Below are our answers to some common questions students might have.
Q: What is Industrial-Organizational (I-O) psychology?
A: I-O Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in organizations and the workplace. We study individual, group, and organizational behavior and apply this knowledge to the solution of problems at work. Additional information on Purdue I-O program and IO-related resources can be found here: https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/psy/graduate/graduate_training_areas/industrial/index.html
https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/industrial
Q: Who is eligible to participate in this program?
A: All undergraduate students at Purdue are eligible, while students in their second year or higher would be preferred. We do expect our mentees to have interests in I-O psychology. Previous exposure to I-O psychology and/or related areas (e.g., relevant courses, lab experience, working experience, etc.) are preferred, but not required.
Q: What is the duration of the mentorship program?
A: The program will last for at least one semester. It might be extended to two semesters, depending on the execution of the program and feedback from our mentors and mentees in the future.
Q: Will each mentor be paired with one or more mentees?
A: We’ll try to individualize the format based on both mentors and mentees’ preferences. Your preference for one-to-one mentorship experience or small group will be asked for in the application form. There will be 3 mentees in maximum in each potential group.
Q: How often will the mentors and mentees meet?
A: All mentors and mentees will meet together 1-2 times together as a group to discuss topics that will be helpful to all mentees. Other than that, mentors and mentees would determine their own schedule of individual meetings, while we will have basic requirements (based on the preferences of our mentees indicated in the application form). Meetings can be in-person or virtual.
Q: What will mentees learn from the program?
A: We aim to provide the guidance and resources for students who are interested in developing their interests and skills in I-O psychology. Potential topics to be covered include: opportunities to gain I-O related experience (e.g., labs), grad school preparations, research skill development, job opportunities in I-O, self-management skills in undergrad study, etc. Specific topics will be individualized based on the needs of our mentees.
Q: How are the mentors in the program like in general?
A: At Purdue I-O, our mission is “Doing Good through Good Science”. Under this common vision, our graduate students value the rigorous of science and contribution to others. We hope to support the development and well-being of our mentees with our own knowledge and experience. For more information about our mentors, please visit the “Mentors” page.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or concerns about this program (see Contact Us page for more information).