bioengineering interdepartmental graduate student association
TRANSCRIPT
Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate Student Association
Welcome to Bioengineering!BIGGSA
First year of the Graduate program
Q&A Panel
Ask questions at any time
The Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate Student Association
The Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate Student Association
What we do:
Represent and promote the interest and welfare of the Bioengineering graduate student community
Foster healthy communication between the student body, faculty, administration, alumni, and the local community
We are here for YOU!
Meet the BIG-GSA Officers
President: Rohith Mohan
Vice President: Toan Tran
Secretary: Anna Nguyen
Treasurer: Christopher Hale
Finance Chair: Joshua Burns
Programs Chair: Aaron Cipriano
Parliamentarian: Cheyann Wetteland
GSA Representative (2): Reed Harrison, Maria Sekyi
Mentorship Chair: Danielle Ornelas
Upcoming Events: Fall 2015First General Meeting
Will take place after colloquium on October 14th
Grad division
Conference Travel Grant
Funding
Give us your input!Email us or approach our officers!
Event ideas
Social, professional, outreach ideas
General feedback!
The Bioengineering ProgramThe First Year
General InformationQuarter is 10 weeks long
Rotations are 3 weeks long
Refer to your Handbook for important program deadlines/requirements
Research Progress Evaluation (RPE)
Normative Time to CompletionDoctorate: 5 – 7 years
Masters Thesis: 2 years
Masters non-Thesis: 1 year
Fall QuarterLab safety training
Take core classes
Rotate in labs
Defer student loan payments
Take steps to become a permanent resident (if necessary)
Finding a LabThere are many options!
What questions should you ask?
Research Interpersonal
Funding
Lab Safety
Lab SafetyComplete lab safety traininghttp://ehs.ucr.edu/training/
Know your lab BSL and wear PPE
Be familiar with relevant MSDS
Wear gloves in the lab as needed, not when opening doors or touching common surfaces
Be considerate when sharing space and equipment
Finding FundingWhy apply?
What opportunities are there?
Finding FundingHelps to build your resume/CV, leads to more opportunities
Some opportunities:NSF GRFP, Ford, DOD NDSEG, DOE CSGF, Hertz
Organizations vary in what they look for in a proposal
Student Rec CenterStudent Rec Center
Membership, childcare
SchedulesGroup fitness, recreations class, open recreation, etc.
Outdoor excursions
Competitive sportsIM sports, clubs, etc.
Facilities and reservations
Free chair massage Tuesdays and Fridays 4-7pm, SRC South*
Visit recreation.ucr.edu
Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan (GSHIP)
All students automatically enrolled
See website for:Enrollment deadlines
Eligible dependents
Coverage info/dates
Cost
Submit a waiverHealth insurance plans that meet the criteria
$50 late fee vs. $1,100/quarter Visit studenthealth.ucr.edu
Counseling Center
Counseling servicesFree individual sessions
Stressbusters
Just In Case app
Workshops
Go Pedometer program
Health education
Speakers and workshops
Stress Relief Fair*
Visit counseling.ucr.edu
The Well
HUB 248
Visit well.ucr.edu
First Year TipsTake core courses, prepare for qualifiers
Study groups help
Save stipends! PhD students won’t be paid for July until August 1st (switching to GSR)
Discuss vacation plans with your PI
Stay organized, keep records
Keep to some schedule
Set reasonable goals
QualifiersTypically in mid to late June
Must pass 3 examsCan take as many as available
Keep homework/exams/notes from the year
Save files from iLearn before you lose access!
Organize study materials
Start studying a couple months in advance
Thinking AheadTake advantage of opportunities
ConferencesConference Travel Grants! (up to $1500/yr)
Poster Presentations
Publish
Network with figures from Industry and Academia
Career Center
Student jobs and internships
Job search strategies
Career Planning
Career fairs and workshops
SCOTLink
Weekly workshops
Visit careers.ucr.edu
Transportation & Parking Services
Parking permits
Alternative transportationCycling, carpooling, public transportation, vanpool, etc.
Bike registration*
Point-to-Point Shuttle*
Policies, rules, and regulations
Pay/appeal parking citation
Parking AccountBlue and red parking lot waitlists*
Request mobility transport services
Campus parking lot map Visit parking.ucr.edu
ResourcesGSA
http://gsa.ucr.edu/ & http://gsa.ucr.edu/conference-travel-grants
BIGGSAhttp://www.engr.ucr.edu/biggsa/
Bioengineering Departmenthttp://www.bioeng.ucr.edu/
Graduate Divisionhttp://graduate.ucr.edu/
Graduate Successhttp://graduate.ucr.edu/success.html
Transportation and Parking Serviceshttp://parking.ucr.edu/
Highlander Linkhttps://highlanderlink.ucr.edu/
Question and Answer Panel
Starting QuestionsWhat was the biggest challenge during your first year?
How do I pick a topic for the NSF GRFP?
Do you have any tips for the first year?
What resources do you find most helpful?
Do you know of any good outreach opportunities?
Any suggestions for networking/career development?
Supplementary MaterialGabby’s and Ron’s Presentation (2013)
Graduate DivisionAffairs rules and regulations
Graduate community on iLearn
Dissertation/Thesis submission
Employment info*GSRs/TAs
Student fees
Forms and handbooks*Filing fee for masters/PhD
Advancement to candidacy for masters/PhD
GradSuccess*Graduate Student Resource Center
Graduate Writing Center
Visit graduate.ucr.edu
University of California, Riverside | Department of Bioengineering
Navigating Graduate School!From a student’s perspective…
Introductions
Ronald D. Gorham Jr., PhDPost-doctoral Fellow, PI Prof. Morikis
Gabrielle Goodman
PhD Student, PI Prof. Grover
Goal is to Deconvolute your Minds!
Written Qualifiers
Funding &
Fellowships
Teaching
Coursework
RotationsFinding an Advisor
Oral Qualifiers
Social Life
Family Life
Professionalism
General InfoQuarter is 10 weeks long
Normative Time to Completion• Doctorate: 5 – 7 years• Masters Thesis: 2 years• Masters non-Thesis: 1 year
Important Metrics• Written Qualifying Exam
• End of first-year in June• PhD & MS non-Thesis
• Oral Qualifying Exam (Proposal)• Before Fall of 3rd year• PhD and MS Thesis
• Research Progress Evaluation (RPE)• Due annually September 1st
Complete Safety Training- bioeng.ucr.edu/safety
Set-up ENGR account- systems.engr.ucr.edu
Year One
Fall Quarter 2013
Research Rotations• 3 labs, 3 weeks each
Bioengineering Core Courses Applying for Fellowships
• NSF, Ford, Hertz, NDSEG
The Expectation Define regular working
schedule, use a planner & commit
During rotations set clear, achievable deadlines & regularly communicate w/ PI
Complete personal & previous research statements for fellowships by Oct 1
Find a mentor Stay Healthy
Tips for Navigating
September – December 2013
Year One
Winter/Spring 2014
Joined a Research Lab Actively Engaged in Research Courses
• Bioengineering core, elective• Bioscience requirement
The Expectation Before taking vacation, discuss
w/ PI and seek approval Learn from difficulties in Fall Continue to define regular
schedule & set achievable deadlines
Regularly communicate w/ PI regarding progress & goals
Save stipend! Begin preparing for written
qualifiers
Tips for Navigating
January –March & April –June 2014
Year One
Summer 2014
Written Qualifying Exam• June 2014, must pass 3
Actively Engaged in Research for entire summer• Graduate Student
Researcher (GSR) July 1st Complete RPE due Sept 1st
• 2-pg summary of research• Committee meeting/
presentation
The Expectation Before taking vacation, discuss
w/ PI and seek approval Lapse in funding as you are
transferred from stipend to GSR (pay released 8/1 for 7/1-7/30)
Define preliminary 3 member committee to complete research progress eval (RPE)
BIEN UC Symposium June ’14 Summer should be productive!
Tips for Navigating
June – September 2014
Year Two
Fall ‘14 – Spring ‘15
Make-up Written Qual in Fall Courses (if remaining)
• Bioscience requirement• Bioengineering electives
Actively Engaged in Research or a Teaching Assistant
Second Round of Fellowships• NSF, Ford, NIH F31 etc
Lab Specific• Conferences/ publications• Oral qualifying exam
The Expectation Seek clear direction from PI
regarding progress/ expectations
Oral Qualifying Exam• Begin developing specific
aims• Follow NIH F 31 format
Most PhD students have guaranteed 2-year funding package
Tips for Navigating
September ‘14 – June ‘15
Year Two
Summer 2015
Actively Engaged in Research! Oral Qualifying Exam
• Before fall of 3rd year to avoid non-resident tuition for international
Lab Specific• Identify conferences• Timeline for publications• Funding sources
The Expectation Seek clear direction from PI
regarding progress/ expectations
Take care of health (physical & emotional)
Take time to re-evaluate strengths, where to improve and where you see yourself in 1-2 years
Tips for Navigating
June – September ‘15
Years Three and Four
2015-2017
Actively Engaged in Research! Publish!
• Develop plan to carry out projects and write papers
Committee Meetings• Use them for ideas• Understand requirements
Conferences• Network
Fellowships• GRMP, DYFP (for final year)
The Expectation Seek clear direction from PI
regarding progress/ expectations
Balance work and fun Start thinking of the next step
Career plans and path to get there
Tips for Navigating
Year Five (or final year…)
(Hopefully) 2017-2018
Make plan to wrap up research and publish
Make plan for thesis• Outline• Guidelines from committee• Start writing early!!
Search for employment • Postdocs and/or industry
positions• Apply for postdoctoral
fellowships
The Expectation Don’t get too stressed! Be very organized
• Deadlines, forms, requirements, etc.
• Need to graduate! Have a job lined up Student loan repayment begins
6 months after graduation…
Tips for Navigating
Summary Find research and PI/lab that make you happy Plan and be organized Focus on publications and conferences Seize every opportunity
• There are so many out there! Figure out post-graduation plans Maintain healthy life/work balance