Op/ed: Grad Students, Postdocs Should Prioritize Friendship, Too

The whirl of graduate school and postdoctoral work can be a busy, exciting time for researchers striving to find their footing in academia or industry, but it can leave little time for another key part of life—building deep friendships.

In a new essay in Inside Higher Ed, Yi Hao, director of career and professional development at the University of Maryland Graduate School, and Mallory Neil, director of industry partnerships for Clemson University’s College of Science, tout the lifelong benefits of cultivating those relationships amid intense study and training.

Studies show that strong relationships at work are linked to a lower risk of burnout, better mental health and fewer traumatic experiences. Having peer friendships helps graduate students and postdoctoral scholars cope with the rigorous nature of their academic training.

Although the demands of this training can make it difficult to prioritize one’s social life, intense work environments in group settings also provide many opportunities for like-minded individuals to get to know each other beyond the immediate tasks at hand.

Read the rest on Inside Higher Ed.