WaMPS Mentoring Programs

Mission statement

Reimbursements Forms

Undergraduate-Undergraduate Mentoring Program

The undergraduate-undergraduate peer mentoring program is jointly facilitated by WaMPS and SPS. The purpose of this mentoring program is to pair upperclassmen in the Physics and Astronomy department with those who are newer to the program (underclassmen, transfer students, folks who changed their major) to form stronger connections between fellow undergrads. Mentors will give insight into the undergraduate experience by helping mentees navigate through the physics major at Michigan State!

Please fill out the form to become a mentor or mentee for this program by TBD.

Graduate-Undergraduate Mentoring Program

The Graduate-Undergraduate Mentoring Program is a collaborative initiative between WaMPS and Stellar physics with the aid of Society of Physics Students (SPS).This mentoring program is run in the fall and spring semesters in which a graduate student from any year can mentor a current undergrad on a semester-by-semester basis.
This program is optional, but is a great opportunity for grad students to provide tips, experience, advice, build community with current undergrads, and gain professional development through mentoring. Mentor/mentee pairs will meet about twice per month over coffee or lunch, which will be reimbursed up to $20 by WaMPS. 

At the end of the fall-semester, the mentee/mentor will be given the option to remain with their fall-semester mentor/mentee, rotate to another mentor/mentee for the spring-semester, or leave the program.

To join this program, there is a common application process for both mentors and mentees. Mentor-Mentee matches are made based on responses to this application. We have placed a lot of thought into the ways to best support the needs of the mentees. If you are interested, please fill out this form.

Application Deadline: Monday, September 8th, 2023

Graduate-Graduate Mentoring Program

This mentoring program is run in the fall and spring semesters in which a more senior graduate student mentors a current first or second year graduate student on a semester-by-semester basis. This is optional, but is highly recommended due to the accrued benefits from the program. Mentor/mentee pairs will meet about twice per month over coffee or lunch, which will be reimbursed up to $20 by WaMPS. First year students get to hear what to expect from the program, how to prepare for their upcoming years, meet some of the older graduate students, and have someone to talk to! As second-year students begin to transition out of coursework and start focusing on research, they can get some advice about preparing for their first committee meeting and other questions that may arise. Similarly, the older graduate students are able to interact with the newer faces in the program and be a source of encouragement/friendship in addition to professional development through mentoring.

At the end of the fall-semester, the mentee/mentor will be given the option to remain with their fall-semester mentor/mentee, rotate to another mentor/mentee for the spring-semester, or leave the program.

To join this program, there is a common application process for both mentors and mentees. Mentor-Mentee matches are made based on responses to this application. We have placed a lot of thought into the ways to best support the needs of the mentees. If you are interested, please fill out this form.

Application deadline: Monday, September 8th, 2023

REU Mentoring Program

The MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy and its research groups hold the REU Summer Internship Program, which is a 10-week internship for up to 12 undergraduate students and is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Through the collaborative initiative between WaMPS and the MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy, WaMPs organizes the REU Mentoring Program - a program where these undergraduate students are paired with a MSU graduate student. 

The REU Mentoring Program was built to provide supplemental resources and support for MSU Physics and Astronomy REU students. They meet and build relationships with graduate students, learn about opportunities available in physics and more broadly within academia and industry, and engage in social activities where they get to know each other, their mentors, and other REU students at MSU. 
 

Social Activities

WaMPS recognizes the importance of not only building community and a network, but also the importance of mental health. Our Mentoring Co-Chairs organize picnics, trivia, game night, and other activities where the REU students can socialize and relax.

Mentoring Program(s) Supports

The Mentoring Program(s) strive to support undergraduate students by:

• Collectively creating and maintaining a safe space for the cultivation of open, authentic, and honest relationships between graduate and undergraduate students
• Providing insight into graduate studies and life through exposure to and via encouragement to explore different disciplines and post-baccalaureate tracks 
• Encourage students to reflect on their academic experiences and consider how they wish to move forward with their future whether pursuing graduate studies or industry

These goals can be met by discussing the following topics with undergraduates provided below:

• Discussing the norms and expectations of the mentee/mentor relationship
• Transition to being a graduate students (norms & expectations)
• Differences and similarities of the norms and expectations of an undergraduate student vs. a graduate student (adjusting to the university)
• Mental health
• Underrepresentation that the parties are facing or creating awareness
• Discussing tests/exams & coursework
• Applying for research positions (including REUs)
• Research goals, topics, & practices
• Research advisors and mentors
• Discussing the long-term career goals of both mentee and mentor
• Discussing work-life balance or time management

The Mentoring Program(s) strive to support graduate students by:

• Cultivating healthy and equitable relationships as mentors
• Building communication skills through discussion and reflection
• Encouragement to share and reflect on their own experiences to give insight to or validate mentees’ experiences, and support the growth of their mentees and themselves through discussion of successes and challenges in their (referencing graduate or undergraduate students) careers  

These goals can be met by discussing the following topics with graduate students provided below:

• Transition to being graduate student (norms & expectations)
• Mental Health
• Subject exams
• Research goals, topics & practices
• Research advisors and mentors
• Camaraderie
• Discussing long-term career goals
• Work-Life Life Balance or Time Management
• Teaching

The Mentoring Program(s) strive to support postdoctoral research fellows by:

• Sharing knowledge and experience with current graduate student(s)
• Provide exposure to various different backgrounds 
• Aim at further developing communication as a scientist 

These goals can be met by discussing the following topics with postdocs provided below:

• Academic job applications 
• Grant applications and writing
• Developing and managing collaborations
• Developing and managing research projects 
• Writing and publishing papers
• Transitioning to being an Early Career Researcher