GSC
GUSHTerm Party
GSC Teaching and Mentoring Award Nominations
News
Health care letterMoore-Hufstedler Funds
Housing Lottery
Athenaeum
Events
Caltech Library System presentsCaltech Public Events
Caltech Women's Center
Clippers Game
GAYpril
PhD/Postdoc Career Seminar Series
Science for Social Impact Forum
Social Activism Speaker Series
Clubs
Amnesty InternationalFloorball
Salsa
Cultural
restaurant reviewefoodi
Articles
New Lab, New LifeSaftey Notice- West Nile Virus FAQ
GSC
GUSH
Term Party
GSC Teaching and Mentoring Award Nominations
Have you had a TA, professor, or advisor of exceptional quality than nominate him or her for a GSC Teaching or Mentoring Award. Nominate. Please encourage your graduate student classmates or labmates to nominate the individual(s) who deserve to be recognized.
For group nominations, each person should still submit a nomination form.
All nominations are due by May 15 but don't wait...nominate now! Nominations will be accepted through the school year and awards will be selected by late May.
News
Health care letter
April 16, 2007Dear graduate student:
Over the last several years, Caltech has been working to reduce a deficit in its general budget. Cutbacks have been made that have affected most parts of the Institute, and this past year student health insurance has been examined for potential savings. The health plan provided to Caltech students has been designed to limit out-of-pocket expenses by way of its modest deductible and using neither copays (a fixed amount paid for a doctor's visit) nor coinsurance (a fixed percentage of the cost of every hospital visit and laboratory procedure) for in-network care. The health insurance premium has been fully covered in a graduate student's aid package, even though the premium cost has risen by 62% since 2001/02. Next year the cost of the premium will increase further to $1857 per student.
Recently, Caltech's Health Committee met and discussed two proposals to reduce the cost to the Institute from student health insurance. The first proposal was to increase the deductible and add copays and coinsurance in order to lower the cost of the premium. While the Institute would still fully cover this reduced premium, higher out-of-pocket costs would be experienced by a student receiving medical treatment because of the higher deductible and added copays and coinsurance. The second proposal was to keep essentially the current health plan, but have the graduate students pay a part of the premium cost. As worked out in the Health Committee, the graduate student contribution would be $150 next academic year (2007/08) and $300 the following year (2008/09). In return, the current plan would be retained without significant change over this time period. Neither of these proposals would affect the operation of Caltech's Health and Counseling Center, which will continue to be free for all students.
Numerous discussions have been held with the Graduate Student Council about the student health insurance issue, and its members overwhelmingly favor the second proposal. Their main concern about the first proposal owes to the potentially higher out-of-pocket costs, which could be significant for 10% or more of the graduate student population in a given year. The Council felt that a modest contribution from all graduate students that enabled the plan with lower treatment costs to be retained was the better solution.
A decision has now been made to select the second proposal with its two-year commitment, as well as to retain Chickering as the provider. Beyond this two-year period, the situation may have to be reassessed depending on how fast insurance costs continue to rise. However, you can be sure that the views of the graduate students will continue to weigh heavily in the process.
Graduate students should not feel singled out about having to cover a part of their own premium. All faculty and staff at the Institute also contribute in this way. Depending on the plan selected, their annual individual contribution presently ranges from a minimum of $528 per year to $2328 per year. This is true even for the lowest paid staff. For undergraduate students, next year's freshmen and sophomores will be responsible for the full premium, although it may be covered by financial aid depending on a student's need. By 2009, this arrangement extends to all undergraduates.
Beginning in the fall, all graduate students will be charged their premium contribution through their Bursar accounts. This charge will be spread throughout the year and will total $150. The actual distribution of charges still has to be worked out. The total contribution will rise to $300 for 2008/09.
At this time, no changes are being made in the present system where a graduate student is responsible for purchasing insurance for a spouse or children. The Graduate Office will continue to offer a supplement to these students, which for the current year is a maximum of $75/month for each graduate student purchasing such insurance.
Please let us know if you have questions.
Sincerely,
John F. Hall
Professor of Civil Engineering
Acting Vice President of Student Affairs
Phillip T. Hoffman
Rosenberg Professor of History and Social Science
Chair of the Health Committee
Moore-Hufstedler Funds Deadline
Next Proposal Deadline is Friday, April 27, 2007 at 5pm
As a reminder, proposals to the Moore-Hufstedler Funds for enhanced student life at Caltech are due on FRIDAY, APRIL 27 at 5:00 p.m. This is the time to apply if you wish to receive funding for summer 2007. Late proposals will not be accepted.
More information on web or
contact
Housing Lottery
It's Housing Lottery Time again!
The 2007-2008 lottery process is now in full swing. By now all graduate students should have received an email announcing the lottery process and how to apply online. Apply. The deadline for the lottery application is 5pm, Tuesday, May 1. Please see full Lottery Rules for further information.
Once all lottery applications and new graduate student applications are in, the Housing Office figures out the guaranteed cutoff number for returning graduate students. These students will be guaranteed a housing space during the 2007-2008 academic year. The Housing Office usually anticipates approximately 20 cancellations each year and over-compensates for this number in the guaranteed cutoff. Therefore, 20 spaces are already guaranteed to applicants who would have been on the wait list. We do this in order to house as many people as possible, sooner than the end of the cancellation period.
Each year approximately 100-150 applicants do not make the guaranteed lottery cut-off. We understand this is frustrating to grad students, who might be just five spaces down on the wait list. Unfortunately, we cannot predict when or how many applicants will cancel their reservations. In order to alleviate some of this frustration, the Housing Office will be updating the lottery results website daily in order to announce further cancellations and further movement on the wait list. Please check the website to check where you are on the wait list. However, unless you receive an official phone call or email from the Housing Office offering you a space, you are still not guaranteed a space. The 2006-2007 graduate housing contracts terminate at noon on Tuesday, July 31. Therefore, if you are currently in Caltech housing in a lottery space, and have not been guaranteed an assignment for fall 2007, you must make alternate housing arrangements, and vacate your room on or before Tuesday, July 31. There will be no extensions or exceptions to this date.
Please contact the Housing Office for any questions you may have regarding the process. Center for Student Services, 1st floor, building 86 on the campus map. Phone x6176.
Thank you for your continued support of Caltech Housing and best of luck in the lottery!
Important Dates
| May 1st by 5pm | Deadline to submit 2007-08 graduate housing lottery applications to the Housing Office |
| May 11th by 5pm | Housing Office will post lottery results and guaranteed housing cut-off number |
| May 14th - June 30th | Notify Housing Office if vacating during the summer (Intent to Vacate Form) |
| May 16th | Appointments with Housing Office to choose alternate or new assignment |
| May 31st | 2007-2008 contracts due to the Housing Office, otherwise fall reservation will be forfeited |
| May 1st - July 31st | No cancellation fee for current 2006-07 housing contract |
| June 30th | Last day to cancel 2007-08 housing reservation without penalty |
| July 1st ÐAug 31st | There will be a $150.00 fee to cancel 2007-08 housing reservation |
| July 31st | End of 2006-07 housing contract. Last day for residents without 2007-08 housing assignments to vacate housing |
| July 31st - Aug 4th | Move period for residents with new housing assignments |
| September 1st | Start of 2007-08 housing contract. All residents will be charged for housing starting on September 1, regardless of actual check-in date |
| After September 1st | If Resident terminates his/her contract with fifteen (15) days written notice to Housing Office without cause or for any cause other than a permissible cause as set forth in the grad contract, there is a fee of $300.00. If Resident terminates his/her contract with less than fifteen (15) days written notice to Housing Office without cause or for any cause other than a permissible cause as set forth in the grad contract, there is a fee of $500.00. |
Athenaeum
Spring Is Here!
Spring is in the air and the wisteria is in full bloom at The Athenaeum, We are excited about the fun events, activities, and menus that we have on tap. Our new lunch menu begins April 17 with new salads, sandwiches, and hot entrees. The Express Lunch Buffet continues to be a hit for a fast, delicious lunch. You can enjoy soup, salad bar, hot buffet, and carvery for a mere $10.95.
The Athenaeum is a great place to meet friends, entertain guests, and have a romantic evening with that special someone. Our Main Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday. The Rathskeller is open for lunch from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Monday through Friday. The bar and game room are open from 4:30 pm to 9pm, Monday through Thursday and 4:30 pm to 10pm on Friday. A special bar menu is available in the Rath each day from 5:30 pm to 9pm. The Rathskeller will close for lunch and dinner beginning Friday, May 18 for the summer and the Rath al Fresco will open on Monday, May 21 for casual dining on the lawn.
Athenaeum membership is available to faculty, visiting faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, alumni and all Caltech, JPL and Huntington Library benefit-based staff and employees. For membership information, call (626) 395-8206 and (626) 395-8282 for reservations. Visit our website for more information. Join us at The Athenaeum in April and May for the following special events:
| April & May | Prime Rib Buffet (all you can eat every Wednesday night) |
| April 21 | Chef's Cooking Class ~ Chocolate (Back by Popular Demand) |
| April 25 | Administrative Professional Day (complimentary Berries Athenaeum for all administrative professionals coming to lunch) |
| April 25 | Sake Dinner (featuring premium Japanese Sake) |
| May 4 | Cinco de Mayo in the Rathskeller |
| May 7 | International Night (featuring Peruvian cuisine) |
| May 9 | Mother's Day Afternoon Tea (treat your Mom, or wife, to a special pre-Mother's Day treat) |
| May 13 | Mother's Day Brunch (bring the entire family) |
| May 16 | Wine & Spirits Tasting (featuring Tequila) |
| May 19 | Chef's Cooking Class ~ Seafood |
| May 21 | Rath al Fresco (Opening Night) |
| May 21 | International Night (featuring Great Britain cuisine) |
| May 31 | Wine Cellar Dinner |
Events
Caltech Library System presents
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Tuesday, April 17, 12:00-1:30 pm
Sherman Fairchild Library, Multimedia Conference Room 328
Are you working on your thesis? Did you know that both paper and
electronic copies of theses must be submitted? Are you aware of the
formatting requirements for theses? You are encouraged to attend a brief
overview of techniques useful in the production and publication of
Caltech electronic theses. The session will include tips on: format
guidance, Intellectual Property considerations, submitting a thesis and
availability issues (who can see it and when).
Register
Web of Knowledge
Thursday, April 19, 2:00-3:30 pm
Sherman Fairchild Library, Multimedia Conference Room 328
This session will teach strategies for searching scholarly literature to
discover the influence and impact of journal articles, linking to
full-text articles, exporting records directly into EndNote or the new
Web EndNote, and personalizing searches and citation alerts.
Register
Life Sciences Information Resources
Thursday, May 3,2:00-3:30 pm
Sherman Fairchild Library, Multimedia Conference Room 328
Covers various bibliographic databases to consider for interdisciplinary
information retrieval related to life sciences, as well as options for
automatically updating yourself on new literature on your topic, use of
subheadings in PubMed/Medline, and other database functions and
features.
Register
Lexis/Nexis Academic: A Universe of Social Science Information Resources
Thursday, May 10, 2:00-3:30 pm
Sherman Fairchild Library, Multimedia Conference Room 328
The academic version of Lexis/Nexis offers a wealth of social science
resources with powerful statistical, congressional, legal, business and
full text newspaper databases. The class will survey these features with
a special focus on statistical and congressional resources. We'll show
you how to:
Find and create tables from government statistical reports.
Retrieve Congressional records.
Find federal laws and regulations.
Find full text newspaper articles and radio & television transcripts.
Register
Caltech Public Events
Thursday, April 19Christopher Carter, Mentalist, Ramo Auditorium. 8 pm Mentalist Christopher Carter will be present: "Theater of Thoughts" in the Voices of Vision event. Admission: free. Call campus extension 4652 for information.
Saturday, April 21
Umbilical Brothers In "Speedmouse," Beckman Auditorium. 8 pm A
two-person physical comedy team combines comic imagination, physical
skill, and vocal ingenuity. Caltech Students: $5.00. Call campus
extension 4652 for information.
Sunday, April 22
Daniel Montenegro, Tenor, And Victoria Kirsch, Piano, Dabney Lounge.
3:30 pm This concert will feature a program of opera, zarzuela,
operetta, and songs. This is a Lagerstrom Chamber Music Concert.
Admission: free. Call campus extension 4652 for information.
Sunday, April 22
"Christmas In July," Ramo Auditorium. 3:30 pm This film is part of
the Frank Capra Film Series, featuring the art of Preston Sturges.
Admission: free. Call campus extension 4652 for information.
Wednesday, April 25
"Cassini-Huygens At Saturn: Discovery Of New Worlds, Some Familiar And
Some Alien," Beckman Auditorium. 8 pm Dennis Matson, Cassini Project
scientist and senior research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
will give this Earnest C. Watson Lecture. Admission: free.
Friday, April 27
Mythili Prakash And Samputu & Ingeli, Beckman Auditorium. 8 pm Two
performances in one evening. Prakash performs the ancient Indian
classical dance form of Bharata Natyam. Samputu and Ingeli present a mix
of songs, instruments, and dances of Rwanda. Caltech Students: $5.00.
Call campus extension 4652 for information.
Sunday, April 29
Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition Winners Concert, Ramo Auditorium.
3:30 pm Winners of the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition will
perform. Caltech Students: $5.00. Call campus extension 4652 for
information.
Friday, May 4
Saturday, May 5
Sunday, May 6
Capitol Steps, Beckman Auditorium. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday
at 3:30 pm This troupe of former Congressional staffers perform song
parodies poking fun at politicians and other newsmakers. Caltech
Students: $5.00. Call campus extension 4652 for information.
Wednesday, May 9
"Brain Plasticity During Learning And Memory," Beckman Auditorium. 8
pm Dr. Erin Schuman, professor of biology at Caltech, will give this
Earnest C. Watson Lecture. Admission: free. Call campus extension 4652
for information.
Saturday, May 12
Michel Lauziere, Beckman Auditorium. 2 pm Lauziere is a visual
humorist, acrobat, inventor, fantasy artist, and musician. Caltech
Students: $5 (unreserved seating). Call campus extension 4652 for
information.
Caltech Women's Center
Pickles, Inc.Thursday, April 19, 12-1pm
2nd floor, common space, Center for Student Services
As the global economy grows, so do small, local women's run cooperatives. Pickles, Inc. tells the journey of eight Arab-Israeli widows trying to achieve financial independence and greater social freedom by starting their own pickle factory.
Chicano!
Thursday, May 3, 10, 17, & 24, 12-1pm
Caltech Y Lounge
Spanning the years 1965-1975, this four-part series explores the saga of Mexican-American social activism. Combining archival footage and current interviews, the series charts the struggles of Mexican Americans to reclaim the name Chicano and fashion it into a term of pride and self-determination.
S/he's Perfect, but.....w/ Dr. Linda Krippner
Wednesday, May 9, 12-1pm
Common space, 2nd floor of the Center for Student Services
One of the most challenging things in a new relationship is to sort out the endearing quirks from the absolute "deal-breakers," and to decide what to do when you and your partner run into such roadblocks. This discussion will explore issues of communication, codependency, and how to gain perspective when you find yourself thinking, "life would be perfect if only I could get my partner toÉ!" Dr. Linda Krippner
RSVP required.
Clippers Game
GAYpril
PhD/Postdoc Career Seminar Series
The PhD/Postdoc Career Seminar Series, which will lead up to the 9th Annual PhD/Postdoc Career Conference, has a unique blend of instruction, panel discussion, and open forum that will address specific material construction and skills for professional development. Depending on the seminar, the panels will comprise of academic faculty members, industry professionals and/or Caltech Alumni who will provide professional experience and objective advice regarding the development of career materials and skills. In addition, attendees may ask questions for the panelists to address during an open forum.Please save the following dates:
Resume vs. CV
May 22, Noon - 1:30 pm @ Winnett Lounge
If you would like to volunteer your Resume and/or CV for review by our panelists, please send a word attachment to career@caltech.edu by Friday, May 11th and state the field in which you plan to apply to.
*Important: We respect your confidentiality and ask that you please remove any personal information from your resume and/or CV before submitting it. Additionally, due to strong interest, submission does not guarantee review.
Networking/Social Etiquette
June 26, Noon - 2pm @ Winnett Lounge
Academic Interviewing
July 31, Noon - 1:30 pm @ Winnett Lounge
Industry Interviewing
August 28, Noon - 1:30 pm @ Winnett Lounge
Science for Social Impact Forum
Engineers for a Sustainable World, in partnership with the Career Development Center and Alumni Association, will host the 2007 Science for Social Impact Forum on Friday, May 18, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm in 119 Kerckhoff. All members of the Caltech community are invited to learn about how scientists can apply their skills to issues of pressing social concern. The Forum will feature a keynote address by Dr. Carol Carmichael, an alumni panel, and a networking reception. For more information, visit http://esw.caltech.edu/SSIF.htm or contact Alan Kwan at kwan@caltech.edu .Social Activism Speaker Series
The Caltech Y Social Activism Speaker Series presents the SPRING 2007 Calendar http://sass.caltech.edu
Wednesday, April 18 at 7:30 pm
A film screening of "Invisible Children"
Ramo Auditorium, Caltech
Come and discover the unseen. When three young Americans left in search
of a story that could change the world, what they found was a tragedy
that disgusted and inspired them. To see Africa through young eyes is
funny, heart-breaking, quick, and informative - all in the same breath.
See this film and be forever changed.
Tuesday, May 8 at 8pm
KEVIN SITES
Award-winning solo journalist
& Yahoo! Hot Zone news correspondent
"Media Coverage in Time of Much Doubt"
Ramo Auditorium, Caltech
*Winner of the 2004 Payne Award for ethics in journalism for his work in
**Iraq** and the 2006 *Daniel Pearl Award for courage and integrity in
journalism, Sites is a pioneer of solo journalism in the battlefield,
working completely alone, traveling, and reporting without a crew. As
one of the world's most respected war correspondents, Sites has spent
the past five years covering global war and disaster for several
national networks. He now works as the lead news correspondent for
Yahoo! Hot Zone which aims to cover every major global conflict -- many
of which are typically left uncovered or under-reported by mainstream
news organizations, and to bring these important stories to Yahoo!'s
global audience of nearly 400 million users.
Tuesday, May 22 at 7:30 pm
REAGAN DEMAS
Director of Operations, Africa
International Justice Mission
"Seek Justice, Rescue the Oppressed"
Beckman Institute Auditorium
Reagan Demas serves as the Director of Operations in Africa for
International Justice Mission, an international human rights agency that
rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery, oppression,
and other injustices. Based on referrals from relief and development
agencies around the world, IJM conducts professional investigations of
abuses and mobilizes intervention on behalf of the victims. Demas work
in Africa supports the enforcement of an array of national laws and
international legal principles on the continent and has helped rescue
victims from a variety of injustices, including illegal detention,
unprosecuted sexual violence, abuse of children, police misconduct, and
land grabbing.
Clubs
Amnesty International
Amnesty International Group 22 will have the following events:
Sunday, Apr. 15, 6:30 pm
Human-rights book discussion group meets
at Vroman's Bookstore (695 E. Colorado Blvd in Pasadena), 2nd floor.
This month our book is "Tracks" by Louise Erdrich, a novel set in
early 20th-century North Dakota, when Indian tribes were struggling
to keep what little remained of their lands. Come and join the
discussion, even if you haven't read the book.
Thursday, Apr. 26, 7:30 pm
Monthly meeting in the CalTech Y (on San
Pasqual between Hill and Holliston, on the south side behind the two
curving walls). We will be discussing plans for the coming month.
Tuesday, May. 8, 7:30 pm
letter-writing in the Athenaeum. We will
meet in the Rathskeller in the basement. (Look for a table with the
Amnesty sign.) Join us for actions on human-rights violations around
the world, talk, and refreshments.
Floorball
Floorball is a lightweight, non-contact version of indoor hockey
played in tennis shoes. Pickup games are held in Brown gym. We'll be
playing from 10pm to midnight on Mondays in April and May. We're
always happy to get new players, and no experience is necessary. All
equipment is available to borrow. So come join us! There's a lot of
running, so dress comfortably. Questions? Email Andrew at
bandy@its.caltech.edu.
Salsa
Salsa rhythms, partner skills, Cuban ruedaÉ Salcita, the Caltech Salsa Club, offers weekly salsa classes for dancers of all levels. Our missionÉ to add spice to campus life! We invite you to share our passion for salsa and get ready to enjoy the dance and the music with us at clubs, parties, and live concerts.
Spring term classes are on Wednesday nights beginning April 4 (for 8 weeks) in Winnett Lounge:
7-8 pm Salsa Level I (Beginners) class
8-8:30 pm Free practice dancing
8:30-9:30 pm Salsa Level II (Intermediate) class
Caltech/JPL: $7/class; $25 for 5-class card. General Public: $10/class; $45 for 5-class card. Join our mailing list by e-mailing salsa@its.caltech.edu. For more information, photos, mini movies of Salsa steps, and other Salsa links, visit www.salcita.org
Cultural
restaurant review
Golden Deli815 W. Las Tunas Dr. (at Mission St.)
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 308-0803
$
M,T,Th 9:30 am - 9:00 pm
F 9:30 am - 10:00 pm
Sa 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
Su 9:00 am - 9:30 pm
Closed Wednesdays
Like every good restaurant, Golden Deli makes a strong first impression. Wade past the flock of would-be patrons waiting patiently outside during a typical weekend lunch rush, and that smell - of fragrant, slow-simmered, anise-infused savory beef broth - floats over the din of conversations in three or four different languages and the clink-clank of bussing tables, catching your attention just long enough to make you stay.
You have come for simple, unfussy Vietnamese food, and indeed, their daunting 100-plus item menu serves it up in spades. The regulars, though, stop at page one, where the source of that infectious aroma, beef noodle soup, can be found.
Pho, as it is known in Vietnamese, is traditionally eaten for breakfast, wherein thin cuts of raw beef and offal are placed over noodles and cooked instantaneously by the sudden addition of boiling ht beef stock. In North Vietnam, it is served with little more than a lime wedge and hot peppers, so the quality of the bowl rests entirely on the quality of the underlying stock. The South, however, has developed a different aesthetic after years of French influence that has followed its emigrants all the way to our little orner of California.
Fresh, steaming hot pho is like a blank canvas. The basics are all there - beef, rice noodles, scallions, onions, cilantro, and the all-important savory broth - but that is only the beginning. Fresh toppings come with the bowl, including thai basil, bean sprouts, jalapeno peppers, lime, and (gasp!) more cilantro, to complement the existing array of sauces (sriracha, hoisin, and fermented fish) at every table. But the bowl, au naturel, is already superb. Why change it?
To create, of course, to your heart's content. It is your bowl, after all, and yours alone: to flavor, to tinker with, and finally, to enjoy. Rip thai basil leaves into your bowl early on to release the essential oils and entice your senses; toss a dab or two of roasted chili oil to add some smoky heat; squeeze in a lime for some tang and life; each meal could be a wholly new composition, experiment, or test. And with each meal you learn a little more about what works for you.
This is, perhaps, what I love most about Golden Deli, and about pho in general: once you are seated, nothing gets in between you and your food. Waiters are there only to be a speedy liason between your table and the kitchen; once a bowl has arrived, the next ten to fifteen minutes are yours to savor.
Contemplate your next move. Try something new. Concentrate, for once, on just one thing. The instant your spoon is down and your chopsticks quiet, however, the restaurant does not hesitate to throw you back to the dogs of the real world to make room for the next customer. Yet it still appeals to the meticulous, the forlorn, the jovial, and the hung-over alike; we keep on coming back, lines, waits, brusque service and all.
Is it something about the soup? Or is it the whole experience? For me, it is difficult tell the two apart. Maybe it is, in the words of local food writer Jonathan Gold, "the best cha gio [fried spring rolls] in the observable universe."
efoodi
Food. Organized.
A couple of techers have been developing this new website all about food (recipes, restaurants, etc.) underpinned by a semantic search technology. efoodi helps collect and organize your knowledge of food.
Check out the efoodi beta version.
You may follow the 'Curious?' link to get a brief introduction to the site and its technology.
The goal is a new kind of food authority. The premise that efoodi is based on is that the collective food knowledge distributed among people at large is far more powerful than what's published by the traditional food authorities which prevail today. That's why they'd like your help to unleash this potential.
New Lab, New Life
Andreas DiMeo, M.A.The life of the graduate student, particularly here at Caltech, is frequently defined by one's professional development and achievements. For a variety of reasons, including difficulties with lab-mates, advisers, or research, some students come to the decision to switch into different labs, sometimes after years of working in a particular lab. Switching labs and/or advisors can create disharmony with respect to the identity of the graduate student and leave one feeling unsettled and uncertain about the past, present, and future.
This adjustment can be experienced in any number of ways. Some students may be excited or relieved, while others may become anxious and scared, while still others may be angry or resentful. Many feel a sense of loss, a detachment from what they have worked towards thus far as professional students. And some may also attribute a sense of failure, either that they have failed themselves, their advisors, co-workers, or families. Each individual brings his or her own blend of experience, feelings, and circumstance, and as a result, no two people feel exactly the same way about their transition. But it is important that graduate students enduring this transition, as well as those within their social context, understand the potential emotional complexity.
Adjusting to a new lab can be a different and disorienting experience. Students find themselves in an unfamiliar environment with a new set of co-workers in an already established lab. While creating their own niche, they attempt to develop a trusting relationship with their new advisor and adjust to a new and often very different brand of research. Furthermore, getting used to a new lab requires a student to be flexible in expectation of how things get done, including anything from frequency of deadlines to asking questions of advisors, to hours in the lab, to lab space, etc.
Communication may be one's best ally to cope with these changes. Many graduate students at Caltech may believe that it is not very useful to talk about the difficulties they encounter in research with family members or friends outside of the research context because they will not understand the content discussed. But this can have an unnecessarily isolating effect on the student. Sharing stress about research or the work environment does not presuppose that the listener have an answer or even understand the problem. Expressing fears, concerns, and frustrations to loved ones does not directly translate into asking for advice or assistance. Often the act of sharing brings its own healing capacity, as feeling listened to and understood often brings comfort and relief. Additionally, hearing one's self think out loud can bring about surprising perspective and clarity.
So who can you confide in? Friends and family are the clear first options. Sometimes you may feel more comfortable approaching a current or former lab mate. At times, perhaps a roommate, an advisor, or Caltech alum may be an appropriate contact. The point is to utilize somebody you are comfortable talking to. Moreover, if you do not know who that person would be, come to the Counseling Center and allow yourself the freedom to vent and be listened to by somebody not involved in your daily life.
It may also be helpful to pay more attention than usual to the little things in life that provide balance and happiness when in a state of extended confusion. These personal interests may include hobbies, social activities, exercise, or whatever else one does to bring happiness into his/her life. It may sound simple but many of these activities may quickly get swept under the rug during times of stress and change.
Hopefully, a transition to a new lab is welcomed and exciting. But it is important to consider the stress it may cause and to keep the lines of communication open with loved ones, family, friends, and mentors. To those embarking on this journey, remember that you are not alone and that your emotional and physical well-being are important components to a successful transition.
West Nile Virus FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)Note: The Los Angeles Times recently reported that a dead crow in Northridge, a mosquito pool in Rowland Heights, and a sentinal chicken tested positive for the west nile virus - these are the first confirmed cases in Los Angeles County for this year. Be informed and take precautions to protect yourself from the virus.
What is West Nile virus?
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease that is common in Africa, west Asia and the Middle East.
How does someone get West Nile virus?
People usually get WNV from the bite of an infected mosquito. There is also evidence that WNV can be acquired via a blood transfusion or organ transplant from an infected donor.
What are the symptoms and treatment?
Most people who are bitten by a mosquito with WNV will not get sick. People who do become ill may experience mild to moderate flu-like symptoms like fever, headache and body ache. It is estimated that less than 1% of the people who are infected with WNV become severely ill and require hospitalization. The elderly and immuno-compromised are particularly susceptible to illness caused by WNV.
How can you protect yourself?
How do I get more information on West Nile virus?
California West Nile Virus Surveillance Center |
Centers for Disease Control