Complexity Explorer Santa Few Institute

DIRECTORS  The role of the UCR program Directors is to guide the program’s goals and format, help students find a mentor(s) based on interests and skills, and provide constructive feedback to students on their projects and overall progress, for instance, after flash talks and final talks. The Directors lead weekly peer-group discussions that aim to help UCR students set their weekly goals, identify obstacles, and find resources to move forward in their projects. Directors are available for individual consultations during scheduled office hours or, during weeks 1 and 2, on a drop-in basis.

MENTOR  The role of a UCR program Mentor is to collaborate on the development and implementation of a UCR student’s research project, including advising on project aims, scope, and approach and guiding the student through the research process. The Mentor (or co-Mentors) take responsibility for ensuring the UCR student has a tractable project and the resources to make progress toward the project’s goals. The Mentor may also serve as a technical Consultant and/or should introduce their student to appropriate Consultants for specific knowledge or technical guidance. The Mentor will provide constructive feedback on their student’s project and overall progress on a regular (preferably weekly) basis; please consider setting a specific meeting time for this purpose. The Mentor will help their student prepare a project abstract, flash talk, and final talks.

CONSULTANT  UCR program Consultants serve as knowledge or technical skills experts for a variety of student projects. Consultants do not necessarily guide the project but instead may provide advice or training on particular aspects of the research. Consultants are available during scheduled office hours.

ADVISOR  Each UCR student is randomly assigned a UCR program Advisor, whose role is to help the student set goals and work towards achieving them over the summer. Advisors can assist students in identifying Mentors, Consultants, other members of the SFI community, or UCR program resources to help them succeed. The Advisor supports the student’s professional development and their overall success in the program; Advisors do not help guide projects. The Advisor meets with the student weekly for a brief consultation; students are welcome to schedule additional time with their advisor as needed.

RESIDENT ADVISOR / PEER MENTOR (Cate) The UCR program employs a Resident Advisor & Peer Mentor who will ensure that the student experience both on and off the SFI campus is productive and aligns with the goals and values of the UCR program. The Resident Advisor & Peer Mentor is in residence at IAIA with the students and is on campus at SFI during working hours and can be available for informal discussions related to maximizing the opportunities afforded by the UCR program and/or advising on project directions, professional development, or other aspects of the UCR program. The Resident Advisor & Peer Mentor is conducting their own research during their time at SFI and thus may have limited availability during workdays. The Resident Advisor & Peer Mentor can direct students to appropriate IAIA services and will serve as an emergency point-of-contact for students on the IAIA campus.

POINT-OF-CONTACT (Arno) The Point-of-Contact is available M-F during working hours on the SFI campus. Students are advised to use the Point-of-Contact’s daily office hours for questions or requests for assistance whenever possible. Unscheduled drop-ins should be reserved for urgent or otherwise time-sensitive matters.

AFTER-HOURS POINT-OF-CONTACT (Carla) The After-Hours Point-of-Contact should be consulted in the case of an urgent situation or concerns during evenings, nights, and weekends. For acute emergencies that occur on the IAIA campus, students should contact the Resident Advisor, who will liaise with the After-Hours Point-of-Contact.