University of Michigan Student Chapter at an Escape Room
By Katie L. Cavanagh (president) and Brian R. Thompson (treasurer)
The University of Michigan is proud to be a 2018 AAPS Student Chapter of the Year award winner! Our chapter comprises more than 60 members, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scholars. After successfully planning and hosting the 2017 Pharmaceutics Graduate Student Research Meeting (PGSRM) for over 100 graduate students from twelve regional universities, our student chapter has transitioned into focusing on two main goals: (1) fostering community among our members and (2) providing a platform for members to grow as scientists. Specifically, we have sought to do this by expanding the types of events we host, empowering a diverse group of students to serve on our leadership team, and connecting first-year graduate students to our chapter through peer mentoring.
At PGSRM 2018
Highlights of Activities and Events
- Journal Club is the hallmark of our student chapter. At our biweekly meetings, one member presents a recent and original scientific article related to their research. Meeting times are spent discussing and critiquing the presented work. Journal club allows members to practice presentation, critical reading, and manuscript refereeing skills.
- We hosted a Three Minute Thesis Competition between graduate students. Presenters had the challenge of conveying their thesis work in only three minutes using one static presentation slide. This event allowed senior students to practice their elevator pitches and gave junior students broad exposure to the types of research being conducted.
- Our Peer Mentoring program matches each incoming graduate student to a senior graduate student in the department. This helps connect new students to our chapter and transition to life in graduate school.
- Volunteering is an important pillar of our chapter. We have hosted food and clothing drives and have volunteered at the annual Ann Arbor Alzheimer’s Walk. We are planning river beautification and primary school scientific education events for this spring
Alzheimer Walk
- Work-Life Balance Initiatives are used to build community, experience our members’ cultures, practice social networking skills, and promote mental health. Recent social events include pumpkin carving, Michigan football tailgates, a holiday potluck, happy hours, an escape room, and a Chinese New Year hot pot.
Chinese New Year Party
- For our Professional Development Seminar Series, we have enjoyed visits from recent alum Karthik Pisupati, Ph.D., Andy Vick, Ph.D., and AAPS Ambassador Tycho Heimbach, Ph.D. These speakers shared their experiences working in the pharmaceutical industry and transitioning from graduate school, gave tips for successful interviewing, and answered student questions. Our chapter has also hosted a StrengthsFinder discussion and a mock tenure review session with the College of Pharmacy deans.
Just like the Michigan fight song, our student chapter strives to be “the leaders and best.” We continue to build our student chapter to serve as the framework for our members’ professional networks and to help members develop both scientific and soft skills. Go blue!