A work in progress…

“The Journey” - The Graduate Experience in the Fisheries Ecology Lab:

Graduate school is very much different from your undergraduate experience.  The goal of the undergraduate education is to obtain knowledge; while the goal of the graduate experience is to contribute to a field of knowledge. Graduate school is not necessarily about just “the degree,” it is really about the “Journey.”  Completing certain theses/research tasks, or jumping through required hoops (proposals, classes, etc.) is just a very small part of the graduate experience.  You/We are in this field because we really enjoy the work and doing ecology….  These other “requirements” (proposals, thesis, classes, etc.) are just details (a means to an end) that allow us to do what we enjoy for a career.  The good news is that if you are doing what you should as a graduate student, the degree just happens along the way.  That is “The Journey”…. the learning process as you become a scientist. 

The knowledge you acquire as a graduate student (in and out of the classroom) will be invaluable throughout your career. You will learn skills and acquire abilities to become a professional at all aspects of science at the Master of Science or Doctoral (Scholar) level.  That means becoming the authority in your field with a strong knowledge of ancillary areas (i.e., the focus of your thesis defense or PhD preliminary exam).  To reach this level of authority will require (and I would expect of you) reading all you can get your hands on about your topic, attending seminars and defenses, scientific meetings, publishing your work, volunteering to help and learn about other projects, and more.  Your experience and success is really what you make of it.   The point is... become involved!

The specifics…So, what should you be doing:

As a MS or Ph.D. student, you are progressing from a student to a peer.  Take charge of your own education and research.  You should be a leading expert on your topic project by the end of your studies (2 years for a MS; 4-5 for a PhD).  For your thesis you should develop the idea (in most cases), design, make sampling/experiment plans, keep me routinely (weekly) updated on the progress, and discuss the challenges and obstacles.  As the advisor, I should not have to give you a list of duties necessary for your research, but you should take the initiative in planning all aspects, and I will guide and facilitate you at most steps along the way.  My primary role is to provide you with the means (funding), mentoring, and guidance to succeed.  My role is critical to your progress; however, I am here to facilitate the completion of your thesis not actually do it.   Often though, I will actively participate with you; because, I enjoy it and have a vested interest that your projects go well.

Finally, to eventually realize the full potential of what it means to be a “Master of Science” or “Doctor of Philosophy” your graduate education needs to be treated as a priority and a full-time + commitment.  By both of us working hard as team, we will ensure you are successful in your studies.  The university, your program, and I really want you to succeed!

Dr. Greg Stunz