Research Community
OUR METHODOLOGY
So, how do we build that bridge? What do we provide for students that work with us? Our methodology is multi-step, and high personalized due to the uniqueness of every academic situation and career trajectory.
THE PROGRAM
ScaleSTEM follows an alternating cohort model of 8-12 week periods. Every student is paired with a STEM mentor who is either: a graduate student, an industry professional, or a professor/academic. The goal of the program is to develop a research project, publish a technical report to the ScaleSTEM Research Journal and present to a virtual symposium. This pipeline is designed to emulate the traditional research path as much as possible.
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CAREER PATH IDENTIFICATION
Every student begins with addressing the essential question of: "What do I want to do?" At ScaleSTEM, we will guide STEM undergraduates along who are interested in pursuing (1) industry roles, (2) R&D roles, and (3) academic positions. Students will be asked to fill out a questionnaire and consult with mentors which will help remove uncertainty.
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MENTOR PAIRING
From there, we'll sort through our available mentors and see who's a fit based off of your desired trajectory. This mentor will be available throughout the duration of the program to guide you through the process. This includes weekly check-ins and bi-weekly presentations/scientific communication practice. This mentor will help you specify your research project and set realistic goals.
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VIDEO MODULE ADVANCEMENT
In research, the development of both soft and technical skills (academic communication etiquette, slide formats, presentation skills, literature review protocols, scientific writing, etc.) are essential for success. To help students develop these skills that are often elusive to those outside of research contexts-- we have curated a video series designed for chronological advancement. These videos include follow-up questions and notes for your aide.
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RESEARCH PROJECT CREATION
As you advance through the videos and network with your mentor, you will decide upon a research project, conduct a literature review, acquire the necessary technical knowledge, and begin making progress. For example: an undergraduate interested in nuclear engineering may begin to develop a Github codebase for a real-time Monte-Carlo reactor core simulator.
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TECHNICAL REPORT AND FINAL SYMPOSIUM
As the technical aspects of the research project reach a conclusion, the student should begin working on a technical report. The exact requirements of the technical report are subject to the field of study and the scope of the project. Additionally, the student will prepare slides to present at the final virtual symposium.
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MEET US
We're a small and growing team of students, industry professionals and academics.
Eric Swanson
Founder, Mentor
Eric Swanson is a Ph.D. student studying nuclear engineering at the University of Florida. He began with physics undergraduate at a small university, obtaining research experiences at both the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He also has over 2 years of experience tutoring undergraduate STEM students.