Congratulations on the decision to pursue research at UCLA! I am thrilled to welcome you on this exciting journey. The Athavale group is dedicated to fostering an intellectually stimulating, collegial, open, and collaborative atmosphere that caters to graduate students, postdocs, undergraduates, and visiting scholars alike. We pride ourselves on a culture that emphasizes teamwork and supports each member in achieving their full potential while advancing science, promoting scholarly development, and realizing professional aspirations.
A fulfilling and productive PhD journey involves students developing themselves in multiple dimensions. These essential dimensions include:
1. Making original research contributions: Students will be encouraged to be fearless in exploring innovative ideas and develop novel approaches to address scientific challenges, fostering creativity and a sense of accomplishment.
2. Enhancing scholarly knowledge: Our group is dedicated to expanding each member's understanding of their subject matter through continuous learning, seminars, and workshops, ensuring they stay at the forefront of their field.
3. Acquiring technical expertise: Students will gain extensive mentorship and hands-on guidance, preparing them to execute experiments with confidence and precision.
4. Refining writing and presentation skills: I recognize the importance of effective communication in science. Students will receive guidance and feedback on writing manuscripts, grant proposals, and delivering engaging presentations to a variety of audiences.
5. Collaborating in a team environment: I value the power of collaboration and interdisciplinary research. Students will work with fellow group members and researchers from different fields, fostering a robust exchange of ideas and promoting synergy in research endeavors.
6. Formulating new research directions: Students will be encouraged to think critically, identify gaps in current knowledge, and propose innovative research directions.
7. Gaining awareness and clarity about career opportunities: I understand the importance of preparing students for diverse career paths, including academia, industry, and other sectors. I shall provide mentorship and networking opportunities to help students make informed decisions about their futures.
I will work closely with every student to optimize development in all these areas, providing comprehensive mentorship, hands-on experience, and ample opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Typically, the group will hold two weekly meetings: a ‘research meeting’ to share and brainstorm over research progress, and a ‘knowledge meeting’ to learn about the latest scientific literature, present cutting-edge topics in chemistry and biochemistry, broaden horizons beyond immediate expertise and engage in problem solving sessions. As a new group, we will also hold joint meetings with more established synthetic chemistry and biochemistry groups to expand our perspective. Your presentations will be evaluated for both content and style. I will work closely with every member to improve writing skills. In addition to these formal arrangements, I will have an open-door policy and can be approached anytime for discussions and guidance.
The group's research interests span a wide range of topics, allowing students to develop a versatile skillset increasingly sought after by modern chemists. Students of synthetic chemistry will learn about and have the opportunity to work firsthand with biochemical systems and enzymes. Biochemists will have the opportunity to excel in organic chemistry. Likewise, there will be opportunities for extensive collaborations with other groups, especially for computational methods. Whether it's synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, or computational methods, the Athavale lab offers the platform for students to excel in their chosen field and broaden their expertise, making them highly attractive candidates in the job market.
I eagerly anticipate your arrival and look forward to having you as a valued member of our team!
- Soumitra