Dr. Gurtina Besla, associate professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, says getting a career or standing out on a graduate school application goes beyond what is taught in the classroom.
“You can walk through your entire degree and do great in your classes, but it doesn’t mean that you’re going to walk out and get a job in a second,” she adds. “There is an extra step in there, which is that you have to go and start putting your resume together.”
“Students don’t walk in on a level playing field,” says Besla, who is also the associate astronomer for the Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona.
To address those accessibility gaps, Besla developed the Tucson Initiative for Minority Engagement in Science and Technology Program (TIMESTEP) in the spring of 2015.
The professional development program, which convenes twice a month over pizza and tamales, offers opportunities in astronomy, physics, mathematics, optical sciences, engineering and computer science. Undergraduate students hear from speakers within the field and receive mentorship from faculty members. Past speakers include Dr. Keith Hawkins, an astronomer, and Dr. Jorge Moreno and Dr. Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, who are both theoretical astrophysicists
Though the program is open to anyone, it aims to support minority students. Around 100 students attend sessions throughout the year and half of participants are students of color, according to the university. Many speakers come from diverse backgrounds as well.
