Happy New Year to the student and adviser.
First year students who started a year plus ago now have a semester under their belt. You probably took two to three courses and tried to figure out the differences between undergrad and graduate school. Hopefully your adviser started your research trajectory by providing some key journal papers to read. The first semester is usually a period of adjustment and most advisers do not except a whole lot of research productivity. Notice I used the words usually and most and not always and all. Some advisers are different in their expectations. You may have attended team meetings where other students in the group presented research results.
For those in the second semester the research portion of your life will and should intensify. This means you need to be making a different transition, one from focusing on courses alone with courses plus research. For those of you on research assistantships, remember that your adviser is depending on you to generate results and analysis from your research that will translate into peer reviewed papers. This is a major deliverable or a metric for your adviser. The funding agency needs to see progress in terms of research progress in quantifiable metrics – papers! As a student in the first year moving towards a stronger research portfolio do not shy away from learning the tools of the trade, whether it is computer programming, laboratory skills, statistics, specialized software, or whatever is needed, now is the time to get going!
As advisers learn to be patient with your student’s progress. Recognize the strengths and weaknesses of your student. Spend quality time with your student on a consistent basis teaching them the skills necessary for them to succeed in the long run. Do not concentrate only on short term gains since it will hurt the students’ progress in the long run.
Whether you are a student or an adviser you need to set goals.
As a student, depending upon the stage of your graduate career set appropriate goals. Otherwise things never get done. For example, if you are a student who has been hesitant to set a schedule for your qualifying exam and if it long overdue, this is the year you must resolve to complete this exam. Whatever these goals are, you need to write it down, communicate it clearly with your adviser and finish that goal. Here are some goals that you need to be thinking about:
- Of course, on top of the list is ‘Write a journal paper’. This will help you focus your research and experience success.
- Attend a conference to present a paper and create networking opportunities.
- Take the qualifying exam. Evaluate where you are in your graduate career and set appropriate deadlines and complete the exam successfully.
- Improve you skills in programming.
- Take a course in Advanced Statistics. This is useful for all STEM disciplines.
- Give a seminar to improve communication skills.
- If you are a senior PhD student ask your advise if you can teach a few weeks of a course. There s nothing that helps solidify research material like teaching.
- Develop advanced laboratory skills.
Have a productive fun-filled New Year!
About Sundar Christopher
Dr. Sundar A. Christopher is an esteemed professor in the department of Atmospheric and Earth Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held various leadership positions, including serving as the Associate Director of the Earth System Science Center (2007-2014), Chairman of the Department of Atmospheric Science (2010-2014), and Dean of the College of Science (2014-2019). Currently, he serves as the co-director for the Laboratory of Applied Sciences.
With a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from Colorado State University, Dr. Christopher also holds a Master's degree in Meteorology from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, as well as a Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Dr. Christopher's research interests lie in the field of satellite remote sensing of clouds and aerosols, with a focus on their impact on air quality, environment, health, and global and regional climate. He extensively works with diverse satellite data sets from polar orbiting and geostationary satellites, ground-based instruments, and aircraft data to gain insights into the complex earth-atmosphere system.
Passionate about teaching, Dr. Christopher has actively contributed to the design and development of undergraduate and graduate level courses, placing particular emphasis on hands-on training using satellite data. Additionally, he has designed a professional development course for graduate students. His book, "Navigating Graduate School and Beyond: A Career Guide for Graduate Students and a Must-Read for Every Adviser," is widely regarded as an essential resource for training graduate students. Furthermore, his book "Navigating Tenure and Beyond" serves as a valuable mentorship tool for early career faculty.
Dr. Christopher's impactful contributions extend beyond academia, as evidenced by his publication of over 125 peer-reviewed papers in esteemed national and international journals. He has been invited to speak at major scientific conferences worldwide, highlighting the recognition of his expertise. Furthermore, his exceptional leadership has secured several million dollars in grants and contracts from prestigious organizations such as NASA, NOAA, and other federal agencies, supporting his extensive research on earth-atmosphere processes.
As a transformative leader, Dr. Christopher has excelled in navigating complex organizational roles, spearheading strategic initiatives, and successfully implementing them within evolving academic environments. He is highly regarded as an effective mentor, providing guidance and support to students, faculty, and staff, while fostering career development within an inclusive and collaborative framework. Known for his methodical and efficient approach, Dr. Christopher's problem-solving skills have been applied not only in technical realms but also in his administrative roles. He has demonstrated exceptional business acumen by skillfully managing budgets and information resources.
Dr. Christopher's expertise has been sought after on numerous occasions, leading to invitations to speak at esteemed venues such as the World Federation of Scientists (Erice, Sicily), the United Nations Symposium (Graz, Austria), the American Association for Aerosol Research, the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS), and the American Geophysical Union, among others. He has also been invited to share his insights at various national and international universities, including the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Purdue University; Texas A&M; University of Nebraska; University of Wisconsin; Goddard Space Flight Center; Colorado State University, and more.
Dr. Christopher's exceptional contributions have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the University Award for Research and Creative Achievement in 2006 and the NASA New Investigator Award. His expertise is further acknowledged through his involvement as an expert reviewer for the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP).
In addition, Dr. Christopher proudly holds the citizenship of the United States of America.
Navigating Graduate School and Beyond 