Duke Chemistry First Year Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This is meant to be a helpful resource, NOT to stress anyone out! We know that this can be an overwhelming time. We hope that this page will help to answer some of your lingering questions. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to your recruitment host, anyone on the Graduate Chemistry Council Exec Board, or Natalie and Victoria.
Where can I eat??
See all dining options here!
See the Daily Devil Deals ($5 or less) and Value Deals ($10 or less) here.
How can I add money to my DukeCard to buy food and food/drink from vending machines?
Visit Manage Your DukeCard, click on MY DUKECARD LOG IN, and log in with netID. Then, click the way you’d like to add money under “add funds to your DukeCard.” Add as much as you’d like, but $25 is the minimum. This will add money to “FLEX” which you can use on vending machines and eateries on campus. This money is there until you use it all, it doesn’t go away after the end of the semester or anything like that. When you are buying food, tell them you are using FLEX.
How do I mobile order on campus?
Download “Transact Mobile Ordering” app from the app store on your mobile device. Choose your campus (Duke University, not medical campus). Sign in with netID. Now you can mobile order!
Where can I find more information about being an international student at Duke?
Duke International Student Center’s website has great resources. If you have additional questions about being an international graduate student, ask Natalie or Victoria to put you in contact with a fellow international student.
How does parking work at Duke for graduate students?
There are several options available, but most students utilize the Science Drive Garage, which is about a 10-15 minute walk from French. More details on parking options, including carpool passes, after hours passes, and other transportation options can be found here.
How do I pay for my parking pass?
- Go to DukeHub
- Sign in
- On your dashboard, click on the “financials” tab
- Under recent transactions, click on view more
- Confirm the cost of your parking pass here, write down this number
- On the left, expand the Financials tab, and select “What I Owe”
- First, don’t freak out if this number is crazy big…that’s normal and you don’t actually have to pay that
- Click on “Make a Payment”
- Choose how you would like to pay
- Enter the amount you wrote down in 5. Yes, we agree it’s strange you have to enter the amount instead of clicking somewhere that you want to pay for parking.
- Pay
Can I appeal a parking ticket?
Yes, we encourage it! Visit Appealing a Ticket for more info.
Where do I find more info about labs? Can I contact lab members/PIs?
Lab websites can be found here under each faculty member! Most lab groups detail research projects and list lab members. Ask us for help connecting you with older students in your labs of interest! If you have lingering questions, you may email PIs and students in your labs of interest. Most students and PIs are excited to share information about their lab.
How should I pick a research lab?
There are many things to consider when choosing a lab! Most students will note three main categories to consider:
- Principal Investigator (PI)
- What is the PI’s communication style, teaching style, etc.?
- How much contact do you have with them on a daily basis?
- Lab Culture
- How do lab mates interact with each other?
- Are members of the lab collaborative?
- What do people like to do outside of the lab?
- Research
- Are you excited by the chemistry?
Each lab has its pros and cons, you just have to decide what things are most important to you. Try to rank the categories listed above in order of importance. This ranking will vary person to person, depending on your personal priorities and values. Remember, you know yourself better than anyone else! You know the types of environments where you will flourish and the ones where you may struggle. Ask a ton of questions during rotations and talk with your first-year mentors; we all want you to find the best fit! We’ve compiled a list of questions to prompt conversations with older students in your lab rotations.
What are secondary faculty? How do affiliation/rotations work?
Secondary faculty are just faculty that have a primary affiliation with a different department. A list of our secondary faculty can be found here. Chemistry students can affiliate with secondary faculty and rotation expectations will depend per faculty. Students interested in chemical biology and materials chemistry should be particularly encouraged to check out our list of secondary faculty, as many have research interests in these areas!
What classes should I take?
If you are interested in specific lab groups, it is good to ask lab members what classes they took and what classes the PI likes their students to take. If you are interested in certain certificate programs (see below), you may try to take classes that will fulfill the certificate requirements. Most of all, take the classes that interest you! Those will more than likely be the most beneficial to you at the end of the day. Remember there is a drop/add period, so try not to stress out too much over what classes to pick!
**Most senior graduate students agree that coursework taken in your first year doesn’t make a huge difference in your overall success/knowledge/experience. You learn much more in the lab!
Should I take 2 classes for 3 semesters or 3 classes for 2 semesters?
It’s up to you! Chemistry students do both. The first year of graduate school can feel very busy, so some students prefer to take less classes at this time to focus on rotations and TAing. Other students prefer to get all classes out of the way in their first year, so they can focus on research in their second year. It depends on your personality. While three classes is certainly doable with the TA load/rotations, some students prefer to save a class or two until the fall after they affiliate so that they can take the most relevant classes possible. Even if you take all required credits in your first year, your PI may still ask/expect you to take additional classes (especially ones they teach).
What software and memberships are available to Duke students?
For both classes and research, there are several resources available to Duke graduate students. Search for and download software such as ChemDraw here.
All Duke students have access to SciFinder-n! If you are not on the Duke server, you will have to log in via the proxy server.
When will I learn my TA assignment/schedule?
This will be addressed over the first day or two of orientation.
What happens if I am scheduled to TA during a class that I am interested in?
Classes will generally take priority. You should notify the lab coordinator or lecture professor and try to switch your TA assignment. If you find yourself in this situation (or potentially in this situation), be as proactive as possible. If the situation becomes more complicated, contact the DGS (Prof. Kevin Welsher).
What are certificate programs? How can I get involved?
Many Duke chemistry graduate students choose to enroll in certificate programs which provide interdisciplinary training that extends beyond the disciplines and skills that are taught within an existing department. These programs are great ways to meet people outside the department, boost your resume, and extend your professional network! Many programs have particular requirements such as specific class or seminar attendance requirements. Some programs even award funding! Here is a list of certificate programs that our department is currently involved in.
How do I get involved on campus?
Duke hosts a Graduate Student Resource Fair (it’s more like a club fair) during orientation- details TBD. GO TO THIS! The fair will have booths for several graduate student organizations. Also Duke Groups (Duke NetID Login required) is a great resource to browse registered student organizations (note that it mixes undergraduate and graduate groups, but you can filter for graduate groups) and browse upcoming events on campus. Also, utilize your peers! Ask older students what they like to do in their free time! Your first year mentors are great resources to connect you with students that share hobbies/interests. Happy hours and events such as the departmental Durham Bulls Game are a great time to meet older students. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of hobbies/involvement of current students!
For those interested in getting more involved in the department, GCC holds elections every June!
When will I get my first paycheck?
Any specific questions regarding payroll should be directed to our DGSA, Claudia De La Cruz.
Where do most chemistry graduate students live?
While some students choose to live in neighboring cities such as Cary and Chapel Hill or downtown Durham and south Durham, most students live close to the Duke area. Some students live with roommates while others live alone. Duke’s Graduate and Professional Student Housing’s site has helpful info about both on and off campus living. Duke List (Duke NetID Login required) is also a great place to look for housing and roommates. Some popular complexes/neighborhoods to live in are Poplar West (visited during recruitment), Thompson Ridge (visited during recruitment), The Belmont, and Woodstone at Croasdaile Farm, and many more! You may also want to look at sites like Zillow or Trulia where private homeowners may be renting out their spaces.
What health/mental health resources are available on campus for Duke graduate students?
Duke’s Student Wellness Center is located at 305 Towerview Rd, about a 10 min walk from FFSC and has the following offices:
- Student Health
- Student Health Nutrition
- Student Health Physical Therapy
- Campus Smiles (Campus Dentist) – Our dental insurance is also accepted at other local dentists.
- Duke’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)- CAPS offers many services to Duke students, including tele-mental health appointments. Any student can call to speak with someone or for assistance with referrals in our local community.
- Duke Campus Center Pharmacy– Fast and convenient pharmacy for over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Health insurance: You must waive if you already have health insurance or you will be automatically enrolled at no cost. If you waive your health insurance, you get a stipend supplement if you prove that you have a comparable health insurance package.
Dental insurance: You ARE automatically enrolled, and the annual coverage costs $329 (This has previously changed as of June 2023). Make sure you waive if you do not want Duke’s dental insurance before the deadline!
What are all of these acronyms I keep hearing/seeing?
A lot of us in the department use acronyms, and we may forget that you don’t know what they mean. If you hear anyone mention an acronym, stop and ask them what it stands for! Here are some common acronyms you may here us use:
FFSC– French Family Science Center (also commonly called “French”), main chemistry building
LSRC– Levine Science Research Center, Becker and McCafferty labs located here, building next door to French
DGS– Director of Graduate Studies (Kevin Welsher)
DGSA– Assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies (Claudia Ruga)
DUS– Director of Undergraduate Studies
PI– Principal Investigator (the professor that runs the lab)
DivInC– Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Committee
GCC– Graduate Chemistry Council
GPSG– Graduate and Professional Student Government (all Duke graduate and professional students)
CAPS– Counseling and Psychological Services
WU– Broadhead Center (formally known as Western Union), where all the amazing food on campus is!
I’m feeling overwhelmed by orientation/information overload 🙁
We know starting your first semester of grad school can be very overwhelming, luckily there are a lot of people in the department who want to help you!
Talk to your first year mentors or recruitment co-chairs/first year liaisons Natalie Schulte and Victoria Cinnater. Dr. Kevin Welsher (DGS- Director of Graduate Studies) is a great resource for stress regarding classes, teaching, or affiliations. Claudia De La Cruz (DGSA) will be your point person for all things related to onboarding, paperwork, and payroll. Many students also find Duke’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) helpful in stressful times.
