service
please look at my CV for a more conventional description of professional service
this is just my attempt at some community building in my corner of the interwebs (:
My approach to service
When I reflect on my time at Stanford, the fondest memories I have are of the community I was a part of and maybe played a small part in shaping. During a majority of my stay there, I donned many roles apart from that of a student researcher — I was the lab manager, student health and safety coordinator, a mentor to other students, and hopefully someone who helped foster an environment in which all students could flourish in. My hope is that I can continue at least some of this in spirit even after I'm no longer a full-time-academic.
My experiences thus far have also led me to believe that if there is ever a silver bullet to throw at the most pressing challenges humanity faces, community building, and engagement has to lie at the heart of it. This view was reinforced during and post the pandemic; medical marvels and technological triumphs were a centerpiece of the scientific community's response to this unprecedented situation, but it was a response that perhaps did not foresee the strident (ofttimes misplaced) opposition and skepticism (albeit from a loud minority) it would face. This period also shone the brightest light yet on our ever-expanding epidemic of loneliness and isolation as well as an urgent need to address this head on. I think there are few things as isolating as one embarking on a (sometimes) highly individualistic PhD journey and this is just my humble attempt at offering help that I can, to make this process a little less solitary and fraught.
This effort is probably going to involve some trial-and-error as I figure out what works best, so expect some evolution as I learn more and understand better. At this time, most communication is likely going to begin over email (initial correspondence may be slow but I do tend to reliably respond). I want to state at the outset that while I'd love to, I am unable to respond to emails related to grad school admissions or application reviews. Below, I'm going to list some ways in which I think I can best engage with the folks who have a reason to peruse this website.
My experiences thus far have also led me to believe that if there is ever a silver bullet to throw at the most pressing challenges humanity faces, community building, and engagement has to lie at the heart of it. This view was reinforced during and post the pandemic; medical marvels and technological triumphs were a centerpiece of the scientific community's response to this unprecedented situation, but it was a response that perhaps did not foresee the strident (ofttimes misplaced) opposition and skepticism (albeit from a loud minority) it would face. This period also shone the brightest light yet on our ever-expanding epidemic of loneliness and isolation as well as an urgent need to address this head on. I think there are few things as isolating as one embarking on a (sometimes) highly individualistic PhD journey and this is just my humble attempt at offering help that I can, to make this process a little less solitary and fraught.
This effort is probably going to involve some trial-and-error as I figure out what works best, so expect some evolution as I learn more and understand better. At this time, most communication is likely going to begin over email (initial correspondence may be slow but I do tend to reliably respond). I want to state at the outset that while I'd love to, I am unable to respond to emails related to grad school admissions or application reviews. Below, I'm going to list some ways in which I think I can best engage with the folks who have a reason to peruse this website.
Grab a coffee
Having someone I can bounce ideas off of and use as a sounding board was and continues to be a big part of my approach towards tackling technical challenges. Moreover, when I was stuck in a rut or needed to navigate sticky situations, nine times out of ten, merely speaking with someone who had been there and done that was a huge help.
In that vein, I'm always happy to grab a coffee and chat (I can get chatty, if the walls of text on this website weren't indication enough already) — either in person if you're in or around the San Francisco Bay Area or virtually on a video call. For now, please reach out to me via email if you'd like to set something up.
In that vein, I'm always happy to grab a coffee and chat (I can get chatty, if the walls of text on this website weren't indication enough already) — either in person if you're in or around the San Francisco Bay Area or virtually on a video call. For now, please reach out to me via email if you'd like to set something up.
Paper draft feedback
Publishing papers is a big part of academia, and acceptance depends not just on technical substance but is often (sometimes disproportionately) down to how one crafts their narrative and other auxiliary factors. During my time as a PhD student, I've written my fair share of papers and served as an external expert reviewer/associate editor for both conference and journal paper submissions. As a senior PhD student, I've also read and provided iterative feedback on paper drafts that other students in the group intended to submit. Getting timely and critical yet constructive feedback is an essential component in ensuring successful paper acceptance within a reasonable timeframe. More importantly, it makes the paper writing process intentionally geared towards helping you disseminate your research in the best possible manner so that it does not just become another unwanted burden placed on your limited time and energy.
If you think your potential submission (ideally in/adjacent to my areas of expertise) would benefit from having some outside eyes on it prior to submission, feel free to reach out via email and we can figure something out. If you do reach out, please make sure that you are not on a tight deadline or time crunch — I will likely need at least a couple of weeks if you want a thorough review and useful, actionable feedback.
If you think your potential submission (ideally in/adjacent to my areas of expertise) would benefit from having some outside eyes on it prior to submission, feel free to reach out via email and we can figure something out. If you do reach out, please make sure that you are not on a tight deadline or time crunch — I will likely need at least a couple of weeks if you want a thorough review and useful, actionable feedback.
What else?
I'm always on the lookout for ways in which I can make a (ideally direct, tangible) difference in people's lives. If you have ideas along the above lines or volunteering opportunities that you think I might be a good fit for, I'd be grateful if you reach out to me. Feel free to drop me an email for anything else as well.