Like most people, we make New Year’s resolutions in an attempt to motivate ourselves to achieve hard to obtain goals, whether they be to get straight A’s in school, lose weight, save more money, or get a new job.

Having been a part of JYI since I was an undergraduate, I have found that many of my colleagues and now, mentees, have chosen to participate in JYI because they are looking for a leadership opportunity. We all want to be better leaders. While this is frequently noted as the goal of many of the activities we participate in, I have noticed that it has been more of a lip service than it is carried out in practice. We do not teach our students how to be leaders. 

Burnout amongst scientists and physicians is a silent epidemic.

Teenage and young adult suicide rides have continued to rise, and mental health issues are a pressing issue among undergraduate and high school studies. Our universities and workplaces have become a hunting ground for competition and bullying. Meanwhile, the amount of knowledge and skills required to succeed in the biomedical sciences have exponentiated. Coupled with an ever more difficult funding environment, training pathways and copious documentation for healthcare professionals, it becomes ever more important to address burnout for those in the biomedical field. I write about burnout not because I have the perfect solution to offer, but because it is a struggle I face every day.

Making the jump from undergraduate to graduate studies may inspire intense feelings of accomplishment, pride, happiness, and … imposterism?  Newly minted graduates who are stepping into higher degree programs often report feeling like an “imposter” in a sea of other graduate students who appear to be more intelligent, more qualified, and more capable of meeting all the requirements of a graduate degree.  Often, these students feel like they are a fraud, someone who does not belong in such a group of highly intelligent individuals, and that it is just a matter of time before other people realize this too.  These feelings are referred to as Imposter Syndrome, which affects both female and male graduate students.

It is officially the summer, also known as academic conference season.

Over the years I have given a several poster and oral presentations. With my previous experience, I have compiled what I found works best for presenting data.

Dr. Alexander Nikolich Patananan, vice-chair of JYI’s Board of Directors (BoD), writes about his educational journey, his time at JYI, and some other insights.