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What is the life of a phd student really like, published by steve tippins on june 9, 2020 june 9, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 05:11 am

Life of a PhD student? Hell. That about sums it up.

Okay, that’s not a very satisfying answer. Nor is it completely true. Life as a PhD student doesn’t always feel like hell. It does sometimes, but it’s also an exhilarating and rewarding time to explore your area of interest and grow into a true scholar. So what does the life of a PhD student really look like?

The life of a PhD student is somewhat varied depending on the field you’re going into. Generally speaking, no matter what program you’re in, it has two phases: coursework and dissertation.

Coursework Phase

Doctoral-level are courses that are a lot harder than undergraduate or even Master’s courses , but they are similar in structure: there’s a syllabus, due dates, other students in the class, etc. There are definitive semesters, quarters, or terms. In between terms, there’s really not much work to do. 

Of course, there are different expectations for PhD students than for undergrads. They are held to a far more rigorous standard in the work that they do. Class sizes are much smaller, and students are expected to participate in nuanced discussions. There is no sliding by unnoticed in a PhD program.

All that said, the coursework phase of the life of a PhD student is not altogether different than their previous educational experience, besides being more rigorous. It’s like school on steroids. 

Depending on the school, there may be a transition from classwork: comprehensive exams. This is basically, “study everything you’ve learned so that you can be ready for any question.” 

Dissertation Phase

The dissertation phase is a world in which there’s no syllabus, no classmates, and no real structure. You have your Chairperson and Committee to keep happy, but they’re not pushing you forward or expecting you to turn things in by a certain date. They’re just waiting for you to do what you have to do. 

Once you get to the dissertation stage, the concept of semesters and quarters goes away, and you’re working on your topic all the time.

Over 50% of doctoral candidates don’t finish their dissertations.

Many students find that not having due dates can make it difficult to work efficiently and make real progress on their dissertation . I speak more about how to effectively navigate this later on in this article.

I f you go into a program that has a large number of doctoral students, you’ll still be alone when you get to the dissertation stage, but you’ll have other people a similar stage. If you’re in a smaller program (for example, I was the only person in my PhD program), you may be all alone during the dissertation phase.

You’ll have to be able to move from the structured format of classes to the dissertation stage, where there’s very little structure and it can be lonely.

How Many Hours do PhD Students Work?

How many hours do PhD students work? Many PhD students have about 40 hours a week of reading and classwork, plus around 20 hours a week of assistantship or lab time. And that’s minimum. You may also be teaching while you’re doing your dissertation. I had two classes a semester, which ended up being 6 hours a week of class time, plus preparation and grading.   It’s easy to have a 60-80 hour week. In the life of a PhD student, the concept of “weekends” does not exist.

When you get to your dissertation, it’s easy to say “Oh, thank god I don’t have to do that anymore” and just stop. But don’t. You’ll need to put in the same hours on your dissertation if you want to finish within a reasonable timeframe (unless you’re deliberately making a choice to finish over a longer period of time).

Life of a PhD Student

Here, I’ll describe some of the common themes of the life of a PhD student, regardless of discipline. If you’re not yet enrolled in a PhD program, I highly recommend reading this to get an idea of the realities of what doctoral-level work looks like. If you’re already living the life of a PhD student, you will find some indispensable hints and advice for getting through with your mental health intact.

Being a Doctoral Student Is Not Like Being an Undergrad

Life as a PhD student is not the same as life as an undergrad. You’re there for the academic experience, not for anything else. Don’t expect to be able to join clubs and have time to socialize or go to football games. You may even find yourself feeling jealous of undergrads. 

But you’re there for a completely different purpose. You are the reason that the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You are training to join the ranks of the world’s elite minds. 

You Can’t “Just Get By”

On the same note, the academic standards to which you’ll have to hold yourself change. As an undergraduate, you can get by easily with “what do I need to know,” and as a PhD student you ask, “what more can I learn?”

If you have the mentality of asking “what do I need to get by?” you shouldn’t be in a doctoral program. Because if you’re in a doctoral program, you’re going to end up as an expert. If your specific topic comes up in important policy decisions, you may be asked to be on an advisory panel. At some point, you will probably be asked to be an expert somewhere, and the advice you give will influence people’s lives. Society depends on you doing a good job in order to function well.

Doctoral programs are rigorous for a reason: only those who have a true passion and care for their subject area are afforded the power that a doctorate gives.

Writing a Dissertation Takes Over Your Life

Writing a dissertation is an immersive experience. It’s so much a part of the life of a PhD student that it’s hard to differentiate between when you’re working and not working. 

You also have to do things besides actually writing, and these things sometimes take a frustratingly long time. For example, making calls to institutions you are gathering data from, figuring out how to access or use software programs, or transcribing interviews. 

It doesn’t feel like you’re making progress on your dissertation because you haven’t written anything, so it can be easy to get discouraged. It’s important to account for the time spent doing this kind of thing so that you don’t feel like you’re failing when you have to spend entire days on it rather than writing.

I had a friend who spent an entire weekend trying to de-bug a program, and the problem ended up being a zero that had been replaced by an O. That kind of stuff happens all the time, and it’s often when students quit. Account for this ahead of time so that it’s just part of the deal.

It is hard to communicate to friends and family members about what you’re going through in this process. They may expect you to be the same person you were before you entered the program and have the same flexibility. This can put a lot of pressure on friendships and relationships.  

You see all these other people who seem like they’re doing amazing things. Going on vacation, having children, advancing their careers. It may feel like you’re missing out. The life of a PhD student is also extremely isolating. Your family may not understand what you’re going through. It’s important to take care of your mental and emotional health so that this doesn’t lead you to drop out.

No Time for Anything

Those people who go into a doctoral program and continue a job and have families have to understand that they’re going to have very little time for anything other than those three things during the program. There is often not even enough time for all three of those. Understand that your faculty will have expectations of you and rarely considers outside commitments or desires when evaluating whether you’ve met those expectations.

Much of the life of a PhD student is actually deferring life–or at least all of the facets of life outside of academia. It means following everybody else’s requirements until you graduate. 

Revisions, Revisions, Revisions

Being a PhD student means constant revising. That’s one of the reasons that people quit, because they don’t realize how much revising will be necessary. When students get a draft of their proposal back for revisions a fifth time, many consider that a failure, but that’s simply the nature of writing a dissertation.

People get angry because they think they’re failing or they think that professors are being hard on them. But having to do multiple revisions is the norm. You’re learning a new language (academic writing), and you’re conducting an extremely rigorous project.

In classes, professors may let things slide. But any professor worth their salt won’t let things slide in your dissertation. It’s a good place for a perfectionist.

Here are some common reasons why students struggle with the type of academic writing required in a dissertation:

• You feel like you’re repeating yourself a lot
• You have to make your argument very clear and slow
• You can’t assume any knowledge
• You have to be extraordinarily specific
• You have to be extremely consistent

A Warning for Doctoral Students

There are stories of faculty members who take advantage of doctoral students to pick up laundry, babysit children, or worse. However power can be abused, some people in positions of power will try to do it. While hopefully there has been enough conversation about this that it is declining, it is something to be aware of. Listen to other people and be careful. 

The academic system is set up for an uneven balance of power–even before you account for our societal power dynamics of gender and race.

While there is a worthy tradition of “paying your dues” in academia, this means paying your dues to the profession–through teaching, learning, and research–not paying dues to members of the profession.

All this said, there are times when it isn’t inappropriate for faculty members may ask you to do things outside of the realm of academia (you can feel free to accept or decline as you wish). When I was in my graduate program a faculty member asked if I could help him move one weekend. I helped him for an hour and a half, and he gave me $100. 

He was trying to be nice to me, and he certainly didn’t take advantage of the power dynamic. However, I was working as an assistant on a research project and getting paid $12/hr, and I jokingly chided him for paying me more for my brawn than my brains.

Final Thoughts

The life of a PhD student is not easy, but it is rewarding. Time and time again, I’ve seen the difference between students who complete their doctoral programs and those who don’t is whether they’re able to get enough support.

That’s why I started offering Dissertation Coaching Services . I help PhD students get through the dissertation phase of their doctoral programs, successfully defend them, and graduate with their degrees.

If you are interested in receiving support from a Dissertation Chair through weekly coaching sessions, feedback on your work, and accountability tools, book a free 30-minute consultation . As of this writing, I am nearing capacity, so please do so soon if you would like to participate.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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The Life of a PhD Student: Understanding the Reality and Challenges

A PhD journey is more than an academic endeavour; it’s an immersion into a unique lifestyle full of discovery, hardship, and growth. But what exactly does life as a PhD student entail?

To truly understand the PhD experience, we first need to decipher the meaning of being a PhD candidate . It’s more than just studying; it’s about developing a unique research proposal, producing a significant contribution to your field, and ultimately proving your worth as an independent scholar.

Central to the life of a PhD student is time management skill. With research, classes, teaching assignments, and more on their plate, maintaining a balanced schedule is crucial. A look at a typical PhD student schedule can offer insights into how doctoral candidates juggle their varied responsibilities.

One might also wonder, what do PhD students do outside the purview of their research? The reality encompasses a multitude of activities, including attending conferences, publishing articles, participating in departmental duties, and sometimes even managing their own classes.

Beyond the tasks, there’s a tangible environment that plays an integral role in a PhD student’s life – the PhD student office . This is where they spend long hours reading, writing, analysing data, and sometimes, simply thinking. It’s a space for both collaborative discussions and intense individual focus.

Age, too, has a role in the PhD student journey. While some start their doctorate journey immediately after their master’s, others opt for the path later in life. The average age of a PhD student varies significantly, with many factors influencing the decision to pursue this highest academic degree. Data on the typical graduate student age can provide a broader perspective on this topic.

Ultimately, the PhD student experience is a personal journey that’s simultaneously challenging and rewarding. It’s a time of intense learning and personal growth, where students evolve from being consumers of knowledge to producers of novel insights.

Life as a PhD student is an intertwining of passion, dedication, resilience, and intellectual curiosity. And, while the journey can be tough, it is these experiences that shape the future academics, thinkers, and leaders of our world.

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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

PhD Life: Socialising and Making Friends as a PhD Student

There is a widely held belief that PhD students must be constantly working, with no time for a life outside of academia. If you’re considering embarking on a PhD you’re probably curious about what PhD life is really like.

Do PhD students have many opportunities to socialise? Can PhD students join societies? Are PhD students destined to work and live in isolation for the duration of their PhD?

I recently finished my PhD so I’m keen to share with you the realities of life as a PhD student. I’ll also include some of my own experiences of PhD students’ social lives.

Disclaimer – I completed my PhD just as COVID-19 was taking hold. Social events may be a little different for now but you should still have time away from work to be sociable! In this post I include examples and tips for how to stay sociable during lockdown.

Does PhD Life Leave Time To Socialise?

Let’s start by dispelling the belief that PhD students need to always be working and must live in a permanently anxious state that they’re not working enough.

I see tweets like this all the time:

3rd yr PhD student: Sorry I haven't texted back. Been working 16 hours/day recently Me: Barely forces self to work 8 hours/day bc I'm constantly exhausted or simply can't focus. Feel so guilty about this. Any advice to improve my productivity? @AcademicChatter @OpenAcademics — Marina D (@marinadsouza22) December 16, 2020

PhD students should not be under any pressure to feel the need to work crazy (>8 hour/day) hours! If nothing else, working such long hours are unproductive and entirely unsustainable long term. Even if dedicating all of your waking hours to research was mentally sustainable, there is more to the PhD experience than just your project!

I feel strongly that if you treat your PhD like a normal full time job, i.e. around 40 hours a week you’ll be as productive as you would ever need to be.

Previously I shared how many hours I worked, and a calendar, during the second year as a PhD student to illustrate how I spent my time. Seeing and speaking to many other PhD students, I’d say the amount of hours I worked during the PhD was pretty normal.

Sidenotes: In case it’s of interest I’ve also shown that PhD students do take holidays , so again please don’t feel under pressure to not take extended breaks from your project! Oh and please also know that you don’t need lots of caffeine to survive a PhD !

This is basically a long way of saying that life as a PhD student should involve having a life outside of the lab! Taking time away from your work to socialise is great for so many reasons but not least is it fantastic for your mental health. Looking after yourself should be a priority far above academic achievements.

What If I’m Happy to Work Longer Hours on My Project?

As with any segment of society, PhD students represent a range of people with different priorities. There will be some PhD students who do spend all of their time working and aren’t interested in socialising. That’s completely fine but that should be a choice rather than a requirement.

Whilst I understand that some projects may require periods of long hours, it shouldn’t be the norm to regularly put yourself through unsustainably long working shifts. If a PhD student has no time away from research I would personally suggest that they are doing things wrong. If nothing else they’re missing out on other parts of the PhD student life experience!

Even if you love your project, there are loads of positives to taking time away from your work and making time for the other fun things you can do as a student which we’ll come on to in a second!

Two Perks to Your Social Life as a PhD Student

If they want to, PhD students absolutely can and do have a social life! Despite misconceptions, as we just covered a moment ago PhD students aren’t generally confined to living a life in the lab for the duration of their project!

The reality is that your social life as a PhD student doesn’t need to be any different from how it would be if you were working a regular job. Just like how university graduates who go on to have “normal” jobs still go out and have fun, so can PhD students. In fact I’d go as far as to say that PhD students are in a much better position to enjoy a rich social life than friends who go straight into a normal job.

This is because PhD students have a few aces up their sleeves when it comes to having fun and being sociable whilst being productive:

1. PhD students can still join societies and sports clubs through the students’ union

A lot of PhD students don’t realise that all of the opportunities to join student-run societies and sports clubs are still open to them as PhD students.

In my experience, even fewer PhD students actually make use of this opportunity.

I think that this a big oversight since student societies and sports clubs are a way to very easily meet like-minded individuals and a fantastic way to socialise and make other PhD friends.

Even if you don’t have any hobbies at the moment, these student-run clubs represent an incredible chance to try new things out. For example during my PhD I tried out gliding. I only went for one taster session but had an amazing time! I would never have usually gone out of my way to try gliding but at university opportunities like that are seamless and practically handed out on a plate.

Think of all the cool things you could try which would add to your PhD life. I do appreciate that things are a little different at the moment, but there are still things to get involved with and the restrictions won’t be with us forever.

If you don’t make the most of your chance to enjoy your time at the university you’re missing out!

2. You are in control of your time

By and large PhD supervisors give their students lots of freedom to manage their own time. As long as you get the work done, it doesn’t really matter when you do it. This means that you can fit your work around activities more easily than if you were in a structured working environment.

For example, in the UK Wednesday afternoons are the common time for university sports clubs to meet. I’ve known PhD students who take advantage of flexible working to take this time off and enjoy playing their favourite sports. Likewise I’ve had labmates who shuffled around their work to fit in orchestra practice and I’ve taken time out of my day to run events for student societies and volunteer.

Volunteering to provide free tutoring in a local sixth form, and going to an event organised by the Dutch Embassy in London about plastic pollution (before it was trendy!)

Having the flexibility to work whenever you want also means…

• being able to meet up with friends who are visiting
• finishing early if you’re travelling somewhere
• starting work late if you drank a bit too much the night before
• simply leaving to get an ice-cream with labmates!

Being in an environment with this flexibility and ownership of your time can be very handy to ensure that you are having a break from work and staying sociable.

Typical Opportunities to Make Friends and Socialise

Below are a few examples of the many ways PhD life gives you opportunities to socialise. None of these suggestions require that you know anyone in the place you’re studying.

All examples are from my own PhD experience.

Academic-related social events:

• Regular drinks with members of the research group . These have continued to take place virtually for a research group I was in.
• Research groups bi-annual socials . At Imperial there is a departmental allowance to fund two away days (or meals) every year. During my time we went bowling, did an escape room, played darts plus enjoyed several meals together as a research group.
• Public engagement events. Speaking to the public about research might not sound like time off from work and yes it can be tiring. Even so, I did it a few times during my PhD and enjoyed it so much more than I was expecting to! It convinced me that even for introverts like myself, speaking to loads of new people can be good every so often! It is also a great way to bond with your research team.

Busy afternoon chatting slug slime science @royalsociety 's Summer Science 2018 with @celizlab & @NHM_London . Team are there again 10-6 tomorrow, drop by! pic.twitter.com/frFEYLjJm0 — Jeff Clark (@savvy_scientist) July 7, 2018

• PhD student-specific socials. One of the two departments I was affiliated with ran a few social events throughout the year specifically for PhD students in the department: free food and drink!
• Departmental parties at Christmas and the summer.

What about if your research group and/or department don’t organise any events? Well firstly, you can always try organising your own. Secondly, here are some other widely available events:

• Public lectures and seminars by visiting academics. Go along with friends or make friends at the event or at the free drinks receptions often held afterwards.
• Conferences . They’re a great way to socialise. I’m not massively extroverted but some of my favourite conferences have been when I’ve gone alone and put myself out there. Most conferences have loads of opportunities to socialise: coffee breaks, poster sessions, drinks receptions and often a conference dinner. Don’t worry, loads of people go to them alone. You’re going to an event where people work on similar research to yourself so usually you’ll have lots of common interests to talk about. If all else fails, start a conversation by asking people about their research: they’ll love it!

Non-academic social events:

In addition to academic settings, there are loads of other ways to make friends and stay sociable during your PhD. PhD life does not need to be a lonely experience and I’d be sad to hear of people working in small isolated research groups who are having a miserable time!

Here are a few examples of ways that I stayed sociable outside of an academic setting.

• Trying out new sports . If you have the chance, I really suggest making use of the opportunity to try out new sports. I’m not really sporty but took the opportunity to try out different cool things. During my PhD, in addition to gliding, I learned to scuba dive and surfing trips with the student-run clubs: including spending my birthday surfing in Morocco! I’m still on the mailing lists for some of these sports clubs and know that they’re still organising events, many of which are available virtually. I realise this isn’t quite the same but can provide a much needed way to socialise!

• Joining societies as a PhD student . Most universities have loads of student-run societies for everything from acapella to yoga, and loads in between. Here is the list from the Imperial students’ union. I personally got involved with the environmental society and ended up leading it as president for a year.

Having worked for a few years before starting my PhD I was initially apprehensive about joining clubs and societies, but I decided to get involved while I had the chance and I am so glad I did.

I can’t speak highly enough of the social benefits which come from either trying something new or bonding with fellow students who already love the same interests as you. If you do go on to do a PhD, make sure to make the most of all the opportunities !

Another great visit to the @IC_ESoc allotment today with @savvy_scientist – pond cleared, green manure planted and courgettes & beans harvested @Grantham_IC @imperialcollege pic.twitter.com/IAFFln0ZXH — Imperial Zero Pollution: Our Campuses (@Sustainable_ICL) September 25, 2018

• Volunteering. If you’re moving to a different city or country, I’ve found volunteering to be a great way to meet new people. For example I spent many Saturday mornings during my PhD growing vegetables with people in my local community outside of the university. In my book, socialising outdoors gets points for being twice as good!

PhD Life During Lockdown: How to Avoid Loneliness and Stay Sociable

If you’re working from home and are unable to go and enjoy in-person events, it is more important than ever to ensure you’re able to avoid loneliness and stay sociable in other ways! The most obvious and safe way to do so is to move them online.

Here are a few suggestions to ensure you’re able to stay sociable remotely during a PhD:

• Videocall a friend or family member . Not quite the same as seeing in real life, but much better than not speaking to them at all! The great thing with speaking virtually is that you’re not limited to only speaking to friends or family who are geographically close by.
• Join virtual events . Loads of student societies have moved to virtual events for their members, plus I have seen different virtual events organised by groups, departments and university-wide initiatives. If you’re anything like me and get intimidated by social events, you could start by finding passive events where the focus is on following a presentation, tutorial or video and there is less emphasis on needing to jump straight into talking to strangers. I do encourage you to put yourself out there though if you feel up to it. The handy thing with socialising virtually is if you’re not enjoying it you can easily leave, blaming it on a dodgy internet connection if necessary!

If there aren’t any virtual events for your research group, PhD cohort or department, consider organising one yourself. Not only are you helping yourself but it could be a lifeline for someone else too!

Since finishing my PhD I’m currently still working in research as a post-doc so fully appreciate the difficulties of balancing your time during a lockdown: here in the UK we’re in one right now! Working from home can certainly blur work and home life which makes it all the more important that you can differentiate the two by having fun and staying sociable!

Hopefully I’ve reassured you that PhD life doesn’t need to consist of work every hour of the day and that it is possible to still enjoy an active social life! If you have any comments or concerns, I’m happy to try and help if you want to reach out.

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• CAREER FEATURE
• 13 November 2019

PhDs: the tortuous truth

• Chris Woolston 0

Chris Woolston is a freelance writer in Billings, Montana.

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Getting a PhD is never easy, but it’s fair to say that Marina Kovačević had it especially hard. A third-year chemistry student at the University of Novi Sad in Serbia, she started her PhD programme with no funding, which forced her to get side jobs bartending and waitressing. When a funded position came up in another laboratory two years later, she made an abrupt switch from medicinal chemistry to computational chemistry. With the additional side jobs, long hours in the lab, and the total overhaul of her research and area of focus, Kovačević epitomizes the overworked, overextended PhD student with an uncertain future.

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Nature 575 , 403-406 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-03459-7

Woolston, C. Nature 550 , 549–552 (2017).

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The full doctoral student experience at Harvard is not just about outstanding academics. It’s also about the community you build, the connections you make, and the many ways for you to grow academically, professionally, and personally.

There are many student organizations and opportunities for you to make your doctoral program experience truly your own—and resources to support you along the way.

As a “discipline-plus” program, Social Policy (SPOL) PhD students will take the bulk of their courses within their disciplinary departmental homes, therefore forming strong connections to the political science and sociology communities at Harvard, including with other PhD students in the Government and Sociology Departments.

Because students enroll in the Proseminar on Inequality and Social Policy starting in G2 year and many go on to regularly attend the weekly workshops at HKS, SPOL PhD students will also benefit from the strong community of scholars and practitioners at HKS—a community that includes other PhD students focusing on public policy and applied social science research.

Finally, SPOL PhD students become affiliates of the Multidisciplinary Program on Inequality and Social Policy , which hosts the Inequality & Social Policy Seminar Series and features other funding opportunities for students interested in inequality, wealth distribution, and social policy.

Additionally, SPOL students have access to all of the resources and student groups at the  Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS).  Those below are just a few:

Sociology Graduate Student Organization

The Graduate Student Organization within the Sociology Department is a student-run organization that focuses on social events and specific programs based on student need.

GSAS Engage

Engage offers a platform for graduate student groups to promote their organization and their events.  You can search by topic or affinity group.   

Diversity at Harvard

Harvard Griffin GSAS and Harvard is a community of students and scholars who represent different races, ethnicities, belief systems, nationalities, genders, and sexual orientations. There are  student affinity groups  and  resources  at Harvard Griffin GSAS and  HKS  alike that provide opportunities for you to become part of communities and help you thrive academically, develop professionally, and grow personally during your time at Harvard. 

Supporting the Whole You

Harvard Griffin GSAS and Harvard provide a range of resources to support your academic, physical, social, and mental well-being as you pursue your doctoral research. Several professional development programs are also available to prepare you for each step as you work toward your doctoral degree. 

Among the Harvard Griffin GSAS resources include those that are academically focused, particularly the Academic Resource Center  and the Fellowships and Writing Center . But they also include family-minded resources such as the  Harvard Student Spouses and Partners Association  and  Care.com  as well as those focused on your  mental health and wellbeing .   

Read about the support programs available at Harvard Griffin GSAS  and  HKS  during your time at Harvard. 

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As a PhD student, you’ll benefit from everything the Stanford GSB community has to offer, as well as the extensive resources of Stanford University.

Your experience extends beyond academics, through an extensive range of intellectual, recreational, and social activities. Stanford offers world-class cultural events , state-of-the-art fitness and athletic facilities , and an almost endless array of activities to suit your tastes, expand your horizons, and satisfy your curiosity.

Health Services

Vaden Health Center offers quality medical care for all PhD students. Individual students and couples also have access to a range of counseling and psychological services.

International Student Services

The Bechtel International Center helps internationally oriented students, research scholars, faculty, and visitors integrate into the university and the community. The center can advise foreign students on issues including immigration, housing, practical training, transactions with foreign governments, and financial aid. Counseling also is available for personal matters relating to academic performance, psychological and cultural adjustment, and language.

Athletic Facilities

Our commitment to empowering students to stay active extends to a wide range of athletic and fitness facilities . Whether you enjoy indoor rock-climbing or horseback-riding or serious weight-training, you’ll have easy access to the activities, classes, and equipment that keep you healthy, happy, and motivated.

PhD Student Association

The PhD Student Association is the elected student body government that acts as a liaison with the school administration and faculty. The association is composed of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Social Chair. The PhD Student Association works to enrich the quality of social and academic life for doctoral students at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

A wide selection of housing options helps ensure that both single and married students, as well as those with larger families, will find a place they’ll love to call home.

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Graduate Student Life

Hello, badger.

Welcome to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison! This website is designed to help you learn useful information for new grad students about the university, the City of Madison, and life as a UW–Madison student.

Beyond the pages of Graduate Student Life , your program office is generally the best place to find information related to your academic career. To find out who to contact, search for your program on the Graduate School’s list of degree programs . The Graduate School, located in Bascom Hall, serves as the hub of information for grad students on campus. The  Graduate School’s website  offers information on academic policies and deadlines, funding and fellowships, and professional development.

Welcome from Dean William J. Karpus

The Guide to Graduate Student Life

Housing and Transportation

The first thing on your mind as a new student might be: where am I going to live? This section provides details on different housing options, Madison’s neighborhoods, and tips when renting an apartment. Then, learn about the different ways to get around in Madison, including eco-friendly biking and low-cost bus options for students.

Living in Madison

There’s a lot to explore on and around campus, whether it’s getting involved in local government or finding your favorite hobby. See what other graduate students have recommended for go-to activities in the city. If you’re feeling adventurous, check out some of the places outside Madison that show Wisconsin’s natural beauty.

Studying at UW

What is a graduate assistantship and how do you find one for yourself? How do you make the most of library resources for studying and research? Explore this section for tips and explainers on the nuts and bolts – tuition, fees, enrollment, and finances – plus, a list of the best study spots outside the libraries.

Being a Badger

The UW–Madison experience is built on excellence in research and scholarship, but it goes further than that. It’s about a community here on campus. Learn about student organizations for grad students, taking care of yourself with University Health Services, and getting involved in other community activities at UW.

Thriving in Grad School

It’s no secret: Graduate school has its challenges. It’s important to learn how to balance your life as a graduate student with your own well-being and with other responsibilities such as a partner or family. These tips will help you think about managing stress, balancing responsibilities, and finding support when you need it.

For International Students

Almost a third of graduate students at UW–Madison are from outside the U.S., and campus has a number of services geared to help international students navigate immigration regulations, work requirements, and the transition to a new cultural environment. This section includes tips for adjusting and living in Madison as an international student.

Information for Online Students

While you won’t need to worry as much about housing or getting around campus, there are still plenty of resources available to you during the time you are enrolled in an online graduate program at UW–Madison. Explore these self-paced, on-demand sessions to learn more:

• Welcome Remarks from Campus Leaders
• Resource Fair for Online Students
• Enroll in the Canvas course Successful Online Learning

About This Site

Graduate Student Life 2023-2024 was updated and published in May 2023 for graduate students at UW–Madison. Graduate Student Life has been compiled over time by many graduate students, including the former Graduate Student Collaborative, and is maintained by the UW–Madison Graduate School Office of Professional Development and Communications. All photos are by University Communications at UW–Madison.

Get started: Housing and Transportation >>

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Land your dream job, graduate school life | what to expect before you enroll.

There are many ways in which graduate school life varies from the undergraduate experience. Even if you’re jumping into continuing education right after college, the lifestyle changes in particular can be very pronounced—affecting everything from time management and employment opportunities to day-to-day schedules and financial considerations.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in graduate school, and the changes (outside of the classroom) you should anticipate once you’re enrolled.

Grad school will take up a lot of your time

Whether you’re pursuing your master’s degree full time or part time , graduate school life will put your scheduling skills to the test. Although you may have fewer classes per semester than you did as an undergraduate, your course load will be significantly more demanding. From reading and writing assignments to potential research and field work, the bulk of your activity will take place outside the classroom—leaving you with far less free time than you might be used to. 

If you have children, are in a relationship, or have other personal commitments, you should expect grad school to affect your usual routines and responsibilities in that realm as well.

When preparing to enroll, be sure to do the following:

• Check items off your to-do list (before school begins). If you have any big extracurricular projects or plans that are still in progress, do your best to finish them before school starts. It will be much more difficult after you’ve started your studies, and getting these items out of the way will allow you to focus more closely on your work.
• Create a workable schedule for ongoing tasks. Even after clearing your plate, you may still have plenty of responsibilities to juggle. Make a list of all of your recurring commitments and put together a timetable that works for you (and that allows for plenty of study time!). Listing and prioritizing agenda items will help you eliminate things you can’t handle during school, and keep you on top of the things you can.
• Ask friends, family, and co-workers for support. Whether you’re navigating childcare, making time for your significant other, or other personal considerations, developing a healthy support system is critical to managing your responsibilities and stress levels during school. Reach out to people you trust early, and see how they may be able to help you balance the demands of grad school with your other commitments.

Balancing graduate school life and work will take effort

Pursuing a master’s degree can feel like a full-time job, but depending on your situation, you may also need to actually work while studying . This introduces challenges to managing not just your time, but also your energy.

The need to simultaneously perform at work and at school can create competing tensions (especially if you have a demanding job)—adjusting to these tensions is key to a successful graduate school life. Here are a few tips if you’re planning on working while studying:

• Discuss your grad school plans with your employer. Tell them what you hope to achieve, what your schedule is going to look like, and how your goals relate to your position at the organization. This will allow you to work together to set reasonable expectations and, depending on what you’re studying, discuss what sort of support your employer might be willing to provide .
• Budget more time for yourself than you think you need. It can be difficult to know just how intense the work-school balancing act will be until you’re in the middle of it. As you transition into graduate school life, work with your employer to set generous deadlines and ease into accepting new projects so you can avoid burnout and work anxiety .
• Remember the benefits of working while studying. Pursuing a master’s degree while working is definitely a challenge, but it yields myriad benefits, from networking opportunities after graduation to potential advancement in your current organization. It’s also a chance to apply your current skills and experience to your coursework , which will help you thrive in class and make you an asset to your graduate program.

Graduate school will affect your finances

Whether or not you’re working during school, continuing education will have an impact on your financial situation—and you’ll likely need to make changes to your spending habits while enrolled. Here are a few things you should do as you prepare for these adjustments:

• Consider your financial readiness before applying . Keep in mind not just the costs of tuition, but also of things like housing, books, supplies, and administrative fees. Also make note of any long-term financial plans you may have (such as buying a house), as graduate school will likely take priority over some of those goals.
• Conduct thorough research into financial aid . Beyond the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) , there’s plenty of potential assistance out there for aspiring graduate students—including scholarships , student loans , and grants specific to your area of study. Be aware of all your options, and submit applications for aid early.
• Save up before school starts, and cut costs wherever possible. Particularly if you aren’t planning on working during grad school, it’s a smart move to give yourself a financial cushion before you begin studying. This could mean doing odd jobs, putting in more hours at work, or cutting down on unnecessary spending.

Pro Tip: Keep in mind the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program after you graduate. PSLF helps student loan borrowers who work in social impact become debt-free faster, which we hope takes some of the pressure off of your decision to attend grad school.

In many ways, graduate school life will be different than what you’re used to—and while there are certainly going to be some challenges, it’s important to also keep the positives in mind, too.

Continuing education will deepen your knowledge and expertise in your chosen field, give you the chance to connect and network with new people, and open you up to advancement opportunities in your career. It requires a lot of planning and sacrifice, but if you take care to prepare, graduate school can change your life for the better.

Looking for help wrapping up your application? Be sure to check out our post, Grad School Application | Tips for Finishing Strong .

• Student/Faculty Portal
• Learning Hub (Brightspace)
• Continuous Professional Development

Student Life

Graduate students are the lifeblood of a research institution — you work hard, but you also must take time to relax, unwind, and cater to your other interests. Graduate school is not only a place for scientific training, but personal growth as well. This is a place for crafting lifelong friendships and relationships both personal and professional.

There’s a lot for you outside the lab and our Student Life resources can help you make the most of your time here.

• Get involved with one of our  student organizations .
• Study alone or with a group in one of our graduate student workspaces .
• Meet with friends outside of the classroom at an event or program .

Interested in what our alumni say about the program? Check out our  alumni perspectives .

"We're fortunate with our resources"

People and resources to help you with the details

Well-being, mental health, and work-life balance matter here. From tutoring services to counseling to help with grant writing and beyond, we're dedicated to providing support and resources to ensure you can stay focused on your life and studies.

Frequently asked questions

Where do i park.

Parking is in high demand in downtown Rochester.

Fortunately, Mayo Clinic provides parking privileges for new Ph.D. students at an off-site parking lot (located on Second Street Southwest) and park-and-ride lots (located at Cub Foods, Olmsted County Fairgrounds, IBM, Shopko North, and Target South).

Shuttle service is available from park-and-ride lots to Mayo Clinic and Saint Mary's Hospital. The shuttle bus schedule is available on the parking and transportation internal website.

Is bus service available?

Bus passes are available at no charge for students who wish to commute within Rochester on the city bus. Commuter bus passes to cities outside of Rochester are available at a reduced fare.

Bus passes are available at the Parking/Access Card Office, on the main floor of the Mayo Building. They can only be used for commuting to and from work.

Bus routes are limited on Saturdays, and don't run on Sundays. Learn more on the City of Rochester's Public Transportation website.

Is the Mayo campus secure?

Mayo Clinic Security consists of more than 90 staff members who provide 24-hour campus security, patrolling all internal properties, as well as external areas such as parking ramps and lots. Video monitoring of public areas, parking facilities, subways, and entryways is conducted from security operations centers.

Security provides escorts to Mayo parking areas upon request.

Mayo Clinic buildings are locked at designated times and access thereafter is controlled. Card-key access systems are used for access to buildings and restricted areas. Data files are kept for all access card usage. Access cards are invalidated in the system when reported lost or stolen.

What resources are available to me?

• Mayo Graduate Student Association (GSA). The purpose of the GSA is to facilitate the interaction between the administration of the school and students enrolled in the graduate degree programs. It also provides an avenue for information exchange between graduate students in various programs. Questions regarding the GSA can be directed to the current co-presidents at [email protected] . Elections for new officers are held in August.
• Research Core Facilities.   Mayo Clinic Research Core Facilities are centralized, shared research resources that provide access to instruments, technologies, testing, and services. They provide expert technical and consultative services to investigators engaged in basic science research and clinical trials. These facilities expand investigators' capabilities, foster collaboration, and accelerate discovery and translation.
• Mayo Clinic Library.   Mayo Clinic is served by an integrated system of libraries, knowledge centers, and archives including extensive online resources and efficient delivery systems. The system includes the Mayo Digital Library of Electronic Resources, accessible 24/7 at all institutional sites.
• Discovery's Edge.   Mayo Clinic's research magazine offers insight into the process and progress of medical science at Mayo Clinic.

"Focused on learner well-being"

We're constantly being asked what can be improved and how can we make your experience better. And it all goes back to allowing us, as learners, to focus on why we're here — to learn and research. Regarding resources, if you think you need it, it's available to you and if it's not, Mayo is going to make sure that it is available.

Damian Di Florio Ph.D. student, Clinical and Translational Science Track

A Day in the Life of a PHD Student

Ellen Brewster is studying for a PhD in English Literature.

Having completed her undergraduate degree, she went on to a Master’s before returning to her original college for her PhD. Her area of specialism is UK domestic readership in the eighteenth century.

You can also find her on Instagram: @_ellenbrewster

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How did I become a PhD student?

Hello! I’m Ellen, and I’m a first-year doctoral student at the University of Oxford. I’m studying for a PhD (or DPhil as it’s known here) in English Literature. I’ve got an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in English Literature too, and these qualifications have allowed me to go on to do a graduate research degree. This means I’m still a full-time student after five years (so far) at uni! I’m able to do this full-time thanks to a generous scholarship, which pays for both my university fees and my living costs.

I wanted to do a PhD because I’m passionate about studying literature, and love to be able to find out new things and tell people all about them!

The length of a PhD can vary, depending on your subject and how long it takes you to research and write up your thesis. In the UK, you’re usually expected to finish your project within 3-5 years. Your thesis is a long piece of writing: I’m aiming to have written between 80,000 to 100,000 words, which is basically a long book! It will have several chapters looking at different aspects of my research topic.

I’m studying how people used to read in the past, particularly in the eighteenth-century. I want to understand how people at the time wanted to improve their reading-aloud skills through attending lectures, reading books, and joining book clubs; people viewed reading primarily as a social activity. To do this kind of research, I have to read a lot of books by other scholars about my topic, but I also have to do my own (metaphorical) digging in archives and libraries that have eighteenth-century books. Oxford is a great place for this, as the Bodleian Library is home to lots of modern and old books relevant to the history of reading.

Curious to experience what studying at Oxford University is really like? Attend an Oxford High School Summer Program and get a real taste of university life.

What does PhD research involve?

Generally, with PhD research, I am doing one of two things: reading, or writing.

When I say ‘reading’, I also mean note-taking – while a form of writing, the main focus of taking notes is understanding what I’m reading and remembering it for later.

When I’m not writing notes, I’m writing parts of my thesis – drafts of paragraphs or sections, or even an entire chapter! All this reading and writing helps me to think about my topic in great depth – both by thinking about what other people have said, and thinking about the things I’ve discovered for myself. Some weeks tend to be more reading-focused; other weeks tend to be about trying to articulate my ideas into readable forms for my supervisor to read. She’s the person guiding my project, giving me feedback on the things that I write, and helps me work out what I should research next.

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Wander through the Student Center at Harvard Griffin GSAS in the evening at this time of year and you’ll likely hear voices raised in song, piano notes fluttering up and down, and the steady, insistent beat of percussion. These are the sounds of Harvard Griffin GSAS students composing, rehearsing, and preparing for their end-of-term concerts—including this month’s Sounds of Spring musical showcase that brought together the Student Center’s choir , jazz , and world music collective ensembles. Along with the orchestra , these groups are each managed by one of the Center’s four music fellows who work together and individually to connect students through the music they love. 

Raising Her Voice

As a new student at Harvard Griffin GSAS, Eboni Monae Arnold attended the Student Center Open House Party event at the start of the academic year where she and her friends impressed during the karaoke sing-along. “It really inspired others to sing too, and I loved seeing the smiles on the other students' faces,” she says. A PhD candidate in biological and biomedical sciences who spends most of her time at Harvard’s Longwood Campus, Arnold wanted to learn more about Cambridge and graduate student events, so she decided to become a fellow. 

This year, Arnold revived the once-dormant Student Center Choir holding rehearsals and also organizing events like the recent Lunch and Learn with Jan Iyer, PhD ’20 , who studies the science of hearing and its connection to music. “I’m thrilled to help create spaces where students can come together,” she says, “especially the Sounds of Spring event.”

Swing Along

Arnold’s showcase collaborator, Student Center Jazz Fellow Rachel Savage, grew up in Dakar and Senegal and then lived in Oregon and on the East Coast. A PhD candidate in cellular and molecular biology, Savage is a pianist who brings her passion for music, composing, and performing to the jazz ensemble’s jam sessions, rehearsals, and performances. "I got into jazz when I found an old Billie Holiday record, and since then have never stopped listening and playing,” she says. "If I could make a Faustian bargain to play like any pianist, I'd choose my hero, Hampton Hawes."

Savage invites Harvard Griffin GSAS students to take a break from academic work and join the relaxed, fun, and collaborative rehearsals. With several different ensembles, the jazz group offers musicians of all levels the opportunity to play and improvise. 

A World of Music

Like Eboni Monae Arnold, World Music Collective Fellow Ethan Cowan resurrected a group that had fallen off during the pandemic years. “The World Music Collective brings together students interested in exploring music beyond the Euro-American tradition through rearranging, composing, and performing music that draws on various national, regional, and local music cultures,” he says. “Students are invited to bring songs, sounds, and instruments they love to the group, often teaching them to fellow students.” 

The World Music Collective learns 8-10 songs each term and has performed pieces from countries such as Italy, Russia, Pakistan, India, Burkina Faso, Puerto Rico, China, and Ireland. A master’s student at Harvard Divinity School, Cowan himself plays and teaches several different instruments and says his favorite experience as a fellow so far was teaching another student to play the accordion. 

Diversifying the Classics

Preparing for its upcoming spring concert on May 5 , the Student Center Orchestra will soon fill Harvard’s Paine Hall with the sounds of an ambitious music program. Comprised of a mix of students from Harvard Griffin GSAS, the wider University, and the Cambridge community, the orchestra holds tryouts, rehearses weekly, and holds two concerts a year. The group also performs at the annual Winter Ball hosted by the Student Center social fellows. 

Conducted and stewarded by Leo Sarbanes, a PhD candidate in music, the group plays engaging and accessible works from underheard artists like the African American composer William Grant Still. “It was a pleasure to host a William Grant Still Listening Party during Black History Month and introduce students to this underappreciated genius,” Sarbanes says. “It was a chance to create a welcoming space where students could explore unfamiliar music in an intellectually curious environment.”

Whether you’re looking to compose, perform, or simply listen, the Student Center music fellows invite you to answer your musical calling. Join them to swing, soothe your soul, and, above all, Find Your Center. 

Don’t miss the  Student Center Orchestra's spring concert on May 5 and be sure to watch Engage for the date of the upcoming Spring Swing Dance. Have an event you want to see? A project you want to help bring to life on campus? Contact the Student Center and let them know! 

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PhD Students Receive Weintraub Award

Harvard Griffin GSAS students Olivia Harringmeyer and Michelle Li are two of this year's recipients of the prestigious Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award from Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The award recognizes exceptional achievement in graduate studies in the biological sciences.

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UT’s Excellence and Impact On Display in Latest Graduate School Rankings

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin continues to be one of the premier schools for graduate studies, according to U.S. News & World Report’s partial release of its most recent “Best Graduate Schools.” UT made gains in several disciplines, including the College of Education’s jump into the top 10.

U.S. News has delayed release of its engineering, medicine and clinical psychology rankings, areas in which the University has historically achieved No. 1 and top 10 rankings.

Even with the partial release of the graduate rankings, UT maintained its top 10 spot for five colleges and schools: the College of Education (No. 8); the School of Information (No. 5); the Steve Hicks School of Social Work (No. 8); the College of Pharmacy (No. 6); and the Jackson School of Geosciences (No. 7), ranked under Earth Sciences. Three specialties ranked No. 1 in the country: Accounting, Latin American History and Sociology of Population. Overall, the University has 42 graduate schools and specialty programs ranked in the top 10 when combined with previous years.

“These rankings are striking and reflect our ability to continue to attract exceptional faculty and students. Our excellence is evident in our set of more than 40 schools, programs and specialties ranked in the top-10 in this partial release alone, including several that are the best in the country, if not the world,” said President Jay Hartzell. “Our talent is what puts UT at the leading edge of discovery in AI and robotics, life sciences, population research, and many other disciplines that are at the forefront of solving many of the world’s most pressing problems and bettering society.”

Among the highlights in this year’s rankings:

• The College of Education is now ranked in the top 10, moving up eight spots to No. 8.
• The McCombs School of Business moved up four ranks to No. 16 overall.
• The Information Systems MBA program in the McCombs School of Business is ranked No. 4 this year, marking 31 years that it has ranked in the top 5. Accounting has been ranked No. 1 for 18 years.
• The College of Pharmacy moved up one spot to No. 6. Computer Science moved up one rank to No. 7.
• The Nursing master’s program rose six spots to No. 14.

U.S. News & World Report’s graduate rankings, which are published separately from the yearly ranking of undergraduate programs, are considered the gold standard of graduate and professional rankings. They are based on surveys of academic leaders and, for select programs, additional quantitative measures including placement test scores, student/faculty ratios, research expenditures, salary by profession and job placement success.

The publication updates some of its specialty rankings each year and republishes the most recent rankings in other areas. The rankings for engineering, medicine and psychology will be released at a later date, according to U.S. News.

Graduate schools, programs and specialties that U.S. News ranked in the top 25 are listed below.

Business – 16

• Accounting – 1
• Business Analytics – 8
• Entrepreneurship – 10
• Finance – 13
• Information Systems – 4
• Management – 11
• Marketing – 11
• Production/Operations – 15
• Project Management – 4
• Real Estate – 8
• Supply Chain/Logistics – 16
• Executive MBA – 15
• Part-Time MBA – 7

Education – 8

• Counseling – 15
• Curriculum/Instruction – 12
• Education Policy – 9
• Educational Administration/Supervision – 5
• Educational Psychology – 6
• Elementary Teacher Education – 10
• Higher Education Administration – 14
• Secondary Teacher Education – 10
• Special Education – 7

Health Disciplines (other than Nursing)

• Audiology – 12
• Pharmacy (College of Pharmacy) – 6
• Social Work (Steve Hicks School of Social Work) – 8
• Speech-Language Pathology – 14
• Business/Corporate Law – 17
• Constitutional Law – 11
• Contracts/Commercial Law – 15
• Criminal Law – 20
• Intellectual Property Law – 15
• International Law – 25
• Tax Law – 13

Library and Information Studies Schools (School of Information) – 5*

• Archives and Preservation – 4*
• Digital Librarianship – 7*
• Information Systems – 8*
• Master’s – 14

Public Affairs – 13

• Public Policy Analysis – 15

The Sciences

Biological Sciences – 25*

• Ecology/Evolutionary Biology – 8*

Chemistry – 16*

• Analytical – 4*
• Inorganic – 14*
• Organic – 20*
• Physical – 14*

Computer Science – 7

• Artificial Intelligence – 9
• Programming Language – 7
• Systems – 10

Earth Sciences (Jackson School of Geosciences) – 7*

• Geochemistry – 13*
• Geology – 2*
• Geophysics and Seismology – 5*
• Paleontology – 3*

Mathematics – 13*

• Algebra – 19*
• Analysis – 8*
• Applied Math – 7*
• Topology – 8*

Physics – 13*

• Cosmology/Relativity/Gravity – 10*
• Condensed Matter – 22*

Statistics – 27* 

Social Sciences and Humanities

Economics – 22*

English – 17*

• American Literature After 1865 – 18*

History – 11*

• African American History – 10*
• Latin American History – 1*
• Modern U.S. History – 16*

Political Science – 19*

• American Politics – 20*
• Comparative Politics – 18*

Psychology – 23*

• Behavioral Neuroscience – 8*
• Social Psychology – 9*

Sociology – 11*

• Sociology of Population – 1*
• Sex and Gender – 6*
• Social Stratification – 13*

Fine Arts – 23*

• Sculpture – 6*

*Ranking not revised for 2024-25. Based on latest available ranking.

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Two Penn students awarded Truman Scholarships

Third-year students aravind krishnan and tej patel are both in the vagelos program in life sciences and management..

University of Pennsylvania third-year students, Aravind Krishnan and Tej Patel, have received Harry S. Truman Scholarships , a merit-based award of as much as $30,000 for graduate or professional school to prepare for careers in public service.

Krishnan and Patel are both majoring in molecular and cell biology, as well as health care management and policy and statistics, in the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management, a dual-degree program in the Wharton School and the College of Arts and Sciences .

They are among 60 Truman Scholars from 54 U.S. colleges and universities selected this year from 709 candidates nominated by 285 institutions. They are the 31st and 32nd  Truman Scholars from Penn since the first awards in 1977.

Krishnan, from Newark, Delaware, co-founded ToxiSense , a biosensor technology for detecting bacterial toxin contamination and screening for bacterial infections. He conducts research in the Perelman School of Medicine ’s Greenberg Lab , where he works on understanding DNA damage repair mechanisms. He is development chair of the Shelter Health Outreach Program , a Penn undergrad-led organization that runs hypertension screening clinics across Philadelphia and partners with Penn Medicine to operate mobile primary care clinics and a free clinic in West Philadelphia. In that role, Krishnan also organized a citywide health needs assessment, interviewing over 100 people at shelters across Philadelphia. Based on the findings, he then helped launch a mobile dental clinic program with Penn Dental Medicine . He has also worked on equity in care delivery abroad, including at the Aravind Eye Hospital in India, through the Center for the Advanced Study of India. Krishnan is a Perry World House Student Fellow , U.N. Millennium Fellow , and recipient of the Wharton Social Impact Research Experience grant and Hassenfeld Foundation Social Impact Grant . He has received several awards and prizes, including the Perelman Grand Prize at the Penn Venture Lab Startup Challenge . He plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. focused on immunology and infectious disease.

Patel, from Billerica, Massachusetts, is interested in making health care systems more equitable and cost-effective. He has co-authored 19 peer-reviewed research manuscripts , 10 as first-author, on radiation oncology, health economics, and care delivery. Patel works in Penn Medicine 's Radiation Oncology and Breast Surgery departments, as well as the Human Algorithm Collaboration Lab , where he led a systemwide study examining the cost-effectiveness of a machine-learning intervention meant to increase serious illness conversations in end-of-life care. Patel co-founded the Social Equity Action Lab, a youth-led think tank that brings together students, institutional partners, and policymakers to inform legislation on key health care issues. On campus, Patel is the director of the Locust Bioventures group, coordinator for the Netter Center Pipeline Program , and policy/outcomes researcher for the Shelter Health Outreach Program . He also has interned with the Mongan Institute for Health Policy and Institute for Healthcare Improvement , working on projects covering Medicare Part D policy and alternative payment models. Patel plans to pursue an M.D./M.P.P. with a goal to improve nationwide care delivery.

The students applied to the Harry S. Truman Scholarship program with assistance from Penn’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships . 

In addition to funding, Truman Scholars also receive priority admission and supplemental financial aid at some graduate institutions, leadership training, and special internship opportunities within the federal government.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation was created by Congress in 1975 to be the nation’s living memorial to President Truman. The foundation has a mission to select and support the next generation of public service leaders.

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Dance Your PhD: NC State Grad Student Layla El-Khoury Awarded for Educational Dance Production

“We have allowed the destruction and degradation of our rivers, in part because we have insufficient knowledge of the characteristics of rivers and the effects of our actions that alter their form and process.” 

The quote from renowned hydrologist Luna Leopold opens NC State doctoral student Layla El-Khoury’s “Force of Flows,” a dance piece that demonstrates the process and impacts of stream bank erosion. 

El-Khoury created the piece to demonstrate the importance of her research in a way that would resonate with audiences, and she’s far from alone among scientific researchers in doing so. 

Created in 2008, the “Dance Your Ph.D Award” is a contest where scientists express their research through dance. The award has four categories – social sciences, biology, chemistry and physics. In the 2024 contest, El-Khoury’s piece brought home the physics award. 

“When a lot of people ask you what your research is about, after about a minute or so, they don’t care,” El-Khoury said. “They don’t have any interest, and sometimes it’s hard for people to understand or follow what you’re doing. So dance is a way for people to explain their research so it’s easier for people to understand and more engaging.”

Dance is a way for people to explain their research so it’s easier for people to understand and more engaging.

El-Khoury originally launched her piece in 2021, and knew she’d have to recreate it to film for the Dance Your Ph.D contest. Despite the timing falling during final exams in December, El-Khoury was able to get all but two of the original dancers back for the re-shoot. 

She also had to dance in the piece herself for the first time – a requirement of the contest. El-Khoury said that performing in the piece herself gave her a greater appreciation for the skill of the dancers in conveying her message. 

“It was really fun to get to actually be in it and get to dance it with everyone,” she said. “I was only on the outside of it before. It feels a little bit different on the inside of it.” 

The award comes with a cash prize, but, for El-Khoury, the added exposure for her dance piece and research has been the biggest benefit. 

The video, shared in a science.org article , now has over 5,000 views. 

“Most of what I create is intended for a live audience, so it’s a little bit different to realize that this has such a far-reaching impact when I’m carrying it through film,” El-Khoury said. 

“Force of Flows” features a narration about stream bank erosion and its consequences for the first few minutes, and continues with the dancers moving in sync to demonstrate the process and its impact. 

For El-Khoury, winning the award is further validation of the piece’s ability to express her research, and the dancers’ strong performance. 

“It feels incredible,” she said. “I hoped that it would be picked, but I didn’t want to assume that it would. When I was looking at previous winners, a lot of them had a very music video feel to it. And the way that I was approaching my piece was obviously very different. It was really based on dance. The entire second section of my piece has no words to it. It’s just dancing. So even the first time I created this piece, I was really worried about its ability to connect with people. Would people understand it? Would people relate to it? Would people like it? I think the fact that it did win confirmed that I was able to capture what they did live through this film version of it, which I think also just speaks to how we danced it.”

The intersection of STEM disciplines and art has been a continued focus at NC State and at university’s around the nation. At Arts NC State’s “Arts and Your Major” series last fall, El-Khoury led a session about using dance to explain STEM research. 

El-Khoury hopes to see this emphasis continue as a way to make STEM research and the meaning behind it more accessible and understandable. 

In the upcoming fall semester, she will teach a class she created with the Data Science Academy called “Data for Dancers (DSC 295). The course is an introduction to the principles of communicating data through dance. Students will break down data from research or an area of interest to focus on the “why” and “so what”, and communicate their findings to an audience through movement and choreographic devices. Students will create and perform a duet or small group movement study based on their data investigation of interest.

“It brings this human element to it, especially when it’s research about these themes,” El-Khoury said. “It allows us to have an emotional component to our research, which we don’t normally have when we’re just talking about our research or presenting it at a conference. So, for me, I think it’s really important to use art as a way to share the research that we’re doing.” 

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Graduate students file for union election, marking last Ivy to do so

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Ammaar alam / the daily princetonian.

Graduate students seeking to unionize filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Friday afternoon, potentially making the University the last Ivy League school to have a recognized graduate student union.

The move by Princeton Graduate Students United (PGSU) comes two weeks  after postdoctoral workers at the University filed for an NLRB election. If recognized, PGSU would be affiliated with the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers (UE), and become the largest union on campus. There are currently 3,225 graduate students enrolled at the University.

UE has also represented graduate workers at the University of Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . 

“The University agrees that a secret-ballot election is the most inclusive, fair, and secure method for those eligible to express their preference whether to be represented by the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America,” University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote in a statement to The Daily Princetonian. “It is important to note that by design, union representation would change some aspects of graduate students’ relationship with Princeton, and the University has concerns about how such representation would affect graduate students’ education and experience here.”

Gaby Nair GS, an organizer with PGSU, told the ‘Prince’ that a “strong majority” of graduate students had signed union cards. The threshold for an NLRB election is 30 percent.

PGSU was unable to provide a specific number of signatories to the ‘Prince.’

“We’re really looking forward to getting [an election] date … hopefully that process goes smoothly. We’ve seen it not go smoothly at some of our peer institutions,” Nair said, referencing unionization efforts at the University of Pennsylvania. There, graduate students initially filed for a union election in October, but were delayed by an NLRB ruling that declared roughly 300 students under certain educational fellowships ineligible. The union at Penn was set to vote this Tuesday and Wednesday, but it was rescheduled to May 1 and 2.

Princeton has been slower to unionize than some of its peer institutions. Apart from Penn, all other Ivy League universities have formally recognized graduate student unions.

“I think that we have less of that institutional history to draw on than some of our peer institutions,” Nair said, pointing to the legacy of union organizing at schools like Yale, where graduate students began pushing for union recognition in the 1990s. 

However, she added, “in some ways, we’re on the same wave as all of our peer institutions.” Graduate students at Vanderbilt , for example, are still in the midst of their card campaign.

PGSU first formed following the NLRB’s 2016 ruling that graduate students were entitled to collective bargaining, but paused efforts after the NLRB temporarily reversed its decision in 2019. In February 2023, more than half of graduate students had signed union cards.

PGSU has also taken a number of positions on wider campus issues, including supporting undergraduate protests regarding climate change, racial diversity, and Title IX from 2017 to 2019. During the pandemic, they petitioned the University to extend degree timelines, research deadlines, and accommodations for international students. After students returned to campus, PGSU partnered with the Disability Collective to advocate for remote learning options.

Miriam Waldvogel is an associate News editor and the Investigations Editor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Stockton, Calif. and often covers campus activism and University accountability.

Meghana Veldhuis is an assistant News editor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Bergen County, N.J. and typically covers faculty and graduate students. 

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

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