First month of PhD, what is it like?

8/31/2024

Eli Gacasan

First Two Weeks

The first two weeks of my PhD journey have been a fantastic start, filled with exciting opportunities and new connections.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting other graduate students and participating in orientation activities organized by both the University and the Department of Statistics. Getting settled in housing and completing employment verification were also smooth processes.

The university’s orientation sessions were particularly rewarding, allowing me to connect with international students from diverse backgrounds. One of the key highlights was my initial meeting with my temporary advisor, who has been incredibly supportive and encouraging. Although I haven’t selected a permanent advisor yet, this initial guidance has been invaluable. He advised me to:

1. —Explore the Coyne Scholarship—an exciting opportunity that could open new doors for my research.
2. —Engage with the department’s professors to learn about their fascinating research, with a goal to summarize their work by the end of the semester.
3. —Start planning for next summer—an exciting prospect that allows me to think ahead and explore new opportunities.

Before I had started my PhD, I had emailed several graduate students, asking what they thought of the department, how things generally worked, and even though I was a stranger they have all been super accomodating.

Second Two Weeks

The second half of the month has been both challenging and rewarding as I embarked on my first teaching experience. While there’s a learning curve, I’m excited about the progress I’m making. Some students are excelling, while others need a bit more support, and I’m committed to ensuring that everyone can succeed. It’s been rewarding to see the students engage with the material, and I’m confident that I’ll continue to improve as a teacher.

Balancing teaching with coursework has been busy but fulfilling. I’m working on assignments for a PhD-level course in linear model theory and a master’s level course in mathematical statistics. I also had the chance to discuss the Coyne Scholarship with a fellow graduate student who successfully applied last year. His project, which involved applying a novel Bayesian behavioral and disease network model to publicly available data, earned him around $5,000 in funding for the summer.

To support my students, I created a homework review in the form of a recorded lecture on YouTube. Although their initial results didn’t meet my high expectations, I’m confident that with these additional resources, they’ll achieve great results moving forward.

I’m also excited about the potential project for the Coyne Scholarship. I’m considering building on my undergraduate capstone project, where I used Ukraine conflict data to create an R-Shiny dashboard visualizing the spatio-temporal dynamics of the war. For this proposal, I’m thinking about developing an even more advanced dashboard using JavaScript or ArcGIS Online, incorporating cutting-edge statistical methods like those used in spatial econometrics. It’s an exciting opportunity to push the boundaries of my research and apply what I’ve learned in new and innovative ways.

Pay and Scholarships

I’m thrilled to share that the department has awarded me a $5,000 scholarship, while also covering my tuition and providing a stipend of $2,500 per semester. Additionally, my 9-month teaching assistantship offers a generous stipend of around $20,000, with the possibility of applying for a summer assistantship. Although my first paycheck isn’t until September 13, I’m eagerly looking forward to it and feel well-supported by the department.

Friends and Personal Life

Socially, things are going well. I’ve been able to connect with many people, and while I’m not sure if I’ll make lifelong friends here, I’m open to the possibility. I’ve always valued the close friendships I made in middle school and during my undergraduate years, and I’m grateful for those relationships. However, I’m also excited about the new connections I’m making during this PhD journey.

Meeting my girlfriend has had a transformative effect on my social life. She’s given me a newfound confidence, and I’m more comfortable in my own skin than ever. Knowing that I have someone who supports me - despite my mistakes, and helps keep me keep improving - has been incredibly freeing, and I’m now engaging with people—students, fellow PhD candidates, and professors—with a positivity and enthusiasm that’s new for me.

I’m also exploring new interests and activities, like joining St. Isidore’s Church here in town and improving my Spanish. It feels like the beginning of a rewarding and fulfilling journey, both academically and personally.