Our peer mentoring program exists to help early graduate students succeed in their transition to graduate school, navigate department resources, and provide a network of mentorship that will grow and flourish throughout the student’s career. Providing a systematic support network of peers reduces the challenge of adjusting to a difficult program in a new location. This built-in community provides an additional space to build the personal and professional relationships that make our department a collaborative, welcoming, and inclusive space.  

This initiative gives our graduate students an opportunity to learn many of the non-academic skills associated with being a successful physicist. Mentorship experience prepares students to be both competent and compassionate leaders as they enter academia or the workforce. 

Objectives of the program: 

• Put first- and second-year graduate students into cohorts with upper-level graduate students, which will provide guidance and introduce them to resources within the department. 
• Make the adjustment to graduate school easier and less isolating by integrating first-year graduate students into the department community and providing a support network of other graduate students. 
• Facilitate personal and professional development.