Biomedical Odyssey

Life at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

A woman stands, casting a powerful, larger-than-life shadow.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

March 9, 2021

Women in STEM are at a disadvantage at every stage of the academic pipeline and in almost every facet of their careers. Graduate student Veronica Busa reflects on how these statistics motivate her to focus her efforts.

Veronica Busa ⋅ Perspectives in Research Academia, diversity, Graduate School, STEM, women in science ⋅

A chalkboard with "New Mindset Loading" written in white chalk.

5 Things I Had to Unlearn in Graduate School

December 7, 2020

Adapting to her new environment in grad school has not only required Riley Bannon to learn new things, but also unlearn the way she thought about education and success.

Riley Bannon ⋅ A Day in the Life Graduate School, graduate students, self-reflection, tips ⋅

A woman inserts a coin into a piggy bank.

Making Cents Out of My Stipend

April 9, 2020

April is Financial Literacy Month! Contrary to popular belief, there is no income requirement to set financial goals. Graduate student Taylor Evans shares two ways she has improved her financial literacy to reach her financial goals with her stipend.

Taylor Evans ⋅ A Day in the Life finances, Graduate School, graduate student, resources, stipend ⋅

A line of seated candidates waiting for job interviews.

A Graduate Student’s Guide to Recruitment: What Matters and What Doesn’t

March 6, 2020

Graduate school recruitment is never stress-free. But it can be made easier by focusing on the things that matter and not dwelling on the rest.

Veronica Busa ⋅ Events and Happenings Graduate School, graduate student, interview, recruitment ⋅

The annual GSA Week poster session.

The Graduate Student Association: a Voice for Graduate Students Across Campus

February 28, 2020

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a graduate student in possession of a stipend must be in want of free food. It is this fact that the Graduate Student Association (GSA) uses to draw students to their multitude of events, but there is more to the GSA than you may expect.

Kyla Britson ⋅ A Day in the Life, Honor Roll Graduate School, graduate students, GSA, student representative ⋅

Teacher with a group of university students, in a laboratory classroom. The instructor is considering one of the students work, the mood is light hearted and positive. Other classmates are discussing things with each other. This is a realistic teaching scenario, with candid expressions. This is a multi-ethnic group of women. In the background there is a white board with mathematical formula written on it. All ladies are wearing id tags.

Lab Rotations: Finding the Right Relationship

February 18, 2020

Picking a thesis lab can be a daunting task. To increase the likelihood of a positive Ph.D. experience, most programs require students to test the water through rotations. I can’t speak to the structure of other programs, but in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine program, we have a class dedicated to professors and their research. […]

Taylor Evans ⋅ A Day in the Life Graduate School, in the lab, thesis lab ⋅

Confused young man shrugging shoulders and making face while standing against grey background

How to Choose the Right Thesis Lab — Epiphany-free!

November 1, 2019

Nearly two months ago, I concluded my fourth Ph.D. lab rotation. Rotations are important components of Ph.D. training. During each rotation, a new student spends eight to 12 weeks working in a lab, getting a sense of the science pursued there, the types of questions asked and the overall culture. After completing three or more […]

Ashton Omdahl ⋅ A Day in the Life Graduate School, in the lab ⋅

The words "Unions 101" on a blackboard in chalk

The State of the Union: US Graduate Student Employee Rights in 2019

October 28, 2019

“Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection…” (National Labor Relations Act of 19351). In the United States, there are currently […]

Brianna Barry ⋅ A Day in the Life Graduate School, politics, union, unions ⋅

Aerial view of downtown Baltimore.

The Future of Biomedical Education: Part Three

October 11, 2019

Soon, there will be an exciting and different twist on the traditional Ph.D. training environment: XDBio — the Cross-Disciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences.

Natalie Joe ⋅ A Day in the Life Graduate program, Graduate School, graduate students, XDBio ⋅

An illustration of two laborator mice chasing a scientist.

Learning to Run with Imposter Syndrome

September 16, 2019

As a college student, I had set my sights on making a difference in the research world. I was ecstatic when I was accepted to Johns Hopkins to pursue my graduate degree. However, starting graduate school was difficult for me. I felt constantly behind everyone around me, and it was clear that I was slowly […]

Mary Soliman ⋅ A Day in the Life goals, Graduate School, graduate student, Stress ⋅

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