Since June 2001, Stanford has sponsored mentoring groups for women PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in science and engineering (WISE). For the past several years, a similar program has also been available for women PhD students and postdocs in the social sciences and the humanities (WISSH).
About WISE and WISSH
These groups meet weekly for 90 minutes. Meetings are professionally facilitated and the discussion topics are selected from the concerns of the members. Some of the issues the groups have addressed include:
- negotiating with advisors
- peer interactions in the lab
- balancing work and personal life
- career choices
- the job search process
- when and whether to have children
- what it takes to succeed in academia.
Members share support and varying perspectives, as well as practical advice. There is no charge to join one of these groups.
Groups will meet at different times during the week, at locations that are convenient for the group. Current group meeting times are shown on the "sign up questionnaires" (see below).
Registration Process
We ask that those who sign up to have a serious interest in the groups and make a commitment to attend regularly at the designated time. You will be asked to indicate your availability in the brief sign-up survey. The groups are open to current Stanford women PhD students and postdocs.
