Here are some hints on running grad student seminars.
Contents:
If there is something you'd like to hear about which isn't on this list, please suggest it to the graduate student seminar coordinator! We need your feedback to make this series as useful as possible.
Recent faculty search committee chairman Dan Weld adds his advice on making your c.v. stand out among the hundreds received at each university and research lab. He'll tell you what most applicants did wrong, what a few did right, how to make sure that your resume gets a second look and your interview is a success, and other insights that you can't afford to miss in the job-hunting melee.
A general discussion will follow.
A general discussion will follow.
The department is soliciting feedback from graduate students regarding what it is doing well and where it needs improvement in all aspects of its operation, from classes, research, and advising to facilities, support, social aspects, and more.
Not every computer science program cares enough about its grad students to listen to their concerns; you should take advantage of this opportunity to make your voice heard and affect the department. Frankye Jones and Dan Weld take careful notes, and they make real changes based on student input. Tell them both what works and how it can be made even better. The life you improve may be your own.
A gathering of graduate students to inform one another of recent research in each other's fields. Also known as "What happened while you were doing your thesis?" this meeting is intended to prevent graduating PhD's who have been focusing on their thesis from sounding too narrow on job interviews.
Most of the hot trends in UW research will be covered. Don't miss the seering insights an invaluable wisdom offered by our celebrity panel: Corey Anderson, Greg Badros, Jeremy Buhler, Michael Ernst, Kevin Hinshaw, E Lewis, Omid Madani, Denise Pinnel, Rachel Pottinger, Stefan Savage, Yasushi Saito, Steve Wolfman.
In response to student concerns from recent gripe sessions regarding student involvement in the faculty recruiting process, Susan Eggers (Chair of Faculty Recruiting) will address recruiting plans for this year. This is a terrific opportunity to learn exactly how grads' opinions factor into the hiring process.
Students who have recently been through the process tell you everything you need to know about Quals: when to start, how to find a topic, what to do if it's dragging, when to finish, whether it should lead to a published paper or lead into your dissertation, and all about the obstacles you need to overcome. A general discussion will follow.
Tessa Lau has generously webified her knowledge of the quals process for all to see and touch.
Have you ever thought about having an undergrad work with you on your research project? Did you know how to find an undergrad? How to carve off a piece of your research for him or her to work on? How to manage the student, both as an advisee and as a colleague?
Or, what about students who approach you (or your advisor!) with an interest in working on your project for a quarter? Or who just want "to do research" for a quarter? Do you know how to decide if the student is a good fit for your work?
Unless you answered "Yeah, I know how to do that" to each of these questions, then you'll want to come to the next graduate student seminar: advising undergrads. We'll have a panel of faculty and grad students who have experience advising undergrads in their research, and who will share their views, opinions, and anecdotes. Plus, of course, you'll get to throw at them any questions that may be on your mind. With any luck, you'll come away from this seminar with a much better idea of how to integrate undergrads into your research, for the advantage of both the undergrads and you.
If you are interested in an academic job, or think you might be, then be sure to attend this seminar to learn the ins and outs of the entire process, from preparing your application and your talk to coping with travel, putting your best foot forward in interviews, and negotiating for the resources that will make you successful and happy. In attendance will be Michael Ernst, E Lewis, and Stefan Savage, all of whom survived the process this past year; Susan Eggers, who chairs UW's faculty search; and possibly a mystery guest. The panelists will share their experiences and insights and answer your questions.
There's more than good research and teaching (and support for these) that go into making the department a nice place for all of us. The graduate student positions represent a fraction of this "extra" effort that graduate students are responsible for. If we want the department to remain a nice place, we need to work actively for it and working in grad student positions is a good way to do this. So please show up at the elections and volunteer to fill positions, especially if you haven't done so before (and even if you have!). There will be pizza galore to celebrate the new incumbents (or to ease the pain of becoming incumbent, as your perspective may be), and to induce voters to show up at the meeting.
Back to the Graduate Student Affairs Page
Graduate student seminar coordinator