M. Ofelia Aguirre Paden, CSEP Director, and Dr. Arica Lubin, AD, at the ACS Spring 2025 Meeting

At this year's Spring ACS Meeting and Expo, CSEP leadership, Ofi Aguirre Paden and Arica Lubin presented a talk titled "Shared stakeholder framework for mentoring undergraduate researchers". The Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships has developed a comprehensive mentoring framework to strengthen undergraduate research experiences, particularly for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM—such as first-generation, low-income, and minority students. Built over two decades and informed by evidence-based practices, the framework guides mentoring relationships in short-term and long-term research programs, including NSF REU, NIH MARC, and DoD HBCU/MI initiatives.

Often mentored by graduate students and postdocs, undergraduates benefit from improved research engagement, productivity, and retention. Meanwhile, mentors gain valuable skills in project design, communication, and teaching. The framework addresses the common lack of clear expectations in mentoring relationships by centering the perspectives and needs of all involved. It has been shown to boost mentors’ confidence and effectiveness, while creating more inclusive and supportive environments for future STEM professionals.

This readily available and adaptable framework has increased graduate student/postdocs' confidence in mentoring and expanded their skillset; and improved undergraduates' research experience, productivity and retention in STEM. The Undergraduate Research Mentoring Resources document can be viewed here.