Current Mentors

Mentorship is a unique program for seniors at NC School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) connecting students to research professionals around the Triangle and beyond in a wide range of fields, including STEM, humanities, and social science.  Throughout the program, students develop intellectual, personal, and professional skills that will be an essential key to their success as they pursue their education and careers, with the ultimate goal of becoming leaders and engaged citizens.  

Students are expected to be an active participant on a portion of an ongoing project or to develop a project of their own under the guidance and instruction of their mentor(s).  The student’s project and mentor-mentee experience serve as the focal point for the Mentorship Program coursework and instruction.  Students participate in small group sessions and individual meetings designed to provide support and build community as they complete program deliverables such as mini-grant proposals, abstracts, poster presentations, and oral presentations.  

Students are expected to communicate their research to various audiences at the NCSSM Research Symposiums, and, with mentor permission, students may present at NC Science and Engineering Fair, State of NC Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium, and other national venues or competitions throughout the year.

Mentors should contact the Director of Mentorship and Research at any time with any concerns or questions about any aspect of the program.  It is our top priority to ensure that this partnership is as rewarding for the mentors as it is for our students!  

Dr. Sarah Shoemaker, Director (primary contact)                

shoemaker@ncssm.edu

Cell: 919-306-0449

Email mentorship@ncssm.edu to reach the Mentorship Program Coordinator to make travel changes or for NCSSM compliance questions. 

Alternate Text: 

Mentors may choose the following timelines to offer research opportunities:

• Summer (M1):  Full-day experiences over 5 weeks in the summer (Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:00 in June/July) 

• Academic Year (M2):  Research opportunities from August to March on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:00 (6 hours/week for 20 weeks with a break from mid-December through January)

• Extended (M3):  Combination Summer and Academic year opportunities (5 weeks in the summer  + 20 weeks of Tuesday/Thursday afternoons from August to March)

SUMMER

Students arrive at their research sites via contracted bus service each designated travel day between 8:15-8:45AM and will be picked up between 3:45-4:15PM (though there may be a slight delay the first week as bus drivers adjust to the route/students navigate to your location).  Please share any additional details about how to access your location directly with your student.

• The first official travel day for summer students is Tuesday, June 9.

• Friday, June 19th is a holiday for Duke, NC State, and UNC.  However, NCSSM does not have this as an observed calendar holiday. Some mentors may still be working on site; in those cases, students will be expected to travel. If mentors are not on site, students will work remotely at NCSSM. Please email mentorship@ncssm.edu by noon on June 18th if your student should not travel.

• Students will not travel the week of Monday, June 29th - Friday, July 3rd.  This is a summer programs holiday for NCSSM.  

• The last official travel day for summer students is Thursday, July 16th.

Link to Summer 2026 Travel Calendar

ACADEMIC YEAR

Students arrive at their research sites via contracted bus service on designated Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1:00-1:15PM and will be picked up between 3:45-4:15PM (though there may be a slight delay the first week as bus drivers adjust to the route/students navigate to your location).  Please share any additional details about how to access your location directly with your student.

• The first official travel day for fall semester is Tuesday, August 25th.

• Students will not travel the week of Oct. 5 - Oct. 9th.  This is fall break for NCSSM students.

• Students will not travel the week of Nov. 23 - Nov. 27th.  This is Thanksgiving break for NCSSM students.

• The last official travel day for fall semester is Thursday, Dec. 3rd.

Link to 2026-27 Academic Year Travel Calendar

HOW TO SUBMIT TRAVEL CHANGES

To change travel plans for your student, please email mentorship@ncssm.edu (and cc your student) before noon the day before the travel change whenever possible.  If you know dates in advance (i.e., travel for a conference), please send all dates in a single email.  Students who do not travel work virtually at NCSSM for the day.  Mentors should alert the student (and mentorship@ncssm.edu) in advance if all mentor(s) on the research team  (PI, graduate students, etc.) will be unavailable for an extended period of time.

1. Complete minor compliance process (required each year; institutional contacts listed below)

   • • Instructions for compliance will be communicated to mentors starting in mid-April with required completion by May 31.

     • Compliance is REQUIRED for the primary mentor interacting with the student virtually or in person and is ALSO REQUIRED for all additional mentors who will interact with the student without the primary mentor present (virtually or in person).  It is strongly recommended to have more than one mentor with compliance as a back-up mentor in case the primary mentor is unavailable

     • Compliance includes

 1) Annual Background Check with Castlebranch 

 2) Protection of Minors Training  

1. • • Virtual conference meetings with NCSSM student must be accessible for observation by NCSSM staff 

NCSSM is not permitted by institutions to lead the student compliance process which varies in each institution/department/lab/etc. and by research project

2.  Set up an initial virtual meeting to connect with your mentee(s) before the start date

   • Be sure the primary day-to-day mentor is included in this initial meeting if possible. 

   • Previous mentors have shared that a meeting jumpstarts the experience for mentors/mentees.  Some ideas of discussion topics for the first meeting include:  

     • • • Discover the mentee's interest and goals for the experience

         • Discuss the specific project or available projects as well as the overarching goals of your research

         • Discuss the specific role of the student in the potential project(s)

         • Share with one another your expectations for a successful experience

         • Send any resources for the student to prepare (i.e., contacts for additional mentors, materials to learn more, relevant publications, etc.)

         • Agree on the frequency and best way to communicate with one another moving forward (emails via organizational email addresses are preferred)

3.  Ensure student is ready to come on-site and begin working on project by the start date 

   • This often includes requesting students’ completion of compliance forms, safety or other required training, obtaining an ID card, library access, etc.

   • For assistance, please contact your departments/institutional offices as well as any available Youth Protection representatives as needed.

4. Ensure a clear timeline and research project for active student participation throughout the full length of the program

To be successful in the Mentorship Program and the course assignments, students will need an active role in a research project

4. • Project: Determine the ongoing or independent research project available for the student and their program timeline.  Students and Mentors will be required to complete a mentor-mentee expectations agreement at the beginning of the research experience.

   • Role/Outcomes: Provide clarity to the student about their role in the project and the goals and specific outcomes of the project

   • Resources: Share relevant primary literature/publications/etc. to develop students’ knowledge and skills to understand and later communicate the project

   • Feedback: As part of NCSSM course assignments, students will communicate their research via a written proposal and via oral presentations (mentors are encouraged to provide feedback) 

5. Provide feedback on student growth and development

   • Communicate with the Director of Mentorship and Research as quickly as possible regarding any needs or concerns (Sarah Shoemaker, shoemaker@ncssm.edu, 919-306-0449)

   • Provide brief evaluations of the students' performance and development (two 5-10 minute surveys per student) sent via email from Dr. Shoemaker

The majority of our students meet in person throughout their Mentorship students.  A small portion of students meet virtually regularly throughout the semester, while other students meet virtually sporadically when their mentor is not able to accommodate them in-person.  All mentor meetings via video conference with NCSSM students must be accessible for observation by NCSSM staff by drop in which requires everyone’s collaboration.

Mentors  are required to:

• Send the student the meeting link and password and date/time at least 24 hours in advance (if possible)

• For the meeting, be sure to admit Mentorship and Research staff that join the meeting (e.g. from the waiting room)

Students are required to:

• Log the meeting using the Mentor Meeting Log at least 24h in advance

Note: all of our staff have signed confidentiality agreements at NCSSM that any mentor information we come to know must remain confidential.  We are only joining the meeting to observe safety and will not be paying attention to content details in any way.  Staff include: Kevin Clatfelter, Arianna Dwomoh, Mary Ha, Adrian Hito, Lillian Pitts, Esha Shah, Dr. Limberg, Dr. Shoemaker, Mrs. Slawter, Mr. Warren, 

NCSSM has strong and longstanding partnerships with the following institutions: Duke University, NC State University, and UNC-Chapel Hill.  As part of the partnerships, NCSSM manages the program registration at each campus and the minor compliance required by each institution for the NCSSM Durham Mentorship mentors and students.

Mentors are responsible for ensuring that they are following their institution's minor compliance and safety regulations.   This includes ensuring the feasibility and safety of the student's active role in an ongoing/independent project on site.

• Duke University and Duke Hospitals (https://forms.hr.duke.edu/minors/)

Contact: Sarah Pharr

Duke Youth Protection Director
Email: youthprotection@duke.edu 

Phone: 919-684-5387

• NC State University (https://go.ncsu.edu/protectionofminors)

Contact: Stacy Fair, M.Ed.
NC State Director of Youth Programs and Compliance, Department of Risk Assessment
Email: slfair@ncsu.edu
Phone: 919-515-4256

• UNC-Chapel Hill (https://protectionofminors.unc.edu/)

Contact: Starr Sanders, MPA
UNC Youth Protection Director, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Email: starrb@email.unc.edu Phone: (919) 843-8995

2025 Summer Showcase (M1/M3 Students)

Example Mini-Grant Proposals

Example Abstracts

Links to Student Online Research Portfolios (M2/M3 Students)

• Research Student (Duke)

Summer Mentorship will conclude with a Summer Research Symposium held on the NCSSM campus.

Who:  Mentorship students, mentors and staff

When:  July 17th, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Where:  NCSSM-Durham campus, Music Room and Lecture Hall