Preparing students for success in graduate school

2. Preparing students for success in graduate school Joslynn S. Lee November 3, 2012

3. How do you perceive success? Gänseliesel, “Goose-girl” or most-kissed girl, Göttingen, Germany

4. Example of success in learning - Sequoyah • Cherokee Indian • Perfected the Cherokee alphabet and syllabary in 1821 • Families taught each other • 90% of Cherokees became literate within 10 years What must a student learn in order to make a meaningful contribution to one’s community and society at large? www.aises.org http://americanindianoriginals.com/cherokee-sequoyah.html

5. Do I belong in graduate school? ADAPTABILITY Science Engineering Making your path! Culture Walking in between TWO worlds Tools for Success

6. Number of Science and Engineering American Indian and Alaska Native Graduate (Ph.D. & Master’s) Students 31,094 28,609 2,500 National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, 2010. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/start.cfm

7. What are AI/AN graduate students studying? More females in S&E graduate programs. More females in science than males. More males in engineering than females. 244 85 National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, 2010. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/start.cfm

8. Trend of AI/AN doctoral students from 2001-2010 Increase in science Ph.D. • Agricultural sciences • Biological sciences • Computer sciences • Earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences • Mathematics and statistics • Physical sciences • Psychology • Social sciences Number of engineering students is still low

9. The answer is YES! More representation of American Indian and Alaska Natives in S&E programs. Do I belong in graduate school? Making your path!

10. How do you get to grad school? Undergraduate research experience Huge commitment Perseverance and motivation Traditional Apply senior year of undergrad(August – December) Graduate school • For S & E: • Receive Stipend ($) • Cost of living • Tuition Waived • Fellowships ($$$$) Non-traditional Apply after a few years in workforce and post-undergrad

12. What do you do in graduate school?

13. Time-management • Get a calendar, mark deadlines • Prioritize your schedule: • Teaching/Office hours/Grading • Coursework/time in class/Homework • Research/Experiments/Reading Background • Other essential items: • Laundry/Cooking/Cleaning • Mental/Physical/Relationships • Presence

14. For a valuable experience = get a quality advisor • Their job is to guide you scientifically and in personal development • You are an Investment • You are their legacy • Association/relationship goes past grad work into careers • CV you list your advisor and project title • Networking for career and collaborations

15. What to consider when selecting a advisor • Talk to current or past students in the lab • what hours do they expect you to work • Hands off: larger labs may require you to report to a postdoc • Hands on: be available for more guidance • Do they exhibit excitement about you joining the lab and your research • “Pet” projects • Fundable projects • Technology accessible/available

16. What to consider when selecting a advisor • Realistic research plan • Realistic workload: their expectations • Available funding • Renewable grants • Limited funding  teaching in later years • Status of advisor • Assistant professor, pressure to publish and receive tenure • Associate professor • Full professor

17. Land your own funding • FREEDOM! • Focus on research • Cost-of-education allowance • Conferences • Career training • Prestigious • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship • National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships • Ford Foundation • Hertz Fellowship

18. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (awarded 2010) • Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. • Fellows benefits: • three-year annual stipend of $30,000 • $10,500 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees • opportunities for international research and professional development • the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution

19. Do I belong in graduate school? ADAPTABILITY Science Engineering Making your path! Culture Walking in between TWO worlds

20. How did I get interested in science? Being outside in nature during visits to my grandparent’s house growing up. I was able to understand vegetation & life through my Native American culture.

21. “Walking in between two worlds” Idea of how do you maintain Native American values in a S&E career? Find your passion to integrate with your values Issues that arise that conflict between cultures Do you need to sacrifice beliefs? ADAPTABILITY is key!

22. Utilizing Native values for success Holistic worldview Belonging and connectedness Sense of community and “giving back”

23. Hózhó – Idea of balance and harmony • Tradition teach us: • Seek balance • Observe the natural world • How to find your balance? • Practice a healthy lifestyle • Mentally/Physically/Emotionally • Morning prayer to the Dine Diyin (Holy People) and they are up early, get up and run

24. How I keep balanced?Yoga (Meditation)RunningTeaching Create my own community away from home. Be more grounded.

25. Belonging and Connectedness • Traditions teach us: • Where we come from • Who we are • Where we stand • Native social foundation • Clan systemslike a network • Collaborate and support one another, create/use this support system • Adapt to an academic environment Demmertet al. Journal of American Indian Education. 2006. 45:3.

26. “Giving back” • Traditions teach us: • Help our people • Greater community is important • Adaptability • Use your knowledge • Don’t get isolated in academic work • Volunteer in community/department • Mentor undergraduate/peers • Volunteer within community

27. Common issues that arise about culture and ethnicity Examples of “walking in between two worlds”

28. Pressure to represent the larger race or ethnicity • You feel you have to give your perspective • “speak up for all” • Asked for repeated participation in campus organization • Pressure to overachieve and be a successful person • How to handle: • Discuss how this makes you feel with others • Practice saying “no”

29. Dealing with stereotypes • “they were only accepted to their program, hired or granted tenure because of their race or ethnicity” • How to handle: • You are in grad school, YOU WORKED HARD! • Don’t get angry! • Let people get to know you as a person rather than ethnicity/race. • Seek out help if bullied.

30. Limited cultural understanding from faculty or colleague • Your cultural responsibilities • Traditions: attending feast days, be present for overnight ceremonies • Taboos or beliefs • Integrating values: • Communicate and discuss with professor, advisor, or colleague • Responsibility of department to share culture • Plan ahead and prioritize

31. Handling the transition of being away Farmington, NM to Boston, MA Town to City, Southwest to New England

32. What are the priorities of the student’s family and community? • Experience family resistance • Responsibilities to help family • Lack of information • Stay positive • Communicate • Think bigger picture, advancement of career • More options, research and experience • Define amount of time you’ll be gone • Find a mentor for support

33. Handling the transition of being away • If miles from home, you will miss out on • Feast days, powwows, ceremonies • Aging of family members • Miss “back home” food • Only visit home occasionally • Build your own community • Share traditional foods with friends • Learn other cultures • Seek out others through AISES network

34. Visiting home • Partake in ceremonies • Try to incorporate your learning experience with friends and family • Share your knowledge and experience

35. Do I belong in graduate school? ADAPTABILITY Science Engineering Making your path! Culture Walking in between TWO worlds Tools for Success

36. Top Tools for Success Passion Mentoring Leadership Professional development Networking

37. Passion is important • Doing your best work requires passion • Grad school is long • Know what you want to study • Interdisciplinary projects, find the right department

38. Leadership skills • Always work on these • Join national organizations/societies • AISES • SACNAS • American Chemical Society (ACS) • National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) • IEEE Computer Society • Take a lead in your local community

39. Finding a mentor • Guide professionally and personally • No “hidden agenda” like an advisor • Give you insight • Seek out help from individuals who have been there • Promote an attitude of confidence and success • Meet them at national meetings and networking functions

40. Professional Development • Do good science • Write good papers • Write successful grant applications • Provide quality oral & poster presentations • Always think of the next step • Keep contact with professionals

41. Share your scientific success • Many opportunities out there • Conferences (domestic, international) • Workshops (in field or professional development) • Outreach/Networking events • Create collaborations • Building your network for future collaborations • Job hunting

42. Expect criticism on your work • Is part of the process of science and engineering • Fight for your idea! • Build your confidence • Practice presentation skills • Knowledge, read, read, read • Grow a thick skin • Experiments fail • Your work may not be seen as significant Bourne.PLoS Computational Biology:Ten Simple Rules. 2008-2012

43. Network effectively Dos and don’ts to be remembered and make a successful connection

44. Practice your introduction • Be a good story! • Limit robot tone • Show confidence, SMILE • Master the 1-minute elevator talk Example: Using computational tools, I study protein structure and function to apply for rational drug design and understand protein evolution.

45. Basic manners • Greeting • make eye contact, not too long • Firm handshake, not too strong • Properly wear nametag • Upper right shoulder area • Prevent icy grip, hold drink in left hand • Politely excuse yourself • Bring business cards Kallmerten, ACS Careers Talk Boston 2012

46. Other things to consider • Avoid smoking, strong odor • If possible, eat beforehand • Turn phone off, put on vibrate for emergency • Branch out to other groups • Ask others questions, don’t do all the talking • Always thank the host Kallmerten, ACS Careers Talk Boston 2012

47. Success can be achieved by adaptability • Define your idea of success • Make goals for graduate school • Find a mentor • Practice your Native values in your daily life • Build professional connections • Share knowledge with others

48. Acknowledgments • NEU Provost Office • Travel • Handouts • Mentors: • Prof. Mary Jo Ondrechen (NEU) • Prof. Les Sommerville (FLC) • Gathered information from countless websites

49. Your turn to ask questions • Q&A • Panel • Faculty • Graduate Students • Continue the discussion? • Find me • Email me: lee.jos@husky.neu.edu

50. Extra Slides