Key features of a long-standing student-led women in physics mentoring program Open Access

As members of the student-initiated and student-led Women in Physics (WiP) organization (now called “Physicists of Underrepresented Genders”) in the Department of Physics at the University of Maryland College Park, we describe a mentoring program that started in 2012. The WiP group prioritizes creating a welcoming social environment for women and gender-diverse members of the physics community, as well as opportunities to network and learn about academic and career development. Each year, the long-standing mentoring program pairs interested undergraduates with graduate student or postdoc volunteers. Mentor-mentee matches commit to meeting for the academic year, but pairs often continue in following years and even after leaving the university. The WiP student organization leaders encourage pairs to meet at least three times during a 12-week semester, and group activities are organized to support this goal. Brief surveys completed by participants over the years have enabled the WiP leadership to assess and improve the program iteratively. In-depth reflections from one recent mentor-mentee pair provide insight on key elements that may have been the most beneficial to participants. Mentor-mentee interactions shifted to a virtual, long-distance environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications for starting or maintaining mentoring programs for women in physics are discussed.