Become a Mentor
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The SURGE program is dedicated to enhancing diversity among STEM and social science fields contributing to disaster research. Therefore, mentors must be committed to this underlying goal and be willing to work with students from diverse backgrounds.
We are looking for mentors and advocates for our student participants! Read more about our eligibility requirements and click on the link to become a mentor.
The Minority SURGE Capacity in Disasters project will focus on two grand challenges: the underrepresentation STEM racial and ethnic minorities in hazards and disaster research and the disproportionate impacts of disasters on underserved racial and ethnic minorities.
The SURGE program is dedicated to enhancing diversity among STEM and social science fields contributing to disaster research. Therefore, mentors must be committed to this underlying goal and be willing to work with students from diverse backgrounds.
Mentorship Details
Goals:
Increase the number of minority graduate researchers in STEM field with a disaster focus,
Develop and guide well-trained, qualified disaster scholars from STEM fields,
Provide academic and professional mentorship for next-generation minority STEM scholars in hazards mitigation and disaster research, and
Develop professional and research opportunities that involve outreach and problem solving for vulnerable communities in the U.S.
Mentor Eligibility:
Education: In order to ensure that SURGE students are adequately supported through their graduate student experience, mentors for this program are required to have an advanced graduate degree (M.A., Ph.D., J.D., etc.).
Professional Experience: Graduate students benefit best in professional development programs when they are able to draw on the professional experience, reputation, and established networks of their mentors. Likewise, professionals are better positioned to benefit from their role as mentors when they are established in their careers and have sufficient experience to provide guidance to someone who is less seasoned. SURGE mentors who are required to be firmly established in their careers. For academics, tenure is required. For practitioners and other non-academics, at least six years of career experience are required.
Time Commitment: While the needs of individual students will vary, mentors must be able to dedicate at least four hours per month toward their commitment to SURGE students for one full academic year.
Screening Questionnaire: Prospective mentors will be asked to complete a brief survey to match their interests with those of prospective mentees. This survey instrument must be completed before mentor-matching can be accomplished.
Project Duration:
The SURGE development and launch pilot is funded for 2 years.
If you are interested please fill out the mentorship application.