Rock Your Research with Chris Jones

018: Juan overcame isolation as a graduate student to ultimately build a fantastic network of friends and become the chair of his department at the University of Florida

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Juan struggled with being the only African American PhD student but used this to build a network and expand his way of thinking by interacting with people from many other backgrounds. He credits this with improving the way that he thinks and works.

Juan is the Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor and Chair of the Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department at the University of Florida where he leads the Human-Experience Research Lab.

Biggest Struggle
  • Isolation, he was the only African American PhD student in computer science in the department and  in the country at the time.
    • Worst Moment
    • His adviser left the university and he ended up switching to a different university.
      • Best Moment
      • Finishing but also getting the opportunity to go to a new school and work on a new project after his adviser left the university.
        • Mindful Minutes Segment
        • Habit: Curiosity and the drive to find answers.
        • Book:  Read a CV of someone that you want to have a similar job to.
        • Productivity Tool: Google Calendar, group meeting account, email, and other technology.
        • Best Advice:  Don't give up, just keep going!
        • Hobbies:  Exercise, watch movies and hangout with the family, and fish
        • Alternative PhD study:  He
          • Contact Information and Resources
          • Twitter
          • Website
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            Intro and Outro Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music - Happy Rock 

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            Rock Your Research with Chris JonesBy Chris Jones interviews PhDs about graduate school and careers to provide advice to graduate students!