About UR2PhD Graduate Mentorship Path
As a graduate mentor, UR2PhD gives you the chance to acquire essential mentoring skills, develop research projects, and build a supportive network with peers across universities. You’re not just supervising — the program pairs you with a first-time undergraduate researcher and trains you to mentor them well, investing in you as much as in them.
Graduate Student Mentor Training Course
It’s a virtual, synchronous course that prepares you to mentor undergraduates well — not just supervise them. Some weeks you’ll meet live on Zoom; on off weeks, you’ll respond to a discussion prompt on Canvas instead. You’ll need a working webcam and microphone either way, and there’s an optional Discord server for trading advice with fellow mentors between sessions.
Who Should Join
- You’re a graduate student actively mentoring undergraduates in research
- Bonus: mentors of students already in the undergraduate research training course get priority
To receive the stipend, you’ll need to attend every session on time with your camera on, participate actively rather than multitask, and keep mentoring your undergraduate researcher throughout the term. More than 2 unexcused absences, or not participating fully, means you won’t be paid.
What You’ll Gain
- A $1,000 stipend if you meet course expectations — or join as a volunteer if you’d rather skip it
- Formal training in research mentorship and project design
- Practice adapting a project and your communication style to where your students are at
- A mentorship philosophy that’s your own
- Skills to build a welcoming, inclusive environment where your mentees can thrive as researchers
- A peer network of mentors from other universities
How to Apply
Fill out the UR2PhD graduate mentor application.
Resources
Here are some resources to help you learn more about the program: