Image Description: Image submitted by Golnaz to accompany the blog post. It features their favourite drink, a watermelon strawberry smoothie from Real Fruit Bubble Tea at Cataraqui Centre. The pink smoothie/bubble tea is served in a clear plastic cup and a wide straw, sitting on a white table in the shopping centre's food court.
This interview took shape through an email conversation between Golnaz Najafi And Elyse Longair September 2026 and focused on the Golnaz’s experience and advice as a Ph.D. candidate in the Mechanical and Materials Eng department.
1. Going up: The Elevator Pitch
Tell me about you and your research in a short, easy-to-digest way. Imagine we were going up in a really fancy elevator with lots of windows and lots of buttons, say to the 18th floor. What would you tell me?
I’m Golnaz, a Ph.D. candidate in the Mechanical and Materials Eng department. My research is on simulating material structures and computing their mechanical and thermal properties at the atomic scale. In short, I follow atoms to see how they behave in different conditions, like high temperatures and stress. My work helps people who design alloys for different applications, especially in the nuclear Industry!
2. Shh its a Secret: Study and Break Spots
Where is your favourite and most productive place to study on campus? And what is your go-to spot at Queen’s to relax and take a break? Or do you prefer off-site breaks and research? If it’s a coffee shop, we want to know your order. Bonus points if you have a secret or lesser-known place to share.
I mostly work at my office and sometimes enjoy the comfortable chairs of the Stauffer Library. For relaxing after exercise, I always go to the second floor of the ARC and enjoy the red couches there (you see, I’m a big fan of comfortable chairs!). Off campus, the Starbucks on Johnson and Division Street and CRAVE Coffee House & Bakery downtown are my safe places. If you’re a smoothie person as I am, honestly nowhere is better than Real Fruit Bubble Tea at the Cataraqui Centre. Order a watermelon strawberry smoothie and see the magic!
3. I’m Hungry, Let’s Eat
What is your favourite, budget-friendly, healthy study snack? How about your go-to easy meal to prepare when you are busy and stressed with school? Do you have any favourite online recipes to share?
Honestly, I don’t believe in snacks; I usually stick to regular meals at set times throughout the day. I cook most of my food at home and have plenty of quick recipes. If I had to pick one only, it would definitely be a creamy chicken and mushroom dish served with boiled potatoes—it's simple, rich in flavor, and doesn't require much oil at all.
4. Looking back
What has been one of the most rewarding experiences of your graduate life so far and why? Who helped you along the way?
Presenting my research at seminars and conferences has been one of the most rewarding experiences, even though it triggered immense anxiety for me! It’s a beneficial opportunity to promote yourself, get in touch with fellow researchers, and even look for a future job! Unfortunately, I don’t have a magic word that I can say and all anxiety puffs away; I still struggle with it myself! However, there is one sentence that I always remind myself of: “You don’t need to be flawless; you just need to show up”.
5. Finding Opportunities / Resources
What resources have actually been useful to you for finding networking, conference, publishing, or other professional opportunities? Are there any websites, organizations, newsletters, or mailing lists you would recommend to other grad students in your field?
My most reliable resource has been my supervisor! Whenever an important conference or workshop comes up, my supervisor gives us a heads-up. Beyond that, keeping an eye on departmental email announcements, engaging on LinkedIn to follow active researchers and conference calls in my field. and following key societies in materials science such as MetSoc (The Metallurgy and Materials Society of CIM) has been the most practical way to stay in the loop for networking and symposiums.
6. Blast into the Future
What are you most excited about in your research this year and why?
I’m currently wrapping up my first project and hoping to submit my manuscript before 2026 ends (fingers crossed)! What excites me most is finally seeing all the simulation data come together into a full paper and being able to share those findings with the world!
7. Graduate School Advice
What are three pieces of advice you would offer someone looking to make the most of their graduate studies?
First and foremost, take your health seriously! Prioritize Mental well-being, nutrition, and exercise! You neglect your health, and you cannot perform well academically!
Second, ask for help! Whether with your research or life in general! You’re not alone in this world, and there are a lot of people happy to help you grow!
Lastly, don’t run away from uncomfortable situations! It’s normal to be afraid, and it takes courage to stay and do it anyway, but no flower grows on the paved road, right?