in February, Jeff Bolland, GSA President, helped secure $1,000 in funding for the organization and has been appointed Treasurer. The acquisition of this support has allowed the club to provide all student members with free New Member Kits. Additionally, several local Toastmasters were successfully recruited to help build the club: Judith Kidd of the Early Birds Toastmasters at State Farm Insurance Company serves as a sponsor and there are two club mentors: Karen Hood, a Coordinator in UAB’s Division of Preventative Medicine and member of the Sixth Avenue Toastmasters Club at the the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, and Carol Hendrickson of the Magic City Toastmasters Club.
After reaching its goal of twenty members, the UAB Toastmasters Club submitted its charter application to Toastmasters International and was officially granted club status on September 29 of this year. Today the organization is over 25 members strong and led by a team of officers, including Angelina Londono Joshi (Pathology), VP of Education; Toni Mueller (Neurobiology), VP of Membership; Eneida Hatcher (Microbiology), VP of Public Relations; Jeff Bolland (Microbiology), Treasurer/Secretary; and Brandon Hatcher (Microbiology), Sergeant at Arms. As a an especially active member, Angelina Londono Joshi added that, “Toastmasters has provided me with a forum where I can steadily practice and challenge myself to organize oral presentations, evaluate other speakers in a constructive manner, and lead my fellow peers. All useful skills that young researchers need to master.” The meetings are open to both UAB and community members alike.
The club will meet in room 170 on the first floor of Bevill Research Building at 5:30pm.
For more information, the club’s new website can be accessed at :
http://uabtms.freetoasthost.org.
After the early April elections for GSA officers the following students will be 2011-2012 elected GSA executive officers starting in June: