Finding A Mentor

1. Go to the Colorado State University homepage: http://www.colostate.edu/



2. Using CSU A-Z or the CSU search bar, search for departments that fall within your area of interest (Example: If you wish to do animal research, search for the department of Biology or the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences as a starting point).
   
   
   1. The university is comprised of 8 colleges, and it is under these colleges that all departments, academic programs, and faculty are organized. Thus, starting your search with a college homepage may be easiest. Click on any of the following colleges to visit their homepage:
      
      
      • College of Agricultural Sciences
      • College of Applied Human Sciences
      • College of Business
      • College of Engineering
      • College of Liberal Arts
      • College of Natural Sciences
      • College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
      • Warner College of Natural Resources
        


3. Once you have navigated to the homepage of your department of choice, look through the list of faculty members (departments always include this somewhere on their webpage) and look to see if any of the faculty have research interests in the same area as you.
   
   
   1. It is possible that the faculty will not have the exact same interests as you. This is okay. The most important thing is to find a mentor who is doing research in a field that you are generally interested in so that you can make use of their expertise while carrying out your research project.


4. Upon admission into the McNair Program, the McNair office will help you make contact with the faculty members you are interested in working with. When making contact, it is important to share the following information:
   
   
   1. You were recently accepted as a McNair Scholar at CSU
      1. It might be helpful to include a link to the McNair webpage, www.mcnair.colostate.edu, so that the mentor can learn more about the program if they are not already familiar with it.
   
   
   2. Part of the summer program involves completing a 9 week research project
   
   
   
   3. You are interested in working with them over the summer
   
   
   
   4. Your research interests are...
      1. Be sure to explain to them how your interests relate to their area of research
   
   
   5. Ask them if they have room in their lab for an undergraduate research assistant or if they would be interested in serving as a mentor over the summer.

   Be sure that you read up on what the mentor is doing so that you have a clear idea of why you would like to work with them. This will help us to get you paired with a mentor for the summer.

   Back to Top

Housing Information

Scholars receive a $1,700 stipend for housing expenses over the summer.

• If you already have housing arrangements for the summer you can use the stipend to pay for your rent and other living expenses.
  • The housing stipend will be automatically deposited into your checking account. You are responsible for paying your rent.


• If you are joining us on campus from another school and need housing arrangements, we will have the following available:
  • On-campus single-student and family housing - University Village
  • Off-campus apartments - Prospect Plaza

  Back to Top

Stipend Payments

Housing Stipend:

• Will be paid in two installments via direct deposit into your account
• First payment - $850, May 29
• Second Payment - $850, July 1

Living Stipend:

• To help cover the cost of living over the summer while not working - it is not intended to be used for research purposes
• Will be paid in 3 installments via direct deposit into your account
• First payment - $1,066 (before taxes), May 29
• Second payment- $1,066 (before taxes), July 1
• Final payment - $1,066 (before taxes), August 1
  • Final payment is contingent upon completion of all requirements

  Back to Top

Graduate Preparation Seminar

• Students are required to attend.
• Mentors are aware that students will be out of lab for the duration of the seminar on Thursdays.

Orientation on May 27, 2008 will completely cover program details and give Scholars an opportunity to ask any questions they may have.

Back to Top