Graduate education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
When Adalbert Gerald Soosai Raj came to UW–Madison for a master’s degree in Computer Sciences, he was surprised by the number of questions in the classroom. Why, he wondered, was it so different than his native India, where conversations were one-way and students rarely asked questions? The possibilities Soosai Raj is exploring to that end promise new directions for computer science education.
Niko Escanilla was drawn from his background in mathematics to graduate study in artificial intelligence and machine learning because he was looking for a discipline that could be applied in real world and clinical settings. As a graduate student in Computer Sciences, Escanilla had the chance to put those techniques to work as a research assistant on a UW2020-funded project, assessing variables that can predict the risk of breast cancer.
For many people, the place where they spent their childhood holds a special meaning. It’s certainly true for Hossein Panahi, who grew up in the Eagle Heights university housing community. Now a graduate student with a family of his own, Panahi is embracing that connection by living in Eagle Heights again.
Pao Vue’s interest in animals and nature began at a young age, eventually leading him to UW–Madison. As his career goals evolved – taking shape in environmental science and conservation – they set Vue on a journey that has made him one of the first Hmong Americans to receive a PhD in his field.
The Graduate School Annual Report 2017-2018 is now available online. Centered around the theme, “advancing knowledge through education and research”, the report outlines the accomplishments of the past year, while looking forward to the priorities that will define the future. “This has been a great year for improving the graduate student experience at UW–Madison,” said …
A new initiative at UW–Madison will take an innovative approach to scientific training for graduate students by providing opportunities to incorporate long-term community engagement projects into their scientific areas of interest. The Wisconsin Institute for Science Education and Community Engagement (WISCIENCE), part of the Collaborative for Advancing Learning and Teaching, has been awarded nearly $500,000 by the National Science Foundation’s Innovations in Graduate Education program.
The 2018-19 Student Research Grants Competition (SRGC) is open now for UW–Madison graduate students seeking financial support to present at a conference or to travel and conduct research. For the upcoming academic year, the Graduate School received a generous allocation from the Vilas Trust, one of the primary supporters of the SRGC competition, providing over $1 million in travel funding for graduate students. It’s the largest allocation the Vilas Trust has ever provided the Graduate School for travel awards.
Community outreach has always been a priority for graduate student Sam St. Clair. So, despite her busy summer – conducting research in her lab, writing a grant, and preparing for another year of grad school – once she saw a call for volunteers with Badger Volunteers, she jumped at the chance to join.
The Graduate School and Dean of Students Office are excited to announce a new shared position to support graduate students. Elaine Goetz-Berman is now serving as the Graduate Student Assistance Specialist, located in the Dean of Students Office. Her work will include providing graduate student support and assistance, acting as an advocate on behalf of graduate students, and providing outreach and assistance to the faculty and staff who support UW graduate students.
When Samuel Hansen started producing podcasts about mathematics and science, it was possible for a small, independent podcast like Hansen’s to rank in the country’s top 60 most popular shows. Now, the top charts are dominated by network-produced podcasts, a change that has taken place in the last 10 years alone – but not the last the world of podcasting will see. To preserve podcasts as they are now, and archive the changes within them, a project at UW–Madison is dedicated to making today’s podcasts available well into the future.