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SysEvo

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  1. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to Neuro15 in 2018 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    For future’s sake, the Dean is not the person to contact with admissions questions. 
  2. Like
    SysEvo got a reaction from Izaak in 2018 Computational Biology/Bioinformatics Applicants Discussion Thread   
    A great program! I'm happy to meet you if you come for an interview.
  3. Upvote
  4. Downvote
    SysEvo reacted to Structuralbioguy in 2018 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    No response on my last post so I’ll go again...
    Undergrad Institution: University of Missouri - R1 AAU 
    Graduate Institution: University of Southern California - R1 AAU
    Major(s): U - Biochemistry
    G - Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine 

    Minor(s): U - Biology
    GPA in Major: N/A
    Overall GPA: uGPA 3.46 - gGPA 3.77
    Position in Class: as per recommenders/mentors 
    u - top 10%
    g - top 15%

    Type of Student: (Domestic/International, male/female, minority? - Domestic / m / LD minority

    GRE Scores (revised/old version):
    Q: 161 (78%)
    V: 161 (88%)
    W: 5.0 (93%)
    B: did horribly on the last biochemistry one they offered, cannot retake (28%) only USC has the score. Will not send to others.


    TOEFL Total: (if applicable, otherwise delete this)

    Research Experience: (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc...)
    3 pubs (2nd/5, 2nd/6, 3rd/6 from grad)
    earliest - most recent
    1. 3.5 yrs in a large well known plant biochemistry lab at MU. Plant/symbiome project & irradiated plans development project. 
    2. 2-3yrs in analytical/biophysical lab. 2 pubs (2nd author), Binding, stability and structural studies yielded exciting results. 
    3. Graduate - site directed mutagenesis study of TM peptides and their lipid interactions. This uses ITC and Liquid state NMR, developed mutant peptide population from plasmid to peptide in sample. 3rd pub (3rd author/6)
    4. Graduate (thesis) - I sought to develop a more physiologically and contextually relevant sample platform for membrane anchoring structural studies in liquid-state NMR. As my thesis committee mentioned this actually is 2 projects rolled into one in just over a year. Developed viable Nanodiscs for study, developed and successfully captured target peptide in the ND for structural study. 
    5. Professional / Industry (<6 months, ~1.5yr at time of enrollment into intended PhD program in 2018). I work for a wonderful company (top-5 in Biotech in world), this is like google, lots of younger driven researchers. I really would like to stay here however I was advised to seek a PhD by my previous mentors, and I always wanted to ask/address and answer larger scientific questions. I develop proteins and purification methods for academic, government and industry research.

    Pertinent Activities or Jobs: (Such as tutor, TA, SPS officer etc...)
    I train newcomers in our Biotech company on routine methods/techniques. 
    I was a TA at MU for 7 semesters - newcoming/struggling science majors in record-enrollment years at MU. I led class discussion, developed lessons/activities. Provided support and advise for more rigorous STEM courses. 15-35 students/semester.

    Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

    Special Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...) LD student a minority?

    Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: My grandfather passed away one late undergraduate semester, one course I was taking did not allow me to relschedule a midterm. I sat early for it so I could goto his funeral, I got a C in this course. Otherwise I would have Latin honors. 
    I loved USC's program and connected really well with my advisor. I'm worried my subject GRE in Biochem (28%) screwed me. I took this while in grad school (bad idea, no time).

    Applying to Where:
    Biochemistry/Mol Bio/Strucural Bio
    1. USC - continuing same vein of structural research.
    2. Baylor College of Medicine - I've contacted two researchers and was scouted for membrane/structural research.
    3. UCSD - with our old collaborator (I've been in contact) 
    4. Scripps (SD) - A postdoctoral friend at UCLA went here, he provided advise and inspiration for using PD nanodiscs in my MS thesis.
    5. UCLA - Working in my postdoctoral friend's dept/lab group using structural and allied techniques to resolve large peptide structures. 
    Biomedical Sci
    1. UCSD - similar lab group to my collaborator
    Neuroscience
    1. UCSD - another similar lab in the med school where my old collaborator is located.
     
     
  5. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to blc073 in 2018 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    The 2018 application cycle begins in a couple of months, so I thought it would be nice to start a new profiles and results thread. As is tradition, I am copying the 2017 thread for consistency. Use the following template to enter your information, before and after you obtain your results, and remember to submit your results at the end of the cycle for posterity and to help the next cohort of applicants HERE.  Good luck with the application process, and remember to ask questions! 
    Below are some useful links: 
    Ask questions about the PhD application process!
    2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results
    2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results
     
    Undergrad Institution: (School or type of school, such as big state, lib arts, ivy, technical, foreign (what country?)... Overall Reputation in Biology?)
    Major(s):
    Minor(s):
    GPA in Major:
    Overall GPA:
    Position in Class: (No numbers needed, but are you top? near top? average? struggling?)
    Type of Student: (Domestic/International, male/female, minority?)

    GRE Scores (revised/old version):
    Q:
    V:
    W:
    B:


    TOEFL Total: (if applicable, otherwise delete this)

    Research Experience: (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc...)

    Awards/Honors/Recognitions: (Within your school or outside?)

    Pertinent Activities or Jobs: (Such as tutor, TA, SPS officer etc...)

    Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

    Special Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...)

    Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

    Applying to Where:

    School - Department - Research Interest
    School - Department - Research Interest
    School - Department - Research Interest
  6. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to HermoineG in Has your advisor ever hugged you?   
    My advisor used to hug me all the time. She is just really affectionate. Now I have a male advisor (he is in his 70s) - he never hugged me and dont think he ever will! 
  7. Upvote
    SysEvo got a reaction from Ecce in UCSF vs. Princeton (polar opposites)   
    Given the current NIH funding cutting and that UCSF relies heavily on NIH's money, Princeton may be a better choice
  8. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to The Precambrian Rabbit in 2017 Biology Final Decision Threads!   
    Stanford Genetics!
    Anyone else going to Stanford?
  9. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to abcd1 in 2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Finally got accepted to my top choice school today! Either I was not on a waitlist or someone declined an offer.
  10. Downvote
    SysEvo reacted to inadequate in 2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    All right.
    Applied to:
    Caltech Biology, Stanford Biosciences, Berkeley MCB, and UCSF Tetrad
    Accepted to:
    Stanford Biosciences, Berkeley MCB, and UCSF Tetrad
    Caltech never got back to me that after that online interview.
    What was it you gleaned from that 10 minute window, Caltech? Fuck you.
  11. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to biomednyc in 2017 Biology Final Decision Threads!   
    I seem to be one of the only one on this thread crazy enough to say no to Harvard. I'll be attending Penn CAMB in the fall  
  12. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to Nomad1111 in Summer before Graduate School   
    You've travelled a lot, you've gone backpacking, you've had plenty of time. Others likely haven't, so why sweepingly say that travelling is a waste and you strongly advise against it? You're approaching it from one of many angles but others are in different positions coming at grad school from different angles. 
  13. Downvote
    SysEvo reacted to SarahBethSortino in Summer before Graduate School   
    I would also say that I would strongly advise against wasting the summer traveling, hanging out with friends, or just hanging out. Unless you need to work full time up until the point you start, which is totally valid, you should not waste the opportunity to get as prepared for the semester as you possibly can. When I did my Masters, I tried to know exactly what was going to be expected of me. I spent the entire summer reading through all the materials for the classes I would be taking. It made the first semester much easier than it would have been had I not done so, because when time was tight and I had deadlines in one class that took a priority over another, I could refer to the notes from my readings. This is likely the last time for several years you will have to get ahead, because you will probably feel like you are perpetually behind for the rest of your graduate school career.
  14. Upvote
    SysEvo got a reaction from The Precambrian Rabbit in 2017 Biology Final Decision Threads!   
    Harvard Systems Biology
  15. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to Kaede in Summer before Graduate School   
    Honestly... playing lots of video games.
  16. Upvote
    SysEvo got a reaction from bioinformaticsGirl in 2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Email is definitely OK. A call may be even better
  17. Upvote
    SysEvo got a reaction from abcd1 in 2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Email is definitely OK. A call may be even better
  18. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to LoveMysterious in 2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Finally got the official acceptance for Case Western Reserve (bio department, not the integrated one)!  I know that some people here say that it doesn't matter if you contact PIs or not, but in this instance, a PI quite literally got me in. I really think it's worth it to reach out, especially if you share a common research interest. 
  19. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to eagb in 2017 Computational Biology/Biomedical Informatics PhD Applicants and Admission Results   
    Accepted to Harvard BIG...assumed I wasn't getting in since it's been so long a was waitlisted so already told somewhere else I was coming, so have to think that over. Most likely will not change my decision. 
  20. Upvote
  21. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to blc073 in Columbia vs UCSF   
    First, I will echo what others have said: you will get out of your PhD what you put into it. The program you choose needs to be right for you. Look for PIs doing work you want to do. Forget courses, forget everything other than the work being done and whether or not it's the type of work that will keep you up at night. 
    If both programs fit your needs, think about SF vs NYC. Rent is ridiculous in SF, but it's also high in NYC. However, I believe Columbia provides subsidized housing in Washington Heights. Does SF provide affordable housing? In general, it seems like there are west coast people and east coast people. If you know which type you are, the choice should be easy. 
    As far as science goes, I was under the impression that Columbia pretty much invented modern genetics. Depending on the type of genetics you like, Columbia could be a great fit. In my mind, as someone reading papers everyday, I see more biochemistry coming out of UCSF. I'll just say, there are some amazing publications coming out of UCSF. There are also outstanding PIs coming out of UCSF. 
    In the end, you're in a really great position and you will be happy either way. Ask yourself, 1) If my top three choices for labs don't work out, will I be happy with my fourth choice?, 2) Do I see myself living in NYC or SF for five or so years? 
    I know this post is unorganized and prattling. I've had way too much coffee today. But I hope the general ideas are conveyed. Feel free to PM me if you would like bounce around ideas. 
    Congratulations, regardless! You're in a very fortunate position. 
  22. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to blc073 in The waiting game...and what it means.   
    The best way to approach this situation is to always have a back up plan. Academia is ruthless, and you do not want to be left empty-handed. My advice is to assume rejection until you are accepted. In the meantime, plan for the future. Look for post-baccalaureate opportunities, MS programs with late admissions, or tech positions. Then, if you are rejected from every program, you will still have something going, and you can start looking forward to the next admissions cycle. In short, do not sit around waiting for rejection letters, hoping for the best. Be proactive. It's the only way to be successful in academia. 
    My girlfriend applied to several programs for neuroscience. By March, she had several rejections and no interviews. She started applying for jobs and MS programs in Boston (where I was going). She had two job interviews and an MS acceptance when she finally got an interview and subsequent acceptance for a PhD program. 
    Keep your head up and be aggressive. Look for exciting ways to spend a gap year so if you do not get into a PhD program, you'll still have something going. 
  23. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to Egret in 2017 EEB Applicant Profiles & Admissions Results   
    Got accepted into UCR earlier this week! Still waiting on Arizona State and UCLA before I make a final decision.
    And congrats to everyone who's been accepted so far!
  24. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to BlueNahlchee in 2017 EEB Applicant Profiles & Admissions Results   
    Just got admitted to my top choice!!!
  25. Upvote
    SysEvo reacted to Katyya in 2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Officially committed to Vanderbilt IGP. Excited to see they moved one up to #14 this year.
    Opened up waitlist spots for Sinai CAB and Emory CB. Hope they pulled someone off the waitlist who really wants to go!
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