2022 Mentoring Pilot Project - Mentees
Daniel Morrison
Mathematics Ph.D.; Spring 2023-Spring 2024
2. Learning about skills/knowledge that are useful after graduation
3. Expanding my professional network
Caroline Martinez
PhD in Sociology, 2025
Victoria Rodriguez
2) Identifying which type of post-doc positions I should be focused on applying to
3) “Hidden-curriculum” that exists in post-doc and faculty positions
Genesis Mazariegos
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
Global Studies PhD, 2026
Professional aspirations:
I want to become a professor, maybe study law and work in a nonprofit or the legal sphere for some time. Public policy is also something that I’m interested in exploring after my graduate degree.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
It would be nice to discuss potential career choices so that I can start planning what to do now. With my Graduate Mentor, I would also discuss navigating grad school and what to do to better position myself in the academic or other industries.
Rodger de Miranda
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
I’m in the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry PhD program which will give me a PhD in Biological Sciences. I expect to graduate at the end of Spring Quarter 2023.
Professional aspirations:
I aspire to join the workforce in industry when I graduate, specifically in Seattle WA so that I can be closer to my new nephew!
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
1) To touch base with someone who has done it, made it to industry learn about their path and get ideas for careers that I could potentially aspire to start. 2) To start/work on developing different professional assets (CV, headshot, etc) to be competitive in the job market. 3) To begin working on a gameplan for how to approach job interviews and applications and things of that nature.
Stephanie Orchanian
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, PhD in Biological Sciences in June 2023
Professional aspirations:
Once I graduate, I’m hoping to get a post doc in the field of neuroimmunology, in the long term I hope to become a professor with my own lab.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
how to apply for post docs, what non-scientific skills jobs look for that I should be working on/ways I can work on them.
Connie Valencia
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
PhD Public Health, June 2023
Professional aspirations:
Currently I am planning to apply to a post doc that will allow me to receive additional training in community based research. In addition, I hope to apply to NIH, EPA grants that will help me advance in my dissertation research focused on air pollution and environmental justice.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
1) Network with other students and mentors 2) Discuss professional development goals and plans 3) Identify and address potential challenges in career advancement as a parent.
Adriana Meza Soria
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
Ph.D in Software Engineering, summer 2022
Professional aspirations:
I love research and would like to become a professor in future.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
Networking with UCI alumni, finding a career role model, being informed about life in academia (challenges, perils).
Yenda Prado Giovanatto
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
PhD School of Education, summer 2022
Professional aspirations:
I will be conducting both an industry (edtech, UX, curriculum/assessment, digital media) and an academic (TT position, post doc in education) job search after graduation in June 2022.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
1) approach and positioning in an industry job search, 2) approach and positioning in an academic job search, 3) mentorship/support in my writing endeavors as I complete the initial draft of a book I am writing for MIT press
Xiaowen Zhu
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
Mathematics, PhD, 2022 Spring.
Professional aspirations:
Academic positions.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
Broaden my vision of other people’s post-PhD life. If possible, maybe I’d like some experience or suggestions on how to be successful on research, how to get a tenure track or so.
Jinghao Chen
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
Mathematics, PhD, 2023 or 2024
Professional aspirations:
Research position, Postdoctoral position
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
(1) more clear future goal in order to get prepared (2) get ready for job application after graduation (3) ready for a recent research internship (4) I’m also struggling on my first paper.
Joseph Hin Yan Lam
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
PhD in Education (2026)
Professional aspirations:
Tenure-track assistant professor
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
How to prepare for academic jobs, academic networking strategies, research team management
Jung Soo Lee
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
English phD 5th year, expect to graduate oct. 2023
Professional aspirations:
Academic, research, teaching
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
Find a job that will allow me to get green card, explore career options,
Toni Hays
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
English, Spring 2023
Professional aspirations:
I want to enter into academia. I am most interested in sustaining and building networks for success through university for first-generation student. I am also interested in building programming to continue support for racial, gender, and class equity.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
I want to be able to build in skills for interviewing on the academic job market. I would also like to build skills for communicating my skill set across a variety of hiring departments. I would also appreciate mentorship about navigating academic as a Woman of Color. It’s more lately that I’ve noticed that despite the political commitments individuals might sustain, the expectations of academia are not made for the success of minoritized communities.
Whitney Schmanski
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
MFA Dance, 2022
Professional aspirations:
Continue with dance performance and creation, as well as continuing scholarly studies.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
Learn ways to stay engaged with scholarly work, to meet people who have done interdisciplinary work, discuss career engagements that I might have not thought of prior.
Jiali Wang
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
PhD in education, HDiC, expected to graduate in 2024
Professional aspirations:
The reason I want to apply for this program is because I have been in a constant struggle of my professional aspirations. I have spent a lot of time thinking about whether I should go into industry or academics but have a hard time to make a decision — this challenge also has been impacting me in my daily learning. It’s hard for proceed with my program without a clear career goal.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
Understanding career options; set career goals; making learning goals towards my career goals
Frankie Henderson
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
MFA – Dance. Graduation term Spring of 2023
Professional aspirations:
To teach at a university within a dance department.
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
1. To expand my network and make connections. 2. To gain support in areas I am unfamiliar with in term of applying to jobs and gaining professional experience. 3. To seek council on my thesis research writing.
Xiaochen Liu
Current UCI graduate degree program, intended degree and expected graduation term:
PhD in Bioinformatics, Winter 2023
Professional aspirations:
Possibly going to industry
Top three goals you hope to accomplish with a Graduate Alumni Mentor in this program:
1. Have a good understanding on mentor’s work field.
2. Get advice on my PhD program
3. Get advice on my future career plan