I have really enjoyed being a graduate student at UK. Coming here after my masters I found the department to be particularly warm and inviting. There is a wide variety of biological research conducted in the department that helps you to put your niche in perspective.

As a senior graduate student, I sing the praises of this department. Having been part of a number of biology departments, the inter-departmental collegiality is a unique aspect of this department that I have not seen replicated. This collegiality is important as it allows graduate students to affect the social and academic culture of our department, and have their voice heard. Not every department asks graduate students if their training is helping them, nor does every department ask how their experience can be better. Our department does.

I am a new student this semester, so I definitely came in during a challenging time. Despite this, the biology graduate department set up numerous trivia nights with a little Starbucks gift card as a sweet prize! My cohort of incoming students also had our own game nights, so I never felt a lack of community, even during this pandemic.

I have really enjoyed my experience here at UK Biology. All of the faculty that I interact with regularly are always willing to help if needed and truly approachable, and I have learned so much from my conversations with them. The graduates students have really become my family here. I am really proud to be a part of this little family, we are doing some amazing things!!!!!

I am a new graduate student this fall and my transition during the pandemic has been difficult. Everyone in the department has been understanding and welcoming. The classes have been rigorous and interesting and I have even been able to begin Lab Work with my PI. All in all my experience at UK is off to a great start!

I’m in my last year as a graduate student, so I’ve been able to see the department evolve over the last 5ish years. There have been a lot of young faculty hired in the past few years that has diversified our research opportunities and brought in a lot of young, talented graduate students that has really made the department a fun place to work. There has also been a concerted effort by the administration and graduate students to identify what kind of support and opportunities (research, financial and career-oriented) that students need and implementing them. There is still room for improvement, but I believe our upward trajectory will continue and make UK Biology a great training program.

I had been out of school for a few years before starting my PhD, so I was worried about the transition, especially during the pandemic. I’ve really enjoyed how much I’ve learned this year, and I’ve been appreciative of how supportive both my professors and fellow students have been. They’ve made a real effort to engender a sense of community and helped me feel productive and welcome, even while the world feels like it’s falling apart.