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Undergraduate Research Mentor Workshops

At the Office of Undergraduate Research, we recognize that a successful undergraduate research experience starts with high-quality mentorship.

 

Join our community of research mentors!

We help foster high-quality undergraduate research experiences by providing research mentors with opportunities to build community and enhance their mentorship practice. Our events are designed to equip mentors with strategies for cultivating productive and inclusive research environments. We invite you to explore the sessions below to enrich your mentoring practice and support the next generation of researchers.

 

Mentor & Adviser Info Session

Getting to Know Your Undergraduate Research Resources

Are you a UW faculty member, staff member, postdoctoral researcher or graduate student looking to engage undergraduates in research? Are you an adviser hoping to learn more about research-related resources for students in your program? Join us for this introduction to undergraduate research at UW. Attendees will be provided with tools and strategies for recruiting, compensating, and supporting undergraduates in research experiences.

Those who watch this session will:

  1. Learn effective and equitable strategies for recruiting undergraduate researchers.
  2. Learn about undergraduate research funding opportunities, including funded programs, research scholarships, and conference travel support for undergraduates.
  3. Explore other ways to compensate undergraduates for their work (e.g. Federal Work Study, course credit, etc.).
  4. Learn about UW’s Undergraduate Research Symposium and how to prepare students to present.
  5. Learn how to get students in your courses excited about participating in research.
  6. Discover ways to connect with undergraduates interested in research.
  7. Gain access to additional resources for effective and inclusive mentorship.
  8. Build relationships with Office of Undergraduate Research staff who can support you in grant development, program and curricular design, and other topics.

Save the date for fall 2025 sessions:

  • Thursday, October 9, 2025, 12-1 PM – in person, Seattle campus 
  • Friday, October 10, 2025, 11-12 PM – virtual

Register here

Engaging Undergraduates in Research Workshop Series

Session 1: Bringing an Equity Lens to Your Mentorship Practice

This session is designed for research mentors looking to center their mentorship practice on intentional strategies that promote equity and inclusion. We will provide foundational theory around equity and inclusion as it relates to research, create room for discussion with colleagues about experiences and perspectives, and provide practical tools to implement in mentoring practice.

Those who attend this session will:

  1. Understand the importance of promoting equitable access to undergraduate research opportunities​
  2. Recognize the value of diverse forms of cultural capital in research environments using the community cultural wealth model and anti-deficit thinking
  3. Identify equity and inclusion-based practices that impact recruitment and selection

Thursday, October 16, 2025, 10:0012:00 PM – in person, Seattle campus

Register here

Session 2: Cultivating Belonging & Inclusion in Research

In this session, we will provide foundational information about the importance of belonging and the different research contexts where it can be established. Participants will be asked to engage in discussion and participate in activities that will allow them to leave the session with practical tools for their research practice.

Those who attend this session will:

  1. Understand the importance of belonging for students
  2. Identify five different areas of belonging in a research context
  3. Articulate an approach for establishing clear expectations and research philosophy for mentees
  4. Develop awareness around how psychological safety impacts belonging 
  5. Learn strategies to promote belonging through individual and team interactions

Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 10:0012:00 PM – in person, Seattle campus

Register here

Session 3: Balancing Student Advocacy & Empowerment

Participants will explore the impact of advocacy and empowerment on undergraduate researchers and learn why these elements are essential in research mentoring. We will share various strategies for engaging in meaningful advocacy and empowerment, along with key cautions to consider. The session will include discussions, real-world examples, and interactive activities, equipping participants with actionable tools to support and uplift undergraduate researchers effectively.

Those who attend this session will:

  1. Articulate why research mentors need to engage in student advocacy and empowerment
  2. Recall various forms of advocacy and empowerment mentors can engage in to support undergraduate researchers
  3. Identify several important cautions when engaging in advocacy and empowerment

Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 10:0012:00 PM – in person, Seattle campus

Register here

Special Topic Discussion Sessions co-hosted by the UW Libraries

Fostering Critical AI Literacy in Undergraduate Researchers: A Practical Approach

Fall Quarter – October 28, 12:00-1:00 PM – in person, Seattle campus
Winter Quarter – January 13, 10:00-11:00 AM – in person, Seattle campus

Register here

 

Mentor Testimony

“I want to thank you for running these three extremely impactful sessions. Your guidance and advice have already begun transforming the way I mentor undergraduate researchers working with my team. The exercises I participated in through this sequence of workshops helped me recognize, describe, and fix blind spots in my mentorship technique. Our team is already reaping the benefits of these improvements.”

Dr. Patrick BoyleAssistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering

Mentorship Certificate

Participants who attend all three sessions in the “Engaging Undergraduates in Research Workshop Series” will receive a certificate and will be formally recognized on our website for having completed the training series.

This training series has been in development since 2018 and was influenced by various existing resources including trainings from Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER); Mentoring Enrichment And Leadership Development Institute (MELDI) led by Dr. Tam’ra-Kay Francis; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine (NASEM); and the work of Drs. Buffie Longmire-Avital, Jenny Shanahan.