Empowerment in Motion Mentoring Program

Program Overview

Our program is designed to pair BBA, IWB, and LiB members (mentees) with senior biomechanists (mentors) from diverse backgrounds.  Through regular interactions and a structured program, we seek to encourage meaningful exchanges between mentors and mentees within the biomechanics community to foster: 

• Networking

• Career advice and navigation

• Research collaboration 

• Increased awareness of resources

• Professional development opportunities 

Program Structure

Mentor-mentee pairs will meet monthly and report their interaction to our Match Coordinators in a short Google form. BBA-LiB-IWB will host virtual events for mentor-mentees to facilitate mentoring interactions on a semester basis.  

EMMP Programming At a Glance 

• Fall mentor-mentee meet-and-greet (November 15th)

• Spring mentor-mentee meet-and-greet (March)

• BBA+LiB+IWB mentoring committee Spring workshop

• Mentor of the Year and Mentee of the Year award recognition

Empowerment in Motion Mentoring Program Expectations

Mentor expectations: 

• Must be a member of BBA, LiB, or IWB

• Must commit to participating in the mentoring program for the full academic year

• Must maintain monthly contact with their match via phone, email, video call, etc

• Must attend at least one professional development workshop related to mentorship (through our events or approved external events)

Mentee expectations: 

• Must be a member of BBA, LiB, or IWB

• Must commit to participating in the mentoring program for the entire academic year

• Must maintain monthly contact with their match via phone, email, video call, etc

• Must attend at least one professional development workshop related to academics (through our events or approved external events)

Tracking expectations:

• We will use a Google form to track interactions between mentors and mentees, encouraging accountability and allowing for:

• Tracking interactions and event attendance 

• Comments from both mentors and mentees to provide feedback

• Toggle options to distinguish between various types of events (workshop, contact, etc.)

• Mentor and Mentee of the Year Award designations

At the conclusion of the program year, mentors and mentees will be asked to provide feedback on their EMMP experience.

Program Launch

We launched the program on November 15, 2024 and expect it to culminate during conference season in the Summer of 2025. 

We have closed admission for the 2024-25 school year. Our next cohort will open admissions starting Summer 2025.

*Please note that all BBA, LiB, and IWB members are eligible to be mentees, and members in early-training stages (graduate students and postdocs) can serve as mentors. For example, a PhD student may mentor an undergraduate or Master’s student and be mentored by a postdoc, professor, or biomechanist in industry or government. If you are interested in serving as a mentor in addition to being paired with a mentor, please complete both the mentor and mentee interest surveys.