The "Meet Your Student Leaders" series provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows an opportunity to get to know the students who run the various graduate student organizations at UAB.

Q: What is your name, age and program of study?

A: “Mateus Mota, 29, Graduate Biomedical Sciences (GBS) program, doctoral student.”

Q: What is your role within the organization?

A: “Communications officer.”

Q: What responsibilities does that role entail?

A: “I am in charge of producing advertising material of the events we promote and representing the organization in student fairs.”

Q: How much time do you dedicate to the organization?

A: “Depends.”

Q: How are you benefitting from this leadership position? How will it help you achieve your future career goals? What are you learning from this role?

A: “I’ve been developing skills on how to work in group, listen and respect different opinions when it comes to decide on something. It’s been an environment to discuss about different topics and concerns that affect our student community and how to solve them. Those experiences are improving my professional and social skills that will be helpful when I go to the job market.”

Q: Why should graduate students get involved in student organizations?

A: “It’s a very ‘beneficial break’ from your regular work where you can interact with other students and be active in shaping your program.”

Q: Why should graduate students get involved in leadership positions within those student organizations?

A: “It’s a time to gather experience for a future more professional leadership position.”

Q: How do you balance being a graduate student with the responsibilities that come from this leadership position?

A: “Just by being organized and prioritizing the right responsibility at the right time.”

Q: What else do you do (member of other organizations, volunteer work, family, etc.)?

A: “I’m part of the intramural swim club in the Recreational Center-UAB. We do volunteer work in the B’ham community twice a year.”