top of page
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL

​

  • Do I have to identify as someone from an underrepresented gender in STEM (e.g., cis-woman, trans-woman, trans-man, non-binary, genderfluid, agender, genderqueer,  two-spirit, etc.) to be involved in the WinSPIRE program?

    • No! WinSPIRE welcomes anyone committed to advancing individuals whose gender is underrepresented in STEM. ​

​

  • I’m not sure my field qualifies as a “STEM” field - can I still apply to be a college-prep, research mentor, or MiniLab leader?

    • When we select mentors, we will give some preference to those whose field falls under the traditional “STEM” umbrella, but we still encourage those outside of traditional STEM fields to apply. If you wish to be a research mentor but your field falls a bit outside the traditional STEM umbrella, you may still apply so long as you can design a project in which students still get experience with each step of the scientific method (experiment design, hypothesis generation, data analysis, etc.) 

​

  • Do I have to cover the cost of my own background check?

    • No, mentors do not have to cover the cost of their own background check (~$20). The program will cover this cost for all college-prep and research mentors. 

​

  • I’ve had a background check through UNC already - do I need to have another one to participate as a mentor?

    • If you’ve passed a background check completed by UNC in the past five years, this should most likely fulfill the requirement. Program organizers will need the date and results of the previous background check.

 RESEARCH MENTORS​

​​

  • I will be out of town during part of WinSPIRE 2023 -  am I ineligible to apply?

    • Research mentors are required to be present throughout all weeks of the program. If you will be out of town for part of the program, we highly suggest applying with a co-mentor from your lab or a nearby lab. In this case, only one of you will need to be present on campus at a given time.

​​

  • Will we be able to choose our student? 

    • The WinSPIRE planning committee will narrow down the applicants to a group of finalists. From there, mentors will be able to access applications for students interested in their field of study to select a few you think may be a good fit for your lab. Final pairs will be decided based on the research mentors’ rankings.

​​

  • Is there any stipend support for research mentors?

    • Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to contribute to the stipends of research mentors. As we grow and receive more grants, we hope to be able to provide mentors with stipends in the future.

​​

  • What are examples of types of projects that research mentors have completed in the past?

    • 2021 virtual program (short-format project)

      • Elephant Migration Simulation Project (click here)

      • Investigation into the role of mitochondrial shape in cancer pathogenesis (click here)

    • Past in-person programs (full-format project)

      • A High-Throughput Survival Assay to Assess the Molecular Mechanism of Desiccation Tolerance in Tardigrades (click here)

      • Predicting peak lake levels in Eastern North Carolina post Hurricane Florence (click here)

​COLLEGE-PREP MENTORS

​

  • What is the time commitment for a college-prep mentor? Am I expected to be present all six weeks?

    • You will work with students with another college prep mentor for one week during the course of the program. For that week, you will need to commit about 3 hours.

​

  • As a college-prep mentor, am I paired with one student?

    • No, college prep mentors work with all the students (~15). However, if you are interested in mentoring a student beyond the summer to help with college apps, etc., then you will be paired with one student.

​

  • As a college-prep mentor, do I get to select which career development activity I lead?

    • Yes, all college-prep mentors will meet to discuss the content we wish to cover and to divide up the weekly workshops. We have resources from previous years’ workshops, and also work to refine the activities based on feedback from previous students.

​

  • What are some examples of past career development workshops?

    • Poster design, elevator pitch, “How to pick the best college for YOU”, career panel, resume and personal statement prep - we are open to new ideas you have too!​​

MiniLab LEADERS

​​

  • What is the time commitment for a MiniLab leader? 

    • One mandatory training on WinSPIRE logistics and Lesson Planning (1.5hrs)

    • One mandatory mentor training (2.5hrs)

    • One mandatory (unless already certified) SafeZone training (4hrs)

    • 1-2 three-hour MiniLab sessions (3-6hrs)

    • Attendance at WinSPIRE program poster session (optional, but highly encouraged 1hr)

​​

  • As a MiniLab leader, am I paired with one student?

    • No, MiniLab leaders work with all the students (~15). However, if you are interested in mentoring a student beyond the summer to help with college apps, etc., then you will be paired with one student

​

  • How will serving as a MiniLab Leader build my mentoring skills and what experience will I gain?

    • Valuable and broadly applicable training in mentorship best practices.

    • Experience facilitating a collaborative and inclusive environment for groups of students with diverse backgrounds.

    • Experience mentioning high school students.

    • Be a role model for students interested in STEM!​

​

  • Do I need to work in a group as a MiniLab leader?

    • It is encouraged to work with other members of your research group or friends in your department to make it easier to provide guidance and feedback to students through your activities. You can apply as a single leader and WinSPIRE coordinators may help build a team from other applicants for additional support during the program. 

​

  • What are some example MiniLab topics?

    • Building a simple calculator through basic programming skills.

    • Testing water quality with everyday items.

    • Extracting DNA and testing for lactose intolerance.

    • Making a data plot using existing data sets (Basics of R or Prism)

    • Building a simple vehicle or tower using introductory engineering principles.

    • Identify bacteria on agar plates with basic streaking techniques.

bottom of page