Summer STEM Catalyst Peer Mentors

Department Overview

The Office of Experiential Learning (OEL), housed within the Division for Teaching & Learning (DTL), supports over 1,600 scholars from programs including Posse, PEOPLE, McNair, CeO, Mercile J. Lee, First Wave, and NDGNS. OEL fosters student engagement in high‑impact practices (HIPs) by creating pathways and facilitating access to undergraduate research, study abroad, and internship opportunities. Through intentional partnerships across campus, targeted scholarship support, dynamic programming, and personalized advising, OEL connects students with accessible, hands‑on learning experiences that complement and extend classroom instruction.

These real‑world engagements embolden students to explore the intersection of their academic interests, personal identities, and professional aspirations—enabling UW‑Madison students to build meaningful networks, gain valuable skills, and clarify their career goals.

May 1st, 2026

July 18th, 2026

Not Remote

Minimum: 40

40 hrs from early May to early June to assist in planning and attend trainings; ~40 hrs/week for the duration of the summer program from June 20th – July 18th, including evenings and weekends. Trainings in June 2026 (dates TBD) are required to attend.

Minimum: $18.00

2

• Enrolled UW‑Madison undergraduate/graduate student for the summer semester or upcoming fall semester
• Enthusiasm for mentoring and organizing social activities for incoming first‑year students with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, abilities and beliefs
• 1 year of supervisory and/or leadership experience
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills, including the capacity to work effectively with a range of students/staff and ability to maintain honest, clear, and consistent communication with supervisors and peers
• Enthusiasm for creating communications, marketing materials, and social media posts
• Detail‑oriented, organized, willingness to take initiative, and problem‑solve independently
• Responsive to feedback and willing to proactively clarify expectations as needed
• Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner and meet set deadlines
• Ability to address conflict or inappropriate behavior in a timely and respectful manner
• Be open to learning a lot, enhancing your professional skills, and building your UW‑Madison network

Employment will require a Criminal Background Check as well as UW‑Madison to verify your identity and employment eligibility. The employee must physically present original, unexpired documents.

The ideal candidate will have lived in an on‑campus residence hall for at least one year as an undergraduate and be knowledgeable about resources across campus. Students majoring in STEM disciplines, who are affiliated with the following programs (Posse, PEOPLE, NDGNS UW, McNair, First Wave, CeO, FFWS, Mercile J. Lee), and who have junior standing are strongly encouraged to apply. During the dates of the program, the candidate must abide by the University Residence Halls Contract, the Student Housing Handbook and the University of Wisconsin System academic and non‑academic policies and expectations.

STEM Catalyst aims to host 15 incoming first‑year UW‑Madison students on‑campus for four weeks. During the program, students will conduct research in world‑class labs, engage in a 1‑credit hour research skills course and acclimate to student‑life. Peer mentors for the program will take the lead on creating an inclusive community by living in the same residential hall as the participants, offering intentional mentorship, and facilitating engaging programming throughout the four‑weeks.

The ideal candidate will begin assisting in summer planning for a total of 40 hours (at $18/hour) from early May to June. From June 20th through July 18th, Residential Peer mentors will be paid a salary of $3,000 to support the staff and students of the Summer Catalyst program during the program, including nights and weekends for an average of 40 hours/week…