IDS Student Fellows

photo of the Sloan community, describing a team social event.

Logos of UMass Boston and UMass Amherst.

IDS has been awarded a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to expand and diversify pathways from undergraduate to graduate degrees in computer science and engineering through a partnership between UMass Amherst and UMass Boston.

Mission & Community

The IDS Fellowship Program is a research mentoring program welcoming Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous (BHI) undergraduate students, who have been historically marginalized in technology and engineering. All IDS Student Fellows complete a mentored research experience, learn about graduate school options, and develop leadership, communication, and other important professional skills.

Goals & Take-aways

Students participate in rewarding experiences that help develop leadership skills to thrive in college and launch their post-graduation paths. These include:

Hands-on research experience
One-on-one mentoring relationship with a faculty member
The opportunity to learn about graduate school opportunities
How to apply to research internships and graduate school
Career advice on what to do after graduation
Networking opportunities
Negotiation skills (i.e., the capacity to create value and manage conflicts by addressing all parties’ interests)
Personal narrative development to guide others to appreciate your value

Faculty Fellows

IDS Student Fellows have the opportunity to do exciting hands-on research with an IDS Faculty Fellow and also receive guidance and mentorship from them. To learn more about each faculty member's research, check out the IDS Faculty Brochure.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students from BHI groups who:

Have declared (or intend to declare) majors in Computer Science (CS) and/or Engineering
Are currently enrolled at UMass Boston or UMass Amherst
Have completed two semesters of college with two semesters remaining; relevant experience will also be considered on a case-by-case basis

Stipend

Students receive a stipend of $5,000 for the year during which they’re an IDS Student Fellow.

Responsibilities

Take part in small mentoring groups with two faculty members in CS or Engineering and learn about post-graduation career options.
Commit to a mentored research experience in a faculty member’s lab for 9-12 hours/week for two semesters.
Participate in a three-week summer professional development program called the Leadership Academy, a live online program with a cohort of fellow students in tech and engineering.