Pathfinder Projects

Signature Advising: Feel seen. Feel supported. Students are connected with faculty whose academic or career interests align with their own. These intentional advising matches will foster trust, more meaningful conversations, and tailored support. 

Getting to Know You: Faculty are more than just syllabi and office hours. Using a lighthearted “BME & Me” video series, students get to know faculty beyond the classroom—through favorite hobbies, music picks, and personal quirks—making it easier to build authentic connections. 

BME Realz: See the future in the footsteps of others. Students hear firsthand from alumni across diverse careers as they share honest stories about their journeys through BME, offering relatable role models, mentorship, and real-world perspective. (https://www.youtube.com/@BMERealz)

Department Leads: Shannon Barker & Brian Helmke

Integrate Undergraduate TA Office Hours & Tutoring: Support from those who’ve been there. One-on-one tutoring and dedicated office hours led by undergraduate TAs create a welcoming environment where students can get academic help from near peers who understand the course challenges firsthand. 

Gather Actionable Exit Feedback: Listening to shape what’s next. Focus groups with graduating seniors offer candid reflections on their academic experience, generating insights that inform meaningful improvements across advising, teaching, and departmental initiatives. 

Support Engineers in Chemistry: Bridging concepts to careers. A chemical engineering module embedded in general chemistry helps first-year engineering students connect classroom learning with real-world applications and career pathways in their discipline. 

Revitalize the Student Advising Experience: Planning with purpose. Pre-advising questionnaires and newly developed advising tools support more focused and productive conversations, helping students make informed academic choices and build lasting mentorships. 

Department Lead: Steven Caliari

First-Gen Learning Community: Demystifying college—together. First-generation STEM majors come together in a supportive environment and welcoming space to navigate the hidden curriculum, build academic confidence, and connect with essential resources, such as study support and career exploration.

STEP (Science Transparency, Engagement, and Participation) Research Videos: Making research feel within reach. Through video interviews, 4th-year chemistry researchers share their projects and pathways into lab work—helping first-year students envision themselves participating in research and understand how to get started. 

Transfer Student Opportunities: Building identity through meaningful roles. Tailored guidance and motivational tools support transfer students in pursuing TA and RA positions, reinforcing their belonging in the chemistry community and confidence in their academic journeys. 

Department Lead: Andreas Gahlmann

Get to Know Us: Belonging through shared stories. “Get to Know Us” materials highlight connections among EVSC students, faculty, and alumni to strengthen community in the major and foster a deeper sense of community and belonging in the department. 

Support Academic Success & Engagement: Hands-on from the start. A redesigned one-credit intro course provides early exposure to applied environmental science and department resources, laying a strong foundation for academic success and meaningful engagement in the major. 

Revitalize ESO: Science with connection. In partnership with the student-led Environmental Sciences Organization, informal gatherings with faculty and staff create opportunities for students to feel part of the scientific community—both socially and intellectually. 

Department Leads: Kevin Grise & Lauren Miller

Club SPARK (Students Participating in Applied Research & Knowledge): Skills that spark confidence and careers. Through a summer Fabrication Fellowship, students build hands-on technical experience while contributing to real research projects—boosting both their resumes and readiness for future opportunities.

Advising Together: Guidance from every angle. Group advising sessions connect students with faculty, peers, and eventually industry partners, offering a multifaceted approach to mentorship, course planning, and career development in MAE.

Advising Advisors: Helping mentors guide with clarity. Faculty-facing advising roadmaps provide structure and shared expectations to enrich conversations and ensure students receive consistent, informed support across advisors.

MAE Experience Database: Bridging ambition and opportunity. This centralized resource makes it easier for students to explore and access internal and external research positions, internships, and career-enhancing experiences in scientific fields. https://engineering.virginia.edu/department/mechanical-and-aerospace-engineering/research/research-and-internship-opportunities

Department Leads: Frank Lagor & Natasha Smith