Research Mentorships
Purpose
The BE Together Research Mentorship Program is an excellent way for incoming freshmen and sophomores to gain out-of-classroom experience in their respective fields by conducting research in a laboratory while working alongside a mentoring faculty member. The mentorship lasts two semesters, requires approximately five hours of research per week, is paid, is a superb resume builder and is a great way to increase your technical and leadership skills.
Who can apply?
Incoming Freshman
All declared College of Engineering majors who are incoming freshmen can apply following their acceptance to BYU. The application link is open March 1-31. Click here to apply.
Upcoming Sophomores
Students who have finished their freshman year of college, as well as students who will be taking 200-level engineering classes starting the following Fall semester, are eligible to apply as a sophomore. The application is open April 1-30. Click here to apply
WHAT ARE THE WORK REQUIREMENTS AND COMPENSATION?
The total wages for your Research Mentorship position will be $2,100. You have fall and winter semesters to complete the 150 hours, an average of 5 hours per week. If all hours are not completed after the two semesters, students may, with permission from their faculty mentor, continue to work through spring and summer terms to complete all 150 hours.
As part of the award, you will attend two workshops and complete three short report surveys.
How do I get paid?
Students are hired by their department financial secretaries and can clock all hours through Y-time. One way to clock hours is using Y-Time on the BYU App. You can also use Y-Time to track your hours worked for each pay period. For more information regarding Y-Time, please refer to this website.
What is the Orientation Dinner?
The orientation dinner is an opportunity to eat free delicious food; meet and get to know the Research Mentorship staff, your faculty mentor, and other students in the Research Mentorship program; learn how to be hired; receive guidance about how to have a successful mentorship; and ask any questions. This dinner happens the beginning of fall semester.
How many reports are required?
There will be a total of three mandatory reports to complete throughout the academic year; one in September, December, and April. Each report link will be emailed to you. All reports need to be completed before the determined deadline. These reports provide you the opportunity to reflect about what you have learned or are learning, ask any questions, and give us feedback to help us improve the Research Mentorship experience.
How many workshops do I attend?
There are two, one-hour workshops you will attend, Recognize and Reduce Unconscious Bias, and Creating Collaborative Environments. These workshops teach you best practices for working effectively in diverse teams and environments and improving your communication skills. They count toward your total hours so you will clock-in and out when attending each one. These workshops are also part of the Weidman Center Leadership Workshop series. See the schedule here.
When does the Research Mentorship end?
Students will be terminated when they have worked all 150 hours: that can happen before winter semester ends, at the end of winter semester or, with permission from their faculty mentor to continue working, sometime during spring or summer terms.
Any students remaining in the program by the end of summer term will be terminated at that time.
Who do I contact with questions?
For questions regarding your time-card and pay, see your department financial secretary. For questions regarding your work in the lab, see your mentoring professor or lab supervisor. For any other questions regarding the Research Mentorship program, email be.together@byu.edu.
Arianna Kee
"My favorite part of the mentorship is the field work,” Arianna explained. “I really like flying the drones and just being outside. I have made so many good friends through this mentorship and it just makes research so much fun,”
To future Research Mentees, Arianna urges, "Jump into projects immediately. When I started, I always felt so unqualified. It took me a little bit to learn that I should not be limiting my options to only what I know. Instead, I need to branch out and learn new things because that’s kind of what the research mentorship is about."