Undergraduate Research and Mentoring

The Program

URM Fellows conduct biological interdisciplinary research projects in emerging areas in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and build diverse learning communities of undergraduate researchers, graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff. Here’s how it happens:

Timeline

Timeline for URM

Research

While some URM Fellows will enter the Program with previous research experience - possibly a current mentor and research project - others will work through the Entering Research seminar to find a mentor and research project. URM Fellows will conduct research through each academic year and full-time during summers. Summer research can be conducted at UW-Madison or at another university.

In addition, Fellows will present on their research projects each year, beginning with a poster presentation during their first year, and culminating with a presentation at a national conference in their senior year.

URM Monthly Meetings

URM Fellows will participate in interactive and informal monthly meetings designed to provide support for all URM activities and enrich advancement towards graduate school. Monthly meeting topics and activities will be selected, organized and delivered collaboratively by URM Program staff and URM Fellows. Potential meeting topics include lab tours, guest speakers, diversity workshops/discussions, field trips, and graduate school application and e-Portfolio development sessions. Junior and senior year URM Fellows are expected to take increasing roles in the design and implementation of monthly meetings.

Peer Mentoring

For URM Fellows, Peer Mentoring will serve not only as a way to receive support, advice and instruction, but also as one of many opportunities for Fellows to become more involved in the URM Program. Sophomore and transfer Fellows work with peer mentors, and will be trained to become peer mentors themselves as they move into their junior and senior years.

Cohort Project

Each cohort of URM Fellows will engage in a group project. These Cohort Projects should be endeavors meant to define the URM Program and connect to the UW-Madison campus and beyond. Cohort projects can extend over several academic school years, but should be completed or established by graduation. Cohort Projects could include developing a URM logo, an online URM journal, or outreach programs.

Leadership Opportunities

URM fellows will be leaders in approaches to interdisciplinary research and the creation and cultivation of diverse research communities. As such, URM fellows will serve as leaders at the UW-Madison and beyond, through service to campus programs and initiatives, outreach activities and peer-mentoring.

Graduate School e-Portfolio

In cooperation with the Digital Media Center, URM Fellows will develop e-Portfolios to use as part of their graduate school application process. E-Portfolios may contain digital copies of URM fellows’ curriculum vitae, research posters, power-point presentations, research abstracts and appropriate video content including lab footage, presentations and leadership projects.

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