Recap: Term 2
Olivia Wilkins
More coursework, starting research, outreach, teaching, and preparing for Astrochemistry 101. These are the highlights from my second term of grad school.
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Graduate School: Applying, Living, Thesising
The Professional Student is a blog about everything grad school from the application process to my experiences living as a grad student, being a parent in grad school, and researching the role of chemistry in the evolution of our universe.
Scientific outreach isn't just for kids
Olivia Wilkins
At the end of January, I joined Caltech's chemistry club at Cleveland Elementary in Pasadena. Being at an elementary school, my audience seemed obvious: the younger half of the popular K-12 outreach target. What I found, however, was that parents were just as, if not more, interested in the demonstrations, and I realized that in outreach to students, we often overlook an important ally: their parents and guardians.
Read MoreTeachWeek: Day 5
Olivia Wilkins
TeachWeek is a "celebration of teaching and learning" at Caltech. This year, the program is centered around the time of Empowering Learning. On the agenda for the fifth day: a rapid-fire session giving ideas and practices that can be incorporated into your own teaching.
Read MoreTeachWeek 2017: Day 4
Olivia Wilkins
TeachWeek is a "celebration of teaching and learning" at Caltech. This year, the program is centered around the time of Empowering Learning. On the agenda for the fourth day: a seminar about transforming general chemistry into a more active and effective experience.
Read MoreTeachWeek 2017: Day 2
Olivia Wilkins
TeachWeek is a "celebration of teaching and learning" at Caltech. This year, the program is centered around the time of Empowering Learning. On the agenda for the second day: a lecture about transparency in higher education.
Read MoreTeachWeek 2017: Day 1
Olivia Wilkins
TeachWeek is a "celebration of teaching and learning" at Caltech. This year, the program is centered around the time of Empowering Learning. On the agenda for the first day: a panel discussion with Caltech faculty and alumni.
Read MoreMom, grad student
Olivia Wilkins
The internet was trying to convince me that grad school and parenting wouldn't mix. Fortunately, I've found myself at a graduate institution that not only is open to me being a parent but, in my experience, actively supports it.
Read MoreRecap: Term 1
Olivia Wilkins
Coursework, joining a research group, new friendship, teaching, and parenting. These are the highlights from my first term of graduate school.
Read MoreI'm thankful for my undergrad experience.
Olivia Wilkins
In honor of Thanksgiving, I share why I am thankful for Dickinson College.
Read MoreSix months of Günther
Olivia Wilkins
In the first six months of Günther, he has had three addresses, traveled internationally and cross-country, and has helped me strike a healthy work-life balance in the early days of my graduate studies.
Read MoreApplying to the NSF GRFP: The personal statement
Olivia Wilkins
Personal statements are often limited to one or two pages, but when applying for the NSF GRFP, you have up to three pages to tell your story. How do you use all of that space? How can you incorporate your past experiences with your future goals (especially if you don't know them yet)? No matter how you tackle these questions, it is important to tell your story.
Read MorePeer review
Olivia Wilkins
Whether for a term paper or an academic journal article, peer review is an important part of the writing process.
Read MoreScientific perspectives
Olivia Wilkins
There are many ways to reach out to other scientists, from journal articles to social media. Scientific perspectives are a medium somewhere in between.
Read MoreRelearning how to read
Olivia Wilkins
As an undergraduate, I learned the hard way that I needed to relearn how to read. After reading several scientific journal articles front-to-back, word-by-word, I was bored out of my mind and found that I was unable to recall any of the information (I thought) I had just taken in.
Here's an overview of the mindset you should have when tackling just about any (but specifically scientific) type of journal article.
Read MoreMaking that connection
Olivia Wilkins
If there is a most understated key to success, it would have to be networking. Networking might just be a buzzword overused by your undergrad institution's career center, or it might be something more. And, it isn't just for business majors or for those savvy at wining and dining. Networking also comes in the form of chance meetings, emails, and letting others do the work for you.
Read MoreCaltech's 4th Annual Teaching Conference
Olivia Wilkins
Orientation continues with the annual teaching conference, a day-long event focused on what makes an effective teacher and how to proceed with the students in mind.
Read MoreIt has begun.
Olivia Wilkins
Caltech graduate student orientation was affirmation that (at least right now) Caltech is exactly where I want to be. The days were full of information and free food.
Read More¿Qué pasa[dena]?
Olivia Wilkins
Ten days in, and we already love Pasadena! In this short time, I've already experienced some first impressions of what it will be like to live here.
Read MoreRoad Trip to Grad School: Day 6
Olivia Wilkins
The final day of the RT2GS clocked in at 225.1 miles, giving a grand total of 2921.2 miles from New Oxford to Pasadena, 13 states, and two telescope visits.
Read MoreRoad Trip to Grad School: Day 5
Olivia Wilkins
At the end of day 5, 543.5 miles through New Mexico, Arizona, and the edge of California; 2696.1 miles traveled total; and 27 antennae of the Very Large Array (VLA)!
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