Mentored Employment Program Student Protégé Details

Welcome to the College of Forestry Mentored Employment Program (MEP)! As a CoF student, you have the chance to collaborate with experienced faculty members on exciting (and paid!) research and field projects!

What is a protégé?

A protégé is a student who works closely with a faculty mentor to gain hands-on experience in research, teaching, or program development. As a protégé, you might:

  • Conduct research in labs or field settings
  • Collect and analyze data
  • Collaborate on real-world projects

Why Work with a Faculty Mentor?

Working with a mentor helps you:

  • Explore career paths
  • Apply classroom knowledge to real-world settings
  • Build professional relationships
  • Gain new perspectives and grow personally and professionally

Who can Apply?

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a currently enrolled undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student in the College of Forestry
  • Be taking at least 6 OSU credits per term
  • Be in good academic standing (not on probation or suspension)
    • Students with only a minor in the College of Forestry (majoring in a non CoF program) are not eligible to apply to the Mentored Employment Program.

Where Do MEP Projects Take Place?

  • In laboratories
  • At field sites
  • Online or remote settings

Types of MEP Projects:

  • Research assistance (lab, field)
  • Teaching or educational projects
  • Program development
  • Project-based team assignments

Time Commitment

  • Protégé’s should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week in direct communication with your mentor (in person, via email, or remotely).
  • You can work up to 24 hours per week across all campus jobs. If you have multiple positions, you'll need to divide your hours accordingly. Refer to the Student Employment Manual for current guidelines.

What's Expected of You?

As a MEP student, you'll:

  • Set clear goals and outcomes with your mentor at the start
  • Agree on a project timeline, training needs, and communication preferences
  • Define learning and professional goals
  • Submit a year-end reflection for program assessment and donor engagement
  • Participate in the MEP Poster Symposium in spring term

Other Presentation Opportunities

You are encouraged to present your research at these other events!

 

How to Apply **Application and Interest Form Open in Fall Term**

  1. Review current mentored employment opportunities.
  2. Complete the MEP Student Interest Form to indicate up to three projects you are interested in.
  3. Submit your resume and cover letter to the Mentored Employment Student Technical Pool position on the OSU jobs website.
    • Want to tailor your cover letter for specific faculty? You can upload additional documents with your OSU application or email them to Brooke Harrington.

 

Questions about the Mentored Employment Program can be directed to the Student Services Office

116 Peavy Forest Science Center

(541) 737-1594

forestrystudentservices@oregonstate.edu