Uniting Seasoned Mentors with HPC Protégés

Sign-ups are open for Mentor–Protégé Matching at SC26, and the early deadline is September 14. The Students@SC program pairs students and early-career attendees with experienced HPC professionals, matched on research interests, career goals, and personal interests, so they arrive in Chicago already knowing someone who knows the room.

Lipi Gupta of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Student Networking and Mentoring Chair for SC26, leads the program. Mentor–Protégé Matching is part of the Students@SC program at SC26 in Chicago, Illinois.

The matching program provides a real-world connection between experienced HPC professionals and the students and early career folks, to make this exciting but sometimes intimidating community more accessible and approachable.

LIPI GUPTA

SC26 STUDENT NETWORKING AND MENTORING CHAIR

The program begins before anyone arrives in Chicago. Mentors and protégés are encouraged to connect ahead of time, by email or over a virtual coffee, to compare goals and plan their week together. Sitting in on the same talks, walking the exhibit floor, or heading to a reception as a pair turns a large program into a shared one and makes it more fun.

That early engagement is what protégés say they value most: mentors who reach out before the conference and keep the conversation going afterward. The result is a connection to the professional HPC community that lasts well beyond the closing session.

All participants will also be invited to a breakfast event during the conference, where pairs can meet in person and connect with the rest of the cohort.

Students and early-career attendees looking for perspective on navigating SC and their careers and HPC professionals at any stage who want to give back are the core of Mentor–Protégé Matching. Mentors need no special credential beyond experience and a willingness to offer career and educational guidance.

Taking part is straightforward:

1. Complete the mentor or protégé survey.
2. Connect with your match before the conference.
3. Attend at least one organized Mentor–Protégé event at SC26.

Every match strengthens the community. Sign up through the Mentor–Protégé Matching page and direct questions to the Students@SC committee through the SC26 contact form.

Early Sign-ups

Open Now – September 14

Pairs who sign up by this date will be matched by September 18, giving them the most time to plan together.

Regular Sign-Ups

September 15 – November 2

Matching is one way experienced professionals show up for students at SC. The Career Fair is another. The SC26 Career Fair is open to every attendee, and organizations that register to recruit can also sign up to give a mentorship talk. The talks are short sessions addressing career pathways, internships, and what it’s like to work on your team. Interest is due in early October.

Whether you sign on as a mentor, send a recruiter, or both, the goal is the same one that is bringing the best of the HPC expertise and ingenuity to Chicago: an SC community that shows up for each other.