EXPAND

Expand LogoThe EXPAND (EXperiential Projects for Accelerated Networking and Development) mentorship program provides undergraduate students with a choice of experiential projects, each of which has been designed by an EXPAND mentor to develop industry-relevant skills. The program matches prospective mentees to a mentor-project pair that best suits their interest. Then, the mentees work closely with their mentor towards their project’s completion over the course of a quarter (10 weeks), and they present their progress at two of their research group’s meetings. As the program concludes, mentees are personally guided through the application process for whatever their next step may be: an industry internship, continuing their research project, etc. Finally, mentees are invited to present their work at the EXPAND Poster Session.

In addition, we have partnered with UCSD alumni at Booz Allen Hamilton to organize professional workshops for our mentees where they will be trained on how to get the most out of their EXPAND projects, committee meetings, and future networking and development opportunities.

The benefits of EXPAND work both ways, since the program also provides mentors with an opportunity to practice mentorship in a familiar environment. In addition, we provide mentorship training through The Center and other resources on campus that junior mentors can take advantage of and more senior mentors can elect to help design and run where possible. This combination of practice and pedagogy, a defining feature of EXPAND, builds a solid foundation in critical leadership and management skills. EXPAND mentors are therefore well-prepared to take the next step in their own careers.

The overall mission of EXPAND is to remove the barriers to opportunities in the physical sciences and equitably prepare students for successful careers. If you have any questions about the program that are not answered here, please send us an email at student-success-center@ucsd.edu and we would be happy to answer them for you.

Duration

The program lasts for the 10 weeks allotted to Winter quarter in the UCSD academic calendar.

Mentee Applications (mailing list sign-up)*

  • Winter 2024: Mid-Fall Quarter

*Note that at this time you can only sign-up for the EXPAND mailing list. By signing up for the mailing list, you receive early access to the RSVP for the EXPAND Expo. The EXPAND Expo is a virtual poster session where you will get to learn about the different research projects you will be able to participate in. You will also be able to talk to the grad/post doc mentors who will be interviewing and selecting undergrad mentees. After the EXPAND Expo, the application for you to choose your preferred research project will become available. 

Mentor Applications

  • Winter 2024: September 4th - October 9th

EXPAND Expo

  • An EXPAND Expo is held before mentee applications open, where prospective applicants can meet next quarter’s mentors and discuss the program and their projects.
  • Venue: gather.town
  • RSVP: Not available

Selection

Undergraduate students who would like to participate in the program are expected to have little to no relevant experience, so we will focus on the following qualities when considering a student for selection:

  • In the earlier stages of their program
  • Has little to no experience
  • Is a good fit for their prospective mentor

Responsibilities

An undergraduate student mentee must complete the following program requirements:

  • Work on their assigned project under the supervision of their mentor.
  • Prepare and present slides detailing their progress at the middle and end of the quarter:
    • Must prepare a set of slides for both presentations
    • Mid-term presentation is expected to take 10 to 15 minutes and should contain a brief discussion of the project's motivation as well as a summary of what has been done so far
    • Final presentation is expected to take 20 to 30 minutes and should discuss the motivation of the project, what was done/produced, and what was learned
  • Summarize their project and experience in a short (≤ 750 words), written report submitted at the end of the quarter
  • Must discuss their overall experience, their project, what they learned, and what challenged them
  • Mentees are required to apply to at least one opportunity at the end of the quarter.
  • Mentees will not be expected to work more than 10 hours a week on their project.

For additional details on what is expected of our mentees, please consult the responsibilities and guidelines handout we give out to our mentees.

Selection

Graduate/Professional students or Postdocs who would like to serve as EXPAND mentors will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • At least 6 months of active participation in a research group on campus
  • Communicates a clear passion for mentorship
  • Demonstrates sufficient mastery of the essential skill(s) necessary for their vocation
  • Provides a satisfactory, written plan for the quarter that must include the following:
    • Outline of project
    • Biweekly goals
    • List of deliverables (e.g. skills taught, items produced, etc.)
    • Signature of approval by Principle Investigator

Responsibilities

Every mentor is contractually held to the following responsibilities:

  • Attend and help organize the EXPAND Expo
  • Schedule at least one weekly meeting with your mentees
  • Maintain a reasonable schedule of availability:
    • Organize time slots for impromptu meetings on at least 3 individual work days that align with the mentee's schedule
    • Establish and regularly check a mutually reliable communication platform (e.g. Zoom, Skype, Slack, etc.)
  • Ensure that your mentees are progressing or change the project plan to fit their needs
  • Schedule and facilitate the two committee meetings where each mentee presents their progress

Benefits

Hone uncommon managerial skills by actively participating in the mentee selection process.

Demonstrate leadership with a focus on equity and inclusion by helping us in our mission to remove the barriers of entry for vital opportunities. 

Exercise vital communication skills by facilitating conversations, meetings, and a poster contribution with your mentee.

In addition to these experiential benefits of EXPAND, you will also receive: 

  • A professional headshot
  • CCR-accredited mentorship training
  • A guaranteed letter of recommendation for future applications

Applications

  • Mentee mailing list form: Closed.
  • Mentor application form: Closed. 

*Note that at this time you can only sign-up for the EXPAND mailing list. By signing up for the mailing list, you receive early access to the RSVP for the EXPAND Expo. The EXPAND Expo is a virtual poster session where you will get to learn about the different research projects you will be able to participate in. You'll also get to talk to the grad/post doc mentors who will be interviewing and selecting undergrad mentees. After the EXPAND Expo, the application for you to choose your preferred research project will become available. 

EXPAND Expo RSVP

Closed

Mailing list

If you want to stay up-to-date on EXPAND (e.g. application period announcements), please subscribe to our mailing list by filling out this form. You can also unsubscribe using that same form.