GAIN Mentorship Program

Postdoctoral Mentorship and Training

Program Duration

GAIN Postdocs will commit to a four (4) month period of mentoring undergraduate students from CSUMB.

This period is split into a Spring Semester and Summer Undergraduate Internship component, with respective requirements listed below.

Resources Provided

GAIN Postdocs receive the following financial support. Please note that all resources detailed are for the 2023 Program Year:

1. Stipend towards salary and benefits totaling $4,673*
2. $4,000 laboratory supply stipend in support of two (2) CSUMB students completing a research project during their Undergraduate Summer Internship.
3. $1,600 travel stipend in support of CSUMB students traveling to UCSC for the two (2) month Undergraduate Summer Internship.

*Please note that if salary and benefits support conflicts with current funding and commitments, funds will be allocated towards Laboratory Supplies in support of the Undergraduate Summer Internship.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Per Genentech Foundation guidelines the proposed research must fall into the general area of biomedical research.
2. Applicants can re-apply for multiple program years.

Selection Process

1. Applications are reviewed on an annual basis following the close of the application deadline.
2. Three (3) Postdocs will be selected for participation based on their personal statement.

Program Requirements

1. Undergraduate Summer Internship
   1. Postdoctoral mentors will host two (2) undergraduate students from CSUMB in their labs for a two (2) month period in the summer.
   2. Postdoctoral mentors are expected to develop a short research project that can be completed by their students within the 2-month period.
2. Undergraduate Mentorship
   1. Postdoctoral mentors will provide mentoring for a period of two (2) months to undergraduate students at CSUMB.
      1. Postdoctoral mentors will work with CSUMB faculty to optimize mentoring provided to undergraduate students for this two (2) month period.
      2. Mentoring may consist of in-person visits to the CSUMB campus; virtual mentoring via Zoom; virtual Office Hours via Zoom; student engagement via Slack; or other methods of student engagement and mentorship as agreed upon with their CSUMB faculty member.
   2. Mentorship can be provided on course and subject matter material; career development and planning; identifying the “Path to a Ph.D”; Summer research projects; and more.

Program Recommendations

1. The IBSC encourages participating Postdocs to obtain additional mentorship training through CITL’s Equity Minded Mentoring Workshop for Postdocs.

Undergraduate Mentees

Program Summary (Spring Mentoring)

Participating CSUMB undergraduates will be paired with a UCSC Postdoc serving as a GAIN Mentor. Postdocs will provide mentoring support on both subject matter related to Biology course(s) taken during Spring Semester at CSUMB, as well as career guidance and development. All GAIN Mentors are Postdocs who have completed a Ph.D. and are now conducting research projects in their respective labs. Postdocs will move on to pursue a variety of career options within academia, non-profit organizations (i.e. research foundations), and for-profit organizations (i.e. biotech, pharma).

Program Summary (Summer Internship)

Selected GAIN undergraduate fellows will participate in a two (2) month Undergraduate Summer Internship where they will complete a research project under the guidance of their UCSC GAIN Postdoctoral mentor.

Resources Provided

Undergraduate Summer Internship

1. GAIN undergraduate fellows participating in the Undergraduate Summer Internship will receive a $2,500 monthly stipend for each of the two (2) months research is conducted.
2. GAIN undergraduate fellows are allocated a laboratory budget of $2,000 in support of their two (2) month summer research project. Research funds are administered by their mentor.

Academic Credit

GAIN undergraduate fellows may receive academic credit for the Undergraduate Summer Internship by enrolling in an internship through the College of Science.

Research Presentations

GAIN undergraduate fellows may have the opportunity to present the research conducted as part of the Undergraduate Summer Internship at a number of CSUMB events, competitions and conferences, including the CSUMB Fall Research Competition