Mentor Match

Get Involved

This mentorship program is designed to connect students with professionals in optics and photonics as a way to assist students with overcoming challenges they face in their careers. Participants are able to choose from a variety of different discussion topics including:

Technical Support
- Guidance pertaining to my career path and goals as a scientist
- Support with identifying and applying for relevant research grants
- Support with identifying and applying to conferences relevant to my research
- Support with identifying graduate school programs relevant to my research

Professional Development Support
- Guidance on communicating my research effectively
- Information on various career paths in optics (academia, industry, nonprofit, government, etc.)
- Support with building and leveraging a network of individuals to achieve my goals
- Assistance with creating an effective resume or CV
- Support with understanding the dynamics of a workplace and how to achieve success after university

Navigating Personal Challenges
- Guidance on maintaining work/life balance and overcoming stress
- Support with navigating challenges associated with diversity and inclusion
- Advice on collaborating effectively with people from around the world
- Support with navigating a career through parenthood

Eligibility

For mentees:

Be an active Optica Member
Be a student at the undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. level
Have a current Optica student membership

For mentors:

Have a degree and background in physics
Have a current Optica membership
Be willing to provide insight on the above topics for mentees

Resources

For mentees and mentors:

For mentees:

For mentors:

Join the program

To become a mentor or mentee with Mentor Match, feel free to contact us at mentormatch@optica.org. Share information about yourself and your interest in joining Mentor Match, and we'll promptly send you a link to complete your profile. We look forward to connecting with you!