by Abby Webster
Hi all, I’m Abby. You may have read my other LOREX blogs from 2023-2024 describing my experience traveling to Australia as part of the third LOREX cohort. If not, you can find them here, and then come back to this one 😊:
https://www.aslo.org/lorex-gday-down-under/
https://www.aslo.org/just-do-it/
The goal of the ASLO LOREX program is to foster international research collaborations for graduate students in the aquatic sciences with the intention to expand students’ critical thinking skills and confidence in an international setting. It is a testament to the program that, as I write this, I am finalizing plans to return to Australia for a third time! This time, it’s on my own accord. My first LOREX experience in 2023 opened my eyes to different perspectives in research and academia, and some results from that exchange allowed me to pursue a second. I feel extremely lucky that the collaboration that began from a cold email about 3 ½ years ago has grown into an open door on the other side of the world. I have no hesitation saying that my LOREX exchanges were the best parts of my graduate school experience. I went into my first exchange in September 2023 not knowing what to expect but hoping for the best. Sure, I had failed experiments and didn’t know what I was doing most of the time, but I was learning new things and became a better scientist in doing so. After my first stint abroad, I was more independent and confident that I was asking research questions worth pursuing, but not only that, I was better at asking people for help. That was important for me to realize. As PhD students, we’ve probably all been told “no one will hold your hand through this”. But the first couple of years in the program are tainted with imposter syndrome, which can make us wish someone would. During my LOREX exchanges, I had to trust my knowledge and make more decisions on my own. However, I was still in a new place and that meant making friends and asking for help when I needed it. At the end of the day, the foundation of a successful PhD is built from collaboration and communication, and those skills are better because of my experience abroad.
The second time going to Australia (cohort 4), I knew what I was in for. I had more realistic expectations for what could be accomplished in a short period, and I was familiar with the work environment. I really got to build on the existing relationships I had with my collaborators, home in on my expertise, and feel like I was part of the community. I was very fortunate to participate in LOREX twice, and my second exchange helped solidify my working relationships with supervisors from my host institution. By the time I had to leave to return to the US, everyone was sure it wouldn’t be too long until I would be back again. It’s no surprise they were right.
You can't blame me for wanting to go back when this is my view on an evening walk. That's certainly not what Syracuse, NY looks like in January...
On days like this one I am reminded why aquatic sciences are the best, because when else do you get to wade in a stream for work on a hot summer day?
If I had to sum up my LOREX experiences in a few key words, I think I would say the following: transformative, confidence-boosting, and rewarding. Now more than ever, I see the value of exchange programs, like LOREX, that help students get their foot in the door with international partnerships. Beyond providing the opportunity to expand our skills and to grow our professional network, I feel more confident exploring opportunities post-PhD outside of what I know in the US. As someone who is completing graduate school at the same university as my undergrad, it was important to both my advisor and I that I got the chance to experience academia in a different environment. That shift in perspective I got in Australia came at a crucial time and gave me momentum to continue the work I needed to do back home. In addition to scientific skills, I had a better work-life balance when I came back. I felt more intentional with my time and was better at managing it. These “soft skills” (which I think is a terrible name, but that’s beside the point) are arguably just as important as the experiments I ran and the techniques I learned. My hope is that programs like LOREX continue to be supported so that students from various backgrounds and from other scientific disciplines have these opportunities. I would strongly encourage students to pursue an exchange program or propose something similar to your advisors if you too need a breath of fresh air every once in a while. Our experiences are what shape us and prepare us for the next step, and I am immensely grateful for the LOREX program and coordinators for easing that transition for me.
I could ramble on forever, but I should really shift this writing energy back into my dissertation. Catch ya!