Complete by September 22nd
Dear ISDP Members,
We are excited to launch a brand-new mentorship initiative for ISDP 2026! The goal of this program is to foster community and inclusion within the society and developmental science field while providing trainees with individualized professional development and opportunities to connect with others who share their interests
As part of the program, student and postbaccalaureate trainees will be paired with mentors based on shared research interests and areas of expertise. Mentors and mentees will be encouraged to reach out and introduce themselves by email prior to the conference. During the conference, mentors and mentees can connect either online or in person during coffee breaks, lunches, and other available times.
How to Sign Up:
We are seeking faculty, postdoctoral, and graduate student volunteers to serve as mentors, as well as graduate and undergraduate students and postbaccalaureate trainees who would like to participate as mentees. Graduate students are welcome to serve as either a mentor, a mentee, or both! This is a great opportunity to both receive mentorship and give back by supporting other trainees in the field.
If you would like to participate, please complete this short survey by September 22nd. The survey will ask you to indicate whether you are interested in serving as a mentor, mentee, or both, along with your broad research interests and the types of support or mentorship you are seeking or able to provide. We will follow up with mentor–mentee pairings by the beginning of October.
We hope you’ll consider participating in this new initiative! It’s a wonderful opportunity to build connections, strengthen the ISDP community, and support the next generation of developmental scientists.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to student representatives Sarvenaz Oloomi (oloomi @ usc.edu) and Annabelle Armah (aea5568 @ psu.edu), or our program directors Dr. Bridget Callaghan (bcallaghan @ ucla.edu) and Dr. Julie Campbell (jmcamp9 @ ilstu.edu).
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to your participation!
Best regards,
Annabelle & Sarvenaz
