Research Interests and ambitions of First

Year International Chemistry Graduate

Students at the University of Iowa

Sanjaya Jayalath
ESL Writing Skills for Graduate
Students

Introduction
Chemistry Graduate Program
Well-known graduate program
130 graduate students
50% are international students
Graduate research Studies
four main sub-disciplines
1. Organic Chemistry
2. Inorganic Chemistry
3. analytical Chemistry
4. Physical Chemistry

Research interest
often diverse
governed by several factors
1. job availability
popularity

2. current world trends

graduate orientation program

Workshops
Faculty presentations
Group rotations

3.

Research Questions
No available data on research interest of the graduate
students.
Impact of the orientation program on research interest of
the students is unknown.

Hypotheses
Research interest of the participants are diverse and depend
on origin and future ambitions
There is an impact of Graduate orientation program on
research interest of the participants

Methodology
A survey research based on questionnaire
Studied criteria,
1. Regional and country wise composition
2. Research interest of the participants prior.
3. Research interest of the participants.
4. Significant changes of the research interests
5. Popularity of the main sub-disciplines in home countries
6. Future career goals

Results & Discussion

01. First year International Chemistry graduate student
composition of University of Iowa.

Sri Lanka; 9%
India; 9% China; 27%
Egypt; 9%
Thailand; 9%
South Korea; 18%
Vietnam; 18%

02. Research interest of the participants

befor
e

8
7
6

after

Median5
interest4

AC- Analytical
chemistry
PCPhysical chemistry

3
2
1
0

OC- Organic
chemistry
ICInorganic chemistry

OC

IC
Sub discipline

AC

PC

03. Changes in the Research interest of participants

OC- Organic
chemistry
ICInorganic chemistry

4
Difference in median interest
3

AC- Analytical
chemistry
PCPhysical chemistry

2
1
0

OC

IC

AC

-1
-2

Sub discipline

PC

04. Home country, Most popular sub discipline and

highest interest of the participants
Particip
ant

Country

Most popular sub

discipline

Highest interest of
the participant

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

China
China
China
South Korea
South Korea
Vietnam
Vietnam
Thailand
India
Egypt
Sri Lanka

Organic
Organic
Organic
Analytical
Analytical
Organic
Analytical
Analytical
Organic
Organic
Organic

Organic
Organic
Organic
Inorganic
Analytical
Organic
Analytical
Analytical
Organic
Organic
Analytical

05. Percentage job expectations of the participants

preference%

50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Job expectation

Conclusions
Most interested- Organic Chemistry
Least interested- Physical Chemistry
Popularity affects the research interest
Graduate orientation program has an impact on
research interest
Most preferred occupations - academic related

References
1. http://www.chem.uiowa.edu/about (11/19/2014)
2. http://international.uiowa.edu/files/international.uiowa.
edu/files/file_uploads/fall_2013_statistical_report.pdf
(11/19/2014)
3. Law, F. M., & Guo, G. J. (2011). Factors Influencing
Interest in Research among Criminal Justice
Students.Journal of Criminal Justice Education,22(3),
377-391.
4. Rea, L. M., & Parker, R. A. (2014).Designing and
conducting survey research: A comprehensive guide.
John Wiley & Sons.

Thank you