Peer Research Mentors

Applications have closed for the 2024–25 academic year.

Overview

The Research & Instruction Department of Musselman Library invites Gettysburg College rising sophomore and rising junior students (Class of 2026 or 2027) in any major to submit applications to become a Peer Research Mentor for the 2024–25 academic year. A Peer Research Mentor is a student who works alongside librarians to support students engaged in research, while also improving one’s own research skills. The Peer Research Mentor team intentionally includes students representing a range of class levels, academic backgrounds, and student experiences. If you love information and helping people find exactly what they need, this could be the position for you!

Engagement

Peer Research Mentors will engage in three main areas:

Training:

Mentors will participate in a concentrated series of training sessions in August the week before classes begin, as well as ongoing training throughout the year (1 hour bi-weekly). Training topics include basic customer service principles, navigating our online and print library collection, understanding today’s information environment, search strategies, evaluating information, the inner workings of the library (from cataloging to interlibrary loan), current library issues, and other topics of interest to the mentors.

Reference service:

Mentors will work at the library’s main research help desk 4 hours per week, partnered with a professional librarian. In addition, mentors may meet with students during scheduled research appointments.

Outreach:

Mentors will design and implement an outreach program each semester. Each mentor will consult with a supervising librarian in order to customize a project that reflects the mentor’s interest and skills. Previous mentors have created web research guides to support class assignments, met with students completing a particular assignment, and designed research workshops. This component is flexible and should support the mentor’s academic interests and/or career pursuits.

Required Qualifications:

Rising sophomore or rising junior in 2024–25 academic year (Class of 2026 or 2027)
Able to attend an all-day, on-campus training session on Friday, August 23, 2024
Desire to learn, improve, and develop research skills in a variety of academic subject areas
Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of students, faculty, staff, and community members

Preferred Qualifications:

Interest or background in education, mentoring, and/or tutoring

As part of the Research & Instruction Department, Peer Research Mentors will participate in a learning community supported by each other as well as librarians and other undergraduate library interns. Peer Research Mentors will mentor other students while becoming more successful researchers themselves.

Peer Research Mentors will work 5-8 hours per week while classes are in session (4 hours at Research Help Desk, 1 hour bi-weekly training, 1-2 hours project work), in addition to about 15 hours of paid training during the last week of summer break. The pay rate is $10.25 per hour with a $0.25 per hour increase after each full year of employment as a Peer Research Mentor.

To apply, submit a resume and a cover letter indicating your interest in the position, your education and/or career goals, any relevant courses, and the names and contact information for 2 references (references should be faculty members who can tell us about you and your work in the classroom, and/or your supervisor in a campus or relevant job). Please be specific about why you would like to be one of our Peer Research Mentors.

Application materials must be received by Monday, March 4, 2024 at 9 am EST to be considered. Please submit your resume and cover letter within Handshake.

Have questions? Please feel free to reach out to Hannah Krauss (tkrauss@gettysburg.edu), Eyoel Delessa (edelessa@gettysburg.edu), or Kevin Moore (kmoore@gettysburg.edu)

2023-24 Musselman Library Peer Research Mentors

Kathryn Hopsicker, ’24
Sarah MacDonald, ’24
Gaby Montero, ’24
Ethan Clare, ’25
Trang Pham, ’25
Maria Kardash, ’26
River Pham, ’26