Students rarely have the opportunity to sit down with their professors outside of the classroom. While some may take advantage of an instructor’s office hours, students looking to glean from the expertise or experiences of a particular professor may not receive all they were hoping for in the time allotted. Between instruction time and research labs, this one-on-one interaction can be increasingly difficult to schedule between students and instructors in the STEM majors.

 The Wayne State University student organization Research Warriors aims to address this issue through its annual networking dinner that connects research professors with current and future students. The third annual Dine With Professors networking dinner was held Monday, Nov. 26. Research Warriors invited 20 Wayne State STEM professors to dine and network with students.

“We invited professors who are looking to share experience, research and knowledge in the field,” said Kelly Patero, treasurer for Research Warriors.

 During the event, professors sat at tables while students in groups of eight rotated to learn more about the profession, ask questions and engage in brief dialogue. Attendees gained insight into  STEM fields and learned more about what professors look for in a research assistant. Others have capitalized on the opportunity to pitch themselves as research assistants.

“I went to Dine With Professors last year,” said Patero, “I didn’t get a research position directly from the event, but I was able to become more knowledgeable on ways to networks and obtain one.”

Dine with Professors grants students the chance to pursue positions and opportunities at the college level that could create a lasting impact on their career.