From Grad Cohort for Women to ASSETS: How Mentorship and Community Helped Shape a Rising Researcher
By Lauren Lashlee, Senior Program Associate, CRA-WP
Navigating graduate school can be challenging, but mentorship and community support can make all the difference. CRA-WP Grad Cohort for Women provides an annual opportunity for women and nonbinary graduate students in computing to build their networks, gain professional guidance, and find inspiration from peers and senior researchers.
For Isabela Figueira, a third-year Ph.D. student in Informatics at the University of California, Irvine, attending Grad Cohort for Women helped her push through self-doubt and successfully submit a best paper-nominated study at ASSETS, the premier conference on accessible computing.
With the next Grad Cohort for Women taking place April 3-5, 2025, in Denver, CO, we spoke with Isabela about how attending the workshop propelled her research forward, strengthened her confidence, and helped her build connections that continue to support her academic journey.
Isabela Figueira (second from the right) with fellow attendees at the 2025 CRA-WP Grad Cohort for Women, where mentorship and community support helped her gain confidence and propel her research forward.
How Grad Cohort for Women Helped Me Get to ASSETS
Overcoming Self-Doubt and Gaining Confidence
When Isabela attended Grad Cohort for Women, she was just days away from the deadline to submit her first paper to ASSETS.
“I was actually nervous to go because my paper still needed so many edits,” she recalls. “But I’m so glad I attended. The workshop gave me the mental reset I needed. Taking a break from the stress of writing and talking to other women in computing reminded me that I wasn’t alone in this process.”
That renewed energy helped Isabela push through the final stretch of writing and successfully submit her paper.
Finding a Supportive Research Community
The Grad Cohort workshop also introduced Isabela to a network of fellow women in computing that extended beyond the event itself.
“I made friendships with students from my own department and from universities across the country. We still keep in touch, and I even reconnected with one of them at a later conference, where she introduced me to new collaborators!”
Grad Cohort also helped Isabela practice communicating her research to broader audiences, an essential skill when submitting papers or presenting at conferences.
“I work in accessible computing from a qualitative research perspective, which means not everyone understands my research background. Grad Cohort helped me refine how I explain my work so that it’s accessible to researchers in other areas.”
The Moment That Changed Everything
Attending Grad Cohort for Women gave Isabela the push she needed to complete her paper, and it turned out to be a career-defining moment.
Her study, “Intersecting Liminality: Acquiring a Smartphone as a Blind or Low Vision Older Adult,” was later nominated for a best paper award at ASSETS.
“It was surreal,” she says. “I walked into Grad Cohort stressed about my paper and walked out with the motivation to finish it. And now, that paper is recognized as an important contribution to accessible computing.”
Advice for Future Grad Cohort Attendees
1. Take Advantage of the Community
“The people you meet at Grad Cohort can become friends, mentors, and future collaborators. Stay in touch with them — you never know when you’ll cross paths again in your academic journey.”
2. Practice Explaining Your Research
“Grad Cohort gives you a chance to talk about your work with people outside your niche. Take advantage of that — it will help you write stronger abstracts and present your research more effectively.”
3. Push Through the Doubt
“If you’re hesitating about submitting your first paper, just go for it. I almost didn’t submit mine, and now it’s a best paper nominee. Grad Cohort gave me the boost I needed to believe in my work, and I encourage others to do the same.”
Looking Ahead: Stay Connected with CRA-WP
The CRA-WP Grad Cohort for Women workshop continues to be a transformative experience for women in computing research, providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and professional growth. The next Grad Cohort for Women will take place April 3-5, 2025, in Denver, CO. While applications for this year’s event are now closed, we encourage those interested to stay engaged with CRA-WP and explore other upcoming opportunities.
To learn more about the Grad Cohort programs and other CRA-WP initiatives, visit cra.org/cra-wp.
