Mitra Lab

Career Mentorship Program for Current UWG Students

Some of the students from my research lab have been accepted into STEM graduate programs (Ph.D.) with full funding at the University of Cambridge (UK), UC, Berkeley and Michigan State University; two are working as research associates at Emory University and at Algenol biofuel, two are in Pharmacy school, five others have entered Medical schools (Georgia Regents University, Mercer University in Georgia, Upstate Medical University, New York, and University of Florida, Gainesville) and two high school students are Biology majors at University of Pennsylvania and at UCLA. One student has recently started working at Post Market Clinical specialist at ALKU Quality (a firm that focuses in the areas of quality and compliance within the medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and related industries) at Waltham, MA. Many of these successful students are first generation college graduates.

I have initiated the work of creating an undergraduate mentorship program that will bridge former UWG biology majors, who have successful careers in STEM fields, with current UWG STEM majors. My former successful UWG Bio major students are sharing their career experiences and offering valuable mentorship to guide the UWG Biology major students in their career paths. Topics of interest in the program are: different jobs for Biology majors, preparation needed for such jobs, CV and personal statement writing, preparation for a job/school interviews and even going through a “mock” interview” via Skype. As the program evolves, I will involve my research collaborators from other institutions, to seek out successful undergrads from their departments to join the program. The bridge currently operates informally via e-mails, Skype, professional (LinkedIn) and social network (Face Book) websites and to some extent via my research lab website.

Current UWG Bio major/graduate students or Advanced Academy of Georgia students are welcome to contact me in person (room 251 or room 149L of the Bio building) or via e-mail, if they need career guidance from one of my former successful research students.