The Graduate School invites the campus community to participate in the 2026 Marquette Graduate Student Photo Contest by voting for this year’s finalist entries. Inspired by the theme “Life of a Graduate Student,” the selected photographs highlight meaningful moments of graduate life.
The campus community is encouraged to view the finalist images and cast their votes for their favorite doctoral student photo and master’s student photo, helping to celebrate the creativity and lived experiences of Marquette’s graduate students.
One doctoral student and one master’s student will each receive a $250 prize.
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DOCTORAL ENTRY HERE.
Voting is open until Sunday, Feb. 15, at noon.
Following are the doctoral student entries. Be sure to also view and vote for the master’s student entries here.
Doctoral student entries
1A. Md Martuza Ahamad
Department: Computer Science
Title: Mind Over Machine: The Silence Between Iterations
Description: Graduate research is often a marathon of noise — code, data and deadlines. This image captures the contrast between the complex calculations happening on the computer and the absolute silence of the student. It matters because it shows that breakthrough discoveries require not just computing power, but a clear and focused mind. It represents the “Life of a Graduate Student” as a journey of both intellectual and personal growth.
2A. Sakifa Aktar
Department: Computer Science
Title: Two Hands to Hold, One Dream to Chase
Description: This photo reflects my life as a PhD student: balancing enormous academic and research work with the responsibilities of motherhood. While I focus on my research work and attend lab meetings, my toddler is there, holding my hand as a constant companion. My son reminds me that learning, resilience, and the ability to keep going are happening simultaneously at home and in the lab. This image captures the hidden side of every graduate student mother, where ambition and the responsibility of caring for a child coexist harmoniously. It represents the adaptability, strength, and determination needed to pursue my higher education. My motherhood cannot stop fulfilling my dream.
3A. Chimobi Chikwendu
Department: Biological Sciences
Title: Grad School Growth
Description: This photo captures a plant both thriving and struggling in a quiet academic hallway, with no one present on Christmas Day. Like many graduate students, growth often happens while struggling and thriving at the same time, frequently in empty, unglamorous spaces where much of graduate life unfolds. It reflects the resilience and patience required to persist and grow through the journey.
4A. Bridgitte Cote
Department: Biomedical Sciences
Title: The Best Writing Buddy
Description: This is a picture of my cat, Fig, keeping me company during the final weeks of writing my qualifying exam. Even though sometimes they want to step on the keyboard or bite the laptop screen, my cats remind me to take breaks, keep me company, and remind me of the little joys, even when science gets tough.
5A. Cherise Edwards
Department: Nursing
Title: Daily Living as a Grad Student
Description: There is so much reading. There is never enough time to read (book chapters, articles, etc).
6A. Karen Hinkes
Department: Nursing
Title: MU Flu Shots with Blue
Description: I volunteered to help teach Nursing students how to give flu shots on MU campus. Although my group of nursing students were not helping that day, I was very proud of the group of nursing students who helped give flu shots to students and faculty/staff. They were eager to learn and had fun! I took an active role in helping the MU community, Nursing students, and had a little fun by pretending to give Blue a flu shot. My students loved seeing me on the MU Blue home page helping in the MU community. This connectedness is what shows leadership for a community of soon to be nurses.
7A. K M Sajjadul Islam
Department: Computer Science
Title: Serenity!
Description: Watching seagulls glide over the blue water is my way of unwinding from graduate life. This peaceful spot helps me slow down, clear my head, and let go of stress. Spending time here gives me a sense of calm and the energy I need to move forward to the next challenge.
8A. Mutuku John
Department: Chemistry
Title: Science in Practice
Description: This photograph was taken while I was waiting for my General Chemistry 1001 summer students to arrive for their introductory laboratory session at Marquette University. Knowing that summer students often come to lab wearing short pants or open shoes, I intentionally used myself as a visual example of proper laboratory attire, including full personal protective equipment. The image reflects an important part of my graduate student experiencing teaching not only chemistry content, but also laboratory safety, professionalism, and responsibility. For me, being a graduate student means modeling best practices and creating a safe, supportive learning environment where students can begin their scientific journey with confidence.
9A. Gabriella Marino
Department: Biological Sciences
Title: In Light of Breathing
Description: I am sure you have heard that going on your phone at night is not the best for your health, but have you ever wondered why? In my dissertation research, I have determined that environmental light exposure (like your phone or laptop!) has dynamic effects on our physiology, especially breathing. To understand this, I expose mice to various light conditions and measure how it changes their breathing. This research will help us to better understand how light exposure influences our basic physiology and negatively affects our health. Pictured here is myself setting up the red-light environment before conducting one of my breathing assessments. You will notice that I am wearing night vision goggles – that is one of my favorite parts of the work I do!
10A. Maeve McDonald
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Title: It Takes a Village
Description: This photo depicts a volunteer (my sister) who helped me practice a new research protocol by letting me place reflective markers and muscle sensors all over her body. It shows that success in graduate school really takes a village. I am forever grateful to my villagers who continue to show up to support my research and goals.
11A. Lila Metko
Department: Biomedical Sciences
Title: Sequins are Forever
Description: The contest title “Life of a Graduate Student” immediately calls to mind “The Life of a Showgirl” for anyone who is familiar with Taylor Swift’s latest album. Like the ethos of the album, I feel that this photo captures what it means to love your career, despite the strenuous work it sometimes requires. This photo truly encompasses to me how the grad student day doesn’t just end when you leave Marquette. My neuroscience PhD work is woven into all aspects of my life. I was inspired to take the photo when I was about to go out to the “Gimmie Gimmie Disco” a local ABBA themed dance event, when I realized I had to respond to an email. Being a grad student is about keeping life fun: even if you have lots of things to do, you should not sacrifice doing those things that bring you joy. For me, going out and dancing to 70s Disco music 🙂
12A. Selemani Mmbaga
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Title: Between Thought and Execution
Description: This photo captures a quiet moment of focus in a graduate student’s daily life, working alone at a desk in a lab surrounded by code, books, and screens. It reflects the reality of graduate school: long hours, deep concentration, and persistence behind the scenes. To me, it represents the discipline and resilience required to balance learning, research, and personal growth. These ordinary, solitary moments are where ideas slowly take shape and where progress, though often unseen, truly begins.
13A. Navid Mohseni
Department: Computational Mathematics and Statistics
Title: The Architecture of Stillness
Description: Captured in Cudahy Hall during the golden hour, this image features a lone church spire reaching toward the sky, a silent witness to the world outside. It marks the exact moment exhaustion turns into epiphany; after hours buried in screens and studying, the sudden warmth of the sunset serves as a reminder of the beauty that exists beyond the work.
14A. Tianling Niu
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Title: Microscope Test!
Description: This photo was taken during a visit from my advisor to evaluate the performance of our home-built microscope on real human breast tissue. The breast imaging microscope has been finalized and successfully tested, with both cameras fully functional and validated, as shown on the screen. This moment is particularly meaningful to me, as I have been working extensively with this microscope to scan tissue and generate the data for my research.
15A. Wandasun Sihanath
Department: Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
Tile: Keeping the Best in the World on Top
Description: From our trip as the Biomechanics Lab to the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to assist with the biomechanics training camp for Team USA Weightlifters. This specific capture is of Olivia Reeves: World Champion, World Record Holder, Olympic Gold Medalist. My work with our lab helps excel these athletes like Olivia to be the best in the world in their sport, with a direct impact on their coaching and training outcomes. I love being able to contribute to their success and the representation of their sport via the opportunity of our lab at Marquette!
16A. Jorge Valdivieso
Department: Chemistry
Title: The Teaching Assistant
Description: In graduate school, I have come to realize first-hand that pedagogy is truly an art (and a science), having taught an advanced science course with the moniker, “the premed killer.” I recognize such classes can become obstacles for students, and sometimes, cause the student to become “lost” in a dark abyss. However, as a graduate student, specifically a teaching assistant, I serve as a knowledge resource and help students navigate this challenge, providing a well-lit path, and standing ready to guide them through “the unknown” within the classroom. Moreover, I believe the role of the teaching assistant is also to provide motivation and uphold Cura Personalis, both being essential components to the cognitive growth and developmental success of the student. A teaching assistant is professional and always stands ready to serve the student.
17A. Sandya Nilmini Walakada Appuhamilage
Department: Chemistry
Title: Where Reflection Meets Resilience
Description: On a quiet night, I walked back to my apartment after a long day in the lab. The moon peeked through drifting clouds and cast a soft glow over the church towers that rise like silent prayers holding both my exhaustion and my hope.
Below, the mural bursts with color and faces from many worlds, a vivid reminder that even in solitude I am surrounded by stories, cultures and kindness. Marquette is not just a place of study but a place of welcome.
In this moment, the moon, the towers and the mural capture a delicate balance: walking alone yet never truly alone, feeling small yet part of something larger, carrying dreams through the stillness of the night.
18A. Char White
Department: English
Title: Forest Home Cemetery Reflection
Description: Photo depicts graves and a Ho-Chunk mound dating back as far as 500 BCE at the Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee. The cemetery coalesces centuries of the past into one quiet location, a place for meaningful reflection and pause amidst graduate life at Marquette and the cityscape of Milwaukee.
This event is part of Graduate Student Appreciation Month. Be sure to check out all of the offerings.
