Student Councils and Associations are a standard staple of student life, but it is perhaps in the later academic years, as students actively think about their future beyond the gates of higher education, that the role of these groups becomes even more impactful. Through opportunities for professional development, networking, social engagement, personal wellbeing, and more, the Network Science Institute Graduate Student Association (NetSI GSA) supports the institute’s multidisciplinary student community, that will soon grow to include a cohort of students from the new MS in Complex Network Analysis.
Northeastern University is home to 71 registered Graduate Student Groups, and NetSI GSA is one of them. Currently led by Yukun Yang, an Interdisciplinary Design & Media PhD student, alongside Network Science PhD students Jesseba Fernando and Tamanna Urmi, the GSA aims to bring together NetSI students to strengthen their social, academic and professional ties. It also serves as an institutional memory for the benefit of future generations of students and as a voice for its current members in communication with the University.
To achieve these goals the GSA organizes initiatives that are mindful of the considerable diversity of disciplinary backgrounds within the NetSI community. The fact that a social scientist, a neuroscientist and an epidemiologist sit on the GSA council is reflective of the multidisciplinary student body at NetSI and of the nature of an institute that studies complex networked systems across a range of scientific fields. "I think it is good for the GSA to have different representations from different wings of NetSI - says the association's President Yukun Yang - "so we can bring our own network within the institute and figure out something that can accommodate all of them." Indeed, such disciplinary diversity can sometime pose a challenge when devising activities that engage students who have different needs and research interests. Nevertheless, this Fall’s programming has been a testament to their successful efforts of connecting students across different institute Labs with one another and with opportunities for their personal and professional growth.
In September the GSA, together with Network Science PhD students Remy LeWinter, Erik Weis, and Moritz Laber, re-launched SNAC (Students, Networks and Collaboration), a series of highly customizable research presentations that meet the students’ need for a more informal setting where to stress-test new ideas, find collaborators, receive feedback, practice for upcoming presentations in front of an audience, or pair up with a senior graduate student for a dual presentation that will help them get comfortable with a new research discipline.
Students are also encouraged to bring forward ideas that can improve their academic or career building experience. When Alyssa Smith, a Network Science PhD candidate, approached the GSA with the idea of reviving a mentorship program, the group supported her and “Building Bridging Ties” was launched to form mentoring relationships between current NetSI PhD students and recent PhD graduates, with mentees paired to mentors from different disciplines, to facilitate cross-pollination and offer a venue for discussions outside of a disciplinary “silo”.
Connection-building activities are designed not only within NetSI but also with other colleges at Northeastern and universities across Boston. In collaboration with the NetSI Social Science Club, led by Yukun Yang, Zhen Guo, and Alyssa Smith, GSA also supports and organizes student mixers. The Emerging Media Studies Mixer with Boston University was the first in a series aimed at building a collective community for PhD students from different academic institutions and backgrounds but with potential for collaborations. However, for lasting relationships and to enhance personal well-being, the GSA believes that socializing outside of academia is just as essential, and their first-ever apple-picking event, open to the entire NetSI community, brought together over 40 participants at a farm west of Boston.
Looking ahead, the council is planning a NetSI Research Symposium in March 2025, as a platform for students to present their work and engage with more senior researchers and external speakers who may offer insight or additional guidance on their projects. A similar event on the agenda is the Network Biology Workshop, led by Tamanna Urmi and Narayan Sabhahit. It is a series of expert-led discussions for students to learn the latest discoveries and inventions in biophysics, immunology, omics, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, systems biology, etc.
The dedication of the GSA council and participating students to building a vibrant and meaningful student association at NetSI is deeply valued by the institute, especially as these students balance their own academic pursuits and responsibilities. Their commitment not only strengthens the sense of community within NetSI but also enriches the student experience, creating lasting connections and a supportive environment that benefits everyone involved.
