Jenna Chisholm
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
My high school physics teacher had once gotten to visit CERN, and he absolutely loved it. He described the experiments at CERN as akin to smashing apples and oranges together and having bananas flying out. Ever since, I have been fascinated by that bizarre nature of particle physics, and I’ve wanted to learn more. And one undergraduate degree in physics simply wasn’t enough!
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
When I was applying to grad school, I chatted with several potential supervisors in different ATLAS groups across Canada, as well as some of their students. I decided to study at UBC because I really connected with my supervisor Alison, whom I felt would push me to grow but would also always be kind and have my back. Furthermore, the students in the UBC ATLAS group were all very friendly and seemed very happy to be in this research group. Even one of the students I was talking to from another school couldn’t help but boast about UBC! Additionally, the UBC campus is beautiful and, as a Maritimer, being next to the ocean made it feel like home.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
Other than the above reasons on why I decided to study at UBC, there is a wide breadth of research going on at UBC. As such, each course you take will be taught by an expert in the field. Additionally, UBC offers a wide variety of courses and allows a good amount of flexibility in crafting your degree.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The best surprise about UBC was the salsa rueda club! I grew up doing ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance, but I had never tried salsa or any kind of partner dancing. Salsa rueda is a form of salsa where you’re constantly switching partners and performing moves as they’re called out. As someone who is used to choreography, I really enjoyed the challenge of dancing on the fly. It was also really fun to meet and connect with many different people through the art of dance.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
The most exciting part of my graduate career has been the opportunity to work from CERN for a year. I’ve always wanted to go to CERN. Getting to see the ATLAS detectors, participating in the actual data taking, and meeting people from all over the world who work on the same experiment that I do has been such an incredible experience. Plus, I’ve been able to do a bit of European sight-seeing on the weekends.
What do you see as your biggest challenge(s) in your future career?
The biggest challenge for me has always been and likely always will be public speaking and networking, which is a part of many jobs, both within and outside of academia.
How do you feel your program is preparing you for those challenges?
This program has allowed me many opportunities to practice my public speaking, such as presenting a project in class, presenting my updates in weekly UBC ATLAS group meetings, presenting my research at conferences, or presenting my thesis topic to my PhD committee. Additionally, I’ve been able to practice by running a first-year physics lab as a teaching assistant, as well as giving tours of CERN. The department and physics society also hold a lot of events that are a great opportunity for networking. Plus, I’ve been able to attend conferences and summer schools which have allowed me to meet physicists from many different institutions.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
Honestly, the thing that best prepared me for the UBC graduate program was choosing to go to a small liberal arts university (Mount Allison University) away from home for my undergrad. As a shy kid, I think going to a larger undergraduate university would’ve drowned me, and staying at home for university would’ve stagnated me. But Mount A was able to slowly nudge me outside of my comfort zone, allowing me to grow. Being a small school, it provided me with the opportunity to do research starting at the end of my first year and to TA every semester since the start of my second. With the smaller community, I also felt more empowered to step into leadership roles in academic societies, university orientation events, etc. These things were intimidating at first, but by committing to them and pushing through, I’ve gained not only experience, but also a sense of confidence and perseverance. Additionally, the liberal arts education I received advanced my writing and communication skills from the perspectives of several different disciplines (English, Woman & Gender Studies, Economics, Psychology, Math, Physics, etc.). For me, this experience was exactly what I needed to prepare me for something as challenging as grad school.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I love reading, writing, crocheting, painting, going to the beach, taking a dance class (ballet, tap, and salsa are my favourites), and travelling / exploring new places. I also love playing boardgames (the more complex, the better!) and videogames with friends.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Remember that not everyone’s path through graduate school is the same and try not to let the imposter syndrome get to you (admittedly, the imposter syndrome can be persistent – I experienced it while writing some of these answers!). We all come from different academic backgrounds, but you were accepted into UBC’s graduate program for a reason! I for one needed to take a fourth-year level quantum mechanics course that I had missed in my undergraduate degree, and I’m so happy I took the time to do that! It allowed me to build a better foundation so that I could succeed in later courses.