Lloyd Minor addresses the new cohort of PhD students.
Steve Fisch

One hundred and thirty-six students - in 16 specialties, from health policy and structural biology to epidemiology and genetics - eagerly pushed their arms through the sleeves of crisp white lab coats embroidered with their name and their field of study. Then they stepped, one by one, onto a stage; paused for a photo; and stepped off as newly minted, lab-coat-wearing doctoral students.

The ceremony, held Sept. 25 at the at the Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge on the Stanford Medicine campus, commemorated the beginning of the students' journeys toward PhDs in biomedical sciences.

Speakers throughout the event, including Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at Stanford University, emphasized the advantage of conducting research within an environment designed to support and encourage collaboration among departments and schools.

"One of the things that brought me to Stanford Medicine12 years ago was the fact that we are an academic medical center that is so well integrated with the rest of Stanford University," Minor said. "Just across the street is the engineering school, and on the other side is the biology department. We have about 1,100 hospital beds and tertiary care facilities offering premier care to the sickest of sick patients."

"The opportunity to pursue scientific inquiry from the very, very fundamental level all the way up through translation into clinical trials and patient care - those opportunities exist right here on our campus," he added. "And you're going to be a part of making sure those opportunities become the realities of the future."

Incoming PhD students don their lab coats for the first time.
Steve Fisch

Graduate advice

A panel of students and faculty members welcomed the fledgling researchers and discussed the ins and outs of how to succeed as new graduate students.

Their advice: Stop comparing yourself to others; don't be afraid to talk to faculty members outside of your lab; seek help, whether personal or professional, when you need it; and enjoy the perks of campus, among other practical pearls of wisdom.

New graduate students rotate through labs, eventually choosing one in which they'll pursue their PhD. Ellen Yeh, PhD, associate professor of pathology and of microbiology and immunology, emphasized the importance of finding the right "fit" during that process.

"Do people say hi to each other in the morning? Do they talk science? Do they know not just about their own projects, but about other projects in the lab? That can give you a sense of how collegial and unified the community is," Yeh said.

"The one that's hard to assess, but really important...is conflict. Do people challenge each other? And when they challenge each other, where is it on the spectrum of too-nice or a-little-too-spicy?" she added. "That often is a little harder to get at, but that's the type of thing that can make or break a PhD once you're past the honeymoon phase."

Ted Graves, PhD, associate professor of radiation oncology, agreed: "You want to know that you can coexist with [the principal investigator], that you feel supported by them, that you have a good relationship with them and that there's an element of trust there," he said. "It's getting to know the science, as well as getting to know the people in the lab and seeing if it would be a comforting home for you."

Sheri Krams, senior associate dean of graduate education and postdoctoral affairs, celebrates with entering PhD students.
Steve Fisch

Taking initiative - and chances

Graduate students often bring an ingenuity and refreshing take that invigorates a lab, Graves said. "They're the ones coming to us with these great ideas that we haven't thought about, and potentially forging new collaborations and new directions."

Even if the ideas don't work, that's OK, Yeh said. She's looking for "active learners" or students who are curious and want to improve on projects and learn in real time. Did you get a wonky result? Don't just bring it to the principal investigator and ask what to do. Come up with a few hypotheses yourself.

"Even if none of those hypotheses turn out to be the [right] one, at least you tried ... and that practice of iterating and trying to be active in your learning will eventually get you to the answer or to the right next step," she said.

As the ceremony came to a conclusion, Minor led the new researchers in a pledge that affirmed their commitment to truth through science; rigorous research; and an inclusive, supportive lab environment.

What's the key to success? Graduate student Claire Chiang summed it up succinctly: "Work hard, do your best...and ask questions."