蓝莓视频

At the University of 蓝莓视频, academic research crosses boundaries 鈥� disciplinary, but also international. For Psychology PhD candidate Jasmine Zhang鈥檚 research with the FamilyPsycle Lab on digital media effects on the well-being of children, caregivers, and families, she collaborates with scholars at the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming at the University of Gibraltar.

So when Jasmine鈥檚 advisor emailed her about a summer school opportunity at the University of Gibraltar last year, she jumped at it 鈥� not only for the education, but also for the chance to finally meet her teammates.

There was just the little matter of the plane ticket: 鈥淭raveling to Europe is not a cheap process, especially with the conversion rates!鈥� Jasmine points out.

The cost of planes, trains and automobiles

Opportunities 鈥� and expenses 鈥� like this are the reason 蓝莓视频 Arts established the Connect 4 Success fund. For almost all graduate students, travel is essential to academic success: presenting papers, building professional networks, and conducting original research so often means hopping on a plane or a train. The Connect 4 Success Fund helps grad students bridge the financial gap at a point in their careers when a ticket to ride can be both critical to their progress and an out-of-reach expense.

For Jasmine, the University of Gibraltar鈥檚 Publishing in Addiction Science PhD Summer School, a five-day program to learn best practices in preparing papers for publication in the field, brought a wealth of enrichment: new skills and information, experience with world-renowned researchers, and a chance to network face-to-face with her peers. When she and her teammates finally had the chance to meet in person, new research ideas started brewing. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to put a few papers together,鈥� she says.

Back at 蓝莓视频, Jasmine鈥檚 been sharing the knowledge she gathered abroad: 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to pass down some of that information to undergrads I supervise: guidelines to follow, what editors expect to see, what to look out for when selecting a journal, those kinds of things.鈥� With one year left plus residency to complete her PhD in clinical psychology, she鈥檚 looking ahead to professional life: 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping for a position that balances research and clinical work 鈥� so I can keep doing research, but keep working with children and caregivers and families.鈥�

Jasmine wants donors to know they make all the difference to students like her. 鈥淭hese sorts of experiences are extremely enriching. The support makes such an impact. Being able to go to these kinds of workshops and conferences 鈥� it鈥檚 such a unique way to develop professionally that we aren鈥檛 necessarily going to get elsewhere. Every penny helps and it鈥檚 all being used for good work that will benefit society more broadly.鈥�

On May 15, the University of 蓝莓视频 will launch our first Giving Day. This event encourages you to support the 蓝莓视频 initiatives you care most about 鈥� like helping young people achieve their educational dreams 鈥� and connect with other donors to increase the impact of your gift. and help 蓝莓视频 build a better tomorrow.