Program Description

The 2018-2019 Bioengineering Mentorship Program works to build a cohesive intradepartmental community within the Department of Bioengineering at UC Riverside. In doing so, the program provides academic and professional guidance for undergraduate students while fostering graduate and senior student leadership skills. The Bioengineering Mentorship Program connects undergraduate students with senior and graduate student mentors, building strong relationships between the undergraduate program and the Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate (BIG) Program.

The Bioengineering Mentorship Program was established by the Bioengineering Graduate Student Association (BIG-GSA) and the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) in September 2013. Program operations fall under the guidance of Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) and with strong support from Department of Bioengineering. All parties involved sincerely hope that the Bioengineering Mentorship Program will enrich both the undergraduate and graduate students' experiences here at UC Riverside by providing a needed service for the students of bioengineering.

Goals

The Bioengineering Mentorship Program will operate with the following goals in mind:
• To assist undergraduate bioengineering students gain a greater insight about current academic and professional practices and opportunities and how they may relate to post graduate goals
• To strengthen graduate and senior student leadership, professionalism, and experience in working with others
• To promote a sense of community and create a willingness to help others within the Department of Bioengineering

Mentorship Advisory Board

The Advisory Board consists of Tara Brown (BCOE), Dr. Hyle Park (Department of Bioengineering), Troy Alva (BIG-GSA Mentorship Chair), and Krishen Wadhwani (BMES Mentorship Chair). This board was established for the purpose of giving mentors and mentees a safe, confidential outlet so that they do not have to deal with anything uncomfortable themselves. The Advisory Board will also have the task of contacting mentors and/or mentees who are not meeting all program requirements. The Advisory Board can be contacted at bienmentorship@gmail.com.