At the Office of Undergraduate Research, we recognize that a successful undergraduate research opportunity is predicated on high-quality mentorship.
We are dedicated to continuing to improve the undergraduate research experience through the creation of mentor opportunities that aim to help promote positive research experiences for both mentors and students. We are excited to offer various sessions, listed below, to support your mentoring practice.
Info Session
Getting to Know Your Campus Resources
Are you a UW faculty member, staff member, postdoctoral researcher, or graduate student looking to engage undergraduates in research? Watch our recorded introduction to what undergraduate research looks like at UW and how to become a mentor. Mentors will be provided with tools and strategies for recruiting, compensating, and supporting undergraduates in research experiences. This session is beneficial for those new to UW but we welcome anyone at UW who plans to work with undergraduates in a research context. This session is recorded and can be watched at anytime.
Those who watch this session will:
- Learn effective and equitable strategies for recruiting undergraduate researchers.
- Learn about undergraduate research funding opportunities, including funded programs, research scholarships, and conference travel support for undergraduates.
- Explore other ways to compensate undergraduates for their work (e.g. Federal Work Study, course credit, etc.).
- Learn about UW’s Undergraduate Research Symposium and how to prepare students to present.
- Learn how to get students in your courses excited about participating in research.
- Discover ways to connect with undergraduates interested in research.
- Gain access to additional resources for effective and inclusive mentorship.
- Build relationships with Office of Undergraduate Research staff who can support you in grant development, program and curricular design, and other topics.
If you would like to request a recording of our info session, please fill out this brief form.
Engaging Undergraduates in Research Workshop Series:
Session 1: Bringing an Equity Lens to Your Mentorship Practice
This session is open to UW faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, or graduate students looking to center their mentorship practice on intentional strategies that promote equity and inclusion. Office of Undergraduate Research staff will provide some foundational theory around equity and inclusion as it relates to research spaces, create room for discussion and exploration with colleagues about personal experiences and perspectives, and help ground theory in practice as we make room for attendees to leave with practical tools to implement in their mentoring practices.
Those who attend this session will:
- Understand the importance of promoting equitable access to undergraduate research opportunities
- Recognize the value of diverse forms of cultural capital in research environments using the community cultural wealth model and anti-deficit thinking
- Identify equity and inclusion-based practices that impact recruitment and selection
This session has passed. We will be offering this workshop again in Fall, 2025.
Session 2: Cultivating Belonging & Inclusion in Research
This session is open to UW faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, or graduate students looking to center their mentorship practice on intentional strategies that promote belonging and inclusion. Office of Undergraduate Research staff will provide foundational information about the importance of belonging and the different contexts where belonging can be built. There will also be room for discussion and exploration with colleagues about personal experiences and perspectives. Participants will be asked to participate in activities that will allow them to leave the session with practical tools for their research practice.
Those who attend this session will:
- Understand the importance of belonging for students
- Identify five different areas of belonging in a research context
- Articulate an approach for establishing clear expectations and research philosophy for mentees
- Develop awareness around how psychological safety impacts belonging
- Learn strategies to promote belonging through individual and team interactions
This session will be offered on January 24, 2025, from 11 AM – 1 PM in HUB 214 and space will be limited to the first 55 who register. An email and calendar event will be sent out to confirm your participation once we have finalized the cohort. We will also be establishing a waitlist for this event.
Session 3: Balancing Student Advocacy & Empowerment
This session is designed for UW faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students interested in enhancing their mentorship practices through student advocacy and empowerment. Participants will explore the impact of advocacy and empowerment on undergraduate researchers and learn why these elements are essential in research mentoring. Office of Undergraduate Research staff will share various strategies for engaging in meaningful advocacy and empowerment, along with key cautions to consider. The session will include discussions, real-world examples, and interactive activities, equipping participants with actionable tools to support and uplift undergraduate researchers effectively.
Those who attend this session will:
- Articulate why research mentors need to engage in student advocacy and empowerment
- Recall various forms of advocacy and empowerment mentors can engage in to support undergraduate researchers
- Identify several important cautions when engaging in advocacy and empowerment
This session will be offered on April 11, 2025, from 11 AM -1 PM in HUB 340 and space will be limited to the first 40 who register. An email and calendar event will be sent out to confirm your participation once we have finalized the cohort. We will also be establishing a waitlist for this event.
Be Notified When Registration Opens!
Mentor Testimony
“I want to thank you for running these three extremely impactful sessions. As you know, I eagerly signed up and encouraged trainees in my lab to participate from the very beginning. Your guidance and advice have already begun transforming the way I mentor undergraduate researchers working with my team. The exercises I participated in through this sequence of workshops helped me recognize, describe, and fix blind spots in my mentorship technique. Our team is already reaping the benefits of these improvements.”