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CEMI Teaching/Mentorship Partnership - PCC and CalState LA

May 13, 2024

This program at PCC is temporarily suspended due to a lack of funds but those interested can work with WAVE and Caltech Connection.  We welcome community engagement and financial support to revive this program (if interested, please contact Dianne Newman).

The "Teaching/Mentorship Partnership" with Pasadena City College (PCC) and CalState LA has returned for the second year in a row!

The goals of this program are:

1) Forge a stronger connection between Caltech and PCC and CalState LA.

2) Provide 2 students at PCC and 2 students at CalState LA the opportunity to come to Caltech to perform CEMI-related research via the WAVE program next summer (2023).

3) Provide Caltech grad students and postdocs an opportunity to serve as mentors to these students, as well as a chance to give a talk about your research to a class at PCC or CalState LA and introduce the program.  This year these talks will be in person.  Staff from the Center for Teaching, Learning and Outreach (CTLO) and I will help you hone your talk beforehand so it is appropriate for the occasion. Training will also be provided on mentorship from the Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CCID), and I will provide you guidance on what to expect/how to navigate the WAVE program.

This program has the following components over the coming academic year:

Fall 2022: 4 Caltech mentors will visit PCC and CalState LA (2/school) to give mini talks about your research and introduce the WAVE opportunity to the students at these schools (the chance to work with YOU in the lab in the summer of 2022).  The lecture dates at CalState LA and PCC are forthcoming.

Winter 2023: Interested CalState LA and PCC students will meet for lunch with the prospective Caltech mentors at their institutions to learn more about the WAVE program and specific opportunity.  In partnership with the faculty leads at these institutions, students who are good fits for the program will be selected.

Spring 2023: Paired mentees/mentors will work together to help the mentees write a research proposal for the WAVE program.  WAVE admission is guaranteed, but this will be an important exercise in helping a student learn how to write a scientific research proposal.

Summer 2023: Students will participate in the WAVE program, with additional CEMI programming for the CEMI-WAVE cohort.

If you are interested in serving as a Caltech ambassador/mentor, please contact Dianne Newman ASAP.  Colleagues at CalState LA and PCC would like to get your bios and titles for your talks to advertise to their students.  This program got off to a great start last year and promises to continue to be impactful and fulfilling for all involved.  We are eager for students/postdocs from all CEMI labs to participate in this program, so priority will be given to individuals from labs that did not participate in the program last year.