Former Trainee Testimonials

Hyungmin (Min) Cha, '23

Texas has been my academic home for the past six years. In academia, there's often a prevailing belief that one must work hard to publish their work, fostering an individualistic perspective. However, I've discovered that the true key to success lies in the warmth and intellectual engagement of the community here at Texas PRC. The professors at Texas didn't hesitate to invest their time in graduate students. They organized weekly meetings, Friday seminars, workshops, and more. The more time professors spent with their students, the more students grew. I deeply appreciated all the support from Mark Hayward, Deb Umberson, Rob Crosnoe, Abby Weitzman, Dan Powers, and many more. In my opinion, they also have the best administrative team in the nation. Texas is the past, present, and future of demography. 

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Kathleen Broussard, '22

The PRC was invaluable to my development as an interdisciplinary researcher of reproductive and population health. My time as a PRC trainee offered the unique opportunity to receive training and mentorship from PRC faculty-affiliates across disciplines, including public affairs, economics, and social work. This highly collaborative environment was energizing and  ultimately made me a better sociologist and demographer. Generous funding, resources, and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research were certainly key to my success, but the individualized attention, long conversations, project-based learning, and high-caliber seminars and workshops offered by so many faculty members are what truly enriched my intellectual and professional life.

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Ana P. Canedo, '22

I'm deeply grateful for the outstanding demographic methods training I received from the PRC at UT, which, alongside my doctoral degree in public policy, has been pivotal in my career as an applied social demographer. This training not only unlocked otherwise inaccessible employment and research opportunities but also cultivated a vast network of colleagues through seminars and interactions with fellow students and postdoctoral fellows, fostering valuable collaborations. The nurturing and collaborative environment at the PRC, coupled with the practical knowledge gained from the Training Seminar in Demography, played a fundamental role in shaping my academic journey

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Sangita Vyas, '22

The PRC played an integral role in my development as a demographer and economist. One of the most valuable aspects of the PRC is its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. As an economist, I found a welcoming intellectual community and home within the PRC. My interactions with other students and faculty in the hallways, at seminars, and in classes helped me to think carefully about data and measurement, and ask better research questions. I am also incredibly grateful for the generous resources offered by the PRC, which provided me with fellowship support and office space. Without the rigorous training, faculty mentorship, and financial support provided by the PRC, I quite simply would not be the researcher I am today.

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Rachel Donnelly, '19

My graduate training at the PRC was a game changer for me. Through close collaborations with leaders in the field, I developed methodological skills, gained substantive knowledge, and forged connections that have been integral to my career thus far. The mentorship I received at the PRC was unmatched and continues to have a lasting influence on me. I am proud to be part of the vibrant, far-reaching network of UT PRC alums.

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