DRiP (Directed Reading in Physics) is a University of Washington Department of Physics program. DRiP is designed to pair undergraduate students with dedicated graduate students, or research guides (RGs), at advanced points in their degrees for the purpose of developing the ability to critically engage with advanced academic literature and to clearly communicate scientific material---skill sets essential for future research endeavors. Throughout interactions with their RGs, students explore their chosen research area in detail, facilitating a connection to the research environment within the UW physics department.