About Us
Let’s face it — graduate school is challenging. How do you handle the sting of a rejected paper? What about the nagging feelings of imposter syndrome that seem to resurface? How do you maintain a work-life balance while keeping up with research demands?
Graduate Women in Computer Science, or Grad-CS Women for short, is a welcoming community dedicated to helping computer science graduate students at the University of Utah develop the skills they need to thrive in their programs. We welcome all graduate computer science students to our organization, especially female-identifying individuals. As a student-led group within the Kahlert School of Computing (KSoC), we are committed to fostering an environment where everyone can succeed academically, professionally, and socially. Our members represent diverse identities, backgrounds, and research areas, including computer vision, machine learning, medical image analysis, and supercomputing.
Navigating graduate school successfully requires insight and experience, which aren’t always easy to come by, even for senior students. Grad-CS Women is here to simplify that journey by providing guidance from the ground up, turning what can be a confusing process into a more manageable and clear path. Whether you’re just starting out or are nearing the end of your program, Grad-CS Women offers valuable lessons and support to help you succeed in your unique graduate journey.
Curious about joining Grad-CS Women? Visit our Get Involved page to learn more. Want to know about upcoming events? Head over to our Events page. Interested in conference and scholarship opportunities? Take a look at our Resources page. And don’t miss our Blog, where we dive into all things CS!
Requirements for Membership
To become a member of Grad-CS Women, you must satisfy the following requirements:
- Be a graduate student (MS or PhD)
- Be a student within the KSoC, have a @cs.utah.edu email, or be involved in computer science-related research
Please note that you do not have to be a female-identifying student to join the organization.
Mission
Grad-CS Women strives to
- Equip graduate students with the survival tools to succeed in their respective programs
- Enhance the graduate experience through workshops, speaker series, social gatherings, and professional development sessions
- Serve as an outlet for students from various departments to connect and have fun
- Address the unique challenges women face in computer science and celebrate their achievements
- Foster collaborative projects and research initiatives that highlight and advance the work of women in computer science
- Provide opportunities for leadership by encouraging participation in leadership roles within the organization and in the broader academic and professional community
- Encourage work-life balance by offering resources and strategies for managing academic responsibilities alongside personal life and well-being
- Build a network of role models and successful professionals who can inspire and guide current students, helping them navigate their academic and career paths