How to Be a Successful Graduate Student by William Bauer

Success in graduate school isn’t something that occurs naturally.  You have to work at it.  Here are some recommendations and strategies that have worked for me:

Success in graduate school isn’t something that occurs naturally.  You have to work at it.  Here are some recommendations and strategies that have worked for me:

1. Be a careful observer

• Keenly observe department norms and how people interact and work together for daily activities, departmental functions, as well as seminars you participate in.
• In your seminars, observe the types of questions asked and how senior graduate students (and other faculty that may be attending the seminar) approach issues.
• In your readings, attend to the overall argument or idea and relevant details, maintaining reading notes. Outline the main points and questions you have to prepare for the seminar.  Note items of special interest that may be good research topics for that seminar or for later research projects.

2. Be disciplined

• Have a schedule and stick to it, completing all work on time. Much of your time will be flexible, and you’ll be expected to be self-sufficient, but it can be very useful to form study or discussion groups with peers in order to structure your time.
• Know the department and graduate studies milestones and make them your milestones. Meeting these milestones on time means that at each stage of your program you’ll be able to focus your energy on that stage.
• Don’t take incompletes in your seminars, unless absolutely necessary.

3. Be proactive

• Talk frequently to your professors and peers about ideas that interest you. Follow-up on comments that your professors give about your work.
• Be creative in the content of your work and how you approach your work.
• Actively reflect upon discussions and projects. Ask: How could this have gone better? How can I apply this in the future?
• Besides these examples of being proactive, there are three things you can start doing right away to make your graduate experience successful…

Recommended Actions:

1. Keep a research/ideas journal

• Keep this focused on topics of most interest to you from seminars, discussions, and readings; the seeds of your dissertation and further research might be in here; keep your journal with you wherever you go.

2.Make and update a goals matrix

• Create a cell in the matrix for each semester of your program; for example, if you’re in a 5-year program, you’ll have 10 semester cells, plus summers. In these cells, enter the classes you plan on taking, courses you want to teach/TA, program milestones, and planned dates for submitting papers to conferences and/or journals.

3. Seek a mentor

• You may not need to establish a faculty mentor in the first year, but you should keep an eye out for who might be a good mentor (be observant.) Talk to senior graduate students about how they sought a mentor.
• It’s likely that your eventual mentor will be a professor you did work for or wrote a paper for that really sparked your passion. Consider revising your project and/or pursing further questions pertinent to it, and seek more feedback from that professor. It’s possible that such projects may be the beginnings of your dissertation.

2009 McNair Recognition Reception

The McNair Family!

On Friday, April 24, the McNair Scholars Recognition Reception was held at the Lied Center. In addition to celebrating scholar accomplishments, faculty and graduate student mentors were recognized for their support of the program. Over 80 faculty and graduate student mentors, friends, and family members attended the dinner reception.

Master Scholars graduating in May 2009: Maegan Stevens-Liska (top left), Martin Diaz (top right), Acacia Caraballo, and Juan Canagas.

Honored guests for the evening were the May 2009 graduates, including: Joshua Alvarez, anthropology; Rebecca Beals, sociology; Acacia Caraballo, chemical engineering; Juan Cangas, psychology; Martin Diaz, electrical engineering; Kyle Jackson, environmental studies; Willie Novotny, biochemistry; Chelsea Rivera, child, youth and family studies; Maegan Stevens-Liska, history; and Mo Wax, business administration.

Senior Scholars (* indicates May 2009 graduates): Joshua Alvarez*, Willie Novotny*, Mo Wax*, Jeff Belmont, Khoa Chu, Kyle Jackson*, Tara Cossel, Rebecca Beals*, Chelsea Rivera*, and Adrian Soltero.

The graduating seniors shared their post-graduation plans, and were awarded a dictionary embossed with their name and McNair Scholars Program. The graduates also received a sky blue honor cord, in memory of Dr. Ronald McNair’s flight suit, to wear for the commencement ceremony in May. Congratulations to all of our graduating scholars!

Senior Scholar Willie Novotny receives his blue honor cord from Dr. Bellows. Willie was accepted to the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, and will begin an M.D. program in August 2009.

Outstanding McNair Faculty and Graduate Student Mentors

Dr. Hollist (left) and Tony Kelly

For his mentoring and support of our scholars and his commitment to
the McNair Program, Dr. Cody Hollist received the 2009 McNair Faculty Appreciation Award. Dr. Hollist has served as a McNair faculty mentor for three years working with Corey Minchow, Chelsea Rivera, and Brittany Sznajder-Murray. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Hollist has a deep understanding of McNair scholars and the challenges they often face. Dr. Hollist serves as proof positive that with a lot of hard work and some great mentoring, you can compete with the best. Last fall, Dr. Hollist shared his experiences as a first-generation college student with the incoming scholars and described his journey to becoming a faculty member at UNL. In presenting his award, Dr. Laurie Bellows quoted Sir Isaac Newton, “If our scholars are able to ’see further’, it is because they’re able to stand on the shoulders of giants, like Cody Hollist.”

Advice For Students Looking For Funding

Dr. Laura Damuth (center) spoke to the McNair Scholars about applying for Graduate Fellowships. Following the session, Morgan Conley (left) and Mike Gubbels (right) asked Dr. Damuth follow-up questions.

In addition to directing the UCARE Program, Dr. Laura Damuth serves as Undergraduate Fellowship Advisor. Recently, Dr. Damuth
presented a workshop for the McNair Junior Scholars entitled, Graduate Fellowships: What They Are and How to Apply. She stressed
that the fellowship application process can be complicated and the criteria are very specific. She advised Scholars to allow themselves
sufficient time to search for the appropriate fellowships, but Dr. Damuth suggests to “always start by contacting the graduate program
itself.”

Dr. Damuth offered this advice for students looking for funding:

1. Contact the graduate program itself to ask about available financial support. Some universities will have a fellowship office that
   can help you identify opportunities for financial support.  For example, the UNL Office of Graduate Studies Set has an extensive
   list of available external fellowships. Check out this list at http://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/current/funding-external.shtml

   Contact the graduate program itself to ask about available financial support. Some universities will have a fellowship office that can help you identify opportunities for financial support.  For example, the UNL Office of Graduate Studies Set has an extensive list of available external fellowships. Check out this list at http://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/current/funding-external.shtml

How to Be a Successful Graduate Student Panel

This spring, McNair Senior Scholars met with a panel comprised of both new and experienced graduate students who offered their advice on how to be a successful graduate student.

Malcolm Tassi, a first-year physics graduate student, told the scholars that “there is no way to prepare for the intensity of graduate school, but the rewards are profound.”  Asked how graduate school is different from undergraduate studies, Tassi said, “Graduate school changes your perspective. It makes you look at things in a different way.” He encouraged scholars to draw from the passions and excitement of fellow graduate students.

Emily Haferbier, a first-year sociology student-and former McNair scholar-said she was most surprised at the amount of work in graduate studies. She advised scholars to “expect much more work than you have as an undergraduate.” She also described how she often felt like an imposter, like she didn’t belong, but she assured scholars that “everyone feels this way at the beginning.”  (Her fellow panelists all agreed.) Emily found a network within the department to support her. She offered one final word of advice, “Don’t get caught up in department politics.”

Jenny Green, a fifth-year doctoral student in statistics, encouraged scholars to look to the advanced graduate students for mentoring.  ”Experienced graduate students,” she said, “are there to support you.  They know the unwritten rules and can be extremely helpful as you navigate your first year.”  She also advised scholars to “take breaks from studies and enjoy time away from school. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remain open-minded and seek opportunities that interest you.”

Bill Bauer, an advanced doctoral student in philosophy, advised scholars to keep and maintain a goals matrix, and update it each semester. He also noted that successful graduate students keep a “research and ideas” journal to keep track of ideas that you’d like to further explore.   On the following page, Bill offers his tips for graduate school success.

(from left to right) Malcolm Tassi, Physics; Bill Bauer, Philosophy; Jenny Green, Statistics; and Emily Haferbier Trotter, Sociology.

This spring, McNair Senior Scholars met with a panel comprised of both new and experienced graduate students who offered their advice on how to be a successful graduate student.

Malcolm Tassi, a first-year physics graduate student, told the scholars that “there is no way to prepare for the intensity of graduate school, but the rewards are profound.”  Asked how graduate school is different from undergraduate studies, Tassi said, “Graduate school changes your perspective. It makes you look at things in a different way.” He encouraged scholars to draw from the passions and excitement of fellow graduate students.

Emily Haferbier, a first-year sociology student-and former McNair scholar-said she was most surprised at the amount of work in graduate studies. She advised scholars to “expect much more work than you have as an undergraduate.” She also described how she often felt like an imposter, like she didn’t belong, but she assured scholars that “everyone feels this way at the beginning.”  (Her fellow panelists all agreed.) Emily found a network within the department to support her. She offered one final word of advice, “Don’t get caught up in department politics.”

McNair Scholars Headed for Graduate School

Joshua Alvarez has accepted a graduate assistantship from the University of Maryland higher education leadership master’s program. Joshua chose the University of Maryland because of program offerings, faculty, and support offered. He will begin his graduate coursework in July 2009.

Rebecca Beals was accepted to the Ph.D. program in sociology at the University of New Mexico, and will begin her studies in Fall 2009. Rebecca is very excited about the diverse population on the campus, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Martin Diaz was accepted to the Ph.D. program in electrical engineering at the University of Delaware, He was awarded a research assistantship for Fall 2009. Martin chose University of Delaware because of their strong solar energy research program, which aligns to his research interests.

Willie Novotny was accepted to the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, and will begin an M.D. program in August 2009.

Maegan Stevens-Liska will begin a master’s program in history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Fall 2009. Maegan chose UNL because it allowed her to continue her ongoing research with her undergraduate faculty mentor, along with her ties to the Lincoln community.

Mo Wax was accepted into the student affairs master’s program at Central Missouri University in Warrensburg, and will begin his program in Fall 2009.

Joshua Alvarez has accepted a graduate assistantship from the University of Maryland higher education leadership master’s program. Joshua chose the University of Maryland because of program offerings, faculty, and support offered. He will begin his graduate coursework in July 2009.

Rebecca Beals was accepted to the Ph.D. program in sociology at the University of New Mexico, and will begin her studies in Fall 2009. Rebecca is very excited about the diverse population on the campus, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Martin Diaz was accepted to the Ph.D. program in electrical engineering at the University of Delaware, He was awarded a research assistantship for Fall 2009. Martin chose University of Delaware because of their strong solar energy research program, which aligns to his research interests.

Willie Novotny was accepted to the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, and will begin an M.D. program in August 2009.

Maegan Stevens-Liska will begin a master’s program in history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Fall 2009. Maegan chose UNL because it allowed her to continue her ongoing research with her undergraduate faculty mentor, along with her ties to the Lincoln community.

Mo Wax was accepted into the student affairs master’s program at Central Missouri University in Warrensburg, and will begin his program in Fall 2009.

McNair Recruitment Video

In this technology-driven generation, we’re continually looking for new ways to reach students and faculty who aren’t familiar with the McNair Scholars Program. One of the goals for 2008-09 was to develop a McNair recruitment video, which would highlight the benefits and purpose of the program. Through the creativity of University Communications, this goal was achieved. MJ Bruce and Dave Fitzgibbons filmed the scenarios, spent hours editing, and then transformed it into a video that captured the spirit of the McNair Program. The video features several scholars and mentors, in various disciplines, talking about the benefits of the McNair Program, as well as the impact the program has made on their lives.  Watch The Video

Masoud Mahjouri-Samani, Published Scholar

Masoud Mahjouri-Samani, a UNL Electrical Engineering PhD student and McNair Scholar 2006-2008, and his colleagues in the Laser-Assisted Nano-Engineering (LANE) Laboratory have recently published a paper in Nanotechnology. Under the supervision of Dr. Yongfeng Lu, the team’s research is considered breakthrough in the field, and they were given the honor of being on the journal’s cover!

Taken from http://nanotechweb.org/cws/article/tech/37258

Congratulations, Masoud!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Othmer Hall

Indiana Jones at Othmer Hall - pictured from left to right are: Bobby Miller, Dustin (friend of Bobby), Karl Kador, Sanjukta Guhathaku, Harrison Ford, Dr. Anu Subramanian, Dr. Tarlan Mammedov, MinJeong Schneider, and Frank Rozmus.

A group from a Hollywood movie studio, contacted Dr. Velander, chair of UNL’s Chemical Engineering Department, in regard to a film project involving biological technology.   The group, which included Harrison Ford, recently traveled to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to learn more about cellular and biomolecular engineering. Their visit to the research lab of Dr. Anu Subramanian was a nice surprise, especially for MinJeong Schneider, chemical engineering master’s student and McNair Scholar 2005-2008. MinJeong has been working in the lab of Dr. Subramanian since the 2006 McNair Summer Research Experience.  Currently, she is studying the protein C activity on the cell, with Karl Kador.

2008-2009 McNair Scholars Cohort

(top, L-R) Drew Nelson, Michael Harpster, Mike Gubbels; (middle, L-R) Morgan Conley, Brittany Sznajder-Murray, Brian Shreck, Jeanette Samuels; (bottom, L-R) Beth Ridling, Sherri Sklenar, Andrea Gonzalez