Noshin Yesmin (Class of 2022)

Yesmin

  • International student senior majoring in Physics
  • Minors in Computer Science and Mathematics
  • From Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Worked in the Department of Physics’ Astrophysics Research Lab
  • Runs both the Bangladesh Student Association and the Women in Physics student organizations
"Miami cares about its undergraduate students. You can feel why the university has an excellent undergraduate reputation once you are here. In my opinion, Miami is a place for opportunities to grow, and the community makes sure to support you. Take advantage of these opportunities as much as you can to grow as a student and individual."

Why Miami?

Noshin in her Miami graduation cap and gown.

"My name is Noshin Yesmin. Noshin means sweet, and Yesmin refers to jasmine flowers. I was born and raised in Bangladesh and came to the US in 2018 on a student visa to pursue my Bachelor of Science degree in Physics at Miami University.

"After I took the SAT, colleges started emailing me. Miami was, fortunately, one of them. I ultimately decided to attend Miami because of the opportunities to get involved in research and practice leadership skills here as an undergraduate student.

"In terms of educational culture, the student-instruction relationship is the most noticeable difference between the US and Bangladesh. Coming to Miami, I was surprised by how friendly professors are here. We are usually scared to interact with instructors in my country. Therefore, the opportunity to communicate my concerns with my professors has helped me succeed."

Key Miami Experiences

"Before coming to Miami and the US, I was frightened by the thought of interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. I was not broadly familiar with it. However, I realized we all are human beings at the end of the day, and most of the time, we share the same emotions.

"Undergraduate research has been a big part of my Miami experience. I worked in the Astrophysics Research Lab with Associate Professor of Physics Stephen Alexander. We used computational analysis to address whether the External Field Effect in Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) agrees with the observations for dwarf spheroidal galaxies.

"Besides research, I have been running the Bangladesh Student Association and the Women in Physics organizations on campus. I have also worked as a resident assistant for two years, which has helped me grow as a person and assist first-year students in having a healthy and good residential experience.

Noshin in front of Morris Hall, where she served as a resident assistant (RA).

"When the pandemic hit, I left campus and stayed at my uncle's place in Pennsylvania for four months. I finally could go home to Bangladesh in July 2020. However, the most challenging struggle started that September, when my father was diagnosed with COVID-19 and then passed away after two months in the hospital. The entire time was overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. However, I still decided to continue the semester, and my Miami professors were incredibly supportive. I would not be able to complete the semester without their support.

"Later, my family's financial situation did not allow me to return to campus to finish my final year of undergrad. Having no other option, I reached out to Miami via email. Little did I know that they would completely resolve the issue for me! Miami offered me an additional scholarship with my regular scholarships to cover the expenses of my final year. This financial help brought a significant positive change in my life. I do not know what I would do otherwise, and I will always be grateful to Miami for letting me pursue my dreams."

Miami and the Liberal Arts

"It is not enough to confine our experience to one field in today's world. We need diverse knowledge and skills to stand out. Miami's focus on liberal arts-based education has helped me think beyond my major-based classes and enrich my experiences as an individual.

"My interest in my Physics major comes from having always been interested in learning about the science behind natural phenomena. For example, why does the sky become red at sunset? While exploring and thinking about these little things, I was drawn to physics gradually. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to pursue my degree and take part in related experiential learning opportunities."

Leadership of Two Student Organizations

Noshin and President Greg Crawford at a student event.

"I care about the Bangladesh Student Association because it is a great way to celebrate our culture so far from home and foster activities that increase intercultural exchange among its members and the population of Miami. On campus we have celebrated Bengali New Year and International Mother Language Day, held an Eid party, and done other activities. The organization has made me feel home away from home while sharing our culture with the Miami community.

"I am also enthusiastically involved in Women in Physics, which we started last semester. We usually do not have many women in the Department of Physics, so the organization is here to support opportunities for physics students, especially women. Professor of Physics and Associate Dean Jennifer Blue is the advisor of our group.

"This January, I participated in the Conference for Women in Physics, which was organized by the American Physical Society (APS) as a part of the group. We also received a grant from APS to promote our group. Our future plans include collaborating with other women in STEM groups on campus and working to encourage high school students to pursue physics, such as for Miami’s CIQS (Careers Involving Quantitative Skills) Day."

Advice to Students

"Miami cares about its undergraduate students. You can feel why the university has an excellent undergraduate reputation once you are here. In my opinion, Miami is a place for opportunities to grow, and the community makes sure to support you. Take advantage of these opportunities as much as you can to grow as a student and individual."

[May 2022]