When you are a graduate student, you are not only a student but you are also a teacher. Within my role as a Teaching Assistant, I had the opportunity to teach lectures and share my industry experience. This experience has been very rewarding and I had undergraduate students reach out to me and ask for advice on applying to the graduate program, or simply ask for advice on how to select the right job in the marketing industry.
My academic curiosity propelled me into Bioinformatics research. Upon completing undergraduate studies in Genetics, I was looking for opportunities to build on this foundation. The Bioinformatics program at the University of Guelph seemed to be the right fit.
I would advise a prospective graduate student to do their homework before contacting prospective advisors. Check out their profile on the University website, read their most recent paper, and even reach out to a senior graduate student currently in the lab!
Workshops offered through the library and OpenEd are so beneficial to help with your research goals and teaching tips/tricks. Definitely be sure to check these out!
In addition to providing a stable funding guarantee, the department and college offered a number of additional travel and research funding opportunities that contributed substantially to the quality of my work.
If I were to speak with someone considering Guelph, I would tell them that although it may not be a very lucrative venture, it is an incredibly fulfilling experience. Additionally, for those thinking about diving into graduate studies but are unsure about the difficulty or commitment, always remember: a little drive and determination can go a long way!
Guelph will provide you with a supportive and stimulating academic environment. My advisors have provided me with the freedom to explore my research interests and the support and mentorship to help me become a better scientist. Their positive attitudes and confidence in my abilities has allowed me to achieve success in my research goals. There are loads of clubs one could join (e.g. qualitative journal club, welfare and behavior group, dairy journal club, graduate student social committees, art clubs, etc.) In addition, my graduate program has provided me with a safe and interactive social environment (e.g. intramural sports, city leagues, department socials).
For my non-native English-speaking friends, there is a plethora of support from the international office! In addition, the library provides lots of writing and technical support!
