Description
Peer Mentors either self-identify or are identified by an instructor, as students with strong research and communication skills. They support research skill development and learning of junior peers.
Position Overview
The Student Research Team (SRT) will provide members with a generalized research skill set that is applicable to any discipline. As a member gains an increased aptitude for research, there will be opportunities for apprentices to move into positions of practice and mentorship. The SRT is the largest multi-disciplinary student research group on campus and allows for enhanced social, scholarly, and research connections.
Ideally, students who have completed their SRT apprenticeship and three or more practitioner positions, or can provide proof of previous learning equivalencies, will become SRT Peer Mentors. Mentors primarily support research skill development by hosting weekly content-driven sessions for interested students. Sessions will align with the research strengths of the individual Mentor. Mentor training is provided at the beginning of the semester, and brief pre and post-session check-ins with the SRT Coordinator are expected.
Positions Requirements
Peer Mentors must complete a minimum of 18 hours of participation.
These hours include:
- Training (2 hours)
- Pre and post-session check-ins (4 hours)
- Session preparation (6 hours)
- Session holding (6 hours)
Sessions may include:
- Figuring out a research question
- Where to get information
- Research orientated writing and editing (reports/funding)
- Basic statistics
- Public speaking
- Poster making
- REB applications
- Creating tables and graphs
- Interview/Focus group practice
- Survey testing
- Approaching a potential supervisor
In addition, there will be one social event per semester organized by the Coordinator to provide for greater cross-campus and interdisciplinary connections between team members. A couple of faculty researchers will present ‘TED Talk’ style presentations.
Sign Up Directions
Contact Kendra Stiwich, VIU’s Student Research Engagement Coordinator is the Student Research Team Coordinator. Kendra.Stiwich@viu.ca
Interested students need to provide their CV, unofficial transcripts, and a list of sessions they are capable of hosting. The SRT Coordinator will interview potential mentors prior to being accepted into the role. Each student team member will be part of a database designed to track students’ progress and activities.