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Twenty-five UAMS Graduate School students from seven programs received white lab coats Sept. 16, signaling their readiness to begin doctoral research.
Image by Linda Haymes
Research Induction Ceremony Launches Graduate Students’ Path to Ph.D.
| Twenty-five UAMS Graduate School students from seven programs received white lab coats Sept. 16, signaling their readiness to begin doctoral research.
The donning of new research coats embroidered with their name to celebrate their pursuit of doctoral degrees may seem like a transformative moment happening in an instant. In reality, a lot of work took place prior to the ceremony and much more remains ahead.
Graduate School Dean Robert McGehee Jr., Ph.D., addressing the students, along with their relatives and friends gathered to support them, underscored the team effort it requires.
“Every program has a director who works in concert with all the other graduate school faculty and office to help these students get started in school, figure out what courses they need to take, and when they should register,” McGehee said.
Robert McGehee, Jr., Ph.D., addresses the students, their instructors, relatives and friends during the annual research induction ceremony.
The students usually stay with those program directors for the first three to four semesters and once their intensive coursework is complete, they are ready to embark on the dissertation phase by taking their Ph.D. candidacy exam, referred to as the oral exam.
Once passing the oral exam, students work with a mentor and on their research projects to work toward graduation.
“That day is a major milestone,” McGehee said, adding that at UAMS graduation is just shy of less than five years, about six months less than the national average.
“A big part of that is because we have a remarkable faculty,” McGehee said. “They want to pay it forward and do so through their students, ushering them through the completion of the dissertation,” he said.
The research induction ceremony, held each fall for the last 10 years, recognizes the students who have passed their candidacy exams since the last ceremony.
Ph.D. candidates Visanu Wanchai of Biomedical Informatics and Skylar A. Conner of Bioinformatics show off their research coats before donning them.
“They are about to become the leading experts in the world on whatever topic it is they’ve been working on under the direction of their major advisors.”
When done correctly, the relationship between the students and mentors is an incredible bond that often lasts a lifetime, McGehee said.
“These advisors usher them through amazing good times, hard times and stressful times. You cry together, you laugh together. I don’t really know how to liken it to anything else.”
The 2019 Ph.D. candidates concluded the ceremony by reciting the Affirmation of Scientists.
After the students put on their coats, they recited the affirmation of scientists, which reminds students to consider the honor, integrity and professionalism involved in research as well as the public trust that should not be violated.
“This is a milestone the students will never ever forget,” McGehee said.