“Good job. Well done. But this is just the beginning…”
With these succinct words of affirmation to the assembled PhD candidates, Nicquet Blake, PhD, dean of the Graduate Division and vice provost of Student Academic Affairs, summed up a key reality of the Graduate Division’s first-ever Candidacy Ceremony: this was indeed an occasion to celebrate the accomplishments that brought them this far on their journey, but also a chance to anticipate with clear eyes the many challenges and opportunities still to come in their path to earning a PhD and in their careers beyond.
Celebrating Early and Often
Faculty mentors, friends, family, and staff members gathered at the Rutter Center at UCSF Mission Bay campus on Feb. 25 to formally congratulate 71 PhD students who passed their qualifying exams in 2024 and have advanced to the phase of their PhD program in which they will focus on dissertation research.
The ceremony featured a talk by Janet Shim, PhD, a professor of Sociology at UCSF and herself a UCSF PhD alum. Shim encouraged the students to “celebrate early and often” in ways big and small to help stay resilient amid the inevitable uncertainties, delays, frustrations, and other challenges of academic research which, she reminded them, are “perfectly normal.” See Dr. Shim's address.
"Scholarship and research aren’t by any means an easy road to go, but it is one of the few occupations where we’re supposed to dream…that’s actually part of the job. Don’t be afraid to dream big."
Janet Shim, PhD, Professor of Sociology
Candidacy Speaker
Akin to a white coat ceremony common in the professional schools and somewhat reminiscent of a commencement, but not exactly either, this event instead featured each student being presented by a faculty member with a lightweight blue softshell jacket emblazoned with the Graduate Division logo. After coating was completed, Dean Blake lead students in reciting the PhD creed, which was developed in collaboration with some of the participating students. A reception with light refreshments and plenty of photo ops wrapped up the event.
► Watch: Behind the scenes reel of Candidacy Ceremony group photo
“I took a lot away from the speaker’s emphasis on 'celebrating early and often.' There’s no downside to celebration, and I found it gratifying that you all acknowledged that advancing to candidacy was a challenging process. Some might call it a given, but that’s not true… Hopefully this can be the start of a new tradition, and one that more people will opt in to.”
Nilla Sivakumar
Neuroscience PhD candidate
“Obtaining a PhD is a long journey, filled with many challenges and successes. It was really great to be able to participate in a celebration of a major milestone on this journey…We are very proud of our students and look forward to all of their upcoming accomplishments!”
Adrian Erlebacher, MD, PhD
Professor of Laboratory Medicine
Director of the Biomedical Sciences PhD program
Watch a recording of the 2025 Candidacy Ceremony
All photos by Sonya Yruel Photography.
