EDITOR’S NOTE: The original version of this article misidentified some of the quoted interviewees. The names and pronouns of all interviewees have been corrected for accuracy.
At 10 a.m. on Feb. 18, the Biology/Biomedical Graduate Student Organization (BGSO) hosted its first Coffee Break, offering biology and biomedical graduate students an informal opportunity to connect outside of labs and coursework.
The event took place during a busy point in the semester, when many students are balancing experiments, classes and exams.
Students filtered in throughout the morning, some stopping briefly to grab coffee and snacks to go, while others remained longer to talk with peers.
According to Sravya Nimmala, a second-year Ph.D. student in the biology department and president of the Biology Graduate Student Organization, the idea for the coffee break came from conversations with fellow graduate students who were interested in trying something new.
“Everybody is always running around trying to get things done,” Nimmala said. “We thought people could use a break to catch up.”
The event was intentionally unstructured, allowing students to stop in as their schedules allowed.
Nimmala said the informal format was meant to help newer students connect with more established members of the department.
“It’s pretty informal,” Nimmala said. “We have new students who joined the department this year, so it’s a chance for them to meet older students.”
Throughout the coffee break, students moved between small conversations, greeting peers they recognized and briefly checking in before returning to lab work. Even attendees who stayed only a short time took the opportunity to speak with at least one other person.
Cole, a Ph.D. student in biological and biomedical science, said the event made it easier to connect with peers he does not always see during the workday.
“My lab is right across the hall, and I don’t leave my lab very often,” Cole said. “I saw some students I recognized and came over.”
Cole added that informal gatherings, such as coffee breaks, provide a chance to stay connected with colleagues beyond academic responsibilities.
“It’s nice to catch up with your peers,” he said. “I like asking people how their research is going and checking in every once in a while.”
Niraj Dhakal, a final-year Ph.D. student in biology and biomedical sciences, said events like the coffee break help bring students together despite busy schedules.
“We’re all busy with lab work,” Dhakal said. “Having a set time to meet helps people build connections.”
For Brooke Stasak, a biology major, the coffee break offered space for conversations unrelated to research.
“A lot of graduate students are so busy with research that we don’t really have a place to just hang out and talk about things that aren’t research,” Stasak said. “This is a good way to connect with other peers.”
Stasak also noted that increased outreach could help make similar events more accessible to students who may not hear about them.
“A lot of people don’t see flyers or hear about events like this,” she said. “They don’t always have time to come.”
Nimmala said the coffee break was the first event of its kind hosted by the organization, though previous leadership organized dinners and game nights.
She said feedback from students often focuses on improving communication and connection within the department.
