Graduate Student Spotlight
Dr. Youngsun Jang - Ph.D. Computer Science
- What led you to pursue your Ph.D. at SDSU?
I was working in South Korea when I decided to study in the U.S., driven by personal circumstances and a dream I wanted to pursue. While working at a national research institute in Korea, I witnessed AI innovations like Google DeepMind's AlphaGo, which inspired me to study this field in graduate school. The SDSU Computer Science Department had experts in this area, making it the optimal choice for me.
- What was your experience at SDSU in the doctoral program?
The department provided full support for all activities, from teaching assistant experience to presenting research at domestic and international conferences, ensuring that Ph.D. students could successfully settle into their careers post-graduation. Thanks to this, I gained critical experiences needed to establish myself in academia and build an excellent CV. Additionally, the lab environment allowed me to focus on both research and academics, which was extremely beneficial. Most importantly, the interactions with fellow students were a great stimulus for my personal growth.
- What advice do you have for others considering graduate school?
Graduate school is not an easy choice, as it requires sacrificing part of your business career and dedicating considerable material and human resources for an extended period. However, if you have academic curiosity and ambition, I believe that dedicating a few years to focused study and research in graduate school will bring you rewards that exceed the opportunity cost. Especially in the Computer Science field, where the pace of development is accelerating, maintaining your position in the industry without continuous research is challenging. Therefore, by acquiring cutting-edge skills and learning how to conduct research in graduate school, you can maintain your competitiveness in the long term.
- What led you to your current position as an assistant professor at Muhlenberg College?
Above all, it was my personal dedication to and passion for education. While studying for my Ph.D. at SDSU, I realized that I had a talent for making difficult concepts easy to understand for learners. I also discovered my desire to help students. This led me to pursue an academic job to build a career in both teaching and research. Muhlenberg college was the first to approach me and introduced themselves in a sincere way. I believe I was able to successfully secure my current position thanks to the support from the faculty members in the SDSU Computer Science Department during the job search process. I am deeply grateful to the professors and staff at SDSU.
Exciting Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity for our Late-Stage Ph.D. Students and recent Graduates!
Virginia Tech鈥檚 seeks to prepare postdocs for the next step in their careers, providing up to two-year appointments with nationally competitive salaries and benefits.
There are two proposal review cycles each year with applications/proposals due Nov. 1 and March 1.
Fellowships will be awarded in four distinct tracks, each welcoming diverse applicants from various fields:
Postdoctoral fellows selected for the program will receive:
- Up-to two-year appointments with nationally competitive salaries and benefits.
- $5,000 per year for training and professional development-related expenses.
- Mentoring and professional development support.
Eligible postdoctoral applicants:
- Must be no more than three years past earning their Ph.D.
- Must expect to complete their Ph.D. prior to the start of their fellowship.
For all tracks except Science Policy and Research Ethics, interested applicants should identify a Virginia Tech faculty mentor to work collaboratively on a three-page proposal for submission prior to one of the cycle deadlines: Nov. 1 or March 1 each year.
A list of faculty who expressed interest in hosting a Fellow can be found in this but note that any Virginia Tech faculty member can serve as a program mentor.
Proposals will be evaluated on:
- Ability to build towards Virginia Tech research presence and portfolio in goals for the track.
- Ability to enhance research and scholarship of the faculty mentor.
- Ability to enhance the professional development of the postdoc.
- Prospective postdoc鈥檚 qualifications and the ability to diversify Virginia Tech鈥檚 research enterprise.
- Prospective postdoc's commitment to scholarly and societal impact at Virginia Tech and beyond.
Prospective Postdoctoral Fellows Information Sessions
Virginia Tech鈥檚 Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will be hosting three Information Sessions for prospective applicants to the program to learn more about the various tracks, how to construct a proposal, and information on how applications are evaluated. In addition, current Virginia Tech Presidential Postdoctoral Fellows will share their experience in this program. There will also be time for questions. Sessions are planned for Sept. 10, noon-1 p.m. ET, Sept. 18, 4-5 p.m. ET, and Sept. 26, 3-4 p.m. ET.
啵啵直播秀s and Scholarships
The Joseph F. Nelson Graduate Scholarship 啵啵直播秀 is open to graduate students at South 啵啵直播秀 State University who are in good standing (a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above) and meet the specified criteria for the award (see guidelines). This year, the Joseph F. Nelson Endowment Fund will provide for two graduate student scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each. Graduate student applicants must have successfully completed 15 semester credit hours of academic work toward a master鈥檚 or Ph.D. degree. Students must be completing, as part of their degree, original research; preferably in one of the following sciences: physics, chemistry, physical geography, biology, soil science, geology, mathematics or other physical sciences. 啵啵直播秀s for M.S. students are restricted to students pursuing a thesis. These awards are to be made in addition to any graduate assistantship students may have, and may not be used to substitute for or partially replace an existing assistantship.
must be submitted electronically. Deadline: Nov. 15, 2024.
Sponsored by Travelers Motor Club, is designed to help retain talent in South 啵啵直播秀 to support South 啵啵直播秀鈥檚 agriculture industry. It is open to students from South 啵啵直播秀, pursuing a graduate degree in research, 啵啵直播秀 science, agriculture business or agriculture education at an accredited South 啵啵直播秀 school.
Eligible graduate students include on-campus and distance education students who are pursuing any master鈥檚 or doctoral program, agriculture teacher certification program (CERT/FCSC) or graduate certificate program (GCERT). The scholarship is for $2500.
You do NOT have to be a SDFU member to apply.
Application deadline is November 15, 2024!
Application can be found at
Questions? Contact Samantha Bowman or call 605-554-3022.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Nov. 22, 2024 鈥 Final Oral Exam Completed
- Dec. 11, 2024 鈥 Thesis/Dissertation Deposited to the Graduate School
- Dec. 18, 2024 鈥 Capstone Component Completion and Official Fall 2024 Graduation Date
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