Graduate’s Guide
to Greenville
Brody School of Medicine
Graduate Student Association
Herein you will find useful insider information designed to facilitate
an easy transition into the communities of the Brody School of
Medicine, East Carolina University and Greenville, NC. Welcome to
grad school!
2015-
2016
Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
2015-2016
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Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
2015-2016
Graduate’s Guide to Greenville
Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................2
Welcome .................................................................................................................................3
Places to live ...........................................................................................................................4
Neighborhoods preferred by BGA students ........................................................................4
Neighborhoods near Brody .................................................................................................4
Utilities: Electricity, trash, recycling ....................................................................................5
Transportation ........................................................................................................................6
Food ........................................................................................................................................7
Health and Wellness ..............................................................................................................8
Fun Times ..............................................................................................................................9
The Great Outdoors ............................................................................................................9
Rainy Day Alternatives .....................................................................................................10
Venturing out of Greenville ..............................................................................................10
Nature ...................................................................................................................................11
Children ................................................................................................................................12
Graduate Studies ..................................................................................................................13
About Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association (BGA) .........................15
Contact information .............................................................................................................16
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Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
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Welcome!
Congratulations on your acceptance into one of the amazing graduate studies programs at the
East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine! As a new member of the graduate student
body, and therefore the Brody Graduate Student Association (BGA), we would like to welcome
you to Greenville, NC! Because Greenville will likely be your home for the next several years,
the BGA wanted to ensure the ease of this huge transition that is moving to a new city and
beginning a new step in your academic career. Life at Brody will be stressful at times, but the
excellent mentors and friends we choose are an invaluable support system. Moreover, the BGA
exists to support and promote your academic and social successes while at Brody, as well as
provide a venue that allows you to give back to our beloved Greenville community.
Come see what BGA is all about! In August, BGA will be hosting a barbecue to meet new faces,
and ring in the new semester in style! Check your brand-spanking-new ECU email for upcoming
information from your BGA Departmental Representative.
Your fellow BGA members wish you all the best in your coursework and research ventures!
We’ve certainly been where you are now, so please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can help.
From moving in to tutoring, pet sitting to the DL on lab rotations, we’ve got you covered. Check
the last page of this packet for the contact information of BGA members who are available to
answer any questions you may have.
Welcome to Brody!
Cheers,
Anastasia C. Weeks
President 2015-2016
Brody Graduate Student Association
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Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
2015-2016
Places to live
Renting: Probably the single most important thing you will do now that you’re a grad
student is try to find a place to live. It can be a time-consuming pain in the whatsit. Luckily,
this insider info may be useful. Be sure to call ahead and ask for the ECU/Brody student
discount!
o Here are apartment complexes that BGA students currently rent within walking
distance of Brody. They are listed in order newest to oldest construction:
The Heritage at Arlington
1 br: $835-1240
2 br: $940-1010
More Price Info
Signature Place
1 br: $680
2 br: $770-800
More Price Info
Treybrooke
1 br: $791-864
2 br: $865-983
More Price Info
o These BGA-preferred neighborhoods are a short (5-10 mins) drive from Brody:
Bent Creek
Ellsworth Drive/Lake Road
Spring Forest
Holly Glen
Note: Many of these neighborhoods have duplexes, condos, or townhouses that are
available for rent from several companies, including:
Hearthside Management Company
Russell Property Management
Aldridge and Southerland
East Carolina Properties
Buying: Time to complete a PhD degree at Brody may be up to 6 years, so many students
opt to purchase a home in Greenville. Here are some Greenville realtors that BGA members
have used and recommend:
Andrew Pair, Aldridge and Southerland (252) 756-3500 ext. 226
Connie Corey, Aldridge and Southerland (252-341-9969)
Kunny Brothers, Century 21 (252-215-0015)
Bertha Pyne, Selective Homes (252-317-5020)
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Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
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Utilities
Water, sewer, trash/recycling, electricity: With the exception of some apartment
complexes that may cover water/sewer/cable, all your utilities are bundled into one bill that
you get from the Greenville Utilities Company. The monthly bill can range anywhere from
$50-150, depending on the season and the home, so definitely consider that when looking at
places to live. After one year, you can ask for your deposit to be applied to your next bill if
you have paid your bills on time. You must ask for your deposit back; it will not be
credited automatically. The BGA may be able to specifically answer how much utilities
could be, depending on if we have a member living in that area. Feel free to shoot us an
email, or check out the GUC website for more info:
o Greenville Utilities Company (GUC)
TV/internet:
o In Brody: The WiFi network is called ‘pirates’ and you have to sign in with your
student ID and password to use it. Speaking of passwords, ECU makes you change it
every 90 days. For any problems with internet connectivity or other general computer
issues, contact ECU Information Technology and Computing Services (ITCS) :
ITCS Admin - 252.328.9000
IT Help Desk - 252.328.9866
IT Help Desk - 800.340.7081
o Outside Brody: While you may be able to live without television, you may want to
indulge your Netflix addiction by using internet services outside of Brody. These are
some local service providers:
Suddenlink
Time Warner
DirecTV
CenturyLink
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Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
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Transportation
Driver license info: When you move to NC, you may be required by ECU to try to obtain
state residency. Part of that process (for more info, see p. 13) includes obtaining a NC driver
license. Fun fact: you will have to take a written driving test. For more info on the process
and locations, check out the North Carolina Department of Transportation Department of
Motor Vehicles’ official website: NCDOT DMV - Driver License Info
ECU Parking Decal Fees: If you are going to drive to Brody, you will have to purchase a
parking decal. Graduate students are eligible for the B4 and C decals. B4 fees run around
$180 for the school year (01 August - 31 July). Check out ECU Parking Permits for
directions on how to register.
ECU buses: East Carolina University does a fantastic job providing alternative transportation
opportunities for our students. There are multiple buses that run all day, to multiple stops on
the main campus of ECU, Brody School of Medicine, and other useful places around
Greenville as well. The 302 Red Line operates between Brody and ECU main campus. It
operates out of Mendenhall on a 30 minute frequency Monday through Friday from 7:30am
until the last round departs at 6:00pm. For more information, check out: ECU Bus Routes
and Schedules
Greenville buses: For a small fee, there are also city buses that will allow you to travel to
some places in Greenville where ECU buses don’t go. The safest option is most likely to ask
your new BGA friends for a ride, but if you want to commute to Brody from the opposite
side of town without a car, you can check into the GREAT Bus System
Biking: Biking to Brody is another (GREEN!) option. The main drawback is that you need to
live reasonably close and the only available showers are for lab emergencies, so you could be
sweaty for the remainder of the day. Theft from bike racks is not a big problem; however,
Brody doesn’t claim liability if your bike is stolen from the bike rack. ECU recommends
registering your bike with the Parking and Transportation Office, so that in the event the bike
is stolen and recovered by ECU Police you have a chance of getting it back. Greenville has
very few bike specific traffic lanes, so be careful out there!
If you don’t already own a bike, ECU has several available for rent: ECU Bike Rental
Carpool: If you are interested in carpooling, here are some options promoted by ECU:
o ECU Zimride Carpool
o ECU wecar Info
Airports: If you enjoying flying, Greenville, NC ha one of the nicest small airports in the
country. Check out PGV Airport for more info, or RDU for greater flight availability.
Trains: There are two Amtrak station less than an hour away in Wilson and Rocky Mount,
with a bus stop in Greenville for transportation there. For more info, check out Wilson, NC
(WLN) Amtrak Station Info
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Food
At Brody: The closest available food is the Vidant cafeteria and/or Heart Café in the
adjacent hospital. There are also snacks available in the Brody Medical Bookstore (1
st
floor)
and in the break room on the 2
nd
floor.
o Vidant Food Options
o Vidant Cafeteria Menu
Grocery:
o Food Lion
o Harris Teeter
o Wal-Mart/Sams
o Target
o Fresh Market
o Lowe’s Foods
o Spring Run Market
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
o Greenville Local Harvest
o Strawberries on 903
Preferred restaurants: Greenville has the largest selection of fast food per capita in the
nation. This is probably true because someone told us this when we moved here. In the event
that you want to try the food worth eating in Greenville, below is a selection of some of the
better restaurants that are most frequented by BGA members:
• Greenville Local
• Winslow’s
• Starlight Café
• Vietnamese/Thai/Korean
• Sakura
• ECU Pho
• Thai 360
• Mexican
• Mi cabaña
• Plaza Azteca
• Mario’s Tacos
• Italian
• Basil’s
• Finelli’s
• á Tavola’s
• Japanese
• Wasabi 88
• Osaka Bistro
• Japan Inn
• Indian
• Kasturi
• Cinnamon (aka Dale’s)
• Pubs/Bars
• The Pub at Kasturi
• Christy’s Europub
• Carolina Ale House
• Professor O’Cools
• BWW
• Starlight Café
• Delivery
• Jimmy John’s
• Dominos
• Jet’s
• Papa John’s
• Wings Over Greenville
• East Coast Wings
• China King
• Munchy’s
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Health and Wellness
Gyms: Ha ha ha, we work out! Your student fees already cover the ECU student gym on
main campus, but there are a number of other Greenville gym options available (you know,
in the event that you want to de-stress at 3 am, or keep working on your summer fit):
o Planet Fitness
o Fitness Connection
o Snap Fitness
o In Tone Fitness
o CrossFit Tier 1
o Title Boxing Club
Medical
o Student insurance: Most departments will cover the Student Health Insurance Plan
(SHIP) provided by North Carolina Blue Cross Blue Shield. Deadline to enroll in (or
waive) student insurance is September 10 (fall) and January 30 (spring semester). See
ECU Student Insurance (NC BCBS) for more info.
o ECU Student Health: will provide all of your health care needs free of charge! Kind
of – a portion of your student fees is allocated to the Student Health Center. If you
have ECU Blue insurance through Blue Cross and Blue Shield (see above), all
laboratory testing is also included. The ECU Student Health Center is located on main
campus and has extremely limited parking
o ECU Counseling Center: Staffed with licensed phycologists, psychiatrists, and
counsellors, ECU’s counselling center is available to help you through a variety of
difficult situations. This service is free to enrolled students. During the summer, if
you are not enrolled in a class (you probably will be researching), there is an optional
$30 – $60 fee you can pay to access Student Health and Counseling Center, for half
or all of the summer, respectively. The primary office is on main campus, with a
satellite office staffed a few days a week in Laupus Library on the health campus. For
more info see: ECU Counseling Center
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Fun Times
Outdoors: Chances are you will be cooped up inside Brody studying hard and advancing
science by leaps and bounds. Be sure to enjoy nature while you can!
o Greenville Parks and Rec
Greenville Greenways: Gorgeous 6+ mile stretch of paved walkway, perfect
for running, rollerblading, biking, or taking your dog to the fenced in Dog Park!
River Park North: A more immersive nature experience – wooded trails,
several large ponds, camping areas and a great view of the Tar River... if you
make it all the way to the end!
Off Leash Dog Area: Located at 200 N Ash Street, this dog park has separate
fenced in areas for large and small dogs.
o ECU Adventure Center: In the lower level of the main campus gym, ECU
Adventure Center is the place to go for your low-cost ticket to all kinds of activities,
including:
Kayak rental
Camping equipment rental
Rock climbing
o Hunting club: Pitt County Wildlife Club : Local nonprofit educational organization
dedicated to the conservation and propagation of the fish, game and wildlife of North
Carolina and to the shooting sports throughout the United States. This is a private
club with great shooting range, and fun monthly marksmanship competitions. Check
out their website for more info about public events.
o Scuba: Rum Runner Dive Shop offers a free introductory scuba lesson in April/May
and large-group discounts. Dive in!
o Paintball: Hematoma Paintball is one of NC’s better paintball fields, with multiple
woods ball and speed ball fields, a ProShop with gear rental, and nice group rates.
o Uptown Greenville Events: Greenville has numerous social events throughout the
year, including:
Sunday in the Park Summer Concert Series
Uptown Umbrella Market
PirateFest and Freeboot Fridays
o On the water
ECU Adventure Center - Kayak Rentals
Inner Banks Outfitters – Kayak Rentals
River Park North - Canoes and Peddleboats
ECU Sailing Club
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Fun Times
Indoors: In the case of the occasional rainy (or snow!) day, you may want to camp inside.
Check out:
o Bowling
Mendenhall Student Center: On main campus, the bowling center downstairs
in Mendenhall offers unbeatable student rates – perfect when you just wanna
throw some balls around.
AMF: Located on Red Banks Rd, AMC offers late-night, all you can bowl
nights, and some student discounts. Plus beer and snacks.
o Movie Theaters
Carmike Cinemas (Firetower Rd.)
Regal Grande (SW Greenville Blvd)
o Painting/Art Classes
Wine and Design
Pitt County Emerge
Greenville Museum of Art Brushstrokes
The Painted Peacock
The Venue
Day trips: Greenville is located approximately 80 miles from Raleigh and the Outer Banks.
Check out the links below for things to do on your day getaway:
o Raleigh NC Calendar of Events
o Outer Banks Things to Do
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Nature
Local geography and climate: North Carolina is geographically divided into three regions:
Coastal, Piedmont, and the Mountains. Located in Pitt County, Greenville is nestled within
the Atlantic coastal plains region. Pitt County is approximately 90 miles east of Research
Triangle Park, 30 miles inland from coastal waters, 80 miles from the Atlantic Ocean (and
the Outer Banks), and around 275 miles from the Appalachian Mountains (the Blue Ridge
Parkway). Greenville is approximately 85 miles east of Raleigh, NC. The flat green fields of
Greenville course with many creeks and rivers (including the Tar River and nearby Pamlico
and Neuse rivers), and are sprinkled with forests and farms. Due to its close proximity to the
ocean and low-lying topography, Greenville is one of the warmest areas of North Carolina.
The average daily high temperature is around 72°F, with an average daily low around 50°F.
The average annual precipitation is 49.0 inches. Most of the rainfall occurs during the
growing season (between late March and early November), and is due to variable
thunderstorms. Winter rainfall is less variable. Frozen precipitation (ice, sleet, snow!) occurs
nearly every winter, but accumulations are usually small and melt quickly. Greenville is
basically repurposed swampland, which makes for excellent kayaking and camping. Just
watch out for bears!
Local wildlife: Eastern NC is known for its population of black bears (even naming towns
like New Bern in recognition of such). The bears are elusive these days, and you are more
likely to run into some white-tail deer while driving at night (hopefully not literally, okay?)
Raccoons and foxes can also be seen in the suburbs from time to time, so watch your trash
and pet food. (this advice also applies to bears, but may be more applicable while camping in
the woods). Other not-so-fuzzy woodland creatures that you will encounter include the
deadly pit vipers – from water moccasins around the rivers to copperheads in the woods, and
even three species of rattlesnakes... just watch your ankles! Check out NC Museum of
Natural Sciences Snake Identification for more detailed info.
Natural Disasters: Because Greenville is such a flat, low-lying region, flooding is common.
This is an important consideration when buying a home, or when traveling. Greenville does
have some roads that do not drain as well, so hydroplaning may occur. Remember to drive
slowly, keep your lights on, and if in doubt about the depth of water, don’t drive through!
Greenville in particular has been rather lucky when it comes to other natural disasters. There
have been fewer than 5 tornadoes on record in Pitt County (though nearby Wilson seems to
catch several). Hurricanes, however, have been known to happen. More recent hurricanes to
cause significant widespread damage included Irene (2011) and Floyd (1999). Thankfully, no
earthquakes or volcanoes are on record, so don’t expect to see Pierce Brosnan running
around anytime soon. Check out ECU Severe Weather Plan for info on safety measures!
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Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
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Children
Schools: “Children are our future...” and for some of you, the future may already be present!
As we all know, education is an important part of our lives. Here are some links for school
listings in the Pitt County area to help you make an informed decision about your child’s
education:
o Pitt County Public Schools
o Pitt County Private Schools
o Pitt County School Rankings
Daycare/ After school Programs: Let’s be honest – you’re going to be in lab a while. Here
are some listings of where to put your children in the afternoons while you’re still pipetting:
o Greenville, NC Childcare
o After School Care Programs (Yellowpages)
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Graduate Studies
Stipends: Our stipends are competitive with other graduate programs (~25K/year) and cover
the cost of a modest living here in Greenville. We are paid twice a month, on the 15
th
and
30
th
. Taxes are deducted in the summer (each paycheck decreases by ~$80) and you will
receive a W-2 in January in order to complete your taxes before April. Remember to ask
your department for relocation reimbursement!
Tuition: Tuition is generally paid by our departments, so it’s important to obtain NC State
residency status as soon as possible (out of state tuition can be 5X that of in state!)
Residency: To become a NC resident (for tuition purposes at ECU), you must submit the
following applicable documents to the Registrar’s office by the start of the semester you wish
to claim residency:
o A letter explaining your rationale for your claim to residency for in-state tuition
purposes
o A copy of your North Carolina driver’s license, voter registration, and vehicle
registration
o Evidence of employment and employment earnings (paystubs, W2, letter from
employer)
o Tax information from student, parent (s) or legal guardian
o All financial support from other parties, including parents and spouse
o Evidence of ownership of property (vehicle or home)
o A budget detailing student expenses (tuition, rent, car payment, etc.)
o Copy of court-appointed legal guardianship
o If you are an alien, a copy of your residence status document issued by Immigration
and Naturalization
o Community Involvement and/or memberships to organizations (like BGA!)
o See NC Residency for more info
Student Fees: have increased this year. Expect around $1150. Fees are due at the beginning
of each semester (twice a year), but ECU offers a monthly payment option (3- or 5-months)
to allow you to spread the debt around a bit. Also, remember to fill out a FAFSA if you
qualify for student loans.
Student Insurance: You have it. See page 8, or ECU Student Insurance (NC BCBS)
Graduate Catalog Check out your degree requirements!
Course materials: You will probably only purchase books your first year. Review the
syllabus, ask students who have previous taken the class, or check out:
o Brody Bookstore
o Amazon
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Graduate Studies
Friendly Advice: This is your educational experience, so make the most of it!
o Mentors
Do more than one rotation. This is your opportunity to learn the personalities,
expectations, and funding situation of various faculty mentors. You want to be
enthusiastic about the lab you’re joining, but at the same time, you don’t want to
jump in face first. Do your research!
Pick a lab that is doing science that you find interesting, and that has people you
don’t mind interacting with every day for the next 5 years.
Pick your battles wisely with your mentor. You will undoubtedly disagree with
your mentor about many things, from writing style to experimental design.
Choose the important issues that are worth fighting for (hint: writing style is not
one of them).
o Studying
For your first 2 years, you will have your face in the books. Find a study buddy
in your classes with whom you can review notes.
Remember – you don’t know it until you can teach it. Explain concepts to your
study partners, and get feedback on gaps in your understanding.
Don’t let the faculty dissuade you from taking a class you really want to take.
Every department has different course requirements and recommendations, but
if there is a class available on something you’ve always wanted to learn or that
may be useful in your career – take it!
o Seminars
You will inevitably have to give a 45 minute seminar after your first semester.
Start sooner rather than later on the topic and slide preparation!
Ask your lab mates, department friends, or other BGA members to sit through
your practice seminar. Feedback on content, style, and speaking goes much
further than you think.
Practice, practice, practice!
o Writing
The best place to start writing is to never stop reading. Read papers by your lab,
competing labs, as wells as papers outside of your field.
Read for pleasure once in a while. After a while, all journals sound the same. By
branching out, you can expand your vocabulary and may even find a writing
style you want to emulate.
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Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
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About BGA
The BGA is the officially recognized representative body of the Brody School of Medicine
graduate students. The purpose of the BGA is to serve the unique, separate and distinct
academic, nonacademic and social interests and needs of all students in the Brody basic sciences
graduate programs. The BGA serves to provide a forum for the discussion of issues raised by
Brody graduate students, foster inter-class collegiality and social activities, an opportunity for
student participation in the decision-making processes in the Brody School of Medicine, which
directly or indirectly affects graduate students while also promoting and supporting the Brody
basic sciences graduate programs in the continued advancement of its standards.
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Brody School of Medicine Graduate Student Association
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Contact information
President:
Anastasia Weeks
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Vice President:
Dan Ladin
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Secretary:
Samantha Sellers
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
Treasurer:
Jared Shine
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Attorney General:
Nate Holland
Department of Physiology
GPSS Travel Officer:
Nate Fry
Department of Biochemistry
Departmental Representatives:
o Anatomy and Cell Biology: Ellen Velte ([email protected])
o Biochemistry: Madison Sullivan ([email protected])
o IDPBS: Matt McPeek ([email protected])
o Masters: Lauren Westerhold ([email protected])
o Microbiology and Immunology: Matt Addington-Hall ([email protected])
o Pharmacology and Toxicology: Christine Psaltis ([email protected])
o Physiology: Cameron Schmidt ([email protected])
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed herein are those of the relative contributors, and do not necessarily reflect those of
East Carolina University or the Brody School of Medicine. This information is not intended to unfairly promote or
discriminate against any person or company, but is designed to promote positive graduate school and living
experiences in Greenville, NC.
