Commitment to Diversity

"We are committed to fostering an inclusive group by recruiting and supporting trainees from diverse backgrounds and cultures. We believe that impactful science is a by-product of a healthy team, and we will strive to create an equitable and welcoming environment for all our members. We will also hold ourselves accountable - to this end, we will share specific actions that we are taking to promote an inclusive and supportive environment for students belonging to groups that have been historically marginalized in academia."

Listed below are some resources to enable students to engage in discussions about race and inequities within their research group:
1. Talking About Race and Inequity in Science – Guide for Students and Postdocs
2. #shutdownstem
3. Black in Engineering

Professional Societies:
1. National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
2. Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

UF students, check out the Multicultural and Diversity Affairs website for more information about events and opportunities within the campus.

Communication

As a student, a large portion of your time will be spent on making presentations, posters and writing papers. While there is no substitute for good science, a poorly conveyed idea will be poorly received! In addition to practicing, make it a habit to attend talks and poster presentations (within your field and outside of it), and read journal articles frequently. Eventually, you will develop your own authentic communication style!

Oral presentation: Prof. Todd Thompson, Ohio State University ‘How to Make Good Talks Great’

Poster presentation: A thorough article on designing a scientific poster by Colin Purrington (bonus section: Example of a bad scientific poster).

Scientific writing: This 2004 essay by George Whitesides’ group still rings true. I like to start with the introduction so that I get the ‘difficult’ part out of the way. It’s also important to use a good reference manager, and start populating your library early. I like to use Mendeley (Word) and BibTex (LaTeX).

Networking: Before attending a conference, prepare a 10 sec and 30 sec introduction (this can evolve into an elevator pitch when you are on the job market). This will make the process of talking to new people easier, as you don’t have to think about what to say at first. End your introduction/elevator pitch with a question, to get the conversation started. Here’s some good advice on how to structure an elevator pitch by the MIT Comm Lab.
Pro Tip: Do NOT assume anything about the person you are talking to, if you don’t know them. It’s okay to ask the person to tell you a little bit about themselves once you’re done introducing yourself.

International Students

When in doubt, get in touch with a Designated Student Official (DSO) in the office of international affairs at your home institution. No question is too trivial! Link to the International Center at UF.

Make sure that you are aware of on-campus working hours and other restrictions when you are on an F-1 student visa. These rules may change from time to time; official information can be found on the USCIS website here.

If you are on an F-1 visa and wish to explore off-campus employment opportunities, including paid/unpaid internships during your degree, you will need to be approved for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). More details can be found here.

If you are interested in working in the US after graduation, prepare ahead of time. As of 08/01/20, you can only stay in the US for 60 days after graduation on your F-1 visa. The application process for Optional Practical Training (OPT) can take 2 - 5 months (you need to apply 5 months before you graduate to be safe). Here’s a link to the OPT resource page at UF.

Make sure you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 from the office of international affairs prior to returning to the U.S. after international travel (this implies that you need a signature before you leave). Each signature is valid for a year. UF students, more details can be found here.

Coming to a new country for pursuing a degree is exciting and frightening! Get connected with student organizations on campus to make your transition a little easier! A list of student orgs in UF can be found here.

Job Opportunities

Job opportunities are varied, and many viable career avenues, such as science communication, science policy, national labs, etc. exist in addition to careers in industry and academia. Where ever your interest may lie (and it’s okay for this to evolve over time), it’s never too late to start putting together an application packet, which consists of a cover letter, resume/CV, professional bio. Creating a web presence is also helpful. Most opportunities arise from connections you make at professional networks. Here are some popular professional societies:
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
American Physical Society
American Chemical Society
Society of Women Engineers
Materials Research Society
If there’s a conference that you want to attend to maximize your chances of getting hired, make sure to discuss this with your advisor 6 months in advance.