"“The experience has been profoundly enriching."
Seth Barrett embarked on his graduate studies with a “deep interest in developing advanced machine learning (ML) capabilities, aiming to contribute meaningfully to the field [of Computer and Cyber Sciences] in the face of rapidly evolving technologies like ChatGPT and Devin.” He came to his doctorate with a solid foundation in computer science (also from AU) and was looking for a comprehensive program that had the specialized knowledge he knew he needed. The doctoral program in Computer and Cyber Sciences at AU meets that need. The program is unique with an intersection of ML tools and digital forensics applications, which will position Barrett well in the future.
Barrett decided to remain at AU for his graduate work in part because of the vibrant community of Augusta. Couple that with a research position in the lab of Dr. Dorai, and other professional and personal connections to AU and the Augusta area, and AU became his destination of choice. Barrett has found AU to have a “supportive environment” with a high quality of education. There is a sense of community, which is an important part of student life for Barrett. “The collegial atmosphere fosters collaboration and mutual support, making it easier to navigate challenges.” He credits his department’s nurturing atmosphere with his academic growth and personal well-being.
Motivated by a sense of curiosity and the challenge of solving complex problems, Barrett finds that “the dynamic nature of the field of Computer and Cyber Sciences, particularly in machine learning, requires constant learning and adaptation.” The environment in the College of Computer and Cyber Science, while demanding, fuels his “passion for research and innovation.” He enjoys exploring the uncharted territories of ML. In particular, the “expansive applicability of Deep Learning” was a revelation for Barrett. He sees limitless opportunities for application of these principles “to solve real-world problems, from enhancing cybersecurity measures to advancing healthcare diagnostics.” This type of understanding and versatility within his field will only broaden his career prospects – and will amplify the impact of his work now and in the future.
Barrett offers several observations for those students considering the program. First, while the program is relatively young, it is emerging as not only academically strong but also a flexible program. Students have the opportunity to shape the evolution of not only their studies, but also the department and field. There is a diverse international student population that enriches discussions with a variety of viewpoints. The program fosters this global perspective on issues and prepares students well for future challenges in the field. This graduate student has found the program intellectually rewarding and suggests, “wholeheartedly” that those interested should apply. “The experience has been profoundly enriching, equipping me with the tools to excel in the rapidly evolving field of machine learning.”
The current standard for this field is to hire individuals with Ph.Ds., making this program an important step for those interested in the future of computer science and ML. Barrett is confident that his Ph.D. will serve as a pivotal step for his career. His education and research experience have been comprehensive and given him the advanced skills to succeed in an ML career. Furthermore, he recently had his first academic paper accepted for a conference. “This achievement is the culmination of extensive research and dedication, and receiving recognition from my peers was immensely gratifying. It reaffirms my commitment to my field and motivates me to continue contributing valuable insights and innovations.” The Graduate School team wishes Seth Barrett well as he moves toward graduation and a bright future in Computer Science.
"Try to engage in the collaborative study and publish."
Imran Parvez, a Biostatistics Doctoral student, pursued his PhD because he would like to become a university professor working with his own students and research in biostatistics. He came to this field through his undergraduate background in statistics and hopes to apply his new knowledge to cancer research. As an advocate for mixing statistics with the medical field, he chose Augusta University because it was here that his potential was recognized and with that came an offer of financial support to pursue his dream.
In his doctoral research, Parvez is working with genomic datum. It surprised him how genetics and the gene pool work differently with various diseases. At AU, he has learned to use a diverse set of tools to increase his ability to examine the gene-disease interface—especially useful in his goal of cancer research.
Parvez credits his “very supportive” professors with his success and professional development. He found AU to be the perfect place to pursue his academic dreams. He says, “My program trained us in data science, which is a great strength of my program.” He is a champion for his program in part because he received great statistical training that will help him in the future. His advice to future PhD students in Biostatistics: “Try to engage in the collaborative study and publish.”
While the goal of Imran Parvez is to become a university professor working on the puzzle of cancer, he has not forgotten his cultural home. During his time at AU as a graduate student, “I established the Augusta University Bangladeshi Student Association, which makes me proud.”
Cancer touches so many lives and is an ongoing battle. The medical and scientific communities have started to stem the tide in terms of fighting back against this aggressor of the human body. We wish Parvez all the best in his role in higher education, both as a researcher of biostatistics within cancer research and a professor training the next generation of cancer researchers.
"The personal attention and dedication at AU is unparalleled."
Wanting to have her voice heard in the world of business, it made complete sense that Victoria Worsham should want to pursue her MBA. Worsham doesn’t just want to be heard, she wants to have a say “at the executive table.” She found that the AU Master’s in Business Administration gave her the expertise she needed to have “comprehensive business knowledge, allowing me to jump into specific areas when needed.”
As a child, Victoria’s grandfather would give her two dollars for every “A” she earned, and she continues to strive for excellence in all she does in his memory. With a flexible job schedule, Worsham was able to manage graduate school with a family and career. We are sure her grandfather would have been quite proud to know that Worsham was inducted as a member of the national honor society, Phi Kappa Phi, earlier this year. Becoming a member had been a goal since her undergraduate days.
She was delighted to be accepted to the Hull College of Business, which was near her home and work. This provided her the opportunity to attend in-person classes and to collaborate with her cohort. She found the professors to be passionate about their subject, and able to provide assistance and feedback as needed. She writes, “The personal attention and dedication at AU is unparalleled,” and finds the strength of the MBA program lies in its compatibility with student life and professional responsibilities.” Already in the business world, Worsham quickly connected the content to her role at work.
For those interested in an MBA, Worsham says that the AU program is an excellent choice, especially if you are looking for a program that will integrate with your current career or are seeking a program with a supportive faculty. One aspect of the program that surprised her was that every class in her MBA program had a required group project. This taught her a lot about the business environment. “You only sometimes get to choose your teammates or control the quality of their work, which can impact” the project outcome. She learned the importance of teamwork—how to support others and to assess her own capabilities—in this learning environment and the business world.
Worsham is proud to be able to grow now in her current role as the Director of Executive Affairs for ATC Development. “I now possess the knowledge and skills to contribute to the business's strategic decisions and create positive change for our community, vendors, and employees.”
"I want to be another positive voice for evidence-based nutrition practices.
The professors teach us through their lived professional experience as dietitians and researchers."
AU was always Carly Clark’s top choice for graduate school. Happily, after hours of applications, interviews, computer-matching, and conversations—AU also picked Clark, making a perfect match. Clark is “thankful to be here” because “Augusta [University] has a large healthcare presence, and the dietetic internship at AU has a clinical focus.” Clark wanted to get clinical experience in the form of an internship in order to prepare for her future as a registered dietitian.
Carly Clark chose this as her field of study to become a “positive voice for evidence-based nutrition practices and [to] give patients and clients the confidence [they might need] to make the best nutrition choices” for themselves. She explains that these choices should be personalized for every person.
Before beginning her studies, Clark had no idea there were so many opportunities for dietitians. She now knows that there are opportunities for dietitians in settings that include “Clinical, community, school, leadership, health promotion, media, corporate, sales, pediatrics, government ... just to name a few.” These avenues will give her the chance to have a flexible future career.
The small class size gives this program an edge. “The professors teach us through their lived professional experience as dietitians and researchers.” Also, the preceptors in the internship offer other examples from their careers and “are able to add so much educational and practical value to the internship.” Clark is excited about the connections she has made with the preceptors and other dietitians through the program. She looks forward the helping people in various ways through nutrition counseling and education, which she has begun doing in the internship. “I now have the ability and confidence to conduct a nutrition assessment and appointment on my own. I have already been able to help patients make changes in their nutrition that have positively affected their quality of life.”
Clark suggests that if other students have an interest in this growing field, they should attend an open house or talk to some of the current students. “I enjoy the camaraderie between my classmates and me. I appreciate feeling known and having relationships with each of my classmates and professors.” The Graduate School knows that Clark has a bright future with so many choices, and we are confident she will choose another great match.
Carson Morris would love to one day be a university professor. This Master of Science in Biological and Computational Mathematics major is off to a great start. He is currently teaching two statistics courses and “loving it!” His professors did not just drop this student into a classroom either, they made sure he had the skills needed to do well. Morris writes: “I’ve learned a LOT about how to be a good teacher” since arriving at Augusta University last year. Morris “started off not knowing very much and being relatively shy.” He says, though, that while being in the program, surrounded by his cohort, “I’ve opened up a lot and seen teaching in a new light.” “During my first year here, I got a lot of experience teaching in the tutoring center.” Practice, constructive feedback, working with students have helped Morris "hone” his teaching skills. “Now, I feel incredibly confident about my teaching abilities.”
Morris chose the program because it would provide him an opportunity to test his abilities at teaching while he was learning. Moreover, he was excited to learn that his degree is so marketable. “I’ll have a plethora of options after I graduate, and I’m thankful for that.” While getting a PhD might be the goal, it’s nice to know that Morris will have other opportunities if he wants them.
Carson Morris is quick to point to his program and his cohort as part of his success. “The thing I like most about Augusta University is that it’s more personalized than other institutions.” His classes are small with all of them having fewer than 20 people. “I’ve felt very comfortable” and the “campus is very aesthetically pleasing.” Morris says that he “knows the professors very well. If I have an issue with the material, I don’t feel uncomfortable asking about it in class.”
For students wanting to join Morris in this program, his advice is straightforward. “It’s essential that you at least know up to Calculus III to succeed, and don’t worry, you’re not expected to remember everything. It’s a low-pressure environment, and everyone is rooting for you!” A high-learning but low-stress environment sounds like the perfect place to learn about Biological and Computational Mathematics, not to mention how to teach. We are glad to know that Morris has found his aptitude.
Danielle Gibson, a graduate student in the Nursing PhD program, got a master’s degree because she felt it was time to do more. In pursing her master’s degree, she found a passion for research, which is currently focused on neonatal neuroinflammation and neurodevelopment.
When Gibson first decided on a course for a PhD, one of her mentors suggested that she look for a program where there were “faculty that shared her research interests.” AU was that place and the faculty member closest to Gibson’s research area of interest is Dr. Terri Marin. Gibson considers becoming a graduate research assistant working with Dr. Marin’s one the highlights of her graduate career to date. She finds that Marin is a “huge source of motivation” and “a great role model of what a nurse scientist” looks like. Gibson enjoys having a clear “road map” of her “PhD journey.” Gibson is already “encouraging others to pursue advanced degrees” who are ready for a change or a challenge.
Gibson enjoys the interdisciplinary opportunities for research at AU. She is astonished by how much faculty from all corners of AU are invested in her “success and development as a researcher.” She credits the success of her cohort the depth of the expertise and experience of the faculty. All of the faculty and the director of the PhD program encourage the students to submit feedback—and they use it to continuously improve the program.
When asked for advice about going to graduate school, Gibson says that anyone interested should go, but talk to the faculty first. Make sure someone on the faculty has similar research interests. “Ask a lot of questions. If nurse researcher is your goal, stay focused and heed all advice that comes your way.”
Upon graduation, Gibson hopes to have publications already out. She wants to fill her curriculum vita with her research experiences. She’s already presented a poster at the Graduate Research Day at AU and received an award. She also has a scholarship for her PhD Nursing degree. She wants to continue her career as a faculty member, pursing more neonatal research while teaching. The future of all the tiny humans is in good hands.
