Guided Engineering Apprenticeship in Research

GEAR is a year-long research apprenticeship program for second year students in the Jacobs School of Engineering*. Students applying for the 2023-2024 cohort should be in their second year at UC San Diego during the 2023-2024 academic year. As a GEAR Research Apprentice, you will work with a teammate on a research project within a Jacobs School of Engineering faculty research lab. In this program you will participate in:

• Research Lab Placement: Teams receive a research project and mentorship from faculty and graduate students throughout the academic school year.
• Mentorship: Receive additional mentorship from IDEA Engineering Student Center mentors throughout the year.
• ENG 20 "Introduction to Engineering Research": All GEAR Research Apprentices will take this 2-unit course in Fall 2023 to get an orientation to engineering research and write a research proposal.
• Workshops & Socials: Stay connected with GEAR Research Apprentices while learning tools and skills to support your research during Winter & Spring 2024.
• Poster Presentation: Research teams create and present a poster to showcase their research study at a poster session during Spring 2023.

*Students in Computer Science & Engineering or CSE-related majors, please apply to the CSE Early Research Scholars Program run by Dr. Mai ElSherief in CSE.

GEAR 2021

GEAR 2020

"The lab I was placed in is very encouraging...I also love that the program is structured, and I feel like I have support and can reach out to multiple people if I need help..."

"I like how easy it is to communicate with everyone and how accessible it is to reach out if I need help. I also like having the push to read more research papers and explore ideas I otherwise would not have looked into."

Am I eligible?

• You are definitely eligible if you:
  • Are a Jacobs School of Engineering student in the BENG, ECE, MAE, NANO, or SE department. Students majoring in CSE or CSE-related majors should apply to the CSE Early Research Scholars Program, which is tailored to CSE.
  • Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of the Winter 2023 quarter (at time of application).
  • You have been at UC San Diego for less than one year. For example, you will be in your second year at UC San Diego during the 2023-2024 academic year. This same rule applies to transfer students.
  • You do not have any prior or upcoming engineering research experience.
• You might be eligible if you:
  • Will be in your third year at UC San Diego in 2023-2024.
  • Have minimal prior or upcoming engineering research experience. In the application, you will be asked to explain why you feel that you will benefit from GEAR.

Join us during one of these webinar information sessions to learn more about the program from staff and get your questions answered. GEAR is offering joint webinars with the CSE Early Research Scholars Program(ERSP).

• Tuesday, April 4th
  4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
  Join via Zoom: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/92173424612 ​​​​​​

• Wednesday, April 5th
  5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
  Join via Zoom: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/93183215495

   

Application timeline:

• The GEAR 2023-24 application opens March 27, 2023. 
• Applications are due Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 11:59pm.
• Students will be notified about whether they have been accepted into the program by early May.​​

Helping students make the most of undergraduate research

Two Jacobs School of Engineering programs are helping undergraduates broaden their understanding of what it means to study engineering by getting involved in engineering research. The Guided Engineering Apprenticeship in Research and Early Research Scholars Program bring second-year undergraduates into university research labs, where they work on team projects that contribute to the actual research mission of the lab. Both programs are aimed at students with no previous research experience and from traditionally underrepresented groups in engineering, and provide mentorship from people within the research lab, as well as outside guidance, mentorship and community building opportunities.  

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• What is the time commitment?
  • We expect you to commit to all three quarters of the academic year.
  • Fall Quarter: Total time commitment is 12-15 hours per week. This includes the 2-unit ENG 20 course (6 hours of lecture and assignments), lab and related independent learning (6-8 hours), and meetings with GEAR staff (up to 1 hour) each week.
  • Winter Quarter: Total time commitment is 8-10 hours per week. This includes lab (6-8 hours), independent learning and attending GEAR workshops, (1-2 hours), and meetings with GEAR staff (up to 1 hour) each week.
  • Spring Quarter: Total time commitment is 8-10 hours per week. This includes lab (6-8 hours), preparing your poster and attending GEAR workshops (1-2 hours), and meetings with GEAR staff (up to 1 hour) each week.
• What credit do I get for this?
  • You will receive a 2-unit credit for ENG 20.
  • If accepted, meet with your department/major advisor(s) to decide whether you should take research hours as 199 credit, Co-Curricular Record, or on a volunteer basis.
• Is this a paid experience?
  • No, GEAR is not currently a paid experience.
• What projects are available? Do I get to pick my project?
  • Projects are not finalized until summer or the start of Fall Quarter. We will ask you about your skills and interests and match you with a lab based on that information.
  • Students/faculty will be matched by the start of Fall Quarter.
• I have already been working in a lab or plan to work in a lab over the summer. Can I stay with that lab as part of GEAR?
  • No. Given that you have already worked in a lab, GEAR will not be a good fit for you. The program is meant to introduce students to research for the very first time. If you have already had some experience with a lab, some parts of ENG 20 and GEAR will feel repetitive to you.

Contact Jessica Baldis at jbaldis@eng.ucsd.edu.