Biomedical Odyssey

Life at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

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Rethinking the Doctoral Qualifying Exam

March 10, 2022

The doctoral qualifying exam is probably the most stressful part of earning a Ph.D. In addition to the candidate being scrutinized by a panel of field experts with a vague scope of questions, a single poor performance on the exam could result in expulsion from your Ph.D. program, despite how hard you worked toward your […]

Grace Steward ⋅ Perspectives in Research Doctoral Qualifying Exam, Ph.D., Ph.D. Programs, testing ⋅ No Comments

An illustration of a young woman working remotely in her apartment.

Living in the Gray Area Between Student and Employee

May 6, 2021

Are Ph.D. candidates students or employees? The answer is a little fuzzy, which makes it difficult to find a work-life balance while pursuing your Ph.D. Here are some thoughts on how we can take back some control.

Grace Steward ⋅ A Day in the Life boundaries, graduate students, Ph.D., work, Work-Life Balance ⋅

Exhausted young woman with tousled hair working hard reading a lot of documents at office.

Writing Tips from an Aspiring First Author

December 11, 2020

It is exciting to take on writing projects, but sometimes they languish, half-finished, until the mad rush right before the deadline. Graduate student Veronica Busa shares five tips to promote ongoing progress towards a writing goal.

Veronica Busa ⋅ A Day in the Life advice, goals, Ph.D., tips, writing ⋅

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Do’s and Don’ts for Preparing for Your Thesis Committee Meeting: Part 2

June 27, 2019

From planning the date to structuring your presentation, these tips from current and former Ph.D. students can guide you through the process and help you prepare for a productive meeting that will set you up for a successful year. This post is part two of two, focusing on how to execute a successful meeting presentation. […]

Rachel Evans ⋅ A Day in the Life guide, Ph.D., Thesis, thesis advisory committee ⋅

A young woman pins notes to a corkboard.

Do’s and Don’ts for Preparing for Your Thesis Committee Meeting

June 12, 2019

Every year, after passing the dreaded preliminary oral exam, Ph.D. students are required to meet with their thesis advisory committee (TAC) to assess their progress and plan future work. These meetings can be incredibly valuable, and they provide important check-ins during the sometimes chaotic day-to-day lab work. While preparing for my last TAC meeting, I […]

Rachel Evans ⋅ A Day in the Life guide, Ph.D., Thesis, thesis advisory committee ⋅

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Why Do Students Pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience?

April 8, 2019

As a fourth-year neuroscience Ph.D. student, I appreciate the variety of topics that lie within the umbrella of the nervous system. Nowhere is this more evident than in the diverse backgrounds and passions of my fellow students. To provide a glimpse into the vibrant world of neuroscience research, and to provide insight to others considering […]

David Ottenheimer ⋅ A Day in the Life graduate students, Neuroscience, Ph.D. ⋅

Graduate School Interviews: It’s All About ‘Fit’

December 22, 2015

The holiday season in Baltimore sees a flurry of activity on campus as graduate programs prepare to welcome prospective students for interviews in early 2016. Interviewees have not yet been accepted into a graduate program, but they have been selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, and as many as half will ultimately be […]

melissabowman ⋅ A Day in the Life Graduate School, Interviews, Ph.D. ⋅

Getting a Ph.D.? Consider “Alternative” Careers

November 16, 2015

It’s fair to say that the majority of us who come to graduate school have a similar career goal in mind: a faculty position. The Ph.D. is viewed as the gateway to academia and deciding to venture away from that is taboo. We go as far as to call nonacademic jobs “alternative,” which carries a […]

Shannen Cravens ⋅ Perspectives in Research Academia, Alternative Careers, Biomedical Careers Initiative, Dr. Gregory Petsko, Graduate School, graduate students, Ph.D., Postdoc, Professors ⋅

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