Postdoctoral Leadership of Underrepresented minorities for Teacher-scholar Occupations (PLUTO)
The Postdoctoral Leadership of Underrepresented minorities for Teacher-scholar Occupations (PLUTO) program within the STARS program aims to increase the institutional capacity of Cal Poly Pomona, Citrus College, and Mt. SAC to engage Hispanic, Pell Grant eligible, and underrepresented students in STEM disciplines through hiring additional STEM Ph.D. mentors and supporting postdocs in managing a leadership role in both teaching and research.
Located at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) and Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), STARS is uniquely positioned to support postdocs who are interested in research, but also have significant interest in teaching and training undergraduates, and working with Hispanic and Pell eligible students.
This program will fund a total of 10 PLUTO positions (2 positions per year, renewable for 2nd year), with a goal to support the postdocs in obtaining faculty positions at PUIs.
PLUTO postdocs are interested in research, teaching and training undergraduates, and working with Hispanic and low-income students. They work independently and are paired with a mentor to enhance skills that are particularly useful for faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions, but would also benefit them in any future career. Mentoring, research and teaching duties are divided equally. A portion of the postdoc's time will be committed to teaching one course per year with the course selection will be based on the postdoc's interest.
Program Components
Each postdoc will:
- Conduct research with a STARS faculty mentor
- Directly mentor 1-2 students in research per year
- Teach 1 course per year to gain teaching experience
- Directly mentor 4 STARS students per year (2 meetings per month)
- Lead 2 STARS workshops per year
- Attend workshops through the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence
- Develop independent research ideas for future career
- Participate in career development opportunities and mentorship
- Receive mentorship for applying to faculty jobs at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) or community colleges
Current Postdocs
Chemistry
Dr. Benjamin Goka
Mentor: Dr. Chantal Stieber
Chemistry
Dr. Ana C Garcia Alvarez
Mentor: Dr. Chantal Stieber
Chemistry
Dr. Moises Bravo
Mentor: Dr. Chantal Stieber
Chemistry
Dr. Eric Lopes
Mentor: Dr. Chantal Stieber
Chemistry
Dr. Alex Pascarella
Mentor: Dr. Chantal Stieber
Past Postdocs
Dr. Zoe Marr
- Discipline: Chemistry
- Mentor: Dr. Chantal Stieber
- New Position: Faculty at University of Redlands
Dr. Andressa Antonini Bertolazzo
- Discipline: Chemistry
- Mentor: Dr. Chantal Stieber
- New Position: Tenure track faculty at Weber State University
Dr. Winn Huynh
- Discipline: Chemistry
- Mentor: Dr. Chantal Stieber
- New Position: Faculty at LA Pierce College
Dr. Jesus Preciado
- Discipline: Agriculture
- Mentor: Dr. David Still & Dr. Chantal Stieber
Contact the Program Coordinator
