The BEACoN Research Mentoring Program, run by the Office of University Diversity & Inclusion, exists to educate, empower, and advocate for underrepresented students, and critically, provide them with funded undergraduate research opportunities working one-on-one with a faculty member (~10 hours/week for Winter and Spring quarters).
As such, we are now soliciting applications for faculty mentors (tenure-line and lecturers) at the link below (deadline: Friday, 10/14/22 by 5:00 pm). Research proposals on all topics are welcomed, though a focus on diversity, equity, and/or inclusion would be considered a strength. Please keep in mind that these proposed projects should be able to be pivoted to a virtual format, should the COVID situation worsen (and regardless must follow all safety guidelines re: COVID).
Selected proposals will be advertised to students via the BEACoN website, who would then apply by Monday, 11/14. Faculty who receive student applicants will then get to select which student they would like to have as a mentee/research assistant. Matches will be finalized by the end of Fall quarter, with research mentorships during Winter & Spring quarters of 2023.
The faculty who are selected for this research mentoring initiative will receive $1,000 per Winter/Spring quarters ($2,000 total) through a Faculty Service payment (taxed). Students who are matched for this initiative will receive $1,500 per Winter/Spring quarters ($3,000 total) distributed via financial aid. Student mentees/research assistants are expected to have 100 hours of work per quarter. OUDI also has a travel fund to which BEACoN participants can apply for support (e.g., for presentation of BEACoN Research projects at a conference).
Click here for an example of how selected project descriptions will be posted on our website for students to choose from.
Click here to view e-copies of last year’s student presentations.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION using your Cal Poly email address when it prompts you for a Microsoft ID by Friday, 10/14/22 at 5:00 pm.
Faculty who were BEACoN Research Mentors last year are most welcome to apply, though priority may be given to faculty mentors who would not be participating for a second consecutive year.
For any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Kelly Bennion at kbennion@calpoly.edu.
