Power Perspective
Often, undergraduate students or prospective graduate students do not have a full picture of the research going on in the energy sector on campus. Our mentorship program provides an opportunity for students of all years to connect with current graduate students or professors on campus to talk about research, field experience, and more.
Sign up below, and we will match you to a current student/professor or professional who closely aligns with your research and field of study. The Student Energy Club will sponsor $30 for lunch meetups at Talley Student Union (pre-COVID). However, for now, we’re providing a $25 gift card for mentors while hosting the meetups via Zoom.
We believe such informal sessions will provide new and undergraduate students with a relaxed and informal environment to ask questions about research/graduate school in a unique setting not otherwise readily available on campus such as at larger informational sessions.
If you’re not ready to apply yet, feel free to contact us at group-student-energy-officers@ncsu.edu for more information about the program.
Sign up here
FAQ for Mentees and Mentors
Why are we running a mentorship program?
Often, undergraduate students or prospective graduate students do not have a full picture of the research going on in the energy sector on campus. Our program provides an opportunity for students of all years to connect with current graduate students or professors on campus to talk about research, field experience, and more.
What makes a successful mentoring relationship?
A successful mentoring relationship will allow students to have access to a source of experience that is larger or different from theirs. A successful relationship will allow mentees to discuss issues and ask questions in order to benefit from their mentor’s advice and experience.
What are the benefits for mentees?
- Broadened horizons, access to new experiences
- Motivation and academic guidance
- Career opportunities/mobility
- Opportunities to receive feedback
- Networking opportunities
- Developing visibility for career aspirations
What are the benefits for mentors?
- Opportunity to exercise creativity
- Extended professional/community networks
- Demonstrate expertise, share knowledge
- Learn new perspectives
- An opportunity to give back to the NC State community
What should I be asking myself to prepare to meet? (both mentor and mentee):
- What am I hoping to get out of this mentoring relationship?
- How much time am I prepared to give to this?
- Will any written records be kept of our meetings and if so by whom?
How should the meeting go?
- Introduction
- Get a better understanding of each other’s backgrounds
- Mentor: Your current career/research history, your motivations, why you want to be a mentor and your preferred working style- how your mentee can get the best from you.
- Mentee: What you do in relation to work activities, explore your education and career history/aspirations, what you want to get out of the mentorship.
- Discussion of Goals
- What do each of you want coming out of these meetings?
- How frequent do each of you want to meet?