EcologyPlus connects diverse college students and early career scientists with timely and relevant career opportunities

EcologyPlus offers students and recent graduates, from underrepresented minority groups, year-round mentoring and career resources.  Led by Teresa Mourad, Ecological Society of America (ESA) and George Middendorf, Howard University, with a network of 13 other dedicated partners, the idea for EcologyPlus was inspired by ESA’s SEEDS program, a diversity mentoring program limited to undergraduates only. With EcologyPlus, mentoring and career resources are made available to undergraduate, graduate students and recent graduates. EcologyPlus also promotes a wide range of careers transcending academic research to include options in all sectors.

“When students and mentors register on the Hub, they indicate the interests they have on a checklist.  This allows students to select a mentor based on their interests readily,” says Teresa Mourad. Teresa went on to say that, “through the mentorship program, mentors and mentees meet monthly by phone, video-call or, in-person, where feasible.” The EcologyPlus hub provides a career self-assessment tool and space to archive highlights of these conversations so that both mentor and mentee can track the progress of mentees’ career development goals.  Students also have access to a list of ecology opportunities such as internships, workshops, and other networking opportunities. Soon, EcologyPlus will allow the program to issue digital badges for completing engagements that enhance their careers. For example, students are encouraged to share their science or research work with the public via channels like social media and can receive a badge if they demonstrate that they have completed this task.