Learning, Leading, and Teaching
This fall semester has been a whirlwind of a journey filled with transformative life, academic, and leadership experiences.
Stepping into Systems Biology
From the moment I joined my lab and identified the key concepts I needed to grasp, I’ve been on a quest to immerse myself in systems biology. Unfortunately, my university and program do not offer a course that closely matches these concepts, which is common in a rapidly evolving field like ours. The EMBL-EBI’s Systems Biology Course was at the very top of my wish list, but life circumstances prevented me from applying in 2022. This year, though initially waitlisted, I seized the opportunity to attend after a spot opened up!
I plan to delve deeper into the course in a follow-up blog post, but for now, I want to share a glimpse of this incredible experience. Training at EMBL-EBI, an institution at the forefront of bioinformatics resources that are pivotal to my research, was a dream come true. The commitment of their team to fostering training and collaboration was genuinely inspiring. Additionally, I had the privilege of meeting an extraordinary group of students, postdocs, and staff scientists, all participants in the course. This experience was also my first visit to Europe and the United Kingdom, and Cambridge and London blew me away. The cuisine, art, and music deeply enriched the workshop experience (and the extra three days I spent exploring). It confirmed that I need to live in a big city.
My First Thesis Committee Meeting
I’ve been preparing and, in some instances, dreading my first thesis committee meeting (a meeting of a committee of doctoral professors who guide you along your journal as a student). After spending my first 2.5 years of graduate school as a caregiver, I felt incredibly behind on my project. I don’t regret my decision to take care of my mother, but I often questioned whether I should have remained in graduate school. Despite those thoughts of inadequacy, I pushed hard starting around the Spring of 2023 to advance my project (along with some side projects)
According to my mentor, my meeting went well (I believe I could have done better). It marks a significant first step for me along this journey, and it’s a first step I wasn’t sure I’d reach. I’m excited to tackle my project, especially knowing how supportive my committee members are of my goals. I now know how to better prepare for my 2nd committee meeting, and I can’t wait until I plan it.
Helping Coordinate & Teaching a Workshop
Shortly after participating in the workshop in the United Kingdom, I underwent a two-day Carpentries Instructor training, generously supported by my lab and the U-BDS core at UAB. This training was aimed at equipping me to teach during more workshops on campus. Following my committee meeting, I facilitated a two-day workshop on Shell, Git, and R programming.
Despite never seriously contemplating a career in academia as a full- or part-time professor, this experience has led me to reconsider. While many aspects of academia do not appeal to me, I’ve discovered a genuine enjoyment in teaching and interacting with students. This revelation aligns with my family’s history of educators across various fields, so it shouldn’t surprise me.
The highlight of leading the workshop was seeing students gain confidence in their programming skills and in tackling questions. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to teach in this context.
My Role as GSG President
The other role I played in the fall semester was as Graduate Student Government President. I never anticipated taking on this responsibility when I started graduate school. I wanted to focus more on my personal growth. However, I was inspired to be a vocal leader for students, especially after how much the COVID-19 pandemic impacted graduate students.
There have been many challenges but far more successes this semester. Most notably, our executive board has achieved multiple goals, including implementing new funding processes for student organizations and our professional development awards while developing stronger relationships with university administrators and staff to facilitate more student support.
One of my favorite events was our Thanksgiving Grocery Giveaway. It’s an idea that we previously saw executed by the GSG at the University of Cincinnati. We were able to get the Graduate School to contribute $1000 which matched our contribution. Ultimately, we gave away groceries to over 60 graduate students, and we’re hopeful that it made a meaningful difference for them.
Lastly, I feel fortunate to be the 4th straight Black woman to serve as GSG President. The success of Sade, Jazmine, and Autumn has propelled me to be my best. You can read a bit more about that in this UAB Magazine article.
Conclusion
This fall semester has been an incredible period of growth for me, offering a deep dive into systems biology, meaningful academic milestones, and impactful leadership/teaching roles. From my enlightening experience at the EMBL-EBI Systems Biology Course to navigating the complexities of my first thesis committee meeting and embracing the joys and challenges of teaching and leading the Graduate Student Government, each step has been pivotal. Hopefully, I will remain inspired by the progress I’ve made and be able to continue making a tangible difference in the lives of fellow students and growing as an individual.
Shaurita D. Hutchins
Graduate Student Trainee