Discover Rackham
Thinking Harder About Student Mental Health
We have to do a better job dealing with mental health in the academy. We really, really have to. The most recent information suggests that almost half of Michigan students, at the graduate and undergraduate level, have felt overwhelming anxiety or severe sadness or...
Student Spotlight: Brandon Govindarajoo
Since he was a high school student, Brandon has continued to be involved in organizations that support first generation and minority students in science. Now, he’s working with students in the same capacity and focusing on retention, tutoring, and mentoring. “I would...
Move Yourself to U-Move
Most graduate students I know have that thing they do they when get stuck on a problem. Some get outside, some cook, some nap-- I grab the U-Move schedule and see what classes are happening. Fast-forward a few hours to the end of yoga class: I'm lying on my mat,...
A list of things from Fall 2015 that make graduate life better
During my last two years of undergrad, whenever I mentioned I was applying to graduate school, the most consistent response I got was a comment or joke about how I’d essentially be living in lab, even from friends who didn’t know much about graduate school in biology....
Student Spotlight: Marc Henry de Frahan
“My research focuses on creating very tiny stars,” says Marc. Tiny stars might sound like a Disney World ride, but the complex science behind the mass production of inertial confinement fusion is nothing but groundbreaking. Falling under the category of fusion energy,...
So Let’s Talk Data Collection: When Everything Doesn’t Go as Planned
On paper, my plan for data collection is very streamlined and very direct- after all, I had to justify my process to my committee and get it approved. I am recruiting patients for my data collection from my own clinical practice, since this is what inspired my...
Interview with Assistant Dean Shelly Conner, Recipient of Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award
I could see the answer coming. When I asked Assistant Dean Shelly Conner if she had something she was proudest of accomplishing during her 10 years as Assistant Dean of Rackham Graduate School, she firmly said, “No.” It’s all equally important to her,...
Human Trafficking in Ethiopia: Using Interdisciplinary U-M Partnerships to Develop Comprehensive Survivor Services
Human trafficking is an important human rights problem that occurs both domestically and internationally. From what little research has been done on human trafficking in Ethiopia, we know that the most common form of trafficking is of women for domestic labor. It is...
Supporting the COP21 Climate Talks from Ground Control in Ann Arbor
Last week we heard from Mayank Vikas who attended the COP 21 climate talks in Paris. But things were moving so fast at the conference that the attendees from the University of Michigan had a whole other team back in Ann Arbor to support them: Ground Control. Bonnie...
Student Spotlight: Matthew Stone
We should be opening Matthew’s story with a joke. A fan of stand-up comedy, he’s in the midst of writing some bits for an open mike night at a local comedy club. “I’m working on some jokes, but they’re not funny yet.” Hopefully he’s having more success in the lab as a...