The KWiSE Los Angeles and San Diego Chapters have successfully concluded the joint 2024 WISET mentoring program, which ran from May through November. This year’s program connected 86 mentees from the United States and South Korea, guided by seven mentors from the Los Angeles Chapter: Drs. Yubin Kim, Jiae Lee, Eunji Chung, Yoonjin Won, Hyunsook Park, Sieun Chae, and Geonhui Lee, along with 11 San Diego Chapter mentors.

The program curriculum covered key aspects of professional development in science and research. Sessions included navigation of U.S. academic and professional landscapes, career pathways in industry and academia, scientific writing and presentation skills, work-life balance, and mental health awareness. Participants received guidance on CV preparation, interview techniques, research funding strategies, and elevator pitches. The program’s structure, combining small group sessions with personalized mentor-mentee partnerships, facilitated meaningful dialogue and targeted professional guidance.

Networking events connected participants throughout the year, with mentees gathering in Korea in August and two mentor-mentee meetings held in the United States in June and November. Several mentees have since secured postdoctoral positions across the Western United States, with some now actively contributing to the KWiSE-LA chapter community. The program continues to support emerging scientists in building successful careers in the United States.