The Stony Brook Computing Society (SBCS) recently brought together PhD students from the Department of Computer Science for an evening of candid conversation, giving undergraduate members a rare window into what doctoral research actually looks like. SBCS Event Coordinator James Leung invited five panelists representing varying fields of computer science, including AI, machine learning, quantum computing, GPU optimization, cryptography and robotics: Ryan Burgert, David Miloschewsky, Bing-Shiun Han, Cristopher Smith and Paavan Parekh.
From a Personal Curiosity to a Club Event
The idea grew out of Leung’s own questions about graduate school, combined with a gap he observed on campus: most undergraduates rarely have the chance to talk directly with PhD students. Leung took a hands-on approach to building the panel by identifying candidates through LinkedIn, cold emailing students whose work caught his attention and scheduling a 30-minute call with each one before extending a formal invitation.
Advice Straight from the Trenches
The PhD students spoke openly about the realities of doctoral life, including the fact that changing advisors is common and can be a healthy part of the process. They covered summer internships, qualifying exams, the process of applying to PhDs, advice for undergraduates looking into research and what makes Stony Brook’s PhD program distinctive.
SBCS hopes to build on this momentum with future events that facilitate academic growth among its members. Their next event is a CSE Course Panel, where faculty will offer undergraduate students valuable academic advice through an overview of CSE courses.
-Yuganshu Jain
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