Graduate Student Life

Graduate students in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry can take advantage of the many activities inherent to a major city such as Atlanta, as well as Atlanta's proximity to the Appalachian mountains and both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Activities within the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry include faculty vs. student soccer games, departmental picnics, intramural sports, and tailgating, as well as more informal activities. We encourage admitted students to visit Georgia Tech in the Spring to learn about research in School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and to visit the Atlanta area.

Georgia Tech is located in midtown Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is the 9th largest metro area in the U.S. with a population of over 5 million people. The city is known for its diverse array of culture, hosting events ranging from the Chick-fil-A Bowl to Dragon*Con, an annual science fiction convention. Highlights of living in Atlanta include:

Atlanta Jazz Festival: The largest free jazz festival in the U.S. is held every Memorial Day in Piedmont Park, just a few blocks from Georgia Tech.

Peachtree Road Race: The Peachtree Road Race is a 10k held on July 4th. Elite and amateur runners race through the streets of Atlanta for a finish in Piedmont Park. Winners for 2010 had times of 27:56 (men) and 30:51 (women). Numerous Georgia Tech students and professors compete each year.

Decatur: The city of Decatur is 8 miles from Georgia Tech. It has an old-fashioned city square surrounded by unique shops and restaurants. Decatur hosts an art festival each Memorial Day and a book festival each Labor Day.

Atlantic Coast: The Atlantic Coast of Georgia includes historic Savannah and the Georgia Barrier Islands. The Barrier Islands are primitive islands that remain largely undeveloped and are great to explore. They are known for their unique wildlife such as sea turtles, wild horses, and shore birds.

Georgia Tech's campus is bordered by three distinct neighborhoods; Midtown known for the High Museum and Piedmont Park, Westside with galleries and lofts, and Home Park/Atlantic Station with a 16-screen movie theatre and an array of shops. The Georgia Tech campus consists of 400 wooded acres that provide a quiet space within this urban environment. The campus includes a world class gym with the pool that was used for the 1996 Summer Olympics, the Ferst Center for the Arts, and Bobby Dodd Stadium.

The Graduate Student Forum (GSF) is a student-based organization in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Established in the early 1990s, GSF provides professional development and social programming to complement the academic training currently in place for Ph.D. students. GSF-sponsored activities include student-invited seminars, departmental picnics, and a welcome party for incoming graduate students.