Professional Development

Maggie Chong

The transition from undergraduate to graduate studies can be steep. I found the sudden intellectual freedom to explore large engineering questions on my own a bit daunting. However, my research group has a strong collaborative and can-do spirit....

Jackson Moore

Think early on about what you want and need from a research supervisor. While it’s important to find a research project that you’re passionate about, it’s arguably just as important to find a supervisor that meets your learning style and will...

Cassandra Elphinstone

Get involved in activities you enjoy outside your research. They will introduce you to a like-minded community of people and provide you with a way to relax when you need a break from your project.

Jonathan Doucette

Read papers from other fields, and try to connect them to your own research. If you are struggling with figuring out how to solve something, there is a good chance somebody else has struggled with the same problem! Similarly, dedicate lots of...

Yu Tong (Emily) Tang

Joining student clubs is one of the best ways to meet new people. Come to Graduate Student Society events and meet other graduate students! It will make your studies here at UBC more enjoyable, I promise!

Emma Friesen

You can do it!!

Cissy Suen

Take breaks! Don’t be afraid to take risks in your Masters or your Ph.D. This is the time to try things out and see what aspects of the research you like and are most interested in. I also highly encourage getting involved in at least one...

Manpreet Thandi

Some advice I would give to new graduate students is:

• Take advantage of the numerous opportunities at UBC to collaborate and engage with faculty in their research and scholarship
• Stay connected with your graduate cohort;...
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Kate Peterson

Academically, I think one of the most important parts about graduate school is keeping an open mind about constructive feedback. We have the privilege of getting advice from experts in our fields, and listening to and incorporating their feedback...

Lulu Pei

Put yourself out there and make connections, both within your area of research and outside – you never know where inspiration and new ideas may come from. Reserve time to explore hobbies and interests beyond the academic world. These activities...

Holly Bergeron-Dumaine

I'm currently entering my second year as a PhD student - after a tumultuous first year getting used to an entirely new city, trying many reading/listening/annotating/conference-note-taking strategies with varying results, and experiencing a ton...

Bev Larssen

Don’t forget to take time for yourself to re-energize and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Whether that is playing outside or getting involved in an extra-curricular activity that you enjoy, Vancouver has a lot to offer.