Dear INFORMS Community,
We are excited to invite applications for the 2025 cohort of "To My Younger Self" (TMYS), a mentoring program for PhD students sponsored by the INFORMS Forum for Women in OR/MS (WORMS). This program is specifically designed for underrepresented IE/OR/MS PhD students in their third year or beyond, who are interested in pursuing careers in academia or industry.
Application Details
- Deadline: Saturday, March 1, 2025
- How to Apply: Complete the application form at https://forms.gle/xriQwsnpPNv8BDLd8.
- Required Documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose: Please describe your interest in joining this program, your professional goals, and the level of mentoring support available to you at your home institution.
Approximately 10 qualified applicants will be selected and notified by March 10, 2025. Additional details about the program are provided below.
About TMYS
Launched as part of the INFORMS DEI Ambassadors initiative (now organized by WORMS), TMYS provides professional development opportunities through online workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and in-person activities. The program's name reflects its mission: to provide participants with the kind of mentoring and career guidance that seasoned faculty and industry professionals often wish they had received earlier in their careers.
At the conclusion of this year-long program, participants will:
- Build a peer community of underrepresented STEM students across institutions.
- Develop a network of mentors and advocates within the IE/OR/MS community.
- Gain professional and self-care skills.
- Feel empowered and confident in their ability to thrive in the IE/OR/MS profession.
Program Highlights
- Virtual Workshops: Five to six short online sessions covering topics such as networking, collaboration in academia and industry, work-life balance, and academic writing/publishing.
- One-on-One Mentoring: Students will be paired with established mentors who have a proven track record of supporting professional growth.
- Research Presentations: Participants will have opportunities to present their research and improve their presentation skills.
- In-Person Celebration: Participants, mentors, and panelists attending the 2025 INFORMS Annual Meeting will be invited to a celebratory dinner the evening before the conference begins. Travel support will be provided to help offset costs for student participants.
Organizing Committee
The TMYS 2025 organizing committee includes:
- Muge Capan, Assistant Professor of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, UMass-Amherst (mcapan@umass.edu)
- Rachael Alfant, Postdoctoral Fellow, Sandia National Laboratories (rma10@rice.edu)
- Sara F. Abu Aridah, PhD Candidate, Industrial Engineering, Penn State University (sfa5456@psu.edu)
- Shirin Shahsavand, PhD Candidate, Operations & Management Science, Washington State University (shirin.shahsavand@wsu.edu)
- Zihan Zhang, PhD Candidate, Industrial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (zzhang868@gatech.edu)
We look forward to receiving your applications!
Best regards,
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Shirin Shahsavand
On behalf of the TMYS 2025 Organizing Committee
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