Graduate student from Dr. Almeida’s Lab Please give him your undivided attention

Matthew R Gaynor, B.S. Robert D Watkins Graduate Research Fellow The University of Texas at El Paso Dept. of Biological Sciences The Border Biomedical Research Center

From fossils to parasites

 Alice Lloyd College, Pippa Passes, KY  Very small ( < 530 students), private liberal arts work college  Bachelor of Science, Highest Honor  Biology (General biology track)  Started as a Pre-Med/Pre-Optometry student (Ophthalmologist/Optometrist)  However…

Why did I choose UTEP?

 Research  Mentor  Lab personal  Personal philosophy (work ethic)  Academic resources  Geographic location  Funding  International recognition  “Five hour flight” rule

Things the graduate school recruiter did not say or: pros and cons of graduate school life

 Your own schedule  Opportunity to mentor  Unlimited coffee  Greater salary/Job security  Meeting new people  Diversity Grad school is NOT college Money No more weekends, no more holidays Sleep deprivation Stress Lame conversations

Final Thought

 Graduate school isn’t always easy, but the rewards and the prestige are well worth the effort (7% post-graduates, 1% Ph.D.)

Questions???

 We found out that the country for Homecoming is the Dominican Republic  We will need to incorporate this more into the float

 The SDC has changed a couple of things this year with regards to homecoming  If you complain at all during the week of Homecoming, AT ALL, the organization as a whole will be disqualified from the entire week  If you have any grievances or opinions please send an to any of the officers so that we can voice them to the SDC, do not go directly to them.  If you have not yet signed up at mine tracker, please do so ASAP. If you are not on the list and you go to support ASM at any of the events, ASM will be disqualified from that event. In order to sign in, you will need your MINER GOLD CARD  The bottles from the Recycle Wars have to be clear bottles, must be rinsed, and must be crushed in order for them to be accepted PLEASE confirm your sign up with Jazmin

 We were thinking of practicing for the lip sync tomorrow, September 28 th at 7:30pm (this is open for discussion) behind the bioscience building.  Be sure to text Liz (915) if you cannot find us.

 We will be setting up at Katie’s house  We would like to begin working on the structure of the float no later than Wednesday September 29 th  Please let us know what days and times are available for everyone  We will be compiling a list of items that we need donated and we will be accepting monetary donations to offset the cost of making the float  If you will be asking for any type of donation there is a letter online that you fill in  We will be meeting to start the float, possibly during the week but definitely on saturday October 4 th (Please let us know what time you all will be available ASAP)

 For those of you who signed up for this event, please contact/see Jazmin after the meeting so that you all can set up a time to meet and practice for this event

 The following designs were submitted.  We will vote and the design with at least 50%+1 of members present will be chosen.  Shirts will be given to you if you are paid member and during the week of homecoming

 Sheets will be passed out for these options

 Tuesday, October 5, 2010  9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. East Union Building  Registration Deadline - Friday, September 17, 2010  Please visit for more information

 Our next general meeting will be next week because Dr. Nicquet Blake from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio will be presenting for ASM  It will be in the Seminar Room, room in the Bioscience Building  Meeting will be on October 5 th at 3 PM  Please bring questions as she is taking time from her busy schedule to be with ASM