UVA Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BIMS) students have been hard at work over the summer attending conferences all over the world, setting up committee meetings, completing experiments at the bench, and preparing for the arrival of the incoming students. This year, BIMS welcomed 73 first-year graduate students, with most of them arriving in July to start their first round of lab rotations. These six-week rotations allow the incoming students to learn about the research and community each lab provides.
To welcome the first-year students, the Graduate Biosciences Society (GBS) held an ice cream social on a hot July afternoon to introduce them to upperclass BIMS students. GBS also sponsored a picnic to connect the first-years to current students and various clubs led by BIMS students. They were greeted by representatives from Queer in Medical Sciences (QIMS), Women in Medical Sciences (WIMS), Graduate Recruitment Initiative Team (GRIT), Biology Outreach and Inclusion Program (BOIP), and Project Bridge. The students were able to hear about all the amazing work these groups are doing across UVA and in the Charlottesville communities.
GBS and WIMS co-sponsored a trip to Carter’s Mountain for their Thursday evening Sunset Series where the students enjoyed amazing views of Charlottesville, while bonding with their classmates. Lastly, many labs gave a brief introduction to their research through a poster session to offer first-year students a look into potential rotation opportunities. This was a great way for the incoming class to meet other students and faculty.
Welcome new BIMS graduate students; we cannot wait to see what your futures hold!
Article by Nicole Kirk and Maddie Turner.
Filed Under: Education