Before he mentored her through the Institute of Diversity Sciences (IDS) Fellows Program, Dr. Ioannis Zografopoulos could see that Elda Ramirez was a standout student. Though she was new to research, she had impressed him in a previous engineering course.
“While she started with little background in power systems and optimization, her confidence and enthusiasm for learning were evident from the beginning,” he recalls.
That spark, combined with the year-long support of the IDS Fellows Program, would carry Elda through a transformative experience—one that strengthened her sense of self, her goals, and her future in STEM.
The key? A hands-on research experience, two dedicated mentors, and a fellowship designed to equip underrepresented students with the tools and community they need to thrive.
A Different Kind of Learning
Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the IDS Fellows Program is a research mentoring initiative of IDS and a partnership between UMass Amherst and UMass Boston. The program is designed to expand and diversify pathways into graduate study and careers in STEM by supporting undergraduate students historically underrepresented in STEM fields.
Through year-long research partnerships with faculty mentors, near-peer mentoring, and a summer Leadership Academy, the program helps students build confidence, a sense of belonging, and the professional skills needed to thrive.
Selected as a student fellow in 2024, Elda entered the program strong in the classroom, but unfamiliar with the rhythms of research labs. At first, she treated research like another course: a structured set of problems to solve, with clear rules and answers. But research, as she quickly learned, doesn’t work that way.
“One of Elda’s biggest ‘aha’ moments,” Dr. Zografopoulos, says, “was realizing the difference between coursework and research. Initially, she approached research with a structured learning mindset, but once she understood the need for self-driven exploration, everything changed. This shift made her more independent, proactive, and confident in her abilities.”
Mentorship That Matters
In addition to having Dr. Zografopoulos as her faculty mentor, Elda worked closely with Shabnam Azizi, a graduate student in her lab and a two-time IDS Fellowship mentor. For Shabnam, the IDS Fellowship goes beyond typical academic mentorship programs.
“What made [the experience of IDS mentorship] unique was the balance I had to maintain between guiding [the mentees] technically and helping them develop independent problem-solving skills,” she reflects.
This is where the IDS Fellowship shines—not just as a pipeline to produce research, but as a network of relationships to support researchers. Shabnam didn’t just offer lab advice. She modeled what it means to take initiative, to speak with confidence, and manage the social and organizational aspects of academic and professional life.
Elda, in turn, began to take note. “Through the mentorship, I have found some of my weaknesses in professionalism and organizing skills,” she says. “These challenges have helped me to be more organized and not rely solely on my mental agenda. It has also helped me to have more communication with my mentors and peers, to keep ourselves informed and on track.”
From Understanding Numbers to Understanding Impact
As Elda built up her technical foundation—programming, modeling, optimization—something clicked. It wasn’t just about running simulations or writing code. It was that her work meant something more.
Elda’s research focused on optimizing the placement of Phasor Measurement Units—specialized sensors that monitor and ensure stable electricity delivery. The units help energy companies avoid wasteful spending on unnecessary equipment while ensuring communities have consistent, reliable access to electricity.
“I wanted to see how my work would contribute,” she says. “Like math was when I was younger, I didn’t like it until I was able to understand it. This experience taught me not to give up, because it could be a treasure chest in disguise.”
Her mentors noticed the shift, too. “The turning point came when she grasped the ‘truth behind the numbers’ and saw how our mathematical models directly impact the monitoring, operation, and control of [energy] systems,” Dr. Zografopoulos said. “Understanding how her research could benefit the community motivated her to dive deeper, approach problems with curiosity, and fully commit to her growth as a researcher.”
Becoming a Scientist
By the end of the year, Elda was not just learning research—she was doing it.
“She has transitioned from needing guidance at every step to working independently,” Dr. Zografopoulos said, “testing her theories, developing models, and making assumptions with well-reasoned justifications.”
“A defining moment was when she confidently analyzed her results and defended her conclusions in a field she once knew little about,” he recalled. “Seeing her engage in discussions, challenge ideas, and articulate her reasoning with clarity showed just how far she has come.”
For Elda, the research wasn’t just about knowledge. It was empowering. “I wanted to experience the autonomy of having your own research and working through it from start to finish,” she said.
Seeing the Stars—Literally
At the start of the year, Elda wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after graduation. But her IDS Fellowship experience gave her the clarity to make decisions on her own terms.
“This experience has helped me to consider a master's degree in the future,” she says. “I would like to focus my future master's on a topic I am deeply interested in based on my current major.”
And in the long run? She’s aiming for the sky—and beyond. “My dream job is working in the astronomy industry… In an ideal world, I would be working on building radio telescopes and satellites.”