Recent academic events lead the way to semester’s end

As MIT EECS graduate students begin to study for final exams, prepare course projects, submit research papers, and write up results in Masters and Doctoral theses, the EECS GSA has held several events to put students in the right mindset.

In March, EECS GSA and EECS REFS cohosted a wellness dinner for students to learn and discuss with each other how they tackle stress and stay fit while keeping up with the demands of research. Speakers included representatives from EECS GSA, EECS REFS, VPR, Physical Education, Community Wellness, and Title IX.

Students enjoyed a healthy meal
Students listened to presentations at the wellness dinner from various Institute groups

Then, we heard from Professor Vivienne Sze at the latest installation of our Faculty Dinner series. Professor Sze shared insights on her unique path to academia, the transition from an industry career to a faculty position, and her advice for graduate students to make the most of their training.

Professor Vivienne Sze (center) chats with students at a Faculty Dinner series event in April 2018.

Then, as graduate student thesis writers rev their engines in advance of Institute deadlines for submitting theses, the EECS GSA held a Thesis Panel featuring Professor Leslie Kolodziejski, Graduate Officer of EECS and Professor of Electrical Engineering, and Phoebe Ayers, EECS Librarian. Though it may have been the 10th time we learned about the specific requirements for earning graduate degrees from the department, this was the time students truly felt the impending deadlines. As a reminder, you can check out a variety of department resources to help you write your thesis:

EECS Graduate Officer Professor Leslie Kolodziejski speaks at the EECS GSA Thesis Panel in April 2018.

Stay tuned for more academic events from the EECS GSA!

Annual Pi Day celebration features pies galore

The digits of π begin with 3.14… and if you’re reading this, you can probably name the next 50 as well. This March 14th, (3/14), EECS GSA hosted a Pi Day celebration featuring over 20 pies from local favorite Petsi Pies. Timeless favorites like Apple, Pumpkin, Banana Cream, and Chocolate Bourbon Pecan were served, as well as gluten-free and vegan choices. After an initial rush in which students maneuvered to get a slice of their favorite pie, the delectable desserts where quickly consumed.

The annual Pi Day celebration brought over fifty students to eat pies from local bakery Petsi Pies.
EECS GSA Co-President Maz Abulnaga (left) and VP Social Farnaz Jahanbakhsh (right) rejoice in the wafting scent of a Apple Pi Pie.
EECS students made a mad rush for the first, decadent slices.
EECS students enjoy slices of pie.

Taza Chocolate Factory Tour

Taza Chocolate Factory Store

It’s not far into the semester, but we still thought you might be in need of chocolate. The EECS GSA is organizing a tour of the Taza Chocolate factory store on February 20, 2018. Yes, there will be sample tastings!

Sign up at https://goo.gl/forms/GKzPoNTazw8T1Pmy2 if you want to come. Space is limited so make sure you can attend before signing up. (Filling out the form does not guarantee you a spot.)

For further questions, email Farnaz Jahanbakhsh, VP of Student Life.

Events: Nov 15 – Nov 18

Hello everyone! We’ve got a busy week ahead of us, filled with our very own GSA Elections, a distinguished panel of entrepreneurs, a dinner with Prof. Gregory Wornell, and some free alcohol (courtesy of the Chem-E department).

This Week at a Glance

Tue. Nov 15: Elections [free food]

Wed. Nov 16: Entrepreneurship Panel [free food]

Thu. Nov 17: Faculty Dinner with Prof. Gregory Wornell [free food]

Fri. Nov 18: EECS/Chem-E Joint Social [free beer, free food]

GSA Elections!

Vote for your new GSA representatives. Your vote matters! Brazilian food will be provided.

Visit the EECS GSA elections website for the latest info: http://eecsgsa.mit.edu/elections/. Feel free to contact us with questions about officer positions, nominations, or the electoral process.

When: Tuesday Nov 15 6PM-7:30PM

Where: 34-401 A (Grier A)

EECS GSA Entrepreneurship Panel

Do you know the different resources on campus to help you develop your start up ideas and entrepreneurship skills? Do you know that during IAP you could register for StartMIT, StartIAP or prepare your Sandbox application? Which program would better fit your interests and projects?

The MIT EECS graduate student association is holding an Entrepreneurship panel on Wednesday November 16th at 6:00 pm. Three panelist from StartMIT, the Martin Trust Center and the Sandbox program will shortly present their programs and answer your questions.

When: Wednesday, Nov 16 6PM-7PM

Where: Kiva, 32-G449

Speakers: Christina Chase (StartMIT), Trish Cotter (Martin Trust Center), Jinane Abounadi (Sandbox program)

Signup: here

Faculty Dinner with Gregory Wornell

The EECS GSA is having a Faculty Dinner with Prof. Gregory Wornell on Thursday. This is an hour-long event where students can have an informal interaction with a faculty over dinner.

When: Thursday, Nov 17 5PM-6PM

Where: 32D-463 (Star)

Signup: here

EECS / Chem-E Joint Social

Chemical Engineering’s TG Committee and EECS’s GSA are teaming up to bring you a TGIF like the Stata Center has never seen before. Sign up now to reserve your slot for a fun afternoon of lots of beerVenezuelan food, and meeting new people from MIT.

When: Friday, Nov 18 4PM-7PM

Where: 4th floor of the Stata Center

Signup: here (This sign-up list is for the 130 slots designated for EECS members; please only sign up if you are in EECS or in a lab that is EECS affiliated. 120 Chem-E’s are also expected)

Election 2015 Candidates

Lukas Murmann
Personal Statement for President
I’m a second-year student in the CSAIL computer graphics group. In 2015, I was VP for Orientation at GSA, where I helped organize the EECS visit day in March and orientation for new students in August.
Reasons to vote for me
  • From my work on visit day and orientation, I have a good working relationship with the department, labs, and student groups.
  • Will promote collaboration and joint events with other groups, in particular CSC.
  • Start creating a physical presence for GSA. Currently, GSA is very lean as an institution: It is run by the volunteers, chairs, and board, but does not have a physical presence outside the events it runs. A near-term goal here is to get some storage space and maybe a notice board for GSA announcements.
Nirav Bhan
Personal Statement for Vice-President, Academics: 
Why do I wish to be Vice-President of Academics? Because this is an area I strongly care about. All of us at MIT are here primarily because of our academic inclination. But academics is more than what we learn in the classroom and the research we do in our labs. It involves talking to friends and learning from each other, be it about courses, research, startups, or simply about grad life. Through events such as Insider’s guide to EECS, Thesis and RQE Panels, we aim to create a supportive environment for academics, where current students can learn from the experiences of their older peers. Through the Startup Panel, students get a chance to learn from alumni about the exciting world of startups. Through the GSA faculty dinners, students get an opportunity to closely interact with MIT professors, and also gain a first-hand account of faculty life.
In my role as VP of Academics, I shall continue the above events which have all been very successful. I would like to revamp the research support dinners, which have been moderate successes. Possibly, I may introduce “themed” research dinners catering to a particular research lab, and rotate the theme to cater to different groups. I would also try to hold Tech Talks next year, which did not go through this year due to a lack of interested companies. In addition, I would have more mixers to give students an opportunity to interact with other departments, as well as within the same department. As a specific event idea: I really enjoyed Prof. Gallager’s talk on “How to be a good researcher” as part of his recent Boole-Shannon lecture. I would like to invite him (or another senior professor) to give such a talk on behalf of the GSA.
As for my previous experience, I have been an Academic Chair for the GSA over the past year. My major work was organizing two key events viz. the Thesis Writing Panel in the Spring term, and the Startup Panel in the current term. Both events involved a fair bit of work, and turned out to be successful. I have also done organizational work as an undergrad, having been the convener of a Science Club. I believe that with my experience, I can guide my chairs to do their work efficiently. If elected, I will do my best to serve the GSA community.

 

EECS Graduate Thesis Panel

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Are you currently writing your masters/PhD thesis? Or thinking about it, but don’t know where to start? The EECS GSA presents a Graduate Thesis Panel to guide you in writing first-rate masters’ and doctoral theses.

Featuring:

  • A talk by Prof. Leslie Kolodziejski about thesis requirements
  • A panel of graduate students with thesis writing experience
  • Dinner will be served

When: Monday, April 25 @ 530PM

Where: Grier Room A (34-401A)

RSVP here