About the Program
Meet the current research mentors
The UF-Howard Hughes G.A.T.O.R. Program for Science is funded by a four-year Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor Award to Dr. Louis Guillette in the Department of Zoology. Drs. Heather Hamlin and Thea Edwards are the Associate Directors of the G.A.T.O.R. Program.
The G.A.T.O.R., or Group Advantaged Training of Research Program brings together graduate students and undergraduates to work together in research teams under the guidance of faculty advisors. The goal of the Program is to provide mentoring experience and support for graduate students and faculty, while providing younger students with outstanding personal opportunities to learn about the process of scientific research.
The G.A.T.O.R. Program is similar to an apprenticeship in science. By working together, the members of each team learn from and teach each other. As team leaders, graduate students gain experience in mentoring and research project management, skills that will enhance their success as professional scientists and teachers. In addition, their research projects are enriched by the contributions of younger team members. In the process, the undergraduate students learn about the practice of scientific research and scholarship. By doing discovery science, they gain important lab skills along with knowledge of research design and presentation. This experience will enable them to hone their scientific interests while giving them a strong competitive edge when applying to university or graduate school.
Each team, made up of a faculty advisor, a graduate student, and two undergraduates, will work together for one year from summer through the following spring semester.
Apart from research, the G.A.T.O.R. Program includes a 1 credit “G.A.T.O.R. Discussion Group ” course during the summer and fall, and a 3 credit spring semester course on “Communicating Complexity in Science”. During their mentorship, graduate students are required to attend a spring and summer workshop on “Mentoring the Next Generation”. Likewise, undergraduates will participate in a short summer workshop on “Modern Research Techniques”. Please refer to the course page for detailed course information.
