The PGSA Journal Club aims to expose graduate students to a wider variety of current physics research than what they typically get from their own research groups. They learn about new physics from their peers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. It is also a forum for students to gain experience in communicating science to their peers and more general audience.  

The Journal Club meets approximately bi-weekly to discuss a paper selected by the presenting student from the list of the papers suggested by the Faculty and available in this website. Typically the selected paper is of general interest to the presenter and is either a seminal/classic paper from the presenter's sub-field or a new paper creating a lot of buzz. The presentation should be directed at an audience outside the presenter's sub-field and extensive Q&A and discussion is encouraged. 

The presenter receives feedback on his/her presentation based on a standardized evaluation form that the audience fills out. Audience feedback will be considered by the Journal Club faculty advisor in determining the winner. Winners will be announced at the end of the semester.

 

 There are three presentation categories:

    • New Idea category: presenter has to come up with a New Research Idea and successfully defend his/her proposal. You need to give the topic at least two weeks prior to your presentation, so that the Journal Club will have enough time to make sure there will be two faculty members to evaluate your presentation.


 

 

The Mississippi State PGSA is pleased to announce the 4th UM-MSU Research Symposium, to take place on March 23, 2019. This event will bring together undergraduate and graduate students from Mississippi State University (MSU) and University of Mississippi (UM) in order to promote the interaction and exchange of ideas between the participants.

The Symposium will consist of both Oral and Poster presentations. Both presentation styles are available to all participants. This event is open to Graduate students, Undergraduate students, post-docs and other staff, as well as faculty affiliated with either UM or MSU. Topics will be based on all areas of physics which are available at either institution, including AMO, Nuclear, Theoretical/Computational, Condenses Matter, Acoustics, and more.

Registration is now closed. Please contact Claire Geneser with further questions (contact below)

extended deadline

Submissions can be made easily by going to the PGSA (MSU) website, (Click Here) . All are encouraged to participate.

The Physics Graduate Students Association (PGSA) of the Mississippi State University provides a common platform for all the graduate students in Physics & Astronomy Department. We are a student-led, student-run organization at the University intended to enhance the welcoming atmosphere for graduate students who are learning and working at the Department of Physics & Astronomy to foster close cooperation between students themselves and faculty, and to facilitate graduate student communication.


Contact general inquiries: Claire Geneser ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

University of Mississippi Contact: Akshay Khadse ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

 

PGSA Journal Club Evaluation Form

Journal Club Speaker (please print): ___________________________              Date: ______________

Evaluator Name (Optional; please print): ______________________________

Time length of presentation: ______ minutes

 

Evaluation: (1 – Not really and 5 – Yes) (Please circle one)

1  2  3  4  5     Were the slides easy to read? Was the text large enough?

1  2  3  4  5     Did each slide make clear sense and focus on one idea/concept?

1  2  3  4  5     Did the talk flow logically from one topic to the next?

1  2  3  4  5     Did the speaker make good eye contact with the audience?

1  2  3  4  5     Did the speaker seem to understand the topic well?

1  2  3  4  5     Did the speaker seem to be well-prepared in the delivery of their presentation?

1  2  3  4  5     Did the speaker find ways to express the topic’s relevance?

1  2  3  4  5     Did the speaker effectively explain the physics behind the paper or new idea?

1  2  3  4  5     Did you enjoy the presentation?

1  2  3  4  5     Was the presenter able to answer questions raised by the audience?

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Feedback to the presenter:

How interesting was the presentation?

 


What did you like the most about the presentation?

 


What would you like to suggest to make the presentation more interesting?

 


Are there any serious issues that you think the presenter needs to consider/improve?

 


How valuable is the overall presentation? (Please choose one: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent)