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DURHAM CAMPUS
ON THIS PAGE About How to Engage How the Program Works Program Timelines Contact News
DURHAM CAMPUS
About the Mentorship Program
About the Mentorship Program
The Mentorship Program is a 40+ year tradition and is recognized for its unique collaboration with over 200 volunteer mentors per year that provide project-based opportunities for students. The program is designed for students with little or no previous experience and relies on NCSSM instructors to provide the support and instruction necessary for high school students to navigate the experience with confidence, professionalism, and self-reliance.
A key to the student experience is the engagement in a project under the guidance of a professional partnering with NCSSM Mentorship Programs. NCSSM Durham-hosted student experiences are primarily within academic research with partners at Duke University, NC State University, and UNC-Chapel Hill as well as other partnering organizations outside of acadamia such as RTI International.
The Mentorship course curriculum is extensively research-focused. The range of topics and fields of interest widely vary within research (STEM, social sciences and humanities). Students develop skills such as how to read publications/literature, keep records of their daily activities, and demonstrate their learning and the impact of their work through presentations and written communication to a variety of audiences from experts in the field to the community at NCSSM (i.e. a 10-minute oral presentation, a poster presentation, and/or an elevator pitch and mini-grant proposal).
ENGAGE WITH THE NCSSM DURHAM MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Collaboration Between NCSSM and the Community
Collaboration Between NCSSM and the Community
Every Mentorship placement runs on four working parts — a volunteer mentor, a student, an NCSSM instructor, and NCSSM itself — each carrying a distinct piece of the experience.
MENTOR
Guides student research, provides expertise, and supports growth.
STUDENT
Takes ownership of the research experience and develops new skills.
INSTRUCTOR
Supports student development and helps connect research to learning.
NCSSM
Provides programmatic support, funding, instruction, and coordination.
CHOOSING A TRACK
Program Timelines
Program Timelines
The Mentorship Program runs on three timelines — Mentorship 1, 2, and 3 — each with a different length and commitment.
Summer Mentorship (Mentorship 1, M1): The Summer Mentorship program is offered to NCSSM Durham and Morganton students as well as NCSSM Online students for 5-7 weeks in the summer. Students live on campus and are provided transportation to and from their mentors' sites. As part of the Summer Research & Innovation Program (SRIP), Summer Mentorship students can interact with the larger community of other student researchers and innovators when they are not off-campus for research. Participating in Summer Mentorship excludes students from participating in other SRIP opportunities offered by NCSSM and full commitment is required.
Durham M1 students are typically on-site Monday through Friday, 8AM-4PM.
Morganton M1 students are typically on-site most often Monday through Friday for full days, scheduling is dependent on the professional partner.
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Academic Year Mentorship (Mentorship 2, M2): The Academic Year Mentorship Program is offered to only NCSSM residential students at their respective campus during the school year for both semesters of their senior year. Students travel to their research location twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, during afternoon blocks and flexible use time. Students will typically remain on site from 1PM-4PM (not including travel time). The Academic Year Mentorship program counts as credit for one of the five core classes each student is required to take during the academic year.
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Extended Mentorship (Mentorship 3, M3): The Extended Mentorship Program is offered to only NCSSM residential students at their respective campus. It is a combination of Summer Mentorship and Academic Year Mentorship. Students will participate in research for 5-7 weeks during the summer (see below). During their senior year, students will continue their research by traveling to their research site twice a week (Tuesday/Thursday, 1PM-4PM not including travel time). The Extended Mentorship program counts as credit for one of the five core classes each student is required to take during the academic year. As the program begins in the summer, Extended Mentorship is part of the Summer Research & Innovation Program (SRIP). Participating in Extended Mentorship excludes students from participating in other SRIP opportunities offered by NCSSM.
During the summer, Durham M1 students are typically on-site Monday through Friday, 8AM-4PM.
During the summer, Morganton M1 students are typically on-site most often Monday through Friday for full days, scheduling is dependent on the professional partner.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact the Durham Mentorship Team
Contact the Durham Mentorship Team
DURHAM CAMPUS
As Director of Mentorship and Research in Durham, Dr. Sarah Shoemaker supports research and innovation for NC School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) high school students by working with NCSSM faculty and cultivating relationships with mentors at local universities and business/industry partners in the Triangle. She has developed the Summer Research & Innovation Program, expanded the school-year Mentorship program, and developed curriculum to accomplish the learning goals of the programs. She serves as a strong support for the faculty and for our mentors from the community that work together to engage students as thinkers/makers/doers in an experience that requires the application of knowledge and skills to address challenges in the world beyond the classroom. Dr. Shoemaker is best defined by her passion for facilitating the success of others and promoting opportunities for the growth and development of young researchers and learners. Prior to coming to NCSSM, Dr. Shoemaker earned her Masters in Zoology and her PhD in Neuroscience at Case Western Research University and continued studying axon regeneration as a postdoctorate fellow at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her training as a scientist and teacher is ideal for implementing programs to create an environment that promotes both students’ understanding and their effective communication of research both in and outside the classroom.
DURHAM CAMPUS
Letitia Hubbard, Instructor of Engineering and Mentorship
Letitia Hubbard, Instructor of Engineering and Mentorship
Dr. Letitia Hubbard is a native of Huntsville, Alabama (home of NASA and the Space and Rocket Center!). As a member of the engineering and research mentorship faculty at NCSSM for four years, Dr. Hubbard has developed and taught a variety of courses, both residential and online, including Honors Biomedical Engineering Online, a Mini-Term course called a Survey of Biomedical Engineering, and the cross-disciplinary course Biomechanics of Injury. Through her affiliation with the Mentorship Program, she is also actively engaged in developing curriculum to prepare students for success in research. Letitia is an active participant with summer outreach programs to underrepresented minority groups, and currently serves as director of the NCSSM Step-up-to-STEM summer program. She also serves as Communications Coordinator for her department, faculty advisor for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Jr. Club, and is a member of the NCSSM Scholarship Committee. In 2020, Letitia was awarded a NC Board of Governor's award for Service to Students and was also named a National Winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. Prior to coming to NCSSM, Letitia served as a research associate in the Biomedical Engineering department at Duke University. Dr. Hubbard loves singing, traveling (road trips!), graphic design, and hanging out with her family, especially her 3-year son.
DURHAM CAMPUS
Michael Limberg, Instructor of Mentorship and Research
Michael Limberg, Instructor of Mentorship and Research
Dr. Mike Limberg grew up near St. Paul, Minnesota. After completing his B.A. at Gordon College in Massachusetts, he moved to Boulder, Colorado to complete an M.A. degree in History at the University of Colorado and then back to New England for a Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut. His research focused on the history of American foreign relations with the Middle East, particularly during the early 20th century. Mike also taught courses on U.S. history, foreign relations, and the history of human rights at the University of Connecticut for several years while completing his dissertation. In 2018 he transitioned to work with high schoolers and moved to a school in Fayetteville, NC. where he taught history and research courses. When not teaching, Mike enjoys board games, taking his dogs for walks in the woods, singing in community choir, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
DURHAM CAMPUS
Bobby Warren, Instructor of Mentorship and Research
Bobby Warren, Instructor of Mentorship and Research
Mr. Warren is originally from Winnabow, North Carolina where he attended South Brunswick high school. He then moved to Chapel Hill and attended the University of North Carolina where he received bachelor's degrees in biology and music performance in 2015 and a Master’s of biomedical and health informatics in 2018 while working as a research assistant at Duke University. Mr. Warren currently serve as a microbiologist and clinical research coordinator for the Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention and as an instructor of research mentorship at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. His research is focused on healthcare environmental contamination, disinfection, and sterilization to prevent the spread of disease, particularly C. difficile. His ultimate goal is to eliminate healthcare-associated infections by engineering effective and consistent disinfection strategies. Outside of research, Mr. Warren continues to play euphonium in a semi-professional ensemble called the Triangle Brass Band, is a video game enthusiast and loves to fish. He lives in Durham with his wife and middle school sweetheart, Julia, his two dogs, Rio and Bear, and two cats, Lucy and Penny.
IN THE NEWS
Stories of Mentorship at Durham NCSSM
Stories of Mentorship at Durham NCSSM
Explore how mentorship connects NCSSM students with research beyond the classroom.
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