Students flock to Washington, D.C., for annual APS graduate conference

On Sept. 10-11, more than 100 students from around the U.S. traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the APS Conference for Graduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics. There, graduate students and postdocs connected with peers, learned about career paths, and strengthened their leadership skills. Six attendees spoke with APS News to share their experiences.

Success isn’t always linear

Today, Zoe Riesen conducts research in experimental neutrino astronomy. But only a few years ago, she was designing satellites in the aerospace industry.

“I had a little bit of a non-traditional path to physics,” says Riesen. After earning her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, she worked for nearly four years in the private sector before deciding to pivot to physics. She's currently a third-year graduate student at the Ohio State University.

Transitioning back to graduate coursework was daunting, and Riesen felt “unprepared” for physics coursework. But when she attended the APS Conference for Graduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics in September, she felt reassured. She appreciated the talks on non-linear paths to success, and the importance of "owning your story."

“Sometimes physics is a field that can feel isolating, but everyone was so willing to share at the conference,” she says. "That made connecting really easy.”

Learning from rejection

When Marisa Petrusky applied for a postdoctoral fellowship last fall, she didn't get it. She was disappointed, but “rejections are fundamental to any career involving grant writing, especially in light of current changes in funding,” she says. “That’s why it’s so important to build a strong support network and develop healthy attitudes toward yourself and your work.”

Perseverance paid off in her own career: She is now a postdoc at the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

After a good experience at last year's conference, she served as a facilitator this year, encouraging attendees to own their unique research identity and take pride in their work. “I feel like it's my duty to give back to the kinds of communities and programs that supported me throughout my own career journey,” she says. “I hope I inspired attendees to be less afraid of rejection and more steadfast in their career goals.”

Traveling from Texas

Alia Naciri, a Ph.D. student at the University of North Texas, hoped to attend the Conference for Graduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics, but the trip to Washington, D.C., would be expensive.

"Grad school stipends are limited," Naciri says.

When she learned that APS would help pay for airfare and transportation, she applied for and received a travel grant. "It took a lot of stress off of me, figuring out how I was going to get there," she says. "I'm very grateful for it." Were it not for the grant, Naciri says she would not have been able to attend.

The two-day event offered valuable advice on professional growth, from navigating industry hiring to juggling the stresses of grad school, as well as meaningful friendships. "I feel like it's very difficult to find places and opportunities to bond with other women and gender minorities in physics,” she says. “This grant was very helpful in allowing me to connect with them.”

Clicking at a conference

While chatting during a coffee break at last year’s APS Conference for Graduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics, Prerana Kottapalli and Nitya Ravi realized they just clicked.

“The conference format really encourages everyone to connect,” says Kottapalli, an astronomy graduate student at the University of Florida.

Ravi, a graduate student in physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester, agrees. “This is a space where we don’t feel like we have to justify our presence here,” she says. “Developing a friendship at this conference is a lot easier and less stressful.” And for both Kottapalli and Ravi, returning as facilitators for this year’s conference has honed their leadership skills.

Their advice for future conference attendees? “Be open to meeting new people and new experiences,” says Kottapalli. Ravi adds, “Being honest about your difficulties in this safe space is the path to finding your people here.”

Attending with grant support

Living on a tight budget, Hauwa Adedo, a Ph.D. student at the University of Pittsburgh, says she owes her conference attendance to an APS travel grant, which covered her flight and ground transportation. The conference felt supportive, and Adedo connected with other people navigating cultural challenges in physics.

"I live solely on a stipend and trying to cover my daily living expenses can be challenging, so I’m really grateful for the grant,” says Adedo. “It made it possible for me to actually attend.”