Earning Criteria

• Participate in at least 6 of 8 online Conversations with Scientists, which are online video chats with role models and mentors who are in academic and non-academic careers.
• Participate in at least 5 of 7 online Peer Mentoring Chats, which are online video discussions among YCA fellows to facilitate networking, peer mentoring, and community building.
• Participate in at least 3 of 4 online Workshops for skills development, which are professional development workshops on the topics of mentoring, scientific teaching, and creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP). Fellows also receive two individualized advice sessions to make their IDP more actionable and move their career goals and objectives forward.
• Attend the annual YCA in-person meeting, held at held at the Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting. During the annual meeting, fellows participate in workshops on effective communication and networking.
• Complete a science outreach activity. Fellows have the opportunity to impact their community through science outreach activities such as the publication of science articles or podcasts and visits to local schools.
• Serve as a facilitating discussant for one online session, responsible for ensuring that active and productive discussion occurs during the online conversation. Working with two or three other fellows, gather and disseminate relevant online resources and questions to the group before the session; lead the session conversation, ensuring there is active conversation among all participants.