Georgia Tech's 11th annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition took place on Tuesday, April 7th, where 12 scholars presented their innovative research in just three minutes to a non-specialist audience. After five preliminary rounds and Tuesday’s climactic competition, five graduate students were named winners and awarded research travel grants. 

Black brings more than a decade of progressive leadership experience within the Office of Graduate Education, where he has advanced through several key roles since joining the office in 2015. Most recently, he served as Director of Student and Academic Affairs and previously held positions as the Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives and Grad Life (2020 - 2022) and Special Projects Coordinator (2015-2020). His time in OGE reflects a deep institutional knowledge and a proven commitment to strengthening graduate education at Georgia Tech in partnership with graduate programs, faculty, and students. 

Black is a recognized advocate for graduate student success and has received multiple honors and awards for his leadership and service, including the Graduate Student Government Association (SGA) Administrator of the Year Award (2023) and the Graduate SGA Friend of the Graduate Student Award (2016). He served as president of the Georgia Council of Graduate Schools for the 2024-2025 term and remains actively engaged in faculty governance by currently representing the Services and Central Administration in the Academic Faculty Senate.

Black is the founder of GT6000, Georgia Tech’s small group, peer-led extended orientation program for first-year graduate students. As of fall 2025, GT6000 has supported over 3,500 graduate students in building community, accessing resources, and navigating their transition into graduate studies at Tech. The impactful, innovative approach of GT6000 to support the graduate student experience earned national recognition, receiving the 2025 "Promising Practices in Graduate and Professional Student Services Award” from the NASPA Administrators in Graduate and Professional Student Services (AGAPPS) Knowledge Community.

Black completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, researching a novel droplet levitation technique utilizing a fluid property called thermocapillarity. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Florida State University. 

The Office of Graduate Education extends our heartfelt appreciation to all the participants in this year’s preliminary round. The dedication, preparation, and passion displayed by every competitor made this selection process incredibly challenging. Crafting a 3MT talk is no easy feat, and all who took part should be proud of their achievement. 

This year’s finalists represent a wide range of disciplines across campus. 

Congratulations to the 2026 3MT Finalists:

Richard Asiamah, Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD

Rosemary Barrass, Machine Learning, PhD

Hyuck Choi, Chemical Engineering, PhD

Joe Domaleski, OMS - Analytics, MS

Makayla Garner, Bioengineering, PhD

Paul Horton, Machine Learning, PhD

Shreya Kothari, Biological Sciences, PhD

Jinchu Li, Computer Science, MS

Himadri Pandey, Machine Learning, PhD

Shehan Parmar, Chemistry, PhD

Morgan Polk, Chemistry, PhD

Hari Sridhara, Materials Science & Engineering, PhD

The Georgia Tech community is invited to attend the final competition in person on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Ehmer Theater inside the John Lewis Student Center. 3MT will also be streamed online (view the live stream). Audience members and online viewers will vote for their favorite presenter to win the coveted People’s Choice Award.

The Three Minute Thesis Competition is coordinated by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education (GPE) in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), the Naugle Writing and Communications Center, and the Language Institute. For more information, please visit 3MT Final Competition.

Working with your advisor, there will be good moments and challenging moments. Thankfully, there's a resource available to help you navigate the ups and downs of your relationship.  

"The Mutual Expectations of Research Advisors and Advisees Document recognizes how vital the advisor-advisee relationship is," said Bonnie Ferri, vice provost for Graduate Education and Faculty Development. "We hope that you'll take the time to go through it with your advisor to find ways for you to work together in a more healthy and productive manner.” 

The document, which was developed in 2016, sets forth guidelines for both you and your advisors and faculty members. The document has been approved by both Graduate Student Government and Tech’s Faculty Governance.  

Here are a few expectations for advisors outlined in the document:  

• Respect as a person, student, and employee.
• Open and clear communications.
• Guidance on research, degree completion, and career.  

And here are a few expectations outlined for advisees:

• Respect as a person and professor.  
• Open and clear communications.  
• Productivity and commitment to progressing through degree programs.  
• Responsibility for resources, standards, materials, documents, etc.
• Teamwork.

To read the full document, see Expectations of Advisors and Advisees.

You know that networking is important for building your career. But, when it comes to this professional development skill, what are the strategies for success?  

“Networking is important for all professionals — but especially for graduate students who are often trying to make the next leap in their career.” said Lanie Damon, a graduate career development advisor. “Networking is the foundational skill that you need to find internships and research assistantships, identify mentors, and connect with potential employers.”  

If you’re looking for ways to expand your circle and secure your next job or internship, check out these seven tips from career professionals at Georgia Tech. 

1. Use LinkedIn strategically. There are several ways to maximize your time on LinkedIn. (For information on how to improve your profile, see 8 Tips for a Top-notch LinkedIn Profile). Here are a few strategies:

• Use Tech’s organizational page to research and reach out to alumni in your field via the “Alumni” tab. Send them a personalized note with your connection invite and follow up at least once if you don’t hear back, Damon said.
• Look at your network’s past work experience to see if any of your connections have worked at companies that you’re interested in. If they have, reach out to them to talk about their experience and potentially get a foot in the door. “You can limit yourself by only making attempts to connect with someone high up in the organization, like the CEO,” added Lydia Pendleton, corporate relations manager in Aerospace Engineering. “Look to connect with people within the company who might be more accessible, such as alumni, classmates, or recruiters.”
• Use LinkedIn boldly when networking, said Ann Blasick, a career coach and corporate relations manager for the Master of Science in Analytics in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Once you’ve found people in the types of job you’re interested in, Blasick says to reach out confidently and ask for a short (around 30 minutes) networking chat. “The worst-case scenario is someone won’t respond back; the best-case is that someone will offer great advice and even a job referral,” Blasick added.  
• Follow influential figures in your industry, and post and repost content relevant to your field. Damon also pointed out that companies are interested in you as a whole person, not just a professional. So, don’t be afraid to post things that you're personally passionate about as a way for people to get to know you better.  

2. Do your research and look for commonalities. When you connect with a potential mentor or recruiter, take the time to learn more about their professional journey, Pendleton said. Those insights can help get the conversation started. For example, you could reach out to that person and say, "Hi Sandra, the article you wrote on (bears in the wild) was thought provoking. I’m writing a thesis on (wild bears living in tiny homes), which ties into the research you've done. I’d love to connect with you and exchange ideas," Pendleton said.  

3. Focus on learning, not selling. When you’re communicating with your network, Blasick said to focus on listening and asking questions vs. talking about yourself. “Your goal in a networking conversation is not to sell yourself but rather to be curious, and gain advice and information on the job you’re interested in,” she said.  

4. Take advantage of LinkedIn Learning. Tech students have access to free LinkedIn Learning courses. The platform offers courses on topics ranging from UX/UI design to Python and Java. “Even though you’re coming from a well-respected institution, these badges allow you to demonstrate a wider variety of skills,” Damon said. 

5. Practice networking with the people around you. “If networking doesn’t come naturally to you, then it’s a skill that you can acquire,” Damon said. She recommends looking for ways to get involved on campus, whether through student organizations, volunteer opportunities, information sessions, or professor’s office hours. “You never know who is going to be able to help you along the way,” Damon said. “So, take advantage of opportunities to meet people — it’s easy to network with people who share an interest with you.”  

6. Find and join professional associations. Organizations like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Industrial Designers Society of America will give you access to career pages, networking events, and professionals who are willing to help you out. To find professional associations to join, Damon said to check out organizations on Engage @ GT, and connect with subject experts at the Library. You can also join organizations specifically for graduate students, such as the Grad Society of Women Engineers, the Association of Chemical Engineer Graduate Students, and the PhD 2 Consulting Club. 

7. Read The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton for a practical step-by-step approach. “Dalton points out that when networking, you’ll encounter three types of people: curmudgeons, obligates, and boosters,” Blasick said. “You can read the book to get the full definition of each type, but the key takeaway is that you should look for the boosters. Those are the people who respond quickly, and enjoy offering advice and guidance on your job search.” 

Georgia Tech provides housing for more than 8,000 students on campus, but what about the other 15,000? After living on campus for some time, many students seek a greater sense of independence and responsibility by moving off campus.

A common problem for students considering off-campus housing is finding the best place to live. Not everyone has the luxury of choosing from several great neighborhoods, but Tech students do. Regardless of which corner of the city you choose, be sure to weigh all of your options. There are many factors to consider, including roommates, utilities, monthly expenses, commute times, and parking fees.

Different areas will offer different benefits, but there are a few places worth investigating if you’re apartment hunting. Make sure you tour the entire property, and drive around the area at different times to see what it’s like early in the morning and late at night. Don’t settle on a place solely for its price and make safety and well-being top priorities.

Student-oriented apartments

Many apartment complexes close to campus are either partially or specifically for student living. Besides proximity, these places have the benefit of allowing residents to live among other students and sign individual leases while still sharing a space. A few popular options, which are not approved housing or endorsed housing by Georgia Tech, include:

• The Standard
• Square on Fifth (SQ5)
• The Mark
• UHouse
• 935M

Neighborhoods close to campus

Home Park: The closest neighborhood north of campus, Home Park is known for its large student population and affordable living. While it doesn’t offer much in the way of restaurants or shops, one can’t overlook the fact that it is home to Antico Pizza and Sublime Doughnuts, both favorites among students. Furthermore, it is close to Atlantic Station and Howell Mill Road, two vibrant commercial districts. If you’re on campus after dark, you can get a ride home from the Stingerette through the Safe Ride Home program.

Highlights: Antico (1093 Hemphill Ave. NW), Sublime Doughnuts (535 10th Street NW), Firehouse Subs (537 10th Street NW), Tannour Mediterranean Grill (398 14th Street NW).

Website: Home Park

Downtown and Centennial Place Apartments: Many students choose to live in Centennial Place because of its proximity to campus. Residents can easily walk or bike there, or to the bus stop at North Avenue Apartments, and the North Avenue MARTA station is nearby to get to other places in the city. Tech students will be in good company with students from Georgia State University, whose campus buildings dot the downtown area. For those who want to take advantage of attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, or State Farm Arena, downtown makes it convenient to do so.

Highlights: Georgia Aquarium (225 Baker Street NW), World of Coca-Cola (121 Baker Street NW), CNN Center (190 Marietta Street NW), Skyview Atlanta (168 Luckie Street NW)

Websites: Atlanta Downtown

Midtown: Georgia Tech is in Midtown Atlanta, and it is relatively walkable to campus. Midtown is home to families, young couples, singles, and students alike. If you’re a runner, you’ll benefit from the proximity of Piedmont Park and its abundance of trails, including the BeltLine, which runs right along the park and through Ponce City Market. Midtown is also a good option for those who don’t own a car, since it’s close to MARTA, campus, and options for groceries and the like. Midtown has both apartment complexes (such as Marq on Ponce, Biltmore at Midtown, and Piedmont Park) as well as many apartments rented by smaller landlords (which are generally less expensive) for those not as particular about amenities. If you spend a lot of time in Tech Square, Midtown could be more convenient than living farther west, and apartment complexes on the border between Midtown and Tech Square include SQ5, UHouse, and The Standard at Atlanta.

Highlights: Fox Theatre (660 Peachtree Street NE), Woodruff's Art Center (1280 Peachtree Street NE), Publix (950 W. Peachtree Street NW), Ponce City Market (675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE), Atlanta Botanical Garden (1345 Piedmont Ave. NE), BeltLine access, MARTA access.

Website: Midtown Atlanta

Westside: Atlanta’s Westside offers a handful of apartment complexes and small homes, both of which are ideal for students. The area is rapidly developing, with new restaurants and niche shops springing up on every corner. Though a boon to residents’ social lives, it also means increasing prices. The commute from Marietta Street is easier than ever on foot and bike thanks to the Path Parkway. 

Highlights: Ormsby’s (1170 Howell Mill Road), West Egg (1100 Howell Mill Road).

Website: Westside Provisions

Atlantic Station: Though Atlantic Station can be pricier than other off-campus options, it’s really close to campus and offers other benefits. Residents are within walking distance of the outdoor shopping mall, IKEA, movie festivals, an 18-screen movie theater, weekend sidewalk markets, and restaurants. Stinger buses travel to the south side of Atlantic Station — though not as frequently as they do on campus — providing a solid transportation option in a pinch.

Highlights: Regal Cinemas 18 (261 19th Street NW), Target (375 18th Street), California Pizza Kitchen (264 19th Street NW), IKEA (441 16th Street NW).

Website: Atlantic Station

Virginia Highland: Just past Midtown to the east, many students frequent the Highlands for its restaurants, bars, and shops. The Highland is known for attracting twenty-somethings and offering lower rents. Though it will take a car, bike, or long walk to MARTA to get to campus, it offers plenty of entertainment options within walking distance. It's also home to multiple coffee shops for those who prefer such venues for studying. 

Highlights: DBA Barbecue (1190 N Highland Ave.), Fontaine's Oyster House (1026 N Highland Ave. NE), La Tavola (992 Virginia Ave. NE), Paolo's Gelato (1025 Virginia Ave. NE), 

Website: Virginia Highland District

Buckhead: Buckhead is an uptown district within the city of Atlanta, comprising over 100,000 residents. It is an upscale residential and commercial district with internationally renowned shopping and dining. Located approximately six miles (or just over nine kilometers) from Georgia Tech, Buckhead is a little farther from campus than other neighborhoods and thus requires using public transportation (MARTA) or a car. Buckhead features shopping centers and malls, hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and high-rise office buildings and condominiums. 

Highlights: Le Colonial (3035 Peachtree Road NE), Lenox Square Mall (3393 Peachtree Road NE), Phipps Plaza (3500 Peachtree Road NE), Eclipse di Luna (764 Miami Circle). 

Website: Buckhead Village District

Vinings: This unincorporated "village" is more common to families and younger working couples, making it quieter and more expensive. The nightlife may not be as exhilarating, but the area offers its own social scene with plenty of restaurants, shops, and parks to explore. It's not uncommon to find excellent festivals and fairs on the weekends. 

Highlights: Cumberland Mall (2860 Cumberland Mall SE), South City Kitchen (1675 Cumberland Parkway), Mellow Mushroom (2950 New Paces Ferry Road), Bowl Lab (3621 Vinings Slope SE). 

Website: Vinings

During your search, ask yourself these questions:

• How much is the monthly rent? Is a deposit required?
• Are furniture and utilities (including Wi-Fi) part of the rent?
• Is parking available and at what cost?
• What’s the distance to campus and/or work?
• How long is the lease?
• Is it an individual or group lease?
• Can you view a model apartment and take a tour before committing?
• Do you know someone who has lived there?
• Are pets allowed?
• Does the complex provide a roommate-matching service?
• What is the maintenance and repairs policy?
• Is there a policy for guest parking and staying overnight?
• Is the landlord easily accessible if something goes wrong?

Photo by Estelle Rita. “Twice a week, every week, we make breakfast.”  

Each photograph served as a starting point for deeper reflection, revealing the environments, relationships, and routines that shape graduate student life. Through these moments, students examined where belonging is nurtured, where it feels fragile, and how it evolves over time.

 This project emerged from the recognition that belonging is central to retention, well-being, and holistic success, and that traditional assessment tools alone cannot fully capture graduate students’ lived experiences. By validating student voice as evidence, photovoice serves as both a research method and community-building intervention, making it especially powerful in this moment.

 Photovoice is an arts-based, participatory action research method that enables participants, referred to as “co-researchers," to represent and enhance their community through photography and storytelling. The approach recognizes participants as experts on their own experiences, engaging them in examining the very conditions that shape their academic lives. This dual role not only deepens the authenticity of the findings but also shifts the traditional dynamics of research by sharing authority with those most affected. Over the month-long program, co-researchers submitted 76 photographs and stories and came together for three dialogue and problem-solving sessions.

Project co-leads, Dr. Stephanie Selvick, assistant director in Belonging & Student Support, and Allie Teixeira Riggs, Ph.D. candidate in Digital Media, saw photovoice as providing an exciting pathway for graduate students to create something visual and tangible that positions them as active stakeholders in shaping campus culture. Dr. Selvick received a Georgia Tech Arts Catalyst Grant to support and upscale the spring activations. 

"Being awarded the Georgia Tech Arts Catalyst Grant enabled us to intentionally involve graduate students at every stage of the thematic analysis and exhibition development process, creating a multi-semester immersive learning experience," says Selvick.

Photo by Nikole Withakay: “We were skipping with joy when we finally saw Tech Tower!”  

After the dialogue sessions, Dr. Selvick and Riggs led a group of graduate students in conducting thematic analysis and participatory design using the qualitative dataset. The digital design team drew inspiration from the cohort’s insights, translating them into a cohesive visual direction. Prismatic—the overarching design direction and foundation for the exhibition title—speaks to how graduate students constantly negotiate between contexts and identities, showing up as a researcher, grant writer, spouse, co-worker, parent, event coordinator, or other selves. 

Looking back on this process, Riggs reflects, "What surprised us most was how blended and blurred belonging and non-belonging were in the graduate student experience. A sense of belonging with a lab group, friends, family, or the Georgia Tech community was often still tinged with conditionality, fleetingness, precarity, and an overwhelming sense of contingency on maintaining research productivity." 

Photo submitted by Burnout: “Setbacks and simple mistakes, weeks of work undone.” 

The digital media exhibition represents this finding visually, by depicting belonging and non-belonging as twin sensations that are entangled, blurred, and overlapping.

Dr. Selvick was struck that more than half of the submissions connected belonging to everyday structures and physical environments, such as pedestrian walkways, commuting patterns, labs, bathrooms, and public transportation.

For example, Banana writes, "I want to tell others that the feeling of belonging is not only about being included socially, but also about how our daily environment shapes our experiences. Long commutes, late nights, and the endless traffic slowly take away time, energy, and connection." 

Photo submitted by Banana: “There is beauty in these simple, ordinary moments under streetlights after class.”  

What makes graduate students' experiences of these environments distinct is the timing. Many students are leaving labs, walking across campus, or commuting home late at night, regular occurrences that co-researchers say amplify feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Photo submitted by Opal: “Campus empties out, still and sterile, yet I'm still here.” 

Prismatic: Belonging in View is on display in the Interactive Media Zone (IMZ), located across from the Library INFODesk, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 9 until March 23. Campus and community members are invited to the opening reception program on Wednesday, March 18, at the Scholars Event Theater in Price Gilbert Memorial Library (Room 1280).

You can RSVP at tinyurl.com/prismaticRSVP. 

All co-researchers in this study are de-identified with selected stage names displayed next to their photographs.

Georgia Tech’s 17th annual Career, Research, Innovation, and Development Conference (CRIDC) recognized and awarded 31 exceptional scholars with $38,000 in travel grants for their outstanding research presentations delivered during CRIDC’s in-person and virtual poster competitions on January 29, 2026.  

Georgia Tech’s Dimitri Mavris, Ph.D., Regents’ Professor and Boeing Professor of Advanced Aerospace Systems Analysis, is delivering this year’s spotlight session address during the 2025 Graduate Education Summit, taking place on Monday, November 10, 2025, in the John Lewis Student Center.  

On Aug. 27, Georgia Tech hosted a reception for the inaugural cohort of eight graduate students selected as Georgia Tech Stamps Fellows, the Institute’s premier merit-based doctoral fellowship.   

Georgia Tech is excited to continue its partnership with Knack, the fastest-growing peer learning platform for college students, to provide free tutoring support for select first-year graduate courses this academic year.

All students enrolled in select graduate-level courses will have access to free peer tutoring. Peer tutoring is available for on-campus and online students. For a complete list of participating courses, click here.

Knack’s easy-to-use platform allows grad students who need tutoring to book sessions with verified Georgia Tech grad peer tutors who previously aced the courses in which they offer assistance. To view available tutors, visit gatech.joinknack.com and sign in using your student account.

Interested in becoming a peer tutor?  

Responding to Record Volumes

In 2024, the 16-member admissions team responded to 37,244 inquiries from applicants and admitted students — more than 5,000 above the previous year’s volume. This achievement highlights their unwavering commitment to serving students while maintaining the highest standards of excellence.

Expanding Georgia Tech’s Global Reach

Over the past four years, a committee of members from OGE and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions hosted a Virtual Graduate School Showcase. In 2024, the event drew participation from more than 90 university recruiters and received more than 2,000 prospective student registrations from across the world. The Showcase underscored the team’s reach and ability to position Georgia Tech as a leader in the global graduate education space.

Building Stronger Foundations

To strengthen processes and relationships across campus, OGE launched its first-ever week-long Recalibration Training Session last year. This collaborative effort brought together campus stakeholders to refine admissions procedures and reinforce the Institute’s shared commitment to supporting graduate students. OGE held its second annual session in July, where it built from the foundation previously set, re-evaluated strategic priorities in the face of an ever-changing graduate education landscape, and celebrated the launch of the new application management portal. 

Earning Recognition Beyond Campus

In addition to their innovation in developing and maintaining Georgia Tech’s admissions processes, members of the graduate admissions team have increasingly emerged as leaders and thought leaders within the broader graduate education enterprise. 

In 2024, Nazanin Tork, associate director of Admissions and Recruitment, was appointed Treasurer of the Georgia Council of Graduate Schools. This role amplifies Georgia Tech’s presence in the regional graduate education landscape and reflects her respected expertise in the field. 

Jennifer Collins, assistant director of Graduate Admissions, continues to shape the international admissions space. She was named chair-elect of the Conference Committee for The Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals (TAICEP) and will serve as chair next year. She also co-authored a peer-reviewed article on U.S. accreditation, published in October 2023. Her work exemplifies her commitment to advancing professional knowledge and practice in global graduate admissions. 

And this spring, Patrice Hewitt, the Graduate Admissions manager for Lawful Presence and Documents, received the Spirit of Georgia Tech Award at the 2025 Faculty and Staff Honors Luncheon. This prestigious honor recognizes a staff member who exemplifies the Institute’s mission, vision, and values, and shines a spotlight on the care, professionalism, and community spirit she brings to her role.

Looking Ahead

As application numbers continue to soar, the Graduate Admissions team continues to explore ways to streamline their admissions processes while maintaining exceptional support to their various stakeholders – prospective and incoming students, as well as faculty and staff.  In July 2025, Dr. Joy Olabisi, Assistant Vice Provost of Graduate Education and Executive Director of Graduate Admissions, presented a talk that highlighted these efforts titled “Exploring Artificial Intelligence in Graduate Admissions” at the Council of Graduate Schools annual Summer Workshop in Portland, Oregon.

From improving application processes and leading recruitment efforts to shaping the national conversation around graduate admissions, the team’s work has been nothing short of extraordinary. As the 2025–2026 academic year begins, OGE proudly celebrates its accomplishments and looks forward to continuing to build on this foundation of excellence.

We want to understand the big patterns of life on Earth and ensure that today’s incredible biodiversity will persist into the foreseeable future.

The mission of the Mountain Bird Lab at Georgia Tech is ambitious, but Online Master of Science Computer Science (OMSCS) student Vanessa Prema is doing her part to realize it from her home in San Diego, California.  

Prema is researching acoustic analysis of songbirds in the high Himalayas. Specifically, she is developing a classifier to identify specific song types of the Hume’s Leaf Warbler. The project aims to uncover whether specific songs correspond to behaviors such as breeding activity, time of day, or elevation.  

“Understanding bird behavior through their sounds, and how that relates to the environment, is crucial,” said Prema. “It’s not just about species identification but understanding what each vocalization might signal in terms of behavior or environmental context. That level of complexity gave me a new appreciation for how birds communicate.”  

Blending Passion with Purpose

Coming from a materials science background, Prema realized she was drawn more to software and digital systems than physical ones.  

“I never loved the hands-on tinkering side of materials science,” said Prema. “What I really enjoyed was problem-solving and building systems on the computer.”  

To deepen her technical knowledge while continuing to work, Prema enrolled in Georgia Tech’s OMSCS program. Through OMSCS, she discovered the Human Augmented Analytics Group (HAAG), a virtual research lab founded by Ph.D. student Breanna Shi that connects online students with in-person research.  

HAAG introduced Prema to the Mountain Bird Lab, led by Benjamin Freeman. The lab combines ecological fieldwork with computational tools to study bird behavior and biodiversity. The project was a natural fit for Prema who had long been interested in birdwatching and conservation.  

A Global Team with a Shared Mission

“My interests in birds, animals, and biology made the bird audio research opportunity feel like a perfect fit,” said Prema. “It allows me to merge my personal passion with technical skills.”

That personal connection continues to motivate her. Prema said the experience has significantly broadened her perspective on what’s possible within computer science, especially regarding interdisciplinary applications.  

“Learning both ecological and biological information alongside advanced machine learning techniques from other group members has shown me the incredible potential of combining diverse fields to address complex, real-world problems,” said Prema.  

A typical day in the lab involves significant collaboration with researchers across continents. For Prema, the most rewarding aspect has been working alongside those with deep domain expertise in ecology and biology.    

“Collaborating with people who know so much about birds and seeing how our technical work translates into meaningful biological insights has truly been inspiring and has given me a much richer understanding of the entire research pipeline,” said Prema.  

Using Birdsong Data to Understand and Protect the Planet

Prema believes technology has a critical role to play in protecting ecosystems.  

By using technology to better collect and analyze bird audio data, we can more effectively monitor bird populations, understand how they react to environmental changes, and ultimately assess the health of our ecosystems,” said Prema. “This information is crucial for making informed decisions about protecting wildlife and their habitats and even identifying broader environmental changes before they become visible elsewhere.

She hopes to demonstrate how technological advancements can directly support crucial conservation efforts, improve data collection methods, and provide valuable insights for protecting the planet’s biodiversity.  

“I hope my work contributes to advancing practical, deployable technology for ecological conservation,” said Prema. “After this project and program, I’m excited to continue exploring how machine learning can be applied to environmental and biological challenges.”  

Making Her Mark Virtually

Her work hasn’t gone unnoticed by those around her.  

“Vanessa has become an invaluable mentor and technical leader to her team, streamlining complex machine learning pipelines that benefit researchers across disciplines,” said Shi. “As the founder of HAAG, I’m thrilled to champion Vanessa as a brilliant researcher not only advancing her own project but actively elevating the entire HAAG community. I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes next.”  

What’s Next: Sharing, Publishing, and Moving Forward

On July 30, Prema will share her work with the WildLabs Community at their monthly variety hour. She is currently preparing for her first publication submission by the end of 2025.  

“Grad school life is hard,” said Georgia Tech graduate student Dawson Lane. “Even though several grad students (myself included) don’t want to take breaks from studying, it’s necessary to be at your academic best. Being active and having fun is a great way to take a break, recharge, and meet new friends.”

From traditional options such as flag football, soccer, basketball, and softball to more niche sports like badminton, e-sports, or cricket, there is something for everyone. And according to Lane, “College is a great time to try out a new sport, and you might find something you enjoy playing.”  

Who can join?  

Intramural sports are open to anyone enrolled in at least six credit hours. Participants also need a Campus Recreation Center (CRC) membership, which is included in student fees, and must purchase a $20 Intramural Pass per semester (or $35 for the year–offered for a limited time). The fee allows students to play in as few or as many sports as they like. 

According to Shan Paracka, assistant director of competitive sports, no previous experience is required to participate. All skill levels are encouraged to join, from people who have never played to people who may have played competitively in college. 

“Intramurals are meant to be fun and lighthearted,” said Paracka. “It’s a place to disconnect from the challenges of school and other things happening in your life.”   

How are teams formed? 

Individuals can form their own teams on the IMLeagues registration website and invite their friends to join. Some organizations create teams, or individuals can sign up as a “free agent” and ask to join teams that may need a few more athletes. 

“There is no set requirement for how to form a team,” said Lane. “Simply choosing to play with some people is enough.” 

All sports have open leagues, which anyone can play regardless of gender. 

“Some sports have women’s leagues specifically designed for female teams, and others have co-rec teams where women and men play together,” said Lane. 

What is the time commitment? 

Most sports require minimal time, usually one game per week for about five weeks, followed by playoffs. 

Games are held during weekday evenings and sometimes on weekends: 

• Monday–Thursday: 5–10 p.m.
• Friday: 3–6 p.m.
• Occasional Saturday/Sunday games

Teams typically don’t practice, though some groups meet casually outside of games.

“If you think you are going to be bad at a sport, I can assure you that nobody is too bad to play with us,” “Before I came to Tech, I won a championship in a sport that I’m not good at, but my teammates were there to help me out.” 

Are sports offered year-round? 

Each sport lasts a few weeks during the fall and spring semesters. While there are currently no summer leagues, Lane says that could change in the future. 

“The sports come in phases, so there is always a continuous offering throughout the year,” said Lane. “In addition, the sports change throughout the year. We start with flag football, volleyball, and soccer at various times in the fall, and transition to basketball, softball, football and soccer in the spring. There is always something fun to do in the program.” 

Ready to sign up? 

Visit the Campus Recreation Center website and login using your Georgia Tech SSO. Select “IMLeagues,” click on the banner, and you can see the sports available, when registration opens, and when they will be played. 

“The IMLeagues website is easy to use, and it will walk players through the registration process,” said Lane. 
 

Finding Rhythm in Computer Science

Quintana started her career in the arts and holds two degrees in musical performance; however, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to switch to computer science. 

“I found myself increasingly drawn to computational problem-solving, which led me to pursue the Online Master of Science Computer Science (OMSCS) program with a focus on machine learning,” said Quintana. 

She sees a strong connection between her classical music training and the way she approaches computer science.

“When I learn a new piece of music, I break it down into manageable parts and iteratively improve on difficult sections,” said Quintana. “That process mirrors how I debug code or work through complex computational problems.” 

A Virtual Lab with Real-World Impact

After completing a research internship analyzing earthquake data, Quintana was inspired to make a real-world impact.  

Through that internship, I encountered researchers using computation to tackle biological and scientific problems,” said Quintana. “I realized I wanted to work at the intersection of computer science and life sciences.

That realization led her to the Human Augmented Analytics Group (HAAG). Founded by Ph.D. student Breanna Shi, HAAG is a virtual research lab that connects online students with in-person research projects. 

Quintana is conducting her virtual research project in the Stroud Lab under the guidance of James Stroud, assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences. 

Cracking the Code of 2,000 Lizards

The Stroud Lab uses lizards to explore how evolutionary processes may underlie broader patterns of biological diversity. 

“It’s a surprisingly large-scale effort. The lab needs to catch and x-ray about 2,000 lizards a year,” said Quintana. “We mark anatomical landmarks on the x-rays. These markers are used to analyze variations across species to study evolutionary patterns.”

Currently, the process is entirely manual. The goal is to automate it to improve both accuracy and efficiency in biological research. 

This kind of automation can transform biological research,” said Quintana. “It saves researchers time, increases accuracy, and frees up bandwidth for deeper analysis. It also lays the groundwork for similar tools to be used in other species, which could advance our understanding of biodiversity and evolution.

Efficiency by Design

Quintana hopes that her work will help ease the burden on field biologists.

“I was surprised by the sheer amount of physical effort that goes into collecting biological data,” said Quintana. “It gave me a much deeper appreciation for how much precision and labor goes into building the datasets I use.” 

Automating this process will save the lab months of work. 

“Automating tedious tasks can really speed up discovery,” said Quintana. “After completing this program, I hope to continue developing technology that supports and empowers researchers in their work.” 

In tandem with the automation work, Quintana is developing a user-friendly interface that will allow biologists without coding backgrounds to use it, an important step for the tool’s long-term adoption. 

Design Thinking in the Real World

For Quintana, the experience revealed how fulfilling it is not only to build useful tools, but also to communicate their impact to others. She especially enjoyed collaborating across disciplines to refine those tools based on real-world feedback. 

“This process of interdisciplinary collaboration and iterative design has shown me how powerful well-designed technology can be when it’s informed by the people who will actually use it.” 

As a musician, student, and researcher, the experience has sharpened Quintana’s problem-solving skills. 

“When I’m learning a new piece as a musician, I break it down like a computer scientist would,” said Quintana. “I isolate the tough measures, make them easier, refine them, and integrate them back into the full piece. It’s a structured, almost algorithmic approach, and it reminds me of techniques like boosting in machine learning.” 

Making Her Mark Virtually

Her work hasn’t gone unnoticed by those around her. 

“Mercedes has proven herself an invaluable asset with her work in conservation technology and human-centered interfaces,” said Shi. “As the founder of HAAG, I’m thrilled to champion Mercedes as a brilliant researcher not only advancing her own project but actively elevating the entire HAAG community. I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes next.” 

A New Chapter Begins

Quintana’s career change is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary research and the unexpected ways curiosity, creativity, and technical skills can intersect. 

On June 25, Quintana presented her work with WildLabs Community at their monthly variety hour. She is currently preparing for her first publication submission by the end of 2025. 

NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, is a U.S.-based student affairs professional development and advocacy organization with over 13,000 members at 1,400 campuses in 25 countries. The AGAPPS Knowledge Community provides a supportive forum for administrators who work across many different educational settings and manage diverse elements of a holistic academic and student services portfolio in support of graduate and professional student success. Its programs and services are dedicated to empowering professionals to foster student success.

Jackie Yun, Executive Director of the Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and Co-Chair of the AGAPPS Knowledge Community, says, “We at AGAPSS are proud to see institutions like Georgia Tech championing innovative support for graduate and professional students. This initiative exemplifies the kind of collaborative, student-centered work that strengthens our field and is a model for how we can create meaningful change through intentional programming."

GT6000’s initial launch as a “Grad Groups” pilot in 2014 has since grown to become a one-credit-hour pass/fail graduate-level, institute-wide, extended-orientation course, exemplifying the Office of Graduate Education’s commitment to finding innovative ways to support the transition of new graduate students. 

GT6000 was founded by James Black, Ph.D., a Georgia Tech alumnus who earned his doctorate in mechanical engineering and previously served as president of the Graduate Student Government Association. Now Director of Student and Academic Affairs and Senior Academic Professional in the Office of Graduate Education, Black developed GT6000 in response to a simple question: 'What would have been helpful to me as a graduate student at Georgia Tech?' The optional, peer-led extended orientation program gives new graduate students an early introduction to campus resources. 

Since its pilot launch with just 40 students in Fall 2014, GT6000 has grown significantly, serving over 500 participants in Fall 2024, nearly 20% of all new graduate students on the Atlanta campus. In response to both this growth and a broader commitment to enhancing graduate student support, the Office of Graduate Education welcomed Marc Ebelhar, Ed.D., in March 2022. Ebelhar now serves as a Graduate Student Success Specialist and Academic Professional, as well as the Instructor of Record for GT6000. 

GT6000 provides a foundation of resilience and knowledge to handle stress, promotes academic and professional success, and facilitates navigating the “hidden curriculum” of graduate education. The program is peer-led by experienced graduate students. Each group or course section is composed of a trained Group Leader and roughly 14 new graduate students. These student-only spaces provide opportunities that encourage open and candid dialogue and foster connection. 

The program has been presented at national gatherings such as the Gardner Institute’s conference on the Graduate Student Experience, a meeting of the AAU Graduate Deans, the NASPA Annual Conference, and NAGAP’s Annual Graduate Enrollment Management Summit. Institutions including Clemson University, the University of Virginia, Notre Dame, and the University of South Carolina have all reached out to learn more about GT6000; some aiming to create similar programs at their institutions. One colleague described Georgia Tech as the “standard bearer” for graduate student support, specifically pointing to GT6000. Black and Ebelhar are currently writing a book chapter on GT6000 in collaboration with the Gardner Institute on the Graduate Student Experience, to be published by Johns Hopkins University Press in late 2025. 

Black and Ebelhar were recently featured on the Office Hours with John Gardner podcast. Listen to their episode to learn more about GT6000, and visit the webpage, https://grad.gatech.edu/gt6000. 
 

Congratulations to the following poster competition winners.  

Executive Vice President for Research winners 

Nicole Aiosa, College of Sciences 

Abigail Diering, College of Engineering 

Andrew Cazier, College of Engineering 

Christian Coletti, College of Engineering 

Anamik Jhunjhunwala, College of Engineering 

Kaitlyn Otte, College of Sciences 

Arpit Narechania, College of Computing 

Christina McDonald, College of Engineering 

Nina Sara Fraticelli-Guzman, College of Engineering 

Megan McSweeney, College of Engineering 

College of Engineering winners  

Mariah Schrum 

Tanner Hickman 

Walter Parker 

Adam Garlow 

College of Sciences winners  

Sonia Bhattacharya 

Jessica Zahn 

Iramofu Dominic 

College of Computing winners  

Miuyin Yong Wong 

Jonathan Womack 

Abhinav Gullapalli 

Matthew Landen 

Adam Coscia 

Office of the Provost’s Award 

Jordan Kocher, College of Engineering 

Jennifer Leestma, College of Engineering 

Batin Karahasanoglu, College of Engineering 

Krishma Singal, College of Sciences 

Ivy Chang (Exhibition Competition Winner), College of Engineering 

CRIDC is the product of a collaboration between the Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) and the Graduate Career Development Team from the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education. Several years ago, the event was created when the student-led poster competition, then known as the Georgia Tech Research and Innovation Competition (GTRIC) was combined with the Graduate Career Symposium.  

CRIDC also features an Innovation Competition, in which ten graduate student finalists offered three-minute presentations to a panel of judges. All participants met with Tech’s VentureLab to explore grants and programs that can help them pursue startup businesses and technology licensing opportunities.  

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 CRIDC Innovation Competition:  

1st place: Pradosh Dash 

Runner-up: Simin Nasiri 

Runner-up: Batin Karahasanoglu 

 In addition to the poster competition, this year’s CRIDC also featured an employee networking brunch as well as four career panels. For more information about CRIDC, please visit https://grad.gatech.edu/cridc.

“Brain temperature was under-studied but a critical marker for our brain health, and clinicians in emergency departments told me that they need a tool to predict brain temperature accurately to treat patients better,” said Sung. “I have always wanted to help patients have longer, healthier lives after medical treatments.” 

Sung’s research includes the study and development of “next generation techniques for the estimation of human brain temperature.” 

According to Sung, core body temperature has been used as a substitute to brain temperature due to a lack of non-invasive techniques. However, it has been reported that the core body temperature and the brain temperature can be different after certain injuries, diseases, or strokes. 

The goal of Sung’s dissertation is to develop a method to predict brain temperature in an efficient and effective way. He developed a computational model that is both non-invasive and uses patient-specific data. 

“Ultimately, my research on computational model-based brain thermometry will potentially improve decisions from doctors and providing better patient outcomes, particularly in brain-based diseases or injuries, enabling longer and healthier lives,” said Sung. 

Sung’s research titled, “Comparisons of healthy human brain temperature predicted from biophysical modeling and measured with whole brain MR thermometry,” was published in Scientific Reports and recently earned a Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award. 

Sung is one of four graduate students awarded the 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication. Congratulations to the following 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award recipients: Andrés-Felipe Castro Méndez, Dongsuk Sung, Hantian Zhang, and Vanessa Oguamanam. 

Each awardee receives $2,500 to pursue their research. 

“This award will provide me with more opportunities for me to explore deeply into this topic and introduce this topic to general audiences,” said Sung. “I’m really grateful for receiving this award so that I can confidently keep pursuing the biomedical research using medical imaging.”

To build a strong sense of belonging for these students has been a major platform for this Grad SGA leadership (2024-25), and we are a carrying out what we set out to do,” said Donglai Yang, second-year Ph.D. student in geophysics. “Being an international student here in the United States has been an incredible opportunity of growth for me. This identity has granted me many unique challenges that would be difficult to overcome without the help of many mentors and peer support along the way.

Buzz Buddies is designed to help with some of the more nuanced or social aspects of life at Georgia Tech such as housing, hobbies, extra-curricular activities, and life in Atlanta. 

Amaya McNealy, a third-year Ph.D. student in industrial engineering added, 

Graduate school can be difficult to navigate from an academic, professional, social, and personal perspective. Buzz Buddies was created to help with the transition by pairing current international graduate students with incoming international graduate students.

Apply for Buzz Buddies

How to Join Buzz Buddies: Application and Matching Process

Currently, Buzz Buddies program only targets incoming, on-campus graduate students. Those interested in receiving mentorship fill out a brief application, which can be accessed here. Mentees are paired with an experienced graduate student mentor through a holistic evaluation. The application reviewers consider professional and academic pursuits, hobbies and interests, and other factors. The application allows both mentors and mentees to identify specific needs, which will be considered during the matching process. 

What to Expect as a Buzz Buddy 

For mentees, the program starts this summer and ends in December, although the specific starting time is up to the mentors and mentees themselves to decide. Participation for Buzz Buddies is a once-a-month meeting to be determined between mentor and mentee. These meetings can be informal but are designed to act as a check-in with the mentee’s progress and address any questions or concerns they have. 

Community Events, Workshops, and Peer Connection

In addition to the monthly meeting, three social events will be held each semester, designed to build community within Buzz Buddies cohort and allow students to interact with students who have similar experiences. 

In the fall semester, participants can expect a series of social gatherings of various forms to better strengthen the mentor-mentee community. There will also be workshops with Georgia Tech staff and/or faculty to facilitate discussions around professional growth, as well as focus groups to reflect on the challenges encountered as international graduate students and crowdsource solutions.

Aligning with Grad SGA’s Commitment to Community

Buzz Buddies is part of a broader effort by Grad SGA to support Georgia Tech’s international student community. With collaboration from the Office of International Education and Student Engagement and Wellbeing, the program reflects a commitment to “provide students as many resources as possible to ease their transition to Georgia Tech so they can enjoy and thrive during their time here.”
 

We are thrilled to introduce the new Grad SGA leadership for 2025-2026: William Pavlick, the incoming Grad SGA president, and Jonathan Stevenson, the incoming Grad SGA executive vice president. They will be sworn in on April 18. 

Pavlick is a 2nd-year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering currently serving as vice president of government affairs in Grad SGA. He has been assisting our graduate student body through providing information for students during the national presidential election and strongly advocating for more federal funding in our Atlantic Coast Conference advocacy trip at the Capitol. 

Stevenson is a 3rd-year Ph.D. student in Biology who serves as a senator in our Graduate Student Senate. He has contributed brilliant insights to many matters that effect graduate students in this past year. 

Together, we have no doubt that Pavlick and Stevenson are the best fit to take on these roles and responsibilities. 

We would like to commend their willingness to serve others despite the challenges ahead. With their enthusiasm for graduate student well-being and their urge to engage proactively with the staff and faculty, we are adamant that they will bring about positive changes, and we look forward to a productive year ahead. With that, we invite you to start a conversation with them and discuss potential venues for collaboration.

We would also like to use this occasion to express our gratitude working with many of you! It has been an eventful and adventurous year. In amidst of constant change and uncertainty, we appreciate the unwavering support as we continued to advocate for our graduate students.

Always in services, 

Kiera and Donglai
 

Georgia Tech Expands BuzzCard Access to Online International Students 

In alignment with Georgia Tech’s 2024 goal to assess the needs of various student populations and implement changes that enhance holistic success and belonging, the BuzzCard center within the cabinet of Student Engagement and Well-being has launched a pilot program to provide BuzzCards* to international students enrolled in the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program. Beginning in Fall 2024, a test group of OMSCS international students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), India, Singapore, and South Korea received their official Georgia Tech BuzzCards via international shipping. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Three Minute Thesis Winners: 

Master's Winner 

Sai Shreeya Yara, Materials Science and Engineering 

Molten Salt Reactors – A Way to Harness Nuclear Energy Safely 

The master’s category winner won a $1,000 research travel grant. 

Overall Ph.D. Winner 

Sakshi Sharma, Materials Science and Engineering 

From Rigid to Bendable: Solar Panels for Surfaces Around Us 

First Runner Up 

Tawfik Hussein, Biomedical Engineering 

Using MRI and the Heart’s Stiffness to Catch Heart Failure Red-handed 

Second Runner Up  

Kristian Lockyear, Mechanical Engineering 

Cooling with Heat: Using a Novel Refrigeration Cycle to Prevent Food Spoilage 

The overall Ph.D. winner won a $2,000 research travel grant. The first runner-up won a $1,500 research travel grant, and the second runner-up won a $1,000 runner-up grant. 

Ph.D. student Marc Koerschner won the coveted People's Choice award, which was rewarded with a $500 research travel grant. 

Researching cures for diseases

While working toward her Ph.D., Chien is simultaneously working on her master’s degree in electrical engineering and researching a new electrical technique to study epithelial tissue in the Precision Biosystems lab. 

“There’s so much potential, and that’s the exciting part of it,” said Chien. “But there’s also so much that’s unknown, which is the unnerving part of it where you get to stretch your mind. It’s an interesting puzzle.” 

Chien came to Tech straight from undergrad at Rice University in Houston. 

“I was drawn to this project, looking at epithelial tissue, which lines the inside surfaces of your body,” said Chien. 

Her research is still in its early stages, but she believes it holds promise.

“Epithelial diseases are more common than we think,” said Chien. “Celiac disease is an epithelial disease. Age-related macular degeneration affects epithelia on the back of your eye.” 

One of Chien’s collaborators at the National Institute of Health, Dr. Kapil Bharti, studies age-related macular degeneration. They’re developing tissues to treat this leading cause of blindness in people over 65. 

“The dream would be that [the research] is used to understand and develop cures to epithelial diseases,” said Chien. 

Navigating Academia and Finding Support

In addition to her academic and research responsibilities, Athena Chien has navigated the complexities of being a minority and a woman in a predominantly male field. Through the challenging times, Chien has looked to her community and mentors for support and guidance.  

“Early on, I was involved with the Bioengineering Alliance for Minorities (BEAM),” said Chien. “That was a nice sense of community where we could just talk about experiences we were having.” 

For Chien, she found it helpful to have a mentor who shared similar experiences. They could talk about being a minority or experiencing sexism in research and academia and how to deal with it. 

“It helps to have someone who has similar experiences to validate my concerns and feelings or give me advice on how to handle it,” said Chien. “Or sometimes telling me that I don’t have to put in that extra effort to explain myself if I don’t want to. You can choose when you want to bring it up.” 

These experiences, while disheartening, have not deterred her. Instead, they have strengthened her resolve to excel and advocate for inclusivity in her field. 

As Chien continues balancing research, mentorship, and leadership, she hopes to pave the way for future scientists and engineers. 

“I have benefited from having mentors advocate for me, so I think that as I continue in my career, I hope to do the same for other women,” said Chien. 

Chien credits the support of mentors like Phoebe Welch, Mercedes Gonzales, and Nmachi Anumba–along with the broader network of women in STEM she has connected with over the years–for shaping her journey. She hopes to pay that support forward, advocating for future generations of scientists and engineers. 
 
 

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the participants in this year’s preliminary rounds. The dedication, preparation, and passion displayed by every competitor made this selection process incredibly challenging. Crafting a 3MT talk is no easy feat, and all who took part should be proud of their achievement. Congratulations to the finalists! 

2025 3MT Finalists

• Sumaiyatul Ahsan – Materials Science and Engineering, PhD
• Haley Carroll – Materials Science and Engineering, PhD
• Yuhan Hou – Digital Media, MS
• Tawfik Hussein – Biomedical Engineering, PhD
• Jamila Khanfri – Mechanical Engineering, PhD
• Marc Koerschner – Aerospace Engineering, PhD
• Kristian Lockyear – Mechanical Engineering, PhD
• Sakshi Sharma – Materials Science and Engineering, PhD
• Harini Sridharan – Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, PhD
• Aubrey Toland – Materials Science and Engineering, PhD
• Abigael Wahlen – Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, PhD
• Sai Shreeya Yara – Materials Science and Engineering, MS

This year’s 3MT competition occurs on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Ehmer (Atlantic) Theater in the John Lewis Student Center. The entire Georgia Tech community is encouraged to attend the competition, which occurs as the finale of the 2025 Grad Student Appreciation Week. The Competition will also be streamed online.  Audience members and online viewers can vote for their favorite presenter to win the People’s Choice Award. 

Ph.D. winners can win up to $2,000 in research travel grants. The master's winner will receive a $1,000 research travel grant. 

Tech’s 3MT competition is coordinated by the Office of Graduate Education in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), The Naugle Communications Center, and the Language Institute. 

For more information, visit https://grad.gatech.edu/3mt/final-competition

This year, $40,000 in research travel grants were awarded to 20 exceptional scholars who presented their research in the 16th annual Career, Research, Innovation, and Development Conference (CRIDC) poster competition.   

In the last 10 years, the first-generation student population at Tech has grown by over 344% and has increased by 16.5% since last school year. With 2,477 first-generation college students currently enrolled at Tech, the timing to continue to develop customized programming and resources that will better serve first-generation students’ needs is ever-present. 

Recently, Tech has made several intentional efforts to expand access through engagement and support of students from underrepresented populations. Specific first-generation recruitment efforts, such as waiving application fees of prospective first-generation students, last summer’s launch of the First-Generation College Institute for 8th through 12th-grade first-generation students—jointly led by the Office of First-Generation Student Initiatives, CEISMC, and the Office of Admissions, have all directly impacted the increase in enrollment numbers.  

However, first-generation students face unique barriers once admitted into college. These barriers resulted in a higher attrition rate and inequity in career outcomes, compared to continuing education generation students. For example, first-generation students may have limited access to professional connections, less exposure to networking, and more hesitation in making new professional connections.  

The Career Center’s First-Generation Shadow Program will increase first-generation students’ career capital potential by expanding their opportunities to explore career pathways and participate in internships and co-ops.  

Career Center Executive Director, and former first-generation college student, James Barricelli, is excited about the energy at Georgia Tech to encourage and invest in our first-generation students. “As the Career Center focuses on transforming the career education process to be more equitable, a partnership with First-Generation Student Initiatives was a natural fit," said Barricelli. 

The Career Center was awarded $20,000 in funding to charter the First-Gen Shadow Program by the Ford Motor Company Fund this fall. The Ford Motor Company Fund supports local communities by working with nonprofit organizations and community partners across the U.S. and in 43 countries to provide resources and opportunities that advance racial equity, provide access to essential services, offer tools to build new skill sets, and open pathways to high-quality jobs so people can reach their highest potential.   

The First-Generation Shadow Program, which will be available for first-generation undergraduate and graduate students, will allow students the opportunity to participate in informational interviews with employers prior to making site visits to employment locations. Employers and Georgia Tech alumni from all industries, including STEM, business, government, and nonprofit, are invited to participate as program hosts. Employers and alum can register to be a host here:  https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0BBZHyOHl0BX2No 

Employer registration is open now until January 6. The program launches in Spring 2023 with student registration opening on January 18 until January 31, 2023. Once students are accepted into the program, they will be matched with an employer indicated on their registration application and begin the shadow experience between February and April 2023. 

For more information about the First-Generation Shadow Program, email careercenter@gatech.edu. 

“A few years ago, a poster revolution happened,” said Karena Nguyen, assistant director for Postdoctoral Services in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education.  

This poster revolution, according to Nguyen, emphasizes the results of the research, which are featured prominently on the poster and take up most of the space. The objectives, methods, and discussion are displayed less prominently along the side of the poster, or a QR code takes the user to a website for more in-depth information. 

“That tends to be effective because the poster presenter has thought about, ‘What’s the takeaway that I want people to walk away with,’ and they are usually the ones who practice their spiel,” said Nguyen. “Whereas some people with a traditional poster format get lost in the details, and you are stuck in a conversation for five minutes.” 

As a grad student, Nguyen presented and won awards at numerous conferences for both poster and oral format. She also has experience judging posters, such as at Georgia Tech’s CRIDC. Nguyen provides her tips for streamlining your research for a poster competition. 

Know your audience. “When somebody comes up to you, ask them what their level of expertise is,” said Nguyen. “Asking those questions at the beginning can help scale the level of detail that you want to get into and help streamline your message.” 

Don’t tell too much on your poster. “What you want to avoid are long paragraphs,” said Nguyen. “That is a very common mistake; students will slap the research paper onto a poster. Streamline and simplify the message using bullet points.”

To keep your poster’s content streamlined, Nguyen recommends asking yourself the following questions: 

1. Do I have a clear objective for my research? 
2. Do I have clear results in easily readable figures with clear labels? 
3. Do I have a concise summary of the results? 
4. Do I have ideas on the impact of the work and plans for the future? 

Provide a concise summary of the results. “Orally, what I’m looking for is if you can give me a 30 to 60-second overview of what you did,” said Nguyen. “If I have additional questions, are you able to answer those more in-depth?” 

Narrow in on your findings. “Oftentimes, grad students want to showcase the entire breadth of work that they have done, which is a lot,” said Nguyen. “Narrow in on one to three key findings for a certain experiment or project. You can always talk about what else you found. Squeezing in too much information can confuse what a judge or participant is supposed to look at.” 

Practice and prepare. “The Center for Teaching and Learning has workshops for preparing a presentation, like preparing your 3MT,” said Nguyen. “Practice with your cohort mates. Practice in your lab beforehand or practice on your own. Have friends ask questions to you to simulate that poster competition experience.”

Keep notecards for the details. “Students may be nervous that they will forget something,” said Nguyen. “I would encourage them to practice or even just have note cards for the details.”  
 

This year, three Ph.D. students were awarded $3,000 each to pursue their research. These students demonstrated that their research, and associated publication, contributed to societal progress.

Congratulations to the following Chih Foundation Student Research Publication Award recipients:

• Joanne Taery Kim, Ph.D. Student in Computer Science, School of Interactive Computing
  Developing a Robot Guide Dog to Assist Visually Impaired People: User-Centered Need-Finding and Integration of Robot AI

Receiving the Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication Award is an incredible honor that validates the impact of my work in assistive robotics. This recognition inspires me to continue advancing innovative solutions for the blind and visually impaired community, driving research that prioritizes societal betterment and inclusivity.

• Meghan Meredith, Ph.D. Student in Operations Research, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering
  The implications of using maternity care deserts to measure progress in access to obstetric care: A mixed-integer optimization analysis

I wanted to get a Ph.D. with a goal to meaningful change in the US healthcare system. Receiving this award based on the impact of my work has been a delight and has encouraged me to continue researching with this goal in mind.

• Rachel Lowy, Ph.D. Student in Human-Centered Computing, School of Interactive Computing
  Research-Education Partnerships: A Co-Design Classroom for College Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

I am excited to use the Chih Fellowship award to advance research on AI to support strengths-based education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities pursuing higher education, fostering more inclusive and accessible post-secondary education learning environments. Receiving this award was meaningful to me, as it affirms the importance of recognizing and celebrating diverse learners in our communities.

Chih Foundation award recipients prepared posters on their research for a ceremony on November 20. The awardees will also prepare posters on their research and must participate in the Career, Research, and Innovation Development Conference (CRIDC) on Feb. 6. 
 

The Symposium served as a platform to discuss pressing issues, share new innovations, and mark graduate education's growing prominence in Georgia Tech's strategic initiatives. Topics covered mentorship, student wellness, career development, and the transformative role of AI in research and education.

Keynote speakers Ronald Johnson, senior vice president for Strategic Initiatives and chief of staff, and Daniel Denecke, program director at the National Science Foundation’s Division of Graduate Education, set and maintained an inspiring tone for the event. Johnson emphasized the importance of ethical leadership, innovation, and fostering relationships to build a strong leadership culture, while Denecke shared insights on the national trends and drivers shaping graduate education. Their remarks highlighted the critical role of adaptability and collaboration in their lessons on leadership.

The Symposium featured a diverse range of sessions tailored to address the needs of Georgia Tech's graduate community: three strategy sessions focused on the development of a new academic advising platform, opportunities for the College of Lifetime Learning, trends in graduate education, and the importance of supporting student well-being. Six-panel discussions offered insights on mentoring, professional development, and student engagement, including a special panel led by graduate students, allowing them to voice their perspectives directly to faculty and staff. Eleven lightning round sessions showcased a range of projects, resources, and ideas focused on teaching innovations, academic enrichment, and ethical AI use in research and education. 

A notable aspect of the Symposium was the group of sessions designed for graduate students. These sessions explored student wellness, professional preparation, and strategies for academic success. Each standard session, lightning round, and panel discussion fostered meaningful dialogue between students, faculty, and staff. Key themes from the graduate student panels included the need for graduate student preparedness and student’s need for a sense of belonging on campus.

The Symposium was organized by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning, the College of Lifetime Learning, Graduate SGA, and Student Engagement and Well-Being. View the photos from the Symposium here. 

If you thought, “just take the offer,” you’re not alone.

"Some may feel uncomfortable or anxious about negotiating salary because most people do not talk about their personal money situation," said Catharine Groover, graduate career development advisor in Georgia Tech’s Career Center. "Some may be scared because they think if they ask about salary, the job offer could be taken away."

It is natural to feel uncomfortable with the topic for many reasons; however, many employers expect you to negotiate.

It’s a totally normal thing to do," said Christina Hall, graduate career development advisor in Georgia Tech’s Career Center. 

It’s important to remember that job offer negotiation is a collaborative interaction between you and the employer. You are trying to work together to create an offer that works for you, said Hall.

Groover and Hall share their tips for tackling salary negotiation with confidence and tact. 

Creating a Strong Counteroffer
 

Do your homework. 

Groover and Hall recommend doing online research. Resources like Glassdoor, Salary, Levels.fyi, and Payscale can provide salary data for related jobs in the area.
 

Compare your qualifications with the job description. 

I cannot stress this enough—experience does not have to be paid experience," said Groover. "Academic achievements, internships, research, projects, certifications, and coursework are valuable experiences. These can be used to leverage your skillset, experience, and what you bring to the company, which can result in a higher salary."

Groover recommends asking yourself the following questions to help determine an appropriate salary:

• Assuming you meet all required qualifications, how many preferred qualifications do you meet?
• Are you bringing any additional skills that may be beneficial in another area of the company or toward the company’s growth?
• How can you help the company grow?
• What are you bringing to the company and that specific role that will benefit the company?
   

Consider other elements of the compensation package. 

"Normally, when we think of job offer negotiation, we think strictly in terms of salary, but other things may be important," said Hall. "Are you looking for flexible hours, hybrid working conditions, or professional development opportunities?"

Additional elements could include time off, relocation expenses, sign-on bonuses, stock options, and travel, according to Groover.

Know your bottom line. 

If the employer doesn’t accept the counteroffer, it can be a tricky situation. "I think this is where having a walk-away number is important," said Hall. "Deciding ahead of time if there is an offer that is just too low to accept. Students could also ask if there are opportunities to increase their salary later, perhaps at a six-month review or make up for it in another way, such as a sign-on bonus."

Overcoming Negotiation Anxiety
 

Worrying about cultural norms, imposter syndrome, or the risk of retraction can make negotiating nerve-wracking. According to Hall, employers are motivated to make fair and competitive offers. In her own experience with negotiating, Hall realized it is a totally normal thing to do.

"It’s not as scary as it seems," said Hall. "One employer was impressed I advocated for myself in one scenario, and in the other, they told me they expected it."

Employers want to retain top talent. "If a company has given you a job offer, they want to hire you," said Groover. "Remain humble yet confident. You have the potential to learn, grow, and become a leader within the company."

Stick to logic and personal affirmations. 

"Imposter syndrome is a real thing," said Groover. "Remind yourself, ‘I am capable of performing the job requirements and learning more. I can achieve my goals. I am capable. I am worthy.’"

Take time to process. 

"Do not feel the need to accept an offer right on the spot," said Groover. "Thank the employer for the offer, express your excitement, and ask if you can have a few days to consider the offer. This gives you time to thoroughly review the offer, look at resources, speak with confidence, and draft a counteroffer or response."

Use the Resources Available to You. 

The Career Center offers extensive resources related to negotiating salaries and beyond at career.gatech.edu.

• Job Offer Priorities Table Exercise
• Enhancing Negotiation Skills: A Step-by-Step Guide for Graduate Students, written by the Career Center Graduate Career Development team
• Tech Career Center’s Evaluating Offers and Negotiating Salary
• Career Center pre-recorded workshops and webinars
• Career Fairs
• Employer Information Sessions
• Drop-in hours available from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Bill More Student Success Center Festival Suite
• One-on-one career advising appointments can be scheduled through Career Buzz
• Interstride, geared toward international students
• Workshops and webinars available in Career Buzz
• Other Career Center resources/guides specifically designed for graduate students

Faculty may nominate candidates pursuing doctoral studies for the prestigious fellowship. The Graduate Education Fellowships Selection Committee, established by the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, reviews the candidates for final selection.

This year, each Georgia Tech scholar will receive $7,500 and two will receive the Global Impact Award of $10,000. The Foundation grants the Global Impact Awards to students working on research problems having a broader global context or addressing global issues.

A scholars award ceremony will be held in November to honor the Atlanta chapter’s recipients.  

Congratulations to the following Georgia Tech 2024-25 ARCS Scholars: 

Returning Scholars

• Noam Altman-Kurosaki is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Herz Global Impact Award. Altman-Kurosaki is a Ph.D. candidate in biology with a research interest in understanding the processes that drive coral reef decline and recovery.
   
• Anjana Dissanayaka is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Northside Hospital Award. Dissanayaka is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in leveraging and applying microfluidic techniques to develop low-cost diagnostic devices.
   
• Emily Hughes is a second-year ARCS Scholar who received the Lim Award. Hughes is a Ph.D. candidate in earth and atmospheric sciences with a research interest in the geologic history of the planet Mars, specifically how spectroscopy, field analogue studies, and in situ Martian data can be coupled to reconstruct ancient environments.
   
• Tawfik Hussein is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Boice/Reid Award. Hussein is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in the mechanics of the heart, specifically, simulating computationally the mechanical changes in the heart of patients with heart failure to help predict early stages of heart failure.
   
• KC Jacobson is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Herz Global Impact Award. Jacobson is a Ph.D. student in bioengineering, chemical and biochemical engineering, with a research interest in the neural mechanisms of impaired sensory processing in a human-relevant mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.
   
• Cassandra Shriver is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Chambers/Jones Award. Shriver is a Ph.D. student in quantitative biosciences, biological sciences, with a research interest in comparative biomechanics, specifically mammalian climbing mechanics with an emphasis on conservation applications.
   
• Naoki Yokoyama is a third-year ARCS Scholar who received the Dodson Award. Yokoyama is a Ph.D. candidate in robotics, electrical and computer engineering, with a research interest in developing intelligent robots that can assist the elderly and disabled in home environments.  

New Scholars

• Alivia Eng is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the David, Helen and Marian Woodward Award. Eng is a Ph.D. student in earth and atmospheric sciences with a research interest in planetary science, specifically the geologic history of Mars.
   
• Kierra Franklin is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Burke Award. Franklin is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering with a research interest in combining synthetic biology and epigenetics to study chromatin biology and disease pathology.
   
• Marrissa Izykowicz is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Roche Award. Izykowicz is a Ph.D. student in chemical biology with a research interest in designing and synthesizing nanohydrogels for targeted drug delivery in metastatic cancers.
   
• Zachary Mobille is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the HA (Gus) Peed Award. Mobille is a Ph.D. candidate in quantitative biosciences with a research interest in how anatomical structure and precisely-timed dynamics are interrelated in networks of biological neurons.
   
• Heriberto Nieves is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Wahlen Award. Nieves is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering, robotics, with a research interest in applying deep learning to automate the quality control and measurement processes for staging liver fibrosis with magnetic resonance elastography.
   
• John Pederson is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Joslin/Mary Jo Peed Award. Pederson is a Ph.D. student in chemistry with a research interest in multi-scale modeling of complex chemical systems to study reactions at solid/liquid interfaces.
   
• Theodore St. Francis is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the ARCS Atlanta Century Award. St. Francis is a Ph.D. student in aerospace engineering with a research interest in electrolysis for both oxygen generation for astronauts and hydrogen production on Earth.
   
• Gianna Slusher is a first-year ARCS Scholar who received the Swensson/ARCS Atlanta Award. Slusher is a Ph.D. student in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, with a research interest in developing innovative nano-scale technologies to enhance the manufacturing and monitoring of cell-based therapeutics.

The ARCS fellowship is made possible each year by way of fundraising and the continued generous support of the ARCS-Atlanta Foundation.

The mission of the ARCS Foundation is to advance science and technology in the United States by providing financial rewards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering, and medical research.

Since its inception in 1992, the ARCS Foundation Atlanta has awarded more than $4.5 million to over 400 science scholars at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse College, and the University of Georgia. 

For more information about the 2024-25 ARCS Atlanta Scholars, please visit atlanta.arcsfoundation.org/current-scholars-2024-25.

Who is the Showcase for?

The Showcase is for anyone who is gathering information about their grad school options. Those who will benefit most from attending this event include: 

• Tech undergraduate and master’s students who are exploring potential master’s, doctoral, or deferred MBA programs at a non-Georgia Tech university.
• Anyone interested in learning more about pursuing a graduate degree and exploring their options.
   

Does this event only have Georgia Tech graduate programs?

No, there are over 50 recruiters participating from universities across the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. View the full list of non-Georgia Tech programs here.  

What is the Showcase schedule?

The Showcase will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern, but attendance is flexible. Attendees can come when they can and leave when they want. 

The Meet Georgia Tech session will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern. This session is for recruiters from participating Georgia Tech programs. Not all Georgia Tech graduate programs will be present. View the full list of Georgia Tech programs here. 

The Chat with Recruiters session will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern. This session is for recruiters from non-Georgia Tech programs. View the full list of non-Georgia Tech programs here.

Throughout the day, Georgia Tech will be hosting info sessions centered around helpful topics for prospective Georgia Tech applicants. View the full list of info sessions here.

How do I register?

Registration is required and it is completely free. Register here before October 16 to attend.

Are you facing challenges with your research advisor or problems related to conducting research ethically and responsibly? Help with these types of matters is now available through Advocacy and Conflict Resolution.   

The Schmidt Science Fellowship seeks “the brightest minds in the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering and computing.” Applicants must not only demonstrate high research achievement, but also make the case for their ability to successfully pivot into a field outside of their Ph.D. discipline. Upon graduation, Fellows undertake a postdoctoral placement in a world-class environment that best meets their needs to develop interdisciplinary research and skills. Fellows receive $100,000 stipend per year to conduct research in a field outside of their Ph.D. area.

Fortunately for Georgia Tech, Martínez Mori chose the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

“My school is a long-established leader in the field,” said Martínez. “On top of that, I found a postdoctoral mentor who I could relate to and who could support me in a broad sense of the word–certainly with the technical aspects of my research, but just as importantly, with navigating this transitional stage of my career.”

Making Pivots: From Civil Engineering to Mathematics and Beyond

For as long as Martínez Mori could remember, he was interested in cities and transportation. After studying civil engineering as an undergrad, his graduate education veered toward mathematics.  

“To me, it is super exciting when problems are both mathematically challenging and practically meaningful,” said Martínez Mori. “I tend to find my math problems from problems in the real world.”

By earning his Ph.D. in applied mathematics, he felt that this combined the best of both civil engineering and mathematics worlds.

Innovation Through Interdisciplinary Study

As part of the requirement for fellows to pivot their research, Martínez Mori is now researching cooperative game theory and algorithmic fairness with Alejandro Toriello, professor of industrial and systems engineering.

“To me, it is very rewarding to think about new problems, or to think about old problems through a different lens,” said Martínez Mori. “You start developing a unique perspective on things, and I think that’s how innovation happens. The Schmidt Science Fellows program is specifically designed to support us through this process.”

Research Focus: Fair Decision-Making in Public Goods Design

Martínez Mori’s research at Georgia Tech looks at using computational models to make decisions about the design of public goods, such as public infrastructure. If his research is successful, it could support more effective public decision making.

“I am very excited about our results thus far,” said Martínez Mori. “One thing I learned since I got here is to think about this as a long-term research program, rather than just as one or two papers. This is helping us think carefully about what the right questions are to ask.”  

Aside from key findings in his research, Martínez Mori has learned some valuable lessons since becoming a Schmidt Science Fellow.

“I think I have become more comfortable with not knowing,” said Martínez Mori. “Instead, I am more confident in my ability to pick what I want or need to learn for my own research goals.”

Mentorship and Academia: Guiding the Next Generation

Throughout his Ph.D., Martínez Mori mentored many undergraduate students, and he found mentoring-through-research to be rewarding. This experience solidified his interest in an academic career.

“I want to become a faculty member at an institution where I can not only do good research, but where I can mentor students who, for various life circumstances, wouldn’t normally get the chance to go for a Ph.D.,” said Martínez Mori.

He believes that education enables social progress, and it is his long-term goal to give back to his home country of Ecuador through research and education initiatives.

Martínez Mori is supported by the President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program. This program is run in alliance with the University Partnerships for Faculty Diversity led by the University of California’s Office of the President (UCOP). The current program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at UC. 

The Georgia Tech Library offers vast research materials. The Language Institute aids non-native speakers, including courses offered in collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning this year, graduate students have access to free peer-to-peer tutoring services for select graduate courses. For concerns related to academic and research practices, the Office of Advocacy and Conflict Resolution offers mediation, training, and consultation. This office helps graduate students navigate issues with research ethics and fosters a supportive environment for addressing academic conflicts.

In addition to academic support, Georgia Tech’s Career Center offers tailored career services to help graduate students navigate the professional world. The Career Center provides individual career counseling, resume and CV reviews, interview preparation, career exploration workshops, and the Graduate Internship Program. Students can access resources for academic and non-academic career paths and are encouraged to participate in networking events and explore job search strategies. 

 Graduate students can also benefit from many wellness resources, career services, and community engagement opportunities.

The Office of Graduate Education will continue to ensure that all students have access to academic mentorship, professional development, and personal well-being support.

For a comprehensive list of available services for graduate students, visit the Graduate Student Resources and Academic Resources pages.

Through experiences like the high ropes course, Tobias learned the importance of embracing challenges and teamwork, a mindset she has applied throughout her professional and academic journey. Drawing from these experiences, Tobias has compiled a variety of practical strategies to help fellow graduate students succeed both academically and personally.

• Use read-aloud features for PDF and textbooks. “Register for any electronic textbooks. This is a huge time saver and allows for listening while doing other things, such as walking, relaxing, housekeeping, etc.,” said Tobias.
   
• Your network is your net worth. “Build relationships with your fellow students, advisors, professors, etc.,” said Tobias.
   
• Say yes to more and try things you didn’t know you were capable of. Tobias received some valuable advice from a classmate, which she has reflected on over the past year: “When you are having trouble trying to decide to do something, ask yourself, ‘When I reflect on this tomorrow, which will I regret more?’”
   
• Allocate time for self-care. “Finding 'me time' was essential since I work full-time remotely from home, plus attending weekend and asynchronous classes online,” said Tobias. “Be intentional about allocating time for yourself and fun with your peers and step away from schoolwork. I use the Nike Training Club app for quick and free exercises, and I participate in local outdoor fitness offerings through the Beltline, the Home Depot Backyard, and the nearby Epicurean hotel that hosts yoga on Mondays.
   
• Know your why. “Having gratitude for the journey helps with focusing on my why,” said Tobias. “When things are tough, I try and remind myself that I get to instead of I have to.”
   
• Create a matrix to manage time. “When you look at all the classes and deliverables, it can feel overwhelming,” said Tobias. “In my first semester, I created an Excel matrix to track due dates for all deliverables, including class preparation, and categorized by individual and team. I would work two weeks out, similar to the sprint work in my day job.”
   
• Utilize the library subscription offerings. “I subscribe to Atlanta Business Chronicle, New York Times, and the Wall Street Journey,” said Tobias. “I will miss these free subscriptions once I lose my Georgia tech email address.”
   
• Customize your email address. A customized email address enhances professionalism and is easier to recognize and remember. “You can customize your Georgia Tech email address,” said Tobias. “To do this, log into OSCAR, select Passport, click on email preferences, and click ‘Change your customized address.’ This is how I went from mtobias6 to mel.tobias@gatech.edu.”

Connect with Tobias on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/meltobias/. 
 

This growth is largely due to the increased popularity of Tech’s online master's programs, which have seen a 37% surge in new enrollments, totaling 7,190 new students. 

“The 37% increase in new student enrollment in Georgia Tech’s online master’s programs aligns with overall trends in the graduate landscape that we’ve observed – a desire for targeted, yet flexible online and hybrid learning models that leads to employment in high-demand jobs. It’s an added benefit that these programs are a real bargain at Georgia Tech,” said Joy Olabisi, assistant vice provost for Graduate Education. 

In addition to the overall growth in numbers, Georgia Tech is also proud of the increasing diversity among its graduate students. From Fall 2023 to Fall 2024, Hispanic graduate students rose by 44%, from 566 to 814, while Black/African American student enrollment increased by 36%, from 443 to 602. This reflects the Institute's ongoing efforts to create an inclusive environment that welcomes students from all backgrounds.

The total graduate student enrollment at Georgia Tech now stands at 33,315, a 17% increase from last year. The Atlanta campus alone is home to 8,333 of these students, with 3,953 pursuing Ph.D.s. These numbers underscore the critical role graduate students play in the Institute's mission.

“Graduate students play an integral role in enhancing Georgia Tech’s reputation as a leading research institution,” said Olabisi. “We’re excited to see that so many graduate applicants see Georgia Tech as a place where they not only develop as leaders but also shape the future through technological advancements.”

Furthermore, Georgia Tech has seen a 20% increase in B.S. to M.S. enrollment, a testament to the success of its accelerated pathways for current B.S. students.

As Olabisi explained, “More of Tech’s graduate programs are establishing accelerated pathways to M.S. degrees for current B.S. students, which is an attractive recruiting strategy because it enhances career opportunities in a familiar context, minimizing transitional challenges while providing a financial bargain.”

As Georgia Tech continues to expand and diversify its graduate programs, it remains committed to providing students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, both academically and professionally. This new school year promises to be an exciting chapter in the Institute's storied history, with graduate students leading the charge in shaping the future of technology and innovation.

This scenario played out this weekend at the DARPA AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) semi-final competition held at DEF CON 32 in Las Vegas. Team Atlanta, which included the Georgia Tech experts, were among the contest’s winners.  

Team Atlanta will now compete against six other teams in the final round that takes place at DEF CON 33 in August 2025. The finalists will keep their AI system and improve it over the next 12 months using the $2 million semi-final prize.

The AI systems in the finals must be open sourced and ready for immediate, real-world launch. The AIxCC final competition will award a $4 million grand prize to the ultimate champion.

Team Atlanta is made up of past and present Georgia Tech students and was put together with the help of SCP Professor Taesoo Kim. Not only did the team secure a spot in the final competition, they found a zero-day vulnerability in the contest. 

“I am incredibly proud to announce that Team Atlanta has qualified for the finals in the DARPA AIxCC competition,” said Taesoo Kim, professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and a vice president of Samsung Research. 

“This achievement is the result of exceptional collaboration across various organizations, including the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), industry partners like Samsung, and international academic institutions such as KAIST and POSTECH.” 

After noticing discrepancies in the competition score board, the team discovered and reported a bug in the competition itself. The type of vulnerability they discovered is known as a zero-day vulnerability, because vendors have zero days to fix the issue. 

While this didn’t earn Team Atlanta additional points, the competition organizer acknowledged the team and their finding during the closing ceremony. 

“Our team, deeply rooted in Atlanta and largely composed of Georgia Tech alumni, embodies the innovative spirit and community values that define our city,” said Kim. 

“With over 30 dedicated students and researchers, we have demonstrated the power of cross-disciplinary teamwork in the semi-final event. As we advance to the finals, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and I firmly believe the resulting systems from this competition will transform the security landscape in the coming year!”

The team tested their cyber reasoning system (CRS), dubbed Atlantis, on software used for data management, website support, healthcare systems, supply chains, electrical grids, transportation, and other critical infrastructures.

Atlantis is a next-generation, bug-finding and fixing system that can hunt bugs in multiple coding languages. The system immediately issues accurate software patches without any human intervention. 

AIxCC is a Pentagon-backed initiative that was announced in August 2023 and will award up to $20 million in prize money throughout the competition. Team Atlanta was among the 42 teams that qualified for the semi-final competition earlier this year. 

Adapting to a Growing Graduate Student Population

“With the new enrollment [growth], we stand to have more students than ever. With this, graduate students are affected the most,” said Tran. “We want to tackle this problem by creating a way for Georgia Tech to adapt to the new population of students.”

International students are a large part of the graduate student enrollment growth.

“More than 50% of graduate students are international students,” said Tran. “To help international students transition to life at Georgia Tech, we talked about creating a buddy program for students to make friends and learn from peers and senior students.”

Engaging the Graduate Student Community

“We are just two people, and with the cabinet, we have around 20 students to represent the entire student body of over 30,000 students,” said Tran.

Engaging with such a large and diverse student body presents a communication challenge.

“I think particularly for graduate students, there’s always the challenge of how to reach out to them–how to make sure that what we’re doing here is being seen and heard by the graduate students,” said Yang. "It is a very difficult challenge because it requires that we set up communications not only to the entire campus staff, but also at the department and graduate program coordinators level." 

To obtain the voice of the student population, Grad SGA plans to continue sending out surveys when they want student feedback. They are also going to schedule a town hall for students to attend, which will happen at the end of every semester. 

Strengthening Relationships with Administration

“The population of graduate students is more than undergrad,” said Tran. “Grad students tend to get neglected because we are not as involved on campus. This is a two-way street. Our goal is to encourage more graduate student involvement in campus activities, while also working with the admins and Institute to prioritize grad student needs.”

According to Tran, last year they worked on establishing connections with admins, from Pres. Cabrera’s cabinet to admins across campus within each department.

“All of the admins at Georgia Tech are very supportive of grad students,” said Tran. “It’s very clear to them that we have different needs, so they want to help us. It’s going to be a very fun year working with all the admins.”

Grad SGA is currently looking for senate candidates. Applications are open through August 26. Online and in-person students can access the application here.

Kiera Tran is a Ph.D. student studying geophysical glaciology in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. She began her journey at Georgia Tech in her junior year of college. It was at Tech where Tran discovered her passion for earth sciences and the desire to make an impact on global issues. She has been involved in Grad SGA for the past two years.

Donglai Yang is a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences studying the consequences of climate change to the polar regions with radar observations, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence. This is Yang’s first year serving in Grad SGA.

Kiera Tran is a Ph.D. student studying geophysical glaciology in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. She began her journey at Georgia Tech in her junior year of college. It was at Tech where Tran discovered her passion for earth sciences and the desire to make an impact on global issues. She has been involved in Grad SGA for the past two years.

Donglai Yang will be a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences studying the consequences of climate change to the polar regions with radar observations, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence. This is Yang’s first year serving in Grad SGA.

We followed up with them to get the scoop on their interests outside of academics.

Favorite Hobbies and Activities

• Donglai: I have been involved in music ensembles, playing some jazz music with fellow Georgia Tech students. It has been really fun. I also started a climbing group in our department to organize climbing activities.
• Kiera: I do small things to get my head out of research and Grad SGA work. I read a lot to make myself think about something else. I also really like journaling, so I journal while I read. Recently, I got into diamond painting. It’s like color by numbers, but you do it with diamonds. I spend hours on it, and I think that would be my new hobby right now.
   

Favorite Place on Campus

• Donglai: The hammocks on Tech Green.
• Kiera: The Eco Commons slide–that is where I go to destress, just slide down three times and then go back to my research.
   

Favorite Tradition or Event on Campus

• Donglai: I’m into music, so the ensemble events.
• Kiera: Recently, I got into campus sports, so I attend the football, basketball, and volleyball games.
   

Favorite Thing about Atlanta

• Donglai: I like the diversity–it’s like a melting pot. It feels energetic. That’s what drew me here–it’s a very energetic city and energetic campus.
• Kiera: I’ve been to a lot of other states, and I think the food in Atlanta is very diverse. One of the things I like to do around Atlanta is just try different cuisine and restaurants.
   

Favorite Restaurant in Atlanta

• Donglai: Yet Tuh–a charming little family-style Korean restaurant. The staff is always so friendly. 
  Kiera: Ponko Chicken–the hotdog is delicious!

Current Favorite Song

• Donglai: Witness Me by Jacob Collier
  Kiera: It’s OK by Imagine Dragons

Currently Reading

• Donglai: Electrify by Saul Griffith. It has an interesting take on our future path to carbon neutral. 
  Kiera: I started reading the Foundation book series by Isaac Asimov, and I am currently on the 3rd one.

Advice to Students

• Donglai: Go explore the campus or the world outside your department and lab. There’s a lot to see and a lot to gain–a lot of opportunities that you would not get otherwise, even money to support travels and other great things. Be open-minded and talk to people and reach out.
• Kiera: It can be a little bit scary when you come to Georgia Tech because we are all top students; however, everyone is a friend. The moment you start a conversation with someone, you learn a lot from them. That’s what I love about Georgia Tech. It’s a very supportive place. Just talk to anyone you meet on campus, get to know people, and make friends.
  
   

Prioritize Your Well-Being: Avery Davis Bell Makes Work-Life Work for Her

“I developed a repetitive strain injury in my wrist, which was debilitating, and I took it on as a second part-time job,” said Avery Davis Bell, postdoc in the College of Sciences. “I needed to figure out how to make my work life work for me instead of fixing the body I have.” 

Bell decided she had to be open with her prospective postdoc advisor about her injury. She let them know from the beginning that she was not going to work based on hours. When Bell explained her situation and her emphasis on protecting her health, she was met with support from everyone. She learned that, at the end of the day, what mattered was doing good work and not how many hours it took to get there. 

Bell’s injury turned into a valuable lesson she imparts to students. 

If you have interest in science, you can make it work for you,” said Bell. “You do not have to adapt to the prevailing model. Science is better for having you in it.

Advocate for Yourself: Ida Su Navigates Cultural and Communication Challenges

During her Ph.D. qualifying exams, Ida Su, postdoc in the College of Engineering, encountered challenges due to her hearing disability and language barrier as an international student from Taiwan. 

“I could see their lips moving, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying clearly,” said Su. “I didn’t have the courage to speak up for myself.” 

At that time, Su felt hopeless. With support and encouragement from her Ph.D. advisor and her Ph.D. advisory committee, however, Su sought medical help for her hearing disability and her communication improved. 

As Su progressed in her studies, navigating the differences between Eastern and Western cultures still proved difficult. 

“I tend to be very shy. I tend to let people, especially senior people, tell me what to do and make decisions for me,” said Su. “Because of these cultural differences, the initial stage of my Ph.D. study was kind of rough.” 

Observing these dynamics, Su’s Ph.D. advisor explained the differences between the cultures. They encouraged her to start speaking up for herself. 

“Because of their advice, I was able to choose my postdoc advisor based on my research interests, and I was able to follow my passion,” said Su. 

A Nonlinear Journey is OK: Nicole Hellessey Navigates Parenthood and Career Choices

“When I finished my bachelor’s degree, I took 18 months off because I was unexpectedly pregnant,” said Nicole Hellessey, postdoc in the College of Sciences. 

Hellessey spent the next 18 months after graduation reviewing her options and deciding if she should get a job or go back into academia and research.

“I was talking to a friend who was going back to university themselves, and they said, ‘You should do it. Who cares? You will make it work,’” said Hellessey. “I went back and did my master’s and go a job in the salmon industry afterwards.” 

Hellessey worked in the industry for two years before deciding to obtain her Ph.D., and eventually a postdoc. 

These postdocs’ experiences are a reminder that your journey is your own, and success does not follow a set path. Evaluate what matters to you, and find support in family, friends, peers, and mentors. 

The Postdoc Visibility Project is a collaboration between the Office of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Services, the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Tech’s postdocs. Our goal is to highlight the contributions of postdocs to the research enterprise, humanize the postdoc experience, and connect postdocs to each other. To achieve this, we will share three spotlight articles and accompanying video interviews throughout the Spring 2024 semester. This is the second installment of the Project. View the first spotlight article and video, “Myth vs. Reality: Essential Facts to Know about Postdocs.” 

This work is supported in part by the National Sciences Foundation Mathematical and Physical Sciences divisions ASCEND program under grant award number CHE-2138107.  

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

At any given time, Georgia Tech has 350 to 400 postdoctoral scholars (postdocs) making valuable contributions to research across the globe, with most right here on our Atlanta campus engaged in research, mentorship, and teaching.
  
Postdocs push the boundaries of what is possible in a variety of fields. However, despite their significant role in academic institutions, there are many misconceptions surrounding the role of a postdoc.

Daniel Vallejo, postdoctoral scholar at Tech, and Karena Nguyen, assistant director in the Office of Postdoctoral Services, weigh in on common myths about postdocs versus reality.

Myth #1: Postdocs are "super" grad students. 

Reality: Graduate students undergo structured training and coursework, with the end goal of producing a thesis or dissertation. Graduate students primarily dedicate their effort towards degree completion under the guidance of their academic supervisor and dissertation committee.
 
In contrast, the National Postdoctoral Association defines postdocs as “individuals in a defined period of mentored training following the achievement of their terminal degrees,” typically a Ph.D. Therefore, postdocs operate at a different level of independence and have a variety of roles and goals. For example, postdocs may initiate and lead research projects, teach courses, mentor undergraduate and graduate students, secure funding through fellowship applications, and collaborate with other experts in addition to publishing research.

Myth #2: Only STEM fields have postdocs. 

Reality: Postdoctoral positions exist in many fields, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), humanities, and social sciences. At Tech, postdocs work in all six colleges and a number of research centers.

Myth #3: Postdocs only conduct research. 

Reality: The role of a postdoc extends far beyond research. Postdocs at Tech actively engage in mentorship, shaping the next generation of scholars. Tech postdocs can also be found in the classroom teaching undergraduate students. Postdocs also tend to be very active outside their official duties, and often can be found volunteering to provide academic or community service.

Myth #4: Postdocs only become faculty members. 

Reality: While becoming a faculty member is a viable and commonly pursued career path, a postdoctoral position provides additional training that opens doors to a multitude of career fields. Postdocs can find opportunities in academia, industry, government, or nonprofit organizations, and the postdoc experience is often pivotal for transitioning into these exciting careers.

Myth #5: Being a postdoc isn't a "real" job. 

Reality: Postdoctoral positions are temporary and provide additional training for individuals to pursue a desired career path. It is an enriching employment opportunity and allows individuals to apply the skills honed during their Ph.D. to different fields or broaden their skillset through internal, domestic, and international collaborations. There are opportunities for creativity, exploration, growth, and independence.

The Postdoc Visibility Project is a collaboration between the Office of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Services, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Tech’s postdocs. Our goal is to highlight the contributions of postdocs to the research enterprise, humanize the postdoc experience, and connect postdocs to each other. To achieve this, we will share three spotlight articles and accompanying video interviews throughout the Spring 2024 semester.

This work is supported in part by the National Sciences Foundation Mathematical and Physical Sciences divisions ASCEND program under grant award number CHE-2138107. 

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

We asked our postdocs whom they would like to extend their thanks. Their responses revealed the profound impact of collaboration, mentorship, and peer support. 

Avery Davis Bell, Postdoc in the School of Biological Sciences

Bell expresses deep gratitude to her mentor, Dr. Annalise Paaby, highlighting her as a profoundly creative and rigorous scientific thinker. Bell admires Paaby as one of the most supportive mentors she has encountered, emphasizing her dedication to her students and postdoctoral fellows, going above and beyond to support their growth and success. 

Additionally, Bell extends thanks to her family, recognizing their crucial role in supporting her career endeavors. She acknowledges her husband and child for their flexibility and her mother for assisting with childcare on busy days, enabling Bell to focus on her experiments and research work. 

Bell emphasizes the importance of a supportive community, mentioning the graduate students in her lab and the broader research faculty and postdoc communities at Georgia Tech. These communities provide crucial support, combat feelings of isolation, and fostering collaborative exchanges that are vital for academic and personal wellbeing. 

Nicole Hellessey, Postdoc in the Ocean Science & Engineering Department

Hellessey extends heartfelt thanks to her professor, Marc Weissburg, whose mentorship and support were instrumental in her postdoc placement at Georgia Tech. 

“Without him, I would not have had a postdoc,” said Hellessey, “I would not have come to Georgia Tech or had any of the opportunities I have had here.” 

Hellessey also extends a “massive shout out” to all the Ph.D. students in the Kubanek Lab and Hay Lab, recognizing their exceptional support and assistance. She highlights their role in ensuring that she didn’t feel lost along the way, emphasizing the importance of their presence in navigating the intricacies of research and academia. 

Lastly, Hellessey expresses her appreciation for the camaraderie and friendship she has found among fellow postdocs across various departments at Georgia Tech. 

Zita Hüsing, Postdoc in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication

Hüsing thanks those who have supported her throughout her academic journey. She acknowledges the steadfast encouragement of her partner, family, and friends, whose support has been crucial during challenging times. 

Hüsing extends her appreciation to her dissertation committee at Louisiana State University, including Dr. Brannon Costello, Dr. Chris Barrett, Dr. Carl Freedman, and Dr. Katherine Henninger, for their guidance and contributions to her academic development. 

She also thanks her directors in the Writing and Communication program at Georgia Tech, Dr. Melissa Ianetta and Dr. Andy Frazee, for their support and mentorship, contributing to her professional growth and success. 

Ida Su, Postdoc in the Department of Biomedical Engineering

Su’s journey through academia has been shaped by a network of support and mentorship. Reflecting on her path, Su emphasizes the impact of familial encouragement. 

“Without their support,” said Su, “I would not have overcome the challenges throughout my Ph.D., and now postdoc, journey.” 

Su credits her current postdoc advisor, Dr. Gabe Kwong, for providing invaluable guidance and opportunities for growth. From research methodologies to grant writing and mentoring, Dr. Kwong’s mentorship has pushed Su beyond her comfort zone, enabling her to achieve remarkable milestones such as the prestigious K99 Pathway to Independence award from the National Institutes of Health. 

Additionally, Su acknowledges the invaluable contributions of her collaborators, including Dr. Madhav Dhodapkar, Dr. Philip Santangelo, and Dr. Rafi Ahmed, whose mentorship and advice were pivotal in assembling the K99 application and publishing high-quality research papers.   

Su also expresses gratitude towards her Ph.D. advisory committees, particularly highlighting Dr. Patrick Stayton and Dr. Daniel Ratner, along with Dr. Suzie Pun, for their continuous support, guidance, and encouragement throughout her academic endeavors. Their mentorship extended beyond research projects to helping her navigate challenges faced during graduate school and steering her towards a career path aligned with her aspirations. 

Lastly, Su acknowledges the support and camaraderie of her postdoc friends, whose shared experiences and encouragement have been a source of strength during the highs and lows of postdoc research life. 

The Postdoc Visibility Project is a collaboration between the Office of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Services, the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Tech’s postdocs. Our goal is to highlight the contributions of postdocs to the research enterprise, humanize the postdoc experience, and connect postdocs to each other. To achieve this, we will share three spotlight articles and accompanying video interviews throughout the Spring 2024 semester. This is the third installment of the Project. 

This work is supported in part by the National Sciences Foundation Mathematical and Physical Sciences divisions ASCEND program under grant award number CHE-2138107.  

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
 

Bonnie Ferri has been a trailblazer at Georgia Tech since the day she stepped on the historic campus. After earning a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and a master’s in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University, Ferri came to Tech to earn a Ph.D. in electrical engineering.  

In 1988, Ferri made history as the first woman to graduate from the program with a Ph.D. She quickly made history again as Tech welcomed her as the first woman faculty member in the school, paving the way for future generations. 

In her role as a faculty member, Ferri primarily conducted research and taught classes, but she wanted to do more to give back to students, faculty, and the wider Georgia Tech community. Ferri showed leadership promise in her role as chair on a faculty committee, which catapulted her career into the administrative side of higher education. 

“I was invited to participate in leadership training, and I took to heart everything I learned and applied it to the position I was in, and it helped me to be more effective,” said Ferri. “As I became more effective, I found that I could have more impact. The contributions I can make in these roles are what has driven me more than anything.”  

Ferri has now been with Tech for nearly 35 years in a variety of leadership roles. She is currently the vice provost for the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and led the reorganization from the Office from Graduate Education and Faculty to Development to the emphasis on postdoctoral education. 

Postdoctoral scholars are an integral part of our ecosystem at Georgia Tech,” said Ferri. “They give back to the university in terms of their research and teaching. Georgia Tech has a responsibility of giving a great deal back to them, including fitting into the Georgia Tech mission, which is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.

Jana Stone, assistant vice provost for professional development and director of postdoctoral services in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education 

“What are you going to do next?” This question can be difficult for postdoctoral scholars to answer, but for Jana Stone, she realized she could take this question and make her career out of it.  

Stone earned her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina in genetics and molecular biology. She went on to conduct postdoctoral research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. 

During her time as a postdoc, Stone found herself volunteering to help organize career symposiums and with other committees. 

 “I started to realize that I might be a good fit for an academic administration position,” said Stone. “I really wanted to help people like me who were struggling to figure out what their career trajectory could look like.” 

Armed with this realization, she accepted a position at Duke University where she coordinated professional development and outreach programs at a systems biology research center. After the funding for the research center ended, Stone found herself back on the job market. 

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech was searching for the right person who could help build the postdoctoral office from the ground up. Stone saw the posting for a program manager at Tech, and she leaped at the opportunity. 

As the inaugural director for the newly minted office, Stone’s first mission was naming the office and figuring out what core services they were going to offer. They settled on the Office of Postdoctoral Services with a focus on providing professional development programming, community building activities, and advocacy for the needs of postdocs. 

Fast forward 10 years, and those are still the office’s core tenets.  

“I really like that with my role, I have the opportunity to advocate on behalf of a population that sometimes can feel invisible and also has distinct needs,” said Stone. “Postdocs are here to get more training. They’re here for a limited amount of time. They’re not faculty, and they’re not students, and they’re not staff. They are their own special population. They really need some dedicated work to look out for them, and it is my privilege to continue to do that every day.”

During her time at Tech, Stone has been able to advocate for higher salaries, improve access to professional development resources, and help postdocs navigate whatever struggle they are facing, to name a few. 

“I find it very rewarding to be able to see the impacts that we have had on campus,” said Stone. “There are so many people on campus who are supportive of postdocs and willing to work with us, and I am super appreciative of them.” 

Karena Nguyen, assistant director of postdoctoral services in the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education 

Before coming to Tech, Nguyen was a disease ecologist and environmental microbiologist with experience conducting lab and field-based research both domestically and internationally. Her research focused on waterborne pathogens and the effects of climate change on disease transmission. Nguyen earned a Ph.D. in integrative biology from the University of South Florida and a B.S. in ecology and evolution from Saint Louis University. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching program at Emory University, which included creating and teaching a parasitology and disease ecology course at Morehouse College. 

While at Emory, Nguyen revitalized the postdoctoral association and was a representative on Emory’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Planning Initiative. These service opportunities sparked a desire to find a career where she could continue supporting postdocs and building inclusive environments for their professional development. 

As her postdoctoral fellowship was coming to a close, Nguyen considered positions inside and outside academia. She discovered that Georgia Tech was hiring for the assistant director of postdoctoral services at Georgia Tech. 

“It was the perfect fit for my skills, values, and interests,” said Nguyen. “I applied because it would give me the ability to teach, mentor, and advocate for postdocs.”

Nguyen was chosen for the role and has been in the position since 2021. 

“My goal as an administrator is to create an environment where postdocs feel supported holistically,” said Nguyen. “I want postdocs to feel like they have a community of peers and the space to develop as independent researchers and future leaders.”

Nguyen also strives to develop and facilitate career and professional development workshops that empower postdocs to choose a career trajectory that works for them. She also believes that postdocs should have fun, so she organizes social events for that purpose. 

The Postdoc Visibility Project is a collaboration between the Office of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Services, the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Tech’s postdocs. Our goal is to highlight the contributions of postdocs to the research enterprise, humanize the postdoc experience, and connect postdocs to each other. To achieve this, we will share three spotlight articles and accompanying video interviews throughout the Spring 2024 semester. This is the fourth installment of the Project. 

This work is supported in part by the National Sciences Foundation Mathematical and Physical Sciences divisions ASCEND program under grant award number CHE-2138107.  

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
 

Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, the Postdoc Visibility Project team released four articles and videos highlighting various aspects of postdoctoral life: demystifying what postdoc positions are and are not, facing and overcoming challenges in postdoc life, sharing ways to build a community of peers and mentors to support success, and meeting the women who are leading postdoctoral education at Tech.  

Our goal was to highlight the diversity of the postdoc experiences, and I think we achieved that,” said Karena Nguyen, assistant director of Postdoctoral Services. “Many thanks to our postdocs Avery Davis Bell, Sam Gowland, Nicole Hellessey, Zita Hüsing, and Ida Su for sharing their personal stories so openly and honestly with the community. We could not have embarked on this project without them.

The Project concluded with a reception on May 8 where postdocs, staff, and faculty were invited for a luncheon.

At the reception, Nguyen introduced and thanked the dedicated team behind the project:  

-Daniel Vallejo, NSF Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who initiated the idea and led the filming and video editing 

-Mike Evans, Teaching Faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who provided support on video editing and storyboarding 

-Sara Franc, Communications Officer in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, who led article development and social media campaigns 

-Brittani Hill, Marketing and Communications Manager in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, who provided support on storyboarding and facilitated internal and external communications

-Casey Hendricks, Program Support Coordinator in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, who provided support on event planning and organizing  

Nguyen concluded the event by expressing gratitude to all staff, faculty, and postdocs who contributed to the project and engaged with the Office of Postdoctoral Services. Special thanks were extended to the library staff who provided space and guidance on the filming and editing process.  

The articles and videos from the Postdoc Visibility Project can be viewed in the “News” section of the Georgia Tech postdoctoral website at postdocs.gatech.edu.  

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

“There was nothing to do other than drive around looking for boba,” said Jarin.

Jarin developed her own boba rating system and came up with her top five boba gems in the Atlanta area. She evaluated 14 boba establishments to identify her top five favorites.

“I will preface by saying these ratings are my personal opinions, and everyone enjoys different things,” said Jarin. “There are also a million different toppings anyone can add to each drink to make it their own; it’s literally limitless, and we love that.”

Methodology

“I always try to rate the places first on a classic milk tea option with low to no sugar, so I can taste the tea and whether it’s bitter, flavorful, or of quality, or if the sugar is making up for the low quality of the tea,” said Jarin.

Jarin also considered in the ambiance and cost into her ratings.  

“With inflation, boba no longer costs less than $5,” said Jarin. “My top five list is inevitably some of the most costly places.”

Jarin’s Top 5 Boba Recommendations

1. Tan-Cha 
   Rating: 9.2 out of 10
   Cost: $$

   5677 Buford Hwy NE Suite 101
   Doraville, GA 30340

   Jarin’s Menu Recommendation:
   -Oolong milk tea with tiramisu foam (tiramisu lovers dream)
   -Uji matcha with matcha foam (matcha heaven)
   -Messy taro latte (the most genuine taro drink in the city)

2. 4.0 Ice Cream and Drinks
   Rating: 9.1 out of 10
   Cost: $$

   
   6035 Peachtree Rd. Suite A201 
   Doraville, GA, 30360

   Jarin’s Menu Recommendation: 
   -Mango sago slush (forever my favorite, I will die on this hill)
   -Mochi black sesame (underrated)
   -Peach/fruity anything (they incorporate a lot of fruit chunks into the drink)
   -Great seasonal drinks here as well

3. Tea Leaf and Creamery
   Rating: 9.0 out of 10
   Cost: $

   
   5091 Buford Hwy NE, #D
   Doraville, GA, 30340

   “There’s a good variety menu for classics,” said Jarin. “There’s also an excellent seasonal menu for fruit slushies, and they have ice cream and taiyaki for extra sweet cravings.”

   Jarin's Menu Recommendation:
   -Current favorite is the Handcrafted Coco Mango (sub crystal boba for normal boba)

   According to the Tea Leaf and Creamery website, a Georgia Tech location is coming soon.

4. Tiger Sugar
   Rating 8.9 out of 10
   Cost: $

   
   6035 Peachtree Rd. #216
   Atlanta, GA 30360

   Jarin’s Menu Recommendation:
   -Signature with baby boba (I like mini pearls)

5. Tea Top
   Rating: 8.5 out of 10
   Cost: $$

   6035 Peachtree Rd. Suite A-117
   Doraville GA, 30360

   Jarin’s Menu Recommendation
   -Signature green milk tea

Go out and fail. That was what Mo Jarin set out to do as part of a seven-week boot camp she was awarded through the entrepreneurial-focused U.S. National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program (NSF I-Corps). 

Journey through Entrepreneurial Challenges

The NSF I-Corps program prepares participants to extend their focus beyond the university laboratory and translate it to the marketplace. Entrepreneurship is a non-traditional career path for researchers, but Jarin wanted to explore the transformation of invention to impact with her lab’s pioneering water disinfection technology. 

“It was the most challenging thing I have ever done,” said Jarin. “I have worked tremendously hard over the last several years, but that was still the most challenging experience I have had.” 

NSF I-Corps participants are supposed to work in teams of three, but amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic in 2021, Jarin navigated the program largely solo. This included conducting over 100 interviews with industry experts and potential consumers all over the country, with the goal of figuring out where her technology could have the most value and impact. 

Conducting these interviews alone made the program tremendously difficult, but a key aspect of this program is that participants must fail. 

“They want you to fail–they push you until you fail,” said Jarin. “In startups, the more failures you have, the closer you’re getting to success.” 

At one point throughout the process, Jarin realized that the market she was focusing on was not going to work out. 

“I needed to do a full pivot, and that was the real low,” said Jarin. “It was one of the lowest points of my doctoral degree dealing with failure over and over again in this program.”

Embracing Growth in the Face of Failure

Thinking back on that time, Jarin can see how much the program pushed her to grow. 

“The program itself drained me, but the takeaways lasted for years,” said Jarin. “I didn’t know them at the time, but I realized I am more open to failure, more open to pivoting, more open to feedback, criticism, ability to pitch, interview, speak with strangers, present– everything had been opened up so that my growth opportunity was tremendously larger.” 

This experience allowed Jarin to make the most out of her entrepreneurial and doctoral journey. She continues to demonstrate her willingness to take risks and face new challenges during her time at Tech.   

Jarin has gone on to win the CEE Entrepreneurial Impact Prize, CRIDC Innovation Competition, Georgia Research Alliance Phase I Grant, and NSF Partnerships for Innovation Award. She was also part of the inaugural Female Founders cohort at Tech, a CREATE-X initiative to “provide a space for female-led entrepreneurial teams to explore a first business model, engage with an all-female coaching team, interact with successful female entrepreneurs, and receive non-dilutive funding.”

Balancing Act: Jarin’s Struggles to Find Balance

Between the research and competitions and expos and mentorship, Jarin admits that she has not come to find balance in her doctoral program easily. 

“I don’t want to be one of those people that says, ‘I’ve got everything under control,’” said Jarin. “I think it’s best to be honest and say that we’re all struggling. I think as long as you have interest in what you’re doing, I think you can find a sense of well-being.” 

One of Jarin’s rules is that if an experiment fails twice in one day, she likes to leave the scene and come back the next day. 

“I’ve started getting in the habit of going to Buford Highway as my comfort place,” said Jarin. “I’m a big boba fan, so I like to try to go find good boba outside the city.”

The Next Chapter

Now in her fourth year at Tech, Jarin is keeping an open mind for her future. 

“I just got accepted as a Future Faculty Fellow in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, so I’ll get the opportunity to work with different mentors and in coordination with the Tech to Teaching program,” said Jarin. 

Through Jarin’s experience teaching, she has discovered that she likes working with students. She sees herself pursuing an academic role around leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the future. 

“I enjoy breaking all of the constructs that have been built before me,” said Jarin. “I want to break what a traditional Ph.D. looks like.” 

Stay tuned for Jarin’s final feature on boba recommendations around Atlanta. 
 

In his role as graduate student success specialist, he oversees Institute-level orientation and onboarding programs for graduate students that promote student success. These activities include leading Tech’s GT6000 extended orientation program and the Graduate Institute Orientation (GradIO). Beyond this, he meets with graduate students to advise them on overcoming challenges and volunteers as a GT1000 instructor and mentor for undergraduate students. 

In his nomination letter, a student wrote “one of Marc’s gifts is seeing the light in students, reflecting it back to them, and also sharing with them new spaces and people with whom they can shine and reflect that light.” This quote accompanied numerous others from students and staff about Marc’s indelible impact. 

“It is an honor to receive this award. Knowing that there are thousands of faculty and staff members here at the Institute that make students their top priority, this recognition is a highlight of my career,” said Ebelhar. “I’m fortunate to be in a role that allows me to guide and support students as they navigate who they are, what they stand for, and what they aspire to become. A mentor of mine once referred to working in higher education as a privileged responsibility. With that in mind, I seek to find outlets to connect to students in ways that they feel seen and supported. While this is an individual award, this recognition also demonstrates the collective success of the GT6000 program.” 

The GT6000 program that Ebelhar leads was piloted in 2014 and has grown to become a campus tradition, enrolling around 500 first-semester graduate students each fall. The program focuses on topics like working with research advisors, exploring professional development resources, planning academic program milestones, developing resilience, and other broadly applicable topics that provide a foundational “whole person” education critical to student success. Course sections are led by trained graduate student peer mentors providing critical support as students start graduate school. The GT6000 program was created by James Black, director of Student and Academic Affairs, in the Office of Graduate Education. 

“Marc is an incredible asset to the campus community and the Office of Graduate Education,” said Black. “I’m glad to have him as a part of my team to support graduate students. He has positively impacted thousands of students since joining our office two years ago and is incredibly deserving of this award. I look forward to seeing him continue to grow and innovate how we support our graduate students and the graduate education community.” 

Ebelhar holds an Ed.D. in student affairs leadership from the University of Georgia, an M.Ed. in higher education and student affairs from the University of South Carolina, and a B.A. in economics and political science from Bellarmine University. To learn more about the GT6000 program, visit the program website at https://grad.gatech.edu/gt6000. 

This year’s winners represent areas of study ranging from aerospace engineering to ocean sciences. The purpose of the GRF initiative, the oldest of NSF’s programs, is to develop experts who will contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. Their awards total more than $9.5 million in funding, the most Georgia Tech has ever had in the program.

This year’s recipients are: 

Jarin’s dedication and accomplishments have garnered recognition, including winning prestigious awards. Most recently, Jarin’s research titled, “Operando investigation of the synergistic effect of electric field treatment and copper for bacteria inactivation,” was published in Nature Communications.

Pioneering Safer Water Disinfection

At the forefront of her laboratory’s efforts to develop alternative water disinfection technologies, Jarin’s work offers promising solutions to mitigate the risks associated with traditional chlorine-based treatments. 

Her lab’s innovative approach, Locally Enhanced Electric Field Treatment (LEEFT), harnesses the power of enhanced electric fields and copper ions to eliminate waterborne pathogens without relying on chlorine.

The Promise of Copper-Based Technology

Through meticulous observation, Jarin uncovered crucial insights into LEEFT’s mechanisms when combined with copper. The research published in Nature Communications focused on understanding this mechanism in ways we can’t observe with the naked eye.  

“What we found is that the electric field will weaken the membranes of these potential pathogens, allowing copper to have a much stronger and faster effect in killing them,” said Jarin.

Beyond the laboratory, Jarin envisions practical applications for LEEFT in environments like swimming pools and hot tubs, where reducing chlorine reliance can minimize health and environmental risks.  

Looking ahead, Jarin is committed to advancing her research and realizing the potential of the LEEFT technology. Her end goal is to retrofit LEEFT like a smart pipe into the water distribution pipelines, so that it can provide antimicrobial power over the entire distribution system.

“We’re years away, but we’re getting close to an applicable prototype,” said Jarin. “We need a lot of upgrading of our water infrastructure, especially in the U.S., and it can also be very impactful to the rest of the world.”  

As she marches forward towards her goal of implementing LEEFT technology into water distribution systems, Jarin's impact extends far beyond the laboratory, promising a safer and healthier tomorrow for communities everywhere.

Stay tuned for part three of Jarin’s story as she delves deeper into experiences in entrepreneurship, reflects on challenges overcome, and shares cherished, memories from her time at Tech. 
 

Congratulations to the 2024 Three Minute Thesis Winners:

Master's Winner

Karina Bhattacharya, MID, Industrial Design

The master’s category winner won a $1,000 research travel grant.

Overall  Ph.D. Winner

Alexandra Patterson, Ph.D. Bioengineering

First Runner Up

Kantwon Rogers, Ph.D. Computer Science

Second Runner Up

Valeria Juarez, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering

The first-place Ph.D. winner won a $2,000 research travel grant. The Ph.D. first runner-up

Won a $1,500 research travel grant, and the second runner-up won a $1,000 runner-up grant.

First runner-up, Kantwon Rogers also won the coveted People's Choice award,

which earned him an additional $500 research travel grant.

The Office of Graduate Education coordinates tech’s 3MT competition in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), The Naugle Communications Center, and the Language Institute. For more information about this year’s 3MT Competition, visit grad.gatech.edu/3mt.

This is part one of the feature on Mo Jarin. Jarin is a Ph.D. student in environmental engineering who expects to graduate in May 2025. 

Mo Jarin, Ph.D. student in environmental engineering, grew up around the sights, sounds, and smells of a research lab. Throughout her childhood, Jarin tagged along with her Ph.D. parents to the lab where she played with the pipettes and string together the colorful test tubes to make necklaces. Surrounded by experiments and scientific inquiry from a young age, Jarin’s fascination with the world of research was sparked early in life.  

Early Influences in Environmental Engineering

A self-described “third culture kid,” everyone in Jarin’s family has a different first language. Jarin was raised in Japan by Bengali parents. After living in Japan for 10 years, her parents accepted jobs at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and the family moved to the United States. 

Throughout the years, the family visited Jarin’s parents’ home country of Bangladesh. During these visits, Jarin experienced issues with her health. Water quality issues are prevalent in Bangladesh, and those issues effected Jarin the most. This experience coupled with Jarin’s affinity toward research led her to the University of Buffalo for her undergrad. 

Finding Mentorship and Research Passion

“When I got into the college level, I was thinking about research, and I found a mentor who was Bengali,” said Jarin. “He was working on water disinfection, so I explored that lab. Not only did I have interest in the research, but the mentor was wonderful. That’s where I stuck for a couple years, and that was my first undergraduate research experience that I fulfilled.” 

Jarin was working with nanotechnology focusing on clean water, specifically as it relates to other places of the world. While Jarin’s bachelor’s was in chemical engineering, her research was in environmental engineering, and she felt this work was making real-world impact. 

“My mentor [in the University of Buffalo’s Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering], Nirupam Aich, was the one who inspired me to apply to grad school,” said Jarin. “He recommended a number of environmental programs–really top universities. He built me into a better presenter, and I took all of that into my graduate application process.” 

Choosing Georgia Tech

While Jarin received offers from prestigious universities across the country, her decision to attend Georgia Tech for her graduate education was significantly influenced by the people and opportunities it offered. She credits the students and staff she met during her visit to Tech as the impetus for her decision, specifically Danielle Lesperance Ramirez, a graduate coordinator in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering graduate school, and her advisor, Xing Xie.
 
“My advisor is a very open, welcoming individual,” said Jarin. “Despite his extremely nice exterior, he pushed very hard for me to come here. He nominated me for the President’s Fellowship that I received. He clearly showed that not only did he want to advise me and guide me, but he also showed me the potential I didn’t see in myself. That is how I ended up here, and I have never regretted it since.”  

Xie’s support fostered a transformative experience in her research journey. 

“He first pushed me into some of these entrepreneurial paths,” said Jarin. “It really brought out all of my strengths, and now I’m getting to do cutting-edge research. I don’t think I would have had the slightest fraction of a similar experience anywhere else.” 

Stay tuned for part two of Jarin’s story as she delves deeper into her research and impact. 
 

Congratulations to the following twelve finalists:

Karina Bhattacharya MID Industrial Design 

Vinodhini Comandur, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering 

Mo Jarin, Ph.D. Environmental Engineering 

Anamik Jhunjhunwala, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering 

Valeria Juarez, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering 

Alexandra Patterson, Ph.D. Bioengineering 

Jeffrey Pattison, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering 

Kantwon Rogers, Ph.D. Computer Science 

Mallika Senthil, MS Biomedical Engineering 

Wenting Shi, Ph.D. Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Shreyas Srivathsan, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering 

Raghav Tandon, Ph.D. Machine Learning 

This year’s 3MT competition takes place on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Atlantic Theater in the John Lewis Student Center. The entire Georgia Tech community is encouraged to attend the competition, which occurs as the finale of the 2024 Grad Student Appreciation Week. 3MT will also be streamed online and can be viewed at https://gatech.zoom.us/j/98696536715.  Audience members and online viewers can vote for their favorite presenter to win the People’s Choice Award.  

Ph.D. winners can win up to $2,000 in research travel grants. The master's winner will receive a $1,000 research travel grant.   

Tech’s 3MT competition is coordinated by the Office of Graduate Education in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), The Naugle Communications Center, and the Language Institute.  

For more information, visit grad.gatech.edu/3mt. 

Events and Activities

Throughout the week, a diverse range of events and activities will take place both online and in-person, providing opportunities for engagement, networking, and enjoyment. Here's a brief overview of the exciting schedule for GSAW 2024: 

Monday Funday (April 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Tech Green)

A lively event featuring lunch, giveaways, yard games, and more, creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere to kick off the week. Rain location: Skiles Courtyard.

No registration is required. 

Monday Networking, Bingo, and Professional Headshots (April 1, 3 to 5 p.m. | Student Success Center President's Suites A & B)

Hosted by the Career Center, this event offers networking opportunities, a fun bingo game, and professional headshots for graduate students. 

No registration is required. 

Grad Night at Russ Chandler Stadium (April 2, 6 p.m. | Mac Nease Baseball Park)

An evening of baseball fun sponsored by Georgia Tech Athletics, complete with door prizes and entertainment between innings. First 100 grad students to show up will receive a free baseball cap. 

Reserve your ticket here. 

Headshots & Leadership Coaching plus Grad Lounge Fun (April 3, 12:30 to 3 p.m. | Grad Lounge, Student Center 3rd Floor)

Enjoy coffee, snacks, and games before getting your professional headshot taken. Plus, take advantage of mini-leadership coaching sessions, sponsored by LEAD. 

No registration is required. 

Goat Yoga (April 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | BioQuad)

Experience mindful meditation and yoga in the company of playful dwarf goats, promoting wellness and stress relief. 

Only two spots remaining at the time of publishing. Reserve your spot here. 

Virtual Coffee Hours with Grad SGA ( April 4, 7 a.m. & 7 p.m. | Online)

Connect virtually with the Graduate Student Government Association online for engaging conversations and networking over coffee. 

Three Minute Thesis (April 5, 5:30 p.m. | Atlantic Theater Student Center & Streaming Live)

Witness the exciting 3MT competition showcasing the research communication skills of graduate students, open to the entire Georgia Tech community. 

No registration is required. 

Throughout the week:

• Daily snacks in the Grad Student Community of the Library (6th floor): enjoy refreshments while studying or taking breaks during the week. 

Join the Social Media Challenge

In addition to the exciting lineup of events and activities during GSAW, students are encouraged to participate in the GSAW social media challenge. By tagging #GTGSAW2024, students can showcase their experiences and connect with the Tech community on Instagram. Here are the daily prompts for the social media challenge: 

April 1 - Where you at?!: Share a photo of your current view, whether you're studying on campus, exploring a new city, or enjoying nature's beauty. 

April 2 - Study Buddy Selfie: Show off your study buddy, whether it's a furry friend or a fellow grad student helping you tackle assignments. 

April 3 - Selfcare Essentials: Demonstrate how you take a break and practice self-care during busy times. Share your favorite self-care routines or activities. 

April 4 - Throwback Thursday: Reflect on your favorite grad school memory and share it with the community. Whether it's a milestone achievement, a fun event, or a memorable project, take a trip down memory lane. 

April 5 - Framily Friday: Celebrate your "framily" (friends  + family) by sharing a photo with those who support and inspire you throughout your grad school journey. 

Don't forget to tag #GTGSAW2024 for a chance to be featured on the @gtgradpostdocs Instagram page and join in the collective celebration of grad student excellence at Georgia Tech. 

“Solar energy does not only have a great impact in mitigating climate change, but it also offers a transformative solution for communities currently lacking power grid access,” said Castro-Méndez. “By harnessing the sun’s energy through photovoltaic panels, these communities can generate their own electricity locally, enabling essential services, even in remote or underserved areas. This topic is particularly relevant in Colombia, my country of origin, where large communities do not have access to electricity yet.” 

Castro-Méndez’s research and published work in mitigating climate change earned a Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award. 

In his publication titled, “Vapor Phase Infiltration Improves Thermal Stability of Organic Layers in Perovskite Solar Cells,” Castro-Méndez demonstrates an innovative approach that contributes to the overall stability and longevity of perovskite solar cells. This invention is currently in the process of becoming a patent. His research has contributed to paving the way for more reliable, efficient, and commercially viable perovskite solar cells. 

“Climate change has always been a very relevant topic,” he said. “My interest to actively do something about it was triggered by my undergrad project advisor, Prof. Pablo Ortiz-Herrera. He had a research group on solar cells, and I joined his group in my 3rd year to start investigating this topic. There, I realized that alternative energies have a big potential and that they are real, not just something I would see in a sci-fi movie.”

The Chih Foundation awards graduate students whose research publication(s) reflect invention and innovation for the betterment of society. Each awardee receives $2,500 to pursue their research. 

“The impact of my research is to develop processes that could be used in industry to produce perovskite solar cells,” said Castro-Méndez. “I also am working on improving the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells, which is important to make this technology worth it. This award means that the research I’m doing is appreciated and that I’m not the only one who sees the value in it. It boosts my motivation further.” 

Castro-Méndez is one of four recipients of the 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication Awards. Congratulations to the following 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award recipients: Andrés-Felipe Castro Méndez, Dongsuk Sung, Hantian Zhang, and Vanessa Oguamanam. 

"In the United States, a pressing concern is the mental health of new mothers," said Oguamanam. 

According to Oguamanam, innovation is essential to support emotional and psychological wellness during pregnancy and childbirth, particularly for those most vulnerable to poor mental health, such as racially minoritized women. 

"I plan to develop a digital health system to address mental health disparities experienced by racially-minoritized women during pregnancy," said Oguamanam. 

Developing a Nuanced Approach to Digital Solutions

According to Oguamanam, racially-minoritized women, especially U.S. Black women, face higher rates of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and lifetime stress compared with their white counterparts. 

“Despite these challenges, Black women underutilize mental health services due to barriers including stigma, financial constraints, limited access, and culturally appropriate care,” said Oguamanam. “While mobile applications show promise in increasing access to mental health services, existing systems often fail to address the cultural context and drivers of mental health inequities faced by Black women.” 

Insights from National Study

Oguamanam conducted a nationwide survey study investigating how perinatal Black women utilize existing technology to manage their mental health. She presented her findings at the 2023 CHI Conference in her published paper, “An Intersectional Look at Use of and Satisfaction with Digital Mental Health Platforms: A Survey of Perinatal Black Women.” Her study revealed that 88.1% of perinatal Black women utilize digital platforms for mental health support. 

These insights underscore the importance of nuanced approaches to digital interventions that can accommodate the unique needs and perspectives of women with particular intersectional experiences and identities. They highlight the significance of designing interventions that effectively understand, celebrate, and cater to the experiences of marginalized groups and people of color.

Chih Award Funds Assist in Bringing Dissertation to Life

Oguamanam’s published work earned a Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award. The Foundation awards graduate students whose research publication(s) reflect invention and innovation for the betterment of society. Each awardee receives $2,500 to pursue their research. 

Funding and Project Overview

“My proposed work involves designing, developing, and evaluating a culturally targeted mobile app to support perinatal Black women in managing stress and building resilience against mental health challenges related to racial and gender-based stressors,” said Oguamanam. “Through my research, I aim to provide technology design guidelines that enhance mental health equity, strengthen digital mental health platforms for vulnerable populations, and enable equitable access to mental health resources for all individuals, regardless of their background.” 

Oguamanam is one of four graduate students awarded the 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication. Congratulations to the following 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award recipients: Andrés-Felipe Castro Méndez, Dongsuk Sung, Hantian Zhang, and Vanessa Oguamanam.

Creating an Unbiased Computer Algorithm

Zhang’s OmniFair paper was published in SIGMOD 2021, a top-tier conference in data management. OmniFair distinguishes itself by featuring a declarative interface that empowers users to define specific group fairness constraints. Subsequently, Zhang developed iFlipper, a pioneering system that optimizes for individual fairness in machine learning, which was presented in SIGMOD 2023. 

As machine learning models become more deeply integrated into our decision-making process, my research endeavors to foster a more just society,” said Zhang. “Be refining these models to be more fair, we diminish the potential biases, especially against minority groups, ensuring a fairer treatment for all.

According to Zhang, more and more decisions are made by computer algorithms instead of by a human. His research can be used by companies to ensure that their model is fair. 

“People should be treated equally regardless of their race, gender, and sexual orientation,” said Zhang. “I feel the importance to make sure that machines are making fair decisions. We talked to Walmart about using our algorithm in their platform to improve fairness of machine learning models used in the platform, which could potentially benefit millions of vendors and customers.” 

Chih Award Funds Encourages Research Initiatives

Zhang’s published works earned a Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award. 

Zhang is one of four graduate students awarded the 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication. Congratulations to the following 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award recipients: Andrés-Felipe Castro Méndez, Dongsuk Sung, Hantian Zhang, and Vanessa Oguamanam. 

Each awardee receives $2,500 to pursue their research. 

“It is a great honor to receive the award,” said Zhang. “I am very grateful for Dr. Sam Chih and the award committee. It confirms that my research is interesting and meaningful. It also encourages me to keep working on my research and produce more impactful outcomes.” 

The Foundation awards graduate students whose research publication(s) reflect invention and innovation for the betterment of society. 

This passion for aerospace engineering fueled Giacani's educational journey, which began with his pursuit of a bachelor's degree at Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy. Driven by his ambition for further academic excellence, Giacani's aspirations extended beyond his undergraduate studies, ultimately leading him to Georgia Tech's aerospace engineering master's program. 

“Georgia Tech has one of the best-ranked aerospace engineering programs in the world. My choice was based on the university rankings,” said Giacani.  

Fall 2023 marked the beginning of Giacani’s graduate journey at Georgia Tech. He also received the exclusive Domenica Rea D’Onofrio Fellowship, which is only awarded to native Italian citizens.  

“Being economically covered helped me focus on my studies, and in Fall 2023, I managed to both start doing some research and take four graduate-level classes where I got all A’s,” said Giacani. “Considering the rhythm at which I am going, I will be able to graduate in three terms.”  

While Giacani is thriving in his studies now, adapting to the American academic system posed a challenge for him initially.  

“Being used to the Italian academic system, it was not easy to adapt to the American one with a lot of constant coursework and stress across the term,” said Giacani. “At first, I got overwhelmed, but working out every day helped me get all the stress out and stay consistent with getting a perfect GPA.”  

Giacani emphasizes the importance of his daily workouts at Tech’s gym as a crucial aspect of his routine to destress and prepare for the challenges of the next day.  

With an open mind toward future opportunities, Giacani positions himself for a promising future in aerospace engineering. He expects to graduate with his master’s after just three terms in August 2024.  

To mitigate potential risks for researchers who use AI, the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education partnered with the Graduate Student Government Association (Graduate SGA) to develop a guidance document that outlines the effective and responsible use of AI in research, especially for graduate student researchers.

This document is the result of the collaborative efforts of the Office of Research and faculty across campus, specifically those with expertise in AI, ethics, and mentoring graduate students in research. The guidelines presented in the document are recommendations and not Georgia Tech policy. Due to the rapidly changing landscape of AI, these guidelines will continue to evolve. 

Spenser Wipperfurth, vice president of Academic and Research Affairs for the Graduate SGA, leads efforts alongside Graduate SGA leadership to promote awareness of responsible and effective AI usage practices for research.  

“As students and researchers, it’s critical to assess the usability and ethics of new research tools as they are invented,” said Wipperfurth. “The advent of large language models that can write papers, do research, and suggest research paths and solutions, requires our community to ask how to use these tools without abusing them.”

To promote awareness of the known strengths and challenges of using AI, as well as best practices for using generative AI for writing theses or publications, the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) is hosting a panel discussion titled, “Effective and Responsible Use of AI in Research,” on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, from 9 – 10 a.m.

The Effective and Responsible Use of AI in Research panel will be a critical discussion for graduate researchers who are using or are considering using Generative AI or Large Language Models in their research. Panelists will discuss AI’s drawbacks related to accuracy, research confidentiality, intellectual property rights, and risks related to unintentional scholarly misconduct, as well as constructive ways of using the tool. The panelists are William Ratcliff, director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences (QBioS) and associate professor in biological science; Laura Carruth, associate vice provost for Transformative Teaching and Learning and executive director of Center for Teaching and Learning; Jason Borenstein, director of the Graduate Research Ethics Programs, School of Public Policy, and Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education; and Larry Heck, co-executive director of the Artificial Intelligence Hub, and professor with a joint appointment in electrical and computer engineering and interactive computing. The panel is moderated by GSGA’s President J. Haden Boone. 

The 15th annual CRIDC at Georgia Tech took place on Feb. 8, bringing together a diverse community of scholars. 116 graduate students participated in the CRIDC poster competition, presenting their research in front of their peers and faculty and staff judges alike. Online graduate students participated in CRIDC’s first-ever online poster competition as well.  

Congratulations to the following poster competition winners.   

Executive Vice President for Research winners  

Jennifer Leestma, College of Engineering 

Kelly Badilla, College of Engineering 

Megan Andrews, College of Sciences 

Anamik Jhunjhunwala, College of Engineering 

Timothy Brumfiel, College of Engineering 

Shreya Kothari, College of Sciences 

Shehan Parmar, College of Sciences 

Ximena Pizarro-Bore, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts  

Xinyue Huang, College of Engineering  

Shiqi Wei, College of Engineering 

College of Engineering winners   

Shaspreet Kaur 

Bettina Arkhurst 

Frederick Chung 

Ranjani Narayanan 

College of Sciences winners   

Chad Pozarycki 

Monica Monge Loria 

Jiangpeiyun Jin 

Kiera Ngoc Thuy An Tran 

College of Computing winners   

Varun Agrawal  

Eric Greenlee 

Office of the Provost’s Award  

Eric Cole, College of Engineering 

Walter Parker, College of Engineering 

Chloe LeCates, College of Sciences 

Jimin Park, College of Engineering  

Patrick Owen Sizemore, College of Computing 

CRIDC is the product of the collaborative efforts of the Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) and the Graduate Career Development Team from the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education. Fifteen years ago, the event was created when the student-led poster competition, then known as the Georgia Tech Research and Innovation Competition (GTRIC) was combined with the Graduate Career Symposium.   

CRIDC also features an Innovation Competition, in which graduate student finalists offer three-minute presentations to a panel of judges. All participants met with Tech’s VentureLab to explore grants and programs that can help them pursue startup businesses and technology licensing opportunities.   

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 CRIDC Innovation Competition:   

1st place: Mikaela Gray, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 

Runner-up: Alison Jenkins, Mechanical Engineering  

Runner-up:  Zhaonan Liu, Materials Science and Engineering  

In addition to the poster competitions, this year’s CRIDC featured an employee networking lunch, featuring over twenty employers and four career panels. For more information about CRIDC, please visit grad.gatech.edu/cridc. 

For 15 years, the Office of Graduate Education and the Graduate Student Government Association have collaborated to bring opportunities for career advancement, networking, and research expansion to its on-campus students. Discover why graduate students and postdoctoral scholars need to attend CRIDC 2024. 

Connect with Top Industry Leaders, Alumni, and Potential Employers 

CRIDC 2024 includes a Career Networking Brunch event featuring 23 industry-leading employers. This networking event offers its in-person attendees the invaluable chance to gain insights about various career pathways, exchange tips and strategies for navigating the job search after graduation, and extend employment opportunities. Attending graduate students and postdocs will get the chance to make connections that can shape their career paths, while enjoying a delicious catered brunch, for free! View the full list of participating employers and register to attend the Career Networking Brunch. Registration for this portion of CRIDC is not required but greatly encouraged.  

Boost your chances of being noticed by the participating employers. Graduate students and postdocs who plan to attend the Career Networking event are urged to submit their resumes to be included in the official CRIDC Employer E-Resume Book. Submitted resumes will be shared with participating employers before and after the Career Networking event.  

Attend Exclusive Career Panel Sessions  

In addition to the poster competition and Career Networking Brunch, this year's conference boasts four insightful career panel sessions: 

Beyond the Offer Letter: Mastering Strategic Negotiation Skills for Academic and Industry Success 

Maybe you’ve already received an offer for your dream opportunity! C–congratulations! But the journey doesn't end there. Join this panel session to learn how to master negotiation skills, effectively communicate your value, and elevate your career in both academia and industry. Get ready for the only advice you'll ever need to propel your career forward. 

Intro to Management Consulting: Explore a Career Path Outside of Traditional Academia and Industry 

Are you currently considering how leveraging the skills acquired in your graduate program will help you tackle real-world business problems? Explore the exciting world of management consulting with an information session and Q&A featuring Georgia Tech alumni who have secured positions at McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Discover if this dynamic field aligns with your aspirations and connect with like-minded individuals. 

Campus to Corporate Mastery: Decoding Skill Gaps and Crafting Your Ideal Career 

Transitioning from academia to industry can be a transformative journey. This session will help you uncover pathways, bridge skill gaps, and adapt to industry demands. Gain practical insights on navigating choices for a successful career path, ensuring you make informed decisions about your professional future. 

From Lab to Launch: Transforming Your Research into Startup Innovation 

If you've ever dreamt of turning your research into a startup, this session is tailor-made for you. Explore how to move from lab to launch, discover valuable resources for researchers, and gain insights into navigating the startup landscape. Unleash the potential of your innovative ideas and learn the practical steps to bring your concepts to life. 

CRIDC is not just a poster competition event; it's a catalyst for your future success. This conference is your next step towards a fulfilling and impactful career. For more information, visit grad.gatech.edu/cridc. 

Prior to accepting this position at Georgia Tech, Olabisi served as an associate professor of management at the Saunders College of Business at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she was also appointed director of the M.S. and B.S. in Global Supply Chain Management and the B.S. in Global Business programs. While at RIT, Olabisi taught courses in organizational behavior, high-performance teams, and negotiations.

During her time at RIT, Olabisi served on several college and institute-wide committees as an active participant in developing and implementing policies for faculty and students, including serving as a faculty senator, African American Latin American and Native American faculty advisory council member, as well as on the Women of Color advisory board.

Olabisi’s research interests focus on organizational learning, knowledge management, and community-oriented entrepreneurship within emerging markets, with an emphasis on embeddedness and networks. 

Olabisi is an Honor Roll for Responsible Research in Business and Management award recipient as well as a member of the Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network, where she received a grant to study post-pandemic immigrant entrepreneurial activity. She is passionate about mentoring and empowering students to access educational and workforce opportunities, and in her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

A fellow Tech alumnus, Olabisi received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech. She then earned her Master of Science in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan, where she later earned her Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering.    

"I am thrilled to return to Georgia Tech in this role and to contribute to advancing the missions of both the university and the Office of Graduate Education," said Olabisi. "I look forward to collaborating with the OGE team and engaging with students, faculty, and other community members to build connections that not only improve the processes of graduate admissions and enrollment but also support graduate students throughout their academic endeavors."                                                                           

The Office of Graduate Education is focused on continuing to enhance the graduate education experience while promoting inclusion, access, support, and success for all students. Olabisi’s proven track record of administrative leadership skills, combined with her commitment to student success, diversity, and inclusion, make her a fine addition to the Office of Graduate Education and the Tech community at large.

We are seeking judges for both competitions. Judging will require approximately one hour of your time.

• Virtual Poster Competition: Judging will take place asynchronously online, starting January 20, through February 2, 2024. Judges will be assigned up to 6 posters to evaluate at their leisure during the judging period.
• In-Person Poster Competition: Judging will take place on Thursday, February 8, 2024, between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., in the Exhibition Hall on Georgia Tech's campus. Each judge will be responsible for 3 posters assigned to them on the day of the event.

If you are interested and available, please use this form to submit your preferences and availability: CRIDC 2024 Judge Registration. For additional information about CRIDC, visit https://grad.gatech.edu/cridc , or email grad.prodev@sga.gatech.edu.

Tech’s Annual Career, Research, Innovation, and Development Conference (CRIDC) poster competition and exhibition provide students with the opportunity to practice and perfect their communication skills by presenting their research to non-technical audiences. CRIDC is also a professional development event designed to equip graduate students with the skillsets needed to thrive in the constantly evolving career market. 

Read on to hear from two previous CRIDC Poster Competition winners as they reflect on their experiences in presenting their research at CRIDC and how their participation helped elevate their presentation and communication skills. 

Sonia Bhattacharya is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate from the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Sonia has participated in CRIDC’s poster competition every year since 2019 (except for 2020). All her past research submissions were within the technical research category. Last year, Sonia shared her work on vaccine development that aids in the discovery of diagnostic reagents to detect SARS-COV-2 variants, through Georgia Tech’s lab collaboration with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Last year, she won the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Award.  

Tania Evans is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate from the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Last year, Tania presented her research on energy-efficient gas separations and chemical processes, which, when applied in industry, would be useful to help manage energy use. Her research earned her the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research Award. 

What made you participate in last year’s CRIDC Poster Competition?  

Sonia: "I have been interested in public health, and I realized that along with enjoying the intellectual challenges of my research, I wanted to improve communicating my science with the general audience. I found that CRIDC provided a great platform to do just that!"

Tania: "I really like presenting my research. The motivation behind my research isn’t obvious to people who don’t typically work in my field. CRIDC was a good opportunity to present my research to people outside of my field. It was a lot less pressure and more fun to present to a general audience for a change." 

On preparing your presentation: 

Sonia: “I spent lots of time in the Finn Lab prepping. I prepared my poster in small increments over a two-week span, prior to last year’s competition. It is an amusing realization, every time, that it seems relatively easy to fill up the poster space. But it is challenging to fill up the poster space well, with the right amount of information.” 

When asked about reaching out to advisors, professors, and peers for help or assistance, Sonia replied that she “definitely ran various versions of her poster through lab mates for a ‘sanity check.’ ”  

Tania: “It took me a couple of hours to make my poster, but that is because I’ve had five years’ worth of data to pull from to make understanding my research easy to a non-technical person. I made figures that I felt were more easily digestible to non-engineers and presented the infographics I created with my lab mates.” 

On the overall CRIDC Competition experience:  

Sonia: “It was very engaging to interact with fellow Ph.D. students while sharing our research. CRIDC provides a great platform to uncover the variety and depth of research performed here at Tech. For every year that I presented (in the competition), I learned more and improved more.”  

Tania: “I participated in the career fair and attended a few of the panels held last year. I found the panels interesting and inspiring in continuing my research. It was a great opportunity to practice communicating your research and to learn more about other research that is being done within the Georgia Tech community.” 

Reflections after winning the poster competition:  

Sonia: “I was very excited to win travel awards in 2021 and 2022. The travel awards were tremendously helpful, which helped cover the cost for me to attend the 2022 Keystone Conference on Progress in Vaccine Development Against Infectious Diseases, which was held in Colorado.” 

Tania: “Since winning the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research Award, I was able to attend the International Conference on the Fundamentals of Adsorption (FOA), which is a leading conference in my field of study. I plan to participate in other poster competitions, as well.” 

Every year, CRIDC Poster Competition winners receive travel grants, ranging in value from $1,000-$2,000, that can be used to cover expenses related to research trips or travel to other conferences. 

Advice to first-time competitors: 

Tania: “Talk about your research to your non-academic friends often. Talk to your parents. My parents could give a few sentences of a short synopsis of my research because I talk about my research so much.” 

This year, CRIDC takes place on Friday, February 8, 2024, in the Exhibition Hall, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. This conference includes a virtual poster competition and an in-person competition, as well as a networking luncheon, and several career panel sessions. Event registration begins at 8 a.m. This free event is intended for Georgia Tech graduate students but is open to the entire GT community. Registration to participate in the poster competition ends on Friday, January 12, 2024.  For more information, visit https://grad.gatech.edu/cridc.  

After dedicating countless hours to labs and research endeavors, students consider CRIDC a valuable opportunity to communicate their research to a non-technical audience. One highly anticipated segment of the conference is the poster competition, that provides    a unique opportunity to refine their communication skills by presenting their research to non-technical audiences. Beyond the intrinsic value of sharing their work, winners stand a chance to receive travel grants, ranging from $500 to $2,000, that can be used to cover expenses for research-related travel. Last year, the competition distributed a substantial $43,000 worth of research travel grants to deserving winners. 

 The Conference extends beyond a poster competition and features the Innovation Competition that is sponsored by VentureLab of Georgia Tech’s Office of Commercialization. The Innovation Competition is open to all graduate students who attend the Atlanta campus and are participating in the in-person CRIDC conference, whose research has the potential for market applications. The winner of the Innovation Competition will receive $1000 and an invitation to participate in Startup Launch, a summer program providing commercialization training, support, and funding to GT research teams. Two runners-up will each receive $500 prizes. 

CRIDC also includes a networking luncheon and career panels, offering attendees the chance to connect with professionals in various fields and gain insights into potential career paths. CRIDC is more than just a conference; It is an immersive professional development experience that enables students to showcase, explore, and connect for a future rich in possibilities.  

Haden Boone, president of the Graduate Student Government Association, expresses the organization's continued commitment to the growth of graduate students. “We've built a strong partnership with the Office of Graduate Education over the past year, and we’re excited to see it come to fruition at CRIDC,” he said.  “There are some great opportunities for academic and professional development being offered at CRIDC this year, and I’m excited invite the graduate student community to take full advantage of them.” 

Daamini Visaalaakshi serves as the vice president of Professional Development and the chair of CRIDC. She said, “The event, much like fine wine, matures gracefully with each passing year. With a diverse set of graduate participants, this year, our primary focus is enhancing accessibility for our online student community. We've thoughtfully curated both panel sessions and panelists, aiming to equip graduate students with the essential tools for evolving career trajectories and skills. Behind the scenes, a dedicated team is diligently working to bring this event to fruition through meticulous planning. As a completely student-run initiative, we don't just encourage your presence; we eagerly anticipate it. 

CRIDC takes place on Wednesday, February 8, 2024, in the Exhibition Hall, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. This free event is intended for Georgia Tech graduate students but is open to the entire GT community.  

Registration is now open for the CRIDC 2024 Poster Competition!   

Online and in -person students are encouraged to participate. Registration is open until Friday, January 12, 2024, 11:59 p.m. For more information and to register visit: https://grad.gatech.edu/cridc .  

This year, four Ph.D. students received the award for their passion for research and publication and their value of putting the needs of others above personal interest. Each awardee will receive $2,500 to pursue their research. 

“These students exemplify the Georgia Tech vision to ‘push the boundaries of research while focusing on the most consequential questions and problems faced by humanity,’” said Bonnie Ferri, vice provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education. “Their valuable contributions are appreciated and reflect the spirit of innovation and commitment fostered at our institution.” 

Congratulations to the following Chih Foundation Student Research Publication Award recipients: 

• Andrés-Felipe Castro-Méndez, Ph.D. Student in Materials Science and Engineering
  Empowering Change with Perovskite Solar Cells: Addressing Climate Change and Power Grid Disconnection
   
• Dongsuk Sung, Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering
  First Principles Modeling of Brain Temperature for Application in Brain Injury and Ischemia
   
• Hantian Zhang, Ph.D. Student in Computer Science
  OmniFair: A Declarative System for Model-Agnostic Group Fairness in Machine Learning
   
• Vanessa Oguamanam, Ph.D. Student in Computer Science
  Leveraging Digital Health Innovation to Combat Mental Health Inequities Among Perimatal Black Women

In recognition of their achievements, the Chih Foundation award recipients will present their research at a ceremony on November 16. Additionally, recipients will have the unique opportunity to engage with the Foundation's donors. 

Scholars are selected annually by qualifying departments of science, engineering, and medical research within the ARCS Foundation’s 51 academic partner universities. Hughes was nominated by her advisor, Professor James Wray. 

“It is a tremendous honor,” said Hughes. “It is an amazing thing to have your advisor nominate you for something like this because it’s a great vote of confidence in your ability.”

“Emmy is a truly exceptional young scientist,” said Wray. “She has a broad scientific skillset that she capably applies to a range of projects, driven by innate curiosity and immense enthusiasm. Her talent, passion, and positivity have hugely reinvigorated my research group; I am so proud to be her advisor. She is an outstanding representative for our School and College within Georgia Tech and for the Institute as a whole.”

Hughes is a planetary geologist primarily focused on the history and surface of Mars.  

“There’s a lot of things that tell geologists today that there was once water on Mars,” said Hughes. “I’m particularly interested in the geologic history of Mars and the surface of Mars and what that can tell us about the ancient history of water on the Martian surface.”

Hughes’ work is focused on using salts and other materials like amorphous silica to learn about the temperature of the water that was present and how long it was there. This involves using data from the surface of Mars. The ARCS award provides scholars $7,500 in unrestricted funding. These funds will support Hughes in conducting experiments required for her thesis.

“This is something that I have been wanting to do,” said Hughes. “I proposed it in my thesis proposal draft, and we hadn’t figured out a way to fund it, and I’m totally going to be able to do it now. I am appreciative of the fact that it doesn’t have strings attached. I think that gives people great flexibility.”  

A scholars’ award ceremony will be held in November to honor the Atlanta chapter’s recipients. 

The ARCS fellowship is made possible each year by way of the fundraising and continuous generous support of the ARCS Foundation Atlanta Chapter. 

Revised on Nov. 10, 2023

Whether the issue is being credited in a study or disagreeing over grade policies, Kyla Ross knows academic issues are best solved by people familiar with academia. That’s one of the reasons why she applied to be the assistant vice provost for Advocacy and Conflict Resolution.

“Since I’ve held faculty positions at multiple institutions and was previously a postdoctoral fellow and graduate student myself, I can approach each conflict I’m working through with empathy,” Ross said. “I find it motivating to not only help faculty, postdocs, and students with their current challenges, but also to equip them with helpful strategies for future conflicts they may experience. I welcome the opportunity to consult with them so that more in our community learn how to leverage the positives while limiting the negatives of conflict.”

Ross completed her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University in 2006. Next, she served as a postdoctoral fellow in the National Institutes of Health-funded Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) Program. In 2008, Ross joined the faculty at Georgia State University, and then returned to Tech in 2016 as the director of graduate training in Biomedical Engineering.

“My diverse experiences have helped me gain perspective as an administrator, teacher, and coach," Ross said. "I've helped students and faculty navigate advisor/advisee relationships. And over time, I've developed an appreciation for the ways that people communicate. I wanted to teach others how to connect even in difficult situations, so when I saw this job ad, it felt like it was written for me.”

We asked Ross about how she helps students, postdocs, and faculty, and how people can work through conflict in their own lives. Here’s what she said.

Who do you work with on campus, and what are some of the most common inquiries you receive? 

I serve faculty, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate students. When it comes to students, a lot of grievances that I receive are about course concerns like grading or class policies.

Common concerns reported by graduate students and postdocs include communication challenges with their advisors and disputes regarding authorship and publication. For example, graduate students and postdocs might need to clarify authorship order when working on a research project.

In addition, faculty often come to me requesting strategies for how to maintain positive work relationships with their advisees and colleagues.

What is the process for a student to submit an academic grievance?

Students may file an academic grievance through an online form. Once submitted, I investigate and seek resolution on the case. The first step is to get curious about the perspective of each individual involved and talk with them. I often also connect and consult with campus units, like the Office of Disability Services or the Dean of Students, to investigate further and to ensure that the solution adheres to campus policy.

Describe what your day-to-day job entails.   

Most of my days involve some combination of consulting, coaching, interviewing, and writing. Even if an individual doesn’t want to file a formal complaint, people can email me about any concerns. I host sessions on how people can navigate challenging conversations and manage conflict, as well as consultations to teach communication and conflict resolution skills. When people do choose to file a complaint, I’m available to investigate the concerns and mediate when needed.

What is the most satisfying part of your job? 

I like knowing that I can help the people who come to me. Sometimes, the conflicts I’m dealing with are quite challenging and individuals are entrenched in their own positions. When that happens, it’s very satisfying to detangle the problem and help everyone involved find closure.

What is the most challenging part of your job, and how do you deal with it? 

At times, it can be challenging for all parties to achieve closure. For example, we might have found a resolution that all have agreed to, and then one party shares information that changes the best way forward. To avoid getting frustrated myself, I try not to get attached to one party’s needs, so that it's easier to determine what will help everyone involved. I also remain focused on my own emotions, particularly when it's clear that others’ emotions are running strong. Even if the solution we come up with doesn’t totally solve things for all parties, I seek the best possible outcome for all involved.  

Can you provide a couple of strategies for handling conflict?

First, check out the resources we have to offer, which include workshops on active listening and effective communication. These can help you manage conflict if and when it arises. Students can reach out to me by email to ask about attending these workshops.

When it comes to working through conflicts, maintaining open communication with people goes a long way. It’s healthy to disagree but being mindful of how you’re coming across will help you to avoid confrontation. This mostly comes down to being self-aware. It's important to remember that the only person that you can control is you. 

For more information, visit provost.gatech.edu.

Over 850 prospective graduate students gathered on October 20 for the 3rd annual “Virtual Graduate School Showcase Hosted by Georgia Tech," a collaboration between Pre-Graduate and Pre-Professional Advising and the Office of Graduate Education. This free event connects prospective students from around the world with program recruiters from Georgia Tech and non-Georgia Tech institutions across the U.S. and abroad. 

“Covid pushed for online interaction, and we have kept it in recruiting because it helps to remove previous equity issues of students reaching us,” said Mack Carter, graduate program coordinator at the University of Washington, Seattle. “The [Showcase] allows for a large platform online to draw in more students that otherwise might be missed.” 

This year's event marked a record-breaking achievement for the Showcase, with 1,758 prospective students registering for the event, nearly 500 more registrations compared to the 2022 event. 

"What started out as an idea on how to create an innovative way for pre-graduate advising to support Tech's strategic plan by connecting globally and expanding access during Covid-19 has resulted in a strong, rewarding cross-unit collaboration that has continued to grow," said Susan Belmonte, the Showcase founder and chair and assistant director of pre-graduate advising. "I am so grateful and proud to have the honor to work with the talented members of the planning committee to make each year better than the last."

The Showcase featured a student-led panel with current Tech grad students who offered prospective students the opportunity to learn about the application process and life at Tech for grad students from first-hand accounts. There were also info sessions hosted by the Office of Graduate Education, the Office of International Education, and the Georgia Tech Language Institute that focused on graduate admission and life at Tech. 

“What I always enjoy, the number of students that come to ask questions from different areas, particularly those within the U.S. that we find difficult to reach due to distance or lack of attendance at conferences,” said Carter. “I have students that will stay for two hours just to collect advice on applying to grad school.” 

Before and after the Showcase, participating programs received lists of prospective students who registered to help them focus their own recruitment efforts on those who expressed interest in the programs. 

Graduate program representatives who want to learn more about how to participate in the 2024 Showcase should send an email to gtgradshowcase@gatech.edu to be added to the mailing list for future communications regarding this event. 

The Showcase Planning Committee includes Susan Belmonte, chair; Nazanin Tork, vice chair; Sara Franc, communications and graphic design; Scott Green, website applications and IT hero of Showcase; Brittani Hill, digital marketing; Monique Morris, accounting; and Jon Reid, web development. 
 

The new Haley Fellows are:

• Jessica Deutsch, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Quynh Nguyen, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Eliza Gazda, School of Physics
• Sydney Popsuj, School of Biological Sciences
• Jose Luis Ramirez-Colón, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Sidney Scott-Sharoni, School of Psychology

Haley scholars receive a one-time merit award of up to $4,000 thanks to the generosity of the late Marion Peacock Haley. Haley’s estate established the creation of merit-based graduate fellowships at Georgia Tech in honor of her late husband, Herbert P. Haley (ME 1933). It is an award which may be held in conjunction with other funding, assistantships, or fellowships, if applicable. 

Meet the Haley Fellows

Jessica Deutsch

Jessica Deutsch is a fifth-year Ph.D. student studying analytical chemistry. “One of the most intriguing aspects of analytical chemistry is that the field focuses on studying invisible things in order to make sense of the visible,” Deuthsch says. “I am researching a deadly coral disease that affects Florida and Caribbean reefs. I aim to provide insight into how this disease impacts the production of small molecules using a mass spectrometry-based approach, which can provide insight into how relationships between the coral animal, algae, and bacteria may be impacted by this disease.”

She wishes to thank Assistant Professor Neha Garg “for her mentorship and the opportunities she has provided that have enabled me to develop my research skills.”
 

Quynh Nguyen

Quynh Nguyen is a third-year Ph.D. student looking into phase- and shape-controlled synthesis of nanocrystals for catalysis and energy-related applications. “What fascinates me is the ability to manipulate matter at the nanoscale to drive sustainable advances,” Nguyen says. “This field places me at the exciting intersection of chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology, aiming to address current challenges in sustainability and renewable energy.”

Nguyen’s Ph.D. advisor is Younan Xia, professor, Brock Family Chair and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Nanomedicine. “Xia's guidance and expertise have been instrumental in shaping my research focus and methodology. Beyond the lab, he has consistently encouraged me to pursue opportunities that contribute to both my academic and professional development, for which I am immensely grateful.”

Eliza Gazda

Eliza Gazda, a fifth-year graduate scholar, is working in the field of multi-messenger particle astrophysics.

Gazda designed, tested, and integrated a telescope camera which was the payload on a scientific balloon launched in May. “The telescope launched is the first optical balloon of this type that operated at high altitudes over 30 kilometers,” Gazda says. “Our telescope observed radiative air showers from high energy cosmic rays and particles which travel across the Earth from extreme astrophysical objects like neutron stars and black holes. Once analyzed, this work will give us insight into high energy events that occur in space, and allow us to design and launch future similar telescopes.”

 Gazda’s mentor is Associate Professor Nepomuk Otte, “who guided me in the past through a summer internship at Georgia Tech and inspired me to come back to work on my Ph.D. here. Not only has he taught me lab skills, but he helps me with my career goals, and guides me in exploring our research field, networking, and learning about various disciplines within the field.”

Sydney Popsuj 

A fifth-year Ph.D. student, Sydney Popsuj is researching the gene Dkk3 and how it might regulate neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration in tunicates, close siblings to vertebrates. “This gene is implicated in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, but because it is hard to study in disease models, we don't have a strong grasp on the general functionality of the gene. I am using tunicates as a model system to study because they are biphasic, meaning they have both a larval and adult stage. This work is very exciting to me because it incorporates large scale evolutionary questions, while also having an impact on better understanding a gene that seems quite important to diseases and disorders.”

Popsuj thanks Georgia Tech faculty members Shuyi Nie, Joe LaChance, Patrick McGrath, Tim Cope, and Billie Swalla at the University of Washington “for pushing me to find new and exciting avenues into how to relate and generalize my work. These mentors have also encouraged me to expand outside my comfort zone in academics and to embrace new technologies and approaches that will hopefully further expand methods and protocols available to tunicate researchers.”

Jose Luis Ramirez-Colón

A third-year graduate scholar, Jose Luis Ramirez-Colón “has always been fascinated by the question of where we come from, and my time at Georgia Tech has been dedicated to using science as a tool to further explore this question.” His research focuses on exploring the organic inventory present in carbonaceous chondrites, meteorites that are like time capsules from the early days of the Solar System. 

“Many organic classes present in all life as we know it, such as amino acids, sugars, and nucleobases, have been detected in these meteorites; therefore, there’s this idea that these meteorites might've delivered these essential building blocks to early Earth to kick-start life as we know it,” Ramirez-Colón says. His mission at Georgia Tech is to develop methods to detect, extract, and characterize those building blocks. 

Ramirez-Colón wants to acknowledge “the remarkable contributions of my advisor and mentor, Christopher Carr, who has played a pivotal role in propelling my journey as an advancing Puerto Rican scientist. Carr not only granted me the freedom to pursue the questions that have always ignited my passion for science, but also equipped me with the essential tools and resources needed to conduct meaningful research.”

Sidney Scott-Sharoni

Sidney Scott-Sharoni is entering her fourth year of Ph.D. studies. An engineering psychology major, Scott-Sharoni focuses on “understanding how humans interact and conceptualize artificial intelligence devices,” she explains. 

“Specifically, I investigate creative methods to convey information to calibrate users’ trust, and understand their psychological well-being, most often in automated vehicles,” Scott-Sharoni says. “I love my area of research because it combines the study of people with the study of innovative technology. I feel like I am researching the people of the future!”

 Scott-Sharoni’s advisor, Professor Bruce Walker, “has significantly helped my personal and professional development as a researcher. I am very grateful for his continued mentorship throughout my graduate education.”

More than 12,000 applicants from across the United States apply to the highly sought after Fellowship, but only about 16% of those who apply are offered it. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.

“The success of Georgia Tech’s research mission relies very heavily on the work of our graduate students,” said Bonnie Ferri, vice provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education. “We are proud and honored to host the NSF GRF Scholars, who have outstanding accomplishments and potential for research. We are excited to see what they will do with this tremendous opportunity.”

This year, the NSF also granted an “honorable mention” designation to 11 of Tech’s graduate student applicants. This designation acknowledges the student’s potential for success in future graduate studies and research. 

The Fellowship provides significant financial support to recipients, including a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 along with a $12,00 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees. Recipients also receive access to opportunities for professional development. 

NSF Graduate Research Fellows are anticipated to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large. 

The Graduate Research Fellowship has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers. Tech’s fellowship recipients will join an exclusive group of previous fellows. Currently, 42 Fellows have gone on to become Nobel laureates, and more than 450 have become members of the National Academy of Sciences. In addition, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program has a high rate of doctorate degree completion, with more than 70% of students completing their doctorate within 11 years. 

Introducing Tech’s 49 graduate student awardees and honorees for the 2023 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship: 

Chemistry

•    Joshua Saito, chemical synthesis
•    Caroline Sargent, chemical theory, models, and computational models

Computing/Interdisciplinary/Engineering

•    Elton Pinto, formal methods, verification, and programming languages
•    Ashley Boone, human computer interaction
•    George Stoica, machine learning 

Engineering

•    Preethi Mysore, aeronautical and aerospace engineering
•    Satvik Kumar, aeronautical and aerospace engineering
•    Alexander Chipps, aeronautical and aerospace engineering
•    Afra Nawar, bioengineering
•    Maxwell Kazman, bioengineering
•    Kaitlin Jacobson, bioengineering
•    Emily Heckard, bioengineering
•    Jamison Siebart, biomedical engineering
•    Rani Kumar, biomedical engineering
•    David Pando Gonzalez, chemical engineering
•    Felicia Oentoro, chemical engineering
•    Christopher Allen, chemical engineering
•    Christian Douglas, civil engineering
•    Jesse Jiang, electrical and electronic engineering
•    Abel Sapirstein, industrial engineering and operations research
•    Alina Gorbunova, industrial engineering and operations research
•    Joseph Boone, industrial engineering and operations research
•    Jacob Aguirre, industrial engineering and operations research
•    Abir Muhuri, mechanical engineering
•    Max Asselmeier, mechanical engineering
•    Amro Alshareef, robotics

Geosciences

•    Samuel Ofori, geophysics
•    Samanatha Motz, hydrology
•    José Ramírez Colón, planetary science

Life Sciences

•    James DuBose, ecology
•    Princess Pinamang, environmental biology
•    Carlissa Roush, evolutionary biology

Materials Research

•    Grayson Harrington, computationally intensive research
•    Henry Kantrow, polymers

Physics and Astronomy

•    Lila Nassar, quantum sensing for biophysics
•    Cassandra Shriver, physics of living systems
•    Adele Payman, plasma physics

STEM Education and Learning Research

•    Lara Schenck, technology education

Honorable Mentions

•    Spenser Wipperfurth, climate and large-scale atmospheric dynamics
•    Alexis Ramsey, microbial biology
•    John Pederson, chemical theory, models, and computational methods
•    Liam Ordner, chemical synthesis
•    Elizabeth Kimmel, aeronautical and aerospace engineering
•    Dru-Ann Harris, geomorphology
•    Rachel Harris, electrical and electronic engineering
•    Haley Bassham, polymers
•    Kathryn Bairley, photonic materials
•    Oliver Azevedo, geophysics
•    Alexander Arbogast, mechanical engineering

On October 3, every graduate student will find an email in their student inbox from “Qualtrics” with the subject line “2023 Graduate Student Experience Survey.” This email contains a unique URL, which provides direct access to the survey. 

“We strongly encourage you to participate in this survey,” said James Black, senior academic professional in the Office of Graduate Education. “Your input is crucial in helping us understand the current state of graduate student life and identify areas for improvement. Together, we can work towards making Georgia Tech an even better place for graduate education.”

The survey is conducted once every few years to quantify various factors that impact the experiences of graduate students at Georgia Tech. This survey is incredibly important. Institute leaders will utilize this data to make strategic investments in programs, support, and resources to improve the graduate student experience in the future. 

The responses from previous Graduate Student Experience Surveys have resulted in changes such as: 

• Investments in Institute-level events like Grad Student Appreciation Week and the Fall Welcome and Picnic
• Best Practices for Ph.D. Qualifying Exams
• GT6000
• Enhanced professional development resources

All responses are confidential and will never be attributed to a specific person; results will only be presented in an aggregate form. 

Questions about the survey can be directed to grad.ask@grad.gatech.edu.  
 

The career fair represents possibilities­–all of the potential paths your future could hold laid out before you under one roof. You want to make a good first impression on prospective employers, but it can be overwhelming.  
 
“Career fairs can be pretty nerve-wracking,” said Christina Hall, graduate career development advisor in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education. “The All-Majors Career Fair hosts close to 200 employers each day, so you want to walk into the fair with a strategy.” 
 
Hall’s strategy can be boiled down to a simple, catchy rhyme, “What to wear, what to say, and what to put on your resume.” Whether your goal for the career fair is to network, get an idea of who is hiring, or get a job, Hall provides her advice so you can get the most out of the All-Majors Career Fair. 

Before the Career Fair

Research, strategize, prioritize. Hall recommends you determine the top five employers you want to talk to and rank them in order of high priority to low priority. “Be strategic and rank the employers because it’s a big event, and you have a limited amount of time,” said Hall. “Pick your top five and make those your primary targets. If your top choice has a long line, hit up the other employers first and then go back and wait so you’re making the best use of your time.” The list of employers who are attending the career fair can be found here.
 
Prepare a “career fair-friendly” resume. “For a career fair, a one-page resume is ideal,” said Hall. “Bring a few more copies than you think you will need. We have employers who just show up on the day-of, so there may be someone unexpected there, or you might have some extra time to talk to an employer who you weren’t originally planning to meet.”

Day of the Career Fair

Follow the business professional dress code (but do wear comfortable shoes). According to Hall, the attire for the career fair is business professional. Business professional attire means pants (no jeans), closed-toe shoes, button-down shirts, and suits. “Sometimes, students think that they don’t want to be too dressed up,” said Hall. “In my opinion, nobody looks at you negatively for being too dressed up. The issue would always be not being dressed up enough. You want to look professional, but you’re also on your feet. I feel so bad for some of our students because by the end of the fair, I can tell their feet really hurt. Don’t wear heels if they’re not comfortable for you.” 
 
Bring a small bag to carry your essentials. Backpacks are not allowed on the career fair floor. Hall recommends opting for a small bag packed with your portfolio, multiple copies of your resume, and water. 
 
Arrive early. “Just like everybody else, the recruiters are more tired towards the end of the day,” said Hall. “If you’re there earlier, they are more energetic and responsive. Towards the end of the day, I don’t think it’s a waste of students’ time to go later on, but just know that you may not get the response that you would have gotten first thing in the morning.” 

Approaching an Employer

Practice with employers who are not one of your top priorities. “If you get there, and you’re nervous, do a couple practice runs with employers that you are less intimated by so you can get the kinks out before you talk to that top company on your list,” said Hall. “Talk to an employer whose booth is a little bit slower. If you freak out, and you want a minute to practice with somebody, we will have staff available to give you that last-minute boost.” 
 
Be friendly, confident, and demonstrate interest. “You want to try to be as friendly and positive as possible to make a good impression,” said Hall. “Recruiters are people too. They respond to somebody who is friendly and polite.” According to Hall, students who convey confidence and show that they have researched the company are more likely to stand out to an employer. “It makes the employer feel like you’re not just here to talk to everybody, and you really want to talk to them,” said Hall. 
 
Introduce yourself with a 30-second past, present, and future elevator pitch. “Rehearse what you’re going to say because the more prepared you are, the easier it is to speak flawlessly and feel confident,” said Hall. “We call it an elevator pitch, and it’s essentially coming up with a 30-second commercial of yourself. Past, present, and future is a good way to go about it: ‘I’ve recently done this, I’m currently doing this, and I would like to do that in the future.’”

After the Career Fair

Get the recruiter’s business card for a follow-up message. Hall says that one mistake students often make is not following up with a recruiter after the career fair. “If you meet a recruiter, and you have a great conversation with them, try to see if you can get their specific contact information,” said Hall. “After the fair, you can follow up and thank them for talking to you. Send your resume again because it never hurts to send it one more time and add them on LinkedIn.” 
 
The Fall 2023 All-Majors (In Person) Career Fair will be held Monday, Sept. 11 and Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center. View the list of employers and get more career fair tips here.