Grad LIFE

Becoming a Resilient Scientist Graphic - National Institutes of Health

Five Takeaways from the NIH's "Becoming a Resilient Scientist" Series

Oct 22, 2024 11:45 am

The Becoming a Resilient Scientist series includes lectures and discussion groups designed to help students and mentors develop the resilience tools needed to study and work in high-knowledge environments. These are our five takeaways from the first session.

Meet the 2024-2025 SAGE Board Members

Sep 30, 2024 10:30 am

SAGE is a graduate student advisory board and leadership opportunity fostering active engagement with Illinois Graduate College programs and initiatives.

Building Scaffolds with Kyle Timmer

Sep 17, 2024 11:15 am

Kyle Timmer is a PhD student at Illinois working to help your body repair itself after an injury. He sits down with us to chat about science communication, working with stem cells, the ins and outs of lab work, and more.

Students sit next to a large Block I at the Graduate College Welcome Reception

Starting the New Year Strong at the Graduate College Welcome Reception

Sep 5, 2024 1:30 pm

The Graduate College hosted a Welcome Reception for incoming and returning graduate students at Illinois. Go behind the scenes with us!

Amos Jeng, Jeannette Cullum, and Abhi Kamboj

From Applicant to Fellow: Essential Insights for NSF-GRFP Success

Aug 15, 2024 1:45 pm

Three National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellows share their experience with the application process.

What's It Like to Compete in Research Live? Hear From Some Winners!

May 20, 2024 3:15 pm

The winners of this year's Research Live! stunned us with their brilliant presentations and creative projects. We caught up with them a few weeks "post-victory" to hear about their experiences.

Spring 2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Highlights

Celebrating our Graduates at the Spring '24 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

May 15, 2024 11:15 am

Doctoral hooding is the end of one journey and the beginning of another. We've got a behind-the-scenes view of this semester's celebrations.

Rest Lab: In Search of Rest

Apr 29, 2024 12:45 pm

Rest Lab, a creative, experimental pop-up space that invites resting with intention, came to the Graduate College office on Green St for a few weeks in April this year. Co-created by Krannert Art Museum’s Education Coordinators Ishita Dharap and Kamila Glowacki, Rest Lab has occupied various galleries of Krannert Art Museum (KAM) to consider what resting means, and what it can look like.

Let's Finish Strong!

Apr 18, 2024 11:15 am

Emily Wuchner shares tips and resources for decreasing stress and making the most out of the end of the semester.

Get in the Groove with our Spring '24 Finals Playlist

Apr 16, 2024 11:00 am

Every semester the Graduate College assembles a Finals Study Playlist to keep you rocking during your study sessions. For this installment, we're featuring a guest contributor: John Moist, Communications Specialist at the University of Illinois Graduate College.

Making AI Legible with Clara Belitz and Ali Zaidi

Mar 5, 2024 1:00 pm

Bri Lafond (Writing Studies doctoral candidate and Graduate College Career Exploration Fellow) sits down with Clara Belitz (School of Information Sciences) and Ali Zaidi (Computer Science) for a dynamic conversation about how generative AI has the potential to affect a lot of different aspects of our day-to-day lives.

A card sits on a table. The card reads "Ask Me Anything"

Ask the Grad College: How Much Time is Enough Time?

Feb 28, 2024 8:30 am

I spent about 2 hours completing my first homework assignment. After I turned it in, I learned that my friend spent 6 hours on the assignment. Should I be spending more time on each assignment?  

A picture of Byron Juma, sitting at a picnic table.

One Story: Byron Juma, PhD Student in Recreation, Sport & Tourism

Jan 29, 2024 9:15 am

Originally from Kenya, Byron has travelled the world in the pursuit of higher education.

A business card sits on a table. "Ask me anything" is written on the card.

Ask the Grad College: On Changing Career Plans in Graduate School

Jan 20, 2024 8:00 am

I started my program thinking I wanted to go into academia, but I feel less and less interested in an academic job. I’m committed to finishing, but I don’t know what kinds of jobs I should look for. What do I do?

New Year, New You: Taking a Holistic Approach to the Academic Year

Jan 16, 2024 1:00 pm

New Year’s resolutions always seem out of place on an academic calendar. January is more of a pause, not the fresh start we see advertised in every grocery store checkout. Andrea Bridges is here to convince you that now is the perfect time to do some self-reflection.

Ask the Grad College: On Taking Time off from a Busy Schedule

Jan 15, 2024 9:15 am

I haven’t seen my parents in two years, and I would like to plan a trip home. I have an RA in a lab with year-round research. How do I approach taking time off for this trip?

A student shakes hands at the doctoral hooding ceremony.

Celebrating Our Graduates at the December 2023 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

Dec 11, 2023 12:45 pm

Doctoral Hooding is the culmination of an academic and personal journey. These are some of our favorite moments from the December 2023 Hooding Ceremony.

A business card sits on a table. Text reads: Ask Me Anything.

Ask the Grad College: On Reading Teaching Evaluations

Dec 10, 2023 9:00 am

The last time I read my teaching evaluations, I dealt with some complex emotions. Some of the feedback felt constructive, but a lot of it felt mean. How do I sift through the comments and find what's helpful within them?

Exploring Multispecies Relationships by Walking 'with' the Forest in Sri Lanka

Dec 8, 2023 3:45 pm

Emma Lundin, a U. of I. doctoral student in tourism, spent two months in a rainforest reserve in Sri Lanka shadowing forest guides. Lundin sought to understand how the guides interact with other-than-humans to create tourism experiences.

A set of concentric rings inside of a circle. The rings are labeled: Macrosystem, Exosystem, Mesosystem, Microsystem, Self.

Lessons Learned from a PhD Student who Studies PhD Students’ Stress and Coping

Dec 7, 2023 12:00 pm

Joe Mirabelli has spent years studying graduate students' experiences with stress. Now he's sharing tips for managing the feelings and stressors of graduate school.

We've Got a New Study Playlist!

Dec 5, 2023 3:45 pm

Kamau Grantham curates this year's finals study playlist to keep you grooving.

A student stands while having a conversation.

Negotiating the Ups and Downs of Graduate School with Your Mentor

Nov 7, 2023 12:45 pm

Communicating openly with your mentor network can be a challenge. There’s no ready-made script for having effective conversations with a mentor, but building communications within a network of mentors allows you to advocate for yourself, source helpful feedback, and ask for the mentoring you need.

Exploring Career Pathways while in Graduate School

Oct 27, 2023 2:00 pm

Exploring your career options can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Hear from recipients of the Graduate College's Career Exploration Fellowship about their time as fellows.

A mentor converses with a graduate student in the lab.

Mentorship Is Intentional: Establishing a Mentor-Mentee Relationship in Graduate School

Oct 26, 2023 12:30 pm

Claire Baytas (PhD, ’23; comparative literature) is back with a second post in our mentoring series that focuses on the processes of choosing a mentor, agreeing on mutual expectations, and maintaining productive lines of communication.

AI @ Illinois: Complex Conversations Around Generative AI

Oct 6, 2023 12:00 pm

The proliferation of generative AI products has led to a wide variety of opinions about the efficacy, ethicality, and potential impact of AI on different dimensions of our lives. We asked Illinois graduate students for their thoughts.

AI @ Illinois: How Are Illinois Graduate Students Using Generative AI?

Oct 5, 2023 9:00 am

Generative AI is here, and it's making waves. We asked grad students at Illinois about how they're using AI in their everyday lives and work. This is what they told us.

A student having a conversation through a computer.

Managing Stress in a Job Search

Oct 3, 2023 11:00 am

You came to grad school seeking knowledge and skills that would prepare you for a meaningful career. Through hard work you’ve developed expertise in your field. While you can’t avoid the stress of a job search, you can make a plan to deal with it.

Graduate students stand with their mentor during the doctoral hooding.

What is a Mentor? Reflections on the Mentor-Mentee Relationship in Graduate School

Sep 29, 2023 9:15 am

Claire Baytas (PhD, ’23; comparative literature) reflects on lessons she learned about the mentoring process during her time in graduate school: from thinking about the nature of a mentor in the context of grad school to busting the myth of the "super mentor."

Meet the 2023 - 2024 SAGE Board Members

Aug 21, 2023 8:15 am

SAGE is a graduate student advisory board and leadership opportunity fostering active engagement with Illinois Graduate College programs and initiatives.

Creating Connections with Advice from the Surgeon General

Jul 20, 2023 1:15 pm

Andrea Bridges shares tips for fostering connection in our lives.

These Are Some of Illinois Graduate Students' Favorite Podcasts

Jul 19, 2023 8:45 am

We asked Illinois graduate students for their favorite podcasts. Here are some of their favorites!

GYSS attendees stand beside an outdoor installation.

Illinois Graduate Students Share Experiences from the Global Young Scientists Summit

May 19, 2023 2:00 pm

Ten graduate students from the University of Illinois traveled to Singapore for the Global Young Scientists Summit. We chatted with them about their experiences—and why others should consider attending.

A mind map graphic. The graphic reads: Mind Mapping: How it can help you, how to use it as a prewriting tool, and how to get started.

Mind Mapping as a Prewriting Strategy

Apr 25, 2023 9:45 am

Starting a writing project can be stressful, but developing prewriting strategies can help us be creative, build momentum, and get the most out of writing sessions. John Moist shares strategies for using mind maps as a prewriting tool.

How to be Ambitious Without Getting Trapped by Perfectionism

Mar 17, 2023 1:00 pm

"Giving up perfectionism does not mean giving up ambitious goals. It means reframing our approach to ambitious goals so that we meet them without experiencing burnout."

Fellowship Creates Space for Community-Centered Work

Feb 13, 2023 2:00 pm

Career exploration is time-consuming. For Heather Ennis, this period of discernment has been a slow, necessary evolution—one that has provided an opportunity for self-reflection about her graduate education in the humanities.

Toyosi Tejumade-Morgan, photographed against a black background.

HRI Interseminars Spotlight: Toyosi Tejumade-Morgan

Nov 9, 2022 8:00 am

Toyosi Tejumade-Morgan (Theatre) shares her experiences as a member of the 2022–2023 graduate cohort for “Imagining Otherwise: Speculation in the Americas,” the inaugural Interseminars initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation.

Development is a Dance: Tips for a Non-Linear Journey

Jun 1, 2022 8:30 am

"A baseball scout once told me, 'Development is a dance.' He was talking about how young baseball players don’t improve on a linear path. Some take steps forward and then back, or laterally, before figuring it out."

Thesis Summer Reading List

May 16, 2022 11:30 am

A few years ago, we asked campus experts to recommend books for students who are working on their theses. In this year’s installment, their recommendations include books with writing tips, career exploration strategies, and stories to help you escape work to find balance. Here are their suggestions!

Ethnography: Anthropological Research on Queer Pentecostalism in Brazil

Jan 26, 2022 4:30 am

"I think of anthropological method as the art of being in relation with others, and ethnographic description as the art of writing those relations. It’s a difficult art, stepping into other people’s lives and describing the relations you think you see."

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