Political Science

Berkeley Connect links undergraduate students with an experienced mentor in Integrative Biology. The mentor leads small groups of students (not more than 20) in regular meetings and also meets with students one-on-one to provide guidance and advice. Berkeley Connect is offered as a one-credit, pass-not pass course that is designed to create a community of students with similar intellectual interests. There is no homework associated with Berkeley Connect: no exams, no papers, no quizzes. Instead, small group meetings focus on sharing ideas and learning new skills related to Integrative Biology as a way to foster friendships and provide a supportive intellectual community for Berkeley undergraduates.

The only requirement for joining Berkeley Connect in Biology is that you have an interest in this field of study. 

Every semester, Berkeley Connect sponsors a wide range of activities and events for participating students. They include:

• small-group meetings facilitated by your mentor;
• one-on-one meetings with your mentor;
• special events, including informal lectures by professors and guest speakers, and panels on career options, graduate school admissions, and other topics;
• and visits to Berkeley resources.

At the heart of Berkeley Connect is the relationship between you and your mentor. The Berkeley Connect mentor is an advanced graduate student in Integrative Biology, chosen both for demonstrated commitment to undergraduates and for scholarly achievement. The mentor is dedicated to providing the kind of close-knit community and one-on-one attention that can be hard to find at a large university.

When you sign up for Berkeley Connect, you will join one of the small groups of participants in Biology. Your small group sessions will be facilitated by your mentor, and will meet every other week during the semester for an hour-long discussion. Discussions will focus on key intellectual issues within biology as well as key skills you need to succeed in the biological sciences. Above all, the small groups will focus on building connections among students, so that each group becomes a supportive community for all participants.

You will meet with your mentor one-on-one at least twice during the semester, to talk about anything you choose related to your academic life—questions you have, challenges you are facing, resources you are seeking, goals you are seeking to achieve. Your mentor also has open mentoring hours throughout the semester, during which you are free to show up and continue these conversations, or just check in.

Berkeley Connect Mentors 

 Jonathan Guy is a PhD candidate in Political Science.

Where did you grow up? 

Verona, Wisconsin—about 20 minutes outside of Madison.

Where did you go to college and what was your major?

I majored in Political Science at the University of Chicago.

How would you describe your research in a sentence or two?

I study the politics of energy transitions, with a focus on low and middle-income countries. My dissertation project attempts to understand why some countries are transitioning to low-carbon electricity sooner and faster than others.

Jennie Lynn Barker is a PhD candidate in Political Science. 

Where did you grow up? 

Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

Where did you go to college and what was your major?

Tulane University, Political Science and German Studies

How would you describe your research in a sentence or two?

My research focuses on international support for democratic governance, particularly the politics of democracy promotion in promoting and receiving states amid challenges to democracy in international politics.

Semester Activities

How to Sign Up