Breakout Sessions

In this breakout session:

Participate in a short workshop on professional networking, then exercise your skills as you meet other conference attendees in rapid succession, speed dating-style! This session is an opportunity to make new friends, improve communication skills, and learn about the importance of professional and support networks. This session will be held in ISB 221.

In this breakout session:

Join a discussion on decolonization, especially in the context of STEM and physics. Participants will learn what decolonization is, reflect on how it applies in both personal and professional life, understand the broader context of decolonization and activism in society, and discuss decolonizing strategies that individuals can apply in their daily lives. This breakout session will be held in PSB 110.

In this breakout session:

Learn how to get involved in research as an undergraduate student. This includes how to initiate the first conversation with the advisors whose research field/topics you are interested in, the opportunities of summer internships as an undergraduate student, the application process (including personal statement and recommendation letters etc.) for these summer internships, etc. This breakout session will be held in PSB 110.

In this breakout session:

Whether your goal is to go to graduate school, become a professor, or enter the workforce, knowing how to navigate the transition is important to successfully land your new role. We will review professional development media such as LinkedIn and ResearchGate, how to network, interviewing, and how to prepare for your goal before you graduate.

In this breakout session:

Writing a personal statement for graduate school, fellowship applications, and scholarships can be difficult to start, and knowing your audience is key to developing a good statement. Bring any developed or started statements you have, and hear from successful writers while we work on writing in real time. This breakout session will be held in ISB 223.

In this breakout session:

Join a discussion on how your science/physics identity intersects with your other identities, such as gender, race and ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, familial - any aspects of your background and self that you consider a part of your identity. We will do guided reflection as individuals and in groups to further explore our own intersections. Additionally, we will provide opportunities to learn about identities that we may not share, and how diversity and inclusion benefit us as a whole.

In this breakout session:

Learn how to become involved in local outreach or in the American Physical Society's nation-wide initiative "STEP UP", which aims to increase the number of women studying physics. The project goals include changing the deep-seated cultural views about physicists, inspiring young women to pursue physics in college, and mobilizing high school physics teachers to engage young women in physics. This breakout session will be held in ISB 223.

In this breakout session:

The process of applying to graduate school has several phases, and some aspects can seem mysterious. This session will walk through the whole process, suggest ways to get the information you need, and provide examples of how to assemble the various components. Although there is no magic recipe, and each application is unique, some common aspects of application strategy will also be discussed. The session will include opportunities for Q&A with faculty who previously served on the graduate recruitment (aka selection) committee. This breakout session will be held in Thimann 1.

In this breakout session:

Learn the tips and tricks for a successful Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resumé, when to use which, and how to target the school or job you’re shooting for. Bring what you have or be ready to build, and work on developing your CV/Resumé in real time! This breakout session will be held in ISB 231.

In this breakout session:

Learn about the process of transferring from a two-year to a four-year school, including the general requirements, what the transition is like, and tips for making the most of your time at your transfer institution. A panel of transfer students currently attending or who have attended four-year schools will share their experiences and answer questions from attendees.

Figuring out how to balance your academic career with personal needs is incredibly important, and goes hand in hand with managing your mental health. This workshop will focus on techniques for obtaining this balance and learning how to communicate this with those you work with. This breakout session will be held in PSB 114.

Hear from a panel of current graduate students from a variety of universities, fields, backgrounds, and career stages about what it's like to be a graduate student and pursue a PhD. This breakout session will be held in ISB 221.

In this breakout session:

Participants will learn and practice professional skills that women need to perform research effectively and thrive in physics, including how to: negotiate a graduate, postdoc, or professional position in academia, industry, or at a national lab; interact positively on teams and with a mentor or advisor; think tactically; enhance personal presence; develop alliances; and achieve professional goals.