Session Descriptions

Facilitator: Irena Stojimirovic

Description: This informational session is designed to guide community college students through the unique challenges and opportunities associated with moving from a community college to a four-year institution. Through providing resources and an opportunity to ask questions, this session aims to facilitate a smooth and successful transition for community college students in physics and related fields.

Facilitator: Katy Wimberly

Description: This informational session is designed to inform undergraduate students about the Cal-Bridge Program, a program crafted to generate funded opportunities for undergraduates from historically marginalized backgrounds to participate in research experiences, professional development, and mentorship with multiple STEM faculty. The program establishes a pathway towards earning a Ph.D. in physics, astronomy, computer science, and math. After learning about this program, students will have the opportunity to ask questions related to the program as well as solicit advice from an alumni and a current leader within the program.

Facilitator: Maren Mossman

Panelists: Joan Dreiling, Miriam Bell, Amani Zalzali, Stacey York, Ana Valdes Curiel

Description: This panel aims to provide a platform for experienced women in the field to share insights and practical advice on cultivating effective support systems. By discussing mentorship, networking, and strategies for navigating challenges, this panel seeks to empower female physicists in creating resilient and diverse support networks that contribute to their professional growth and success.

Facilitator: Rae Anderson

Panelists: Sara Callori, Kathy Prestridge, Gurleen Bal, Kathreen Thome

Description: The goal of this panel is to serve as a forum to address the unique challenges women in physics experience in achieving equilibrium between academic pursuits and personal well-being. Through shared experiences and practical advice, this panel aims to guide young physicists in navigating the demands of their academic journeys while fostering a balanced and sustainable approach to their overall life.

Facilitator: Maya Hendija

Panelists: Laura Woodney, Kelly Luo, Brittany Hyland, Vera Gluscevic, Alvine Kamaha

Description: This panel is designed to offer practical insights and guidance on establishing effective communication channels with academic mentors. Through shared experiences and advice, this panel seeks to empower students to navigate interactions with professors, and how to foster positive relationships that contribute to academic success and professional development.

Facilitator: Emma Horner

Panelists: Lexie Holthaus, Sarah Dalessi, Dimple Sarnaaik, Eleanor Stuart, Robin Glefke

Description: This panel aims to provide valuable insights and firsthand experiences from women currently pursuing graduate studies in physics and related fields. By sharing their journeys, challenges, and triumphs, the panel seeks to inspire and inform undergraduate students about the nuances of graduate life, offering guidance on pursuing advanced studies and building successful careers in the field.

Co-facilitators: Lexie Holthaus, Brittany Hyland, Yasmeen Musthafa

Description: This roundtable discussion for students who identify as LGBTQ+ aims to create a supportive space for open dialogue, sharing experiences, and providing guidance on navigating the unique aspects of their identities within the field of physics. Through candid conversations, participants will have the opportunity to foster a sense of community, share strategies for overcoming challenges, and discuss ways to promote inclusivity and diversity in the scientific community.

Co-facilitators: Sara Callori, Kelly Luo, Vanessa Preisler

Description: This roundtable discussion seeks to engage participants in a thoughtful conversation about fostering a culture of inclusivity and support within the physics community. By sharing insights, experiences, and actionable strategies, the roundtable aims to empower attendees to become effective allies, contributing to a more diverse, equitable, and welcoming environment for all physicists.

Facilitator: Stacey York

Co-facilitator: Candice Porter

Workshop purpose: This workshop is designed to provide valuable insights and practical tips to enhance interview skills for various career paths within the field. Through targeted guidance, participants will develop the confidence and proficiency needed to prepare for and navigate interviews successfully, empowering them to secure opportunities and excel in their chosen trajectories.

Facilitator: Midhat Farooq

Co-facilitators: Michelle Espy, Erin Beaudoin

Workshop purpose: This workshop aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to craft compelling resumes tailored for success in industry settings. Through hands-on guidance on drafting resumes for industry-based jobs, the workshop empowers attendees to effectively showcase their skills and experiences, enhancing their prospects in the job market.

co-Facilitators: Dimple Sarnaaik, Kelly Luo, Katy Wimberly, Vanessa Preisler

This roundtable discussion is aimed at fostering an inclusive and supportive dialogue on intersectionality and having diverse social identities in the field of physics. Through open conversations, shared experiences, and proactive discussions, the roundtable seeks to create awareness and understanding to normalize our common stressors and strengths as folks from underrepresented groups in STEM to promote a more equitable and welcoming environment for all students pursuing careers in physics.

Facilitator: Midhat Farooq

co-Facilitator: Michelle Espy

This workshop is designed to provide practical strategies and tools for cultivating a mentoring network and effective mentorship connections. Through interactive sessions and discussions, participants will gain insights on building and maintaining mentor-mentee relationships that contribute to their academic and professional growth in physics.

Facilitator: Kathy Prestridge

Co-facilitators: Erin Beaudoin

This workshop is designed to help you understand how to set goals and develop tactics that will help you negotiate throughout your career (and life in general!). The workshop provides background on why it is helpful to understand how tactics and attitude can help you meet your goals, providing tips on how to improve your negotiating skills. You will leave the workshop with some guidelines that will enable you to practice and improve throughout your career.

Facilitator: Stacey York

This workshop aims to raise awareness and facilitate discussions on unconscious biases that may affect experiences in academic and professional settings. Through education and open dialogue, participants will gain insights into recognizing and mitigating implicit biases, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment within the field of physics.