RSU Biology Professor Dr. Cheyenne Olson (right) with her mentees Abbie Winrich (left) and Allie Shaw (center).
A Rogers State University professor recently participated in a mentorship program with the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) during the spring 2024 semester.
Existing to increase the state’s research competitiveness through strategic support of research instruments and facilities, research collaborations, and integrated education and research programs, Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR ran a water research mentorship program from January through May 2024.
Rogers State University Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Cheyanne Olson was a program participant, mentoring two students from Oklahoma State University, Allie Shaw and Abbie Winrich.
Dr. Olson said the mentors were paired with mentees not from their own universities to promote networking.
As part of the program, bi-weekly Zoom meetings were held to discuss different technical and professional development topics related to water research and education.
Between meetings, an educator/faculty mentor was assigned to a graduate student and an undergraduate student from a neighboring institution.
Mentors worked to support students in tasks such as designing a resume/CV, getting into research, making a presentation, and applying for graduate schools and for jobs.
One of the student mentees from RSU, Ashleigh Ross, said the program helped her gain valuable insight into the intricacies of conducting and presenting research.
“The program helped prepare me for finding research opportunities, presenting my research, and how to conduct future university and professional level research,” said Ross, an environmental conservation student.
Ross has applied for a $5,000 grant for a summer 2024 research project to determine fish diversity in several local streams in Claremore and around Rogers State University.
Learn more about available programs of study in Rogers State University’s Department of Biology.