WinSPIRE Organization

WinSPIRE is an Organization affiliated with UNC, Chapel Hill, that aims to support people who identify as a historically marginalized gender in STEM. We provide them with research and mentorship opportunities with the ultimate goal of closing the gender gap in STEM. Each summer, WinSPIRE hosts a Summer Research Program that is open to rising high school juniors and seniors who identify as a historically minoritized gender in STEM (i.e., cis-woman, trans-woman, trans-man, non-binary, genderfluid, agender, genderqueer, two-spirit). Over six weeks, the students partake in cutting-edge research at UNC, Chapel Hill, and participate in career development and college preparatory workshops. This program is working to close the gender gap in STEM by empowering young people of minoritized genders to continue to pursue STEM opportunities after high school. Our students are mentored by graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty members who identify as similar genders as our student body. They work one-on-one with our students each day to develop, execute, and present a primary research project. Students, faculty, and staff of minoritized genders or allies lead career development and college preparatory workshops. These opportunities provide graduate-level trainees and above the critical mentorship and instructional skills and experience needed to excel in STEM careers. They also provide allies and the community with an opportunity to support people who identify as a historically minoritized gender in STEM. Altogether, the WinSPIRE Summer Research Program is facilitating a change in gender representation in STEM both at the high school to higher education transition point as well as at early career stages.