Welcome to Girls in Research!

FAQ and Guidelines for App Builder Mentees (Summer

2024)

Congratulations on joining the community of mentors at Girls in Research! We're

excited to have you on board. This document outlines in more detail what is
expected of you as a mentor, general guidelines, and program information.

Part 1: FAQ Guide For Scholars

About Girls In Research

1. What is Girls In Research?

Girls In Research is the first global, virtual research and tech incubator designed
specifically for high school girls. It offers mentorship programs in various fields to
empower young women interested in pursuing careers in research, technology, and
beyond.

Becoming a Scholar

2. Who can become a scholar at Girls In Research?

Scholars at Girls In Research are high school girls who are passionate about
research and eager to learn from experienced mentors. The program is designed to
help you develop research skills and gain experience in your field of interest.

GirlsInResearch.com | 7 Bell Yard London | WC2A 2JR United Kingdom | [email protected]

 3. How do I apply to be a scholar?

To apply to be a scholar at Girls In Research, fill out the online application form
available on GIR’s website. Once we receive your application, you may be invited for
an interview. This interview process helps us understand your interests and fit within
the program.

4. What are the next steps after I am accepted as a scholar?

You will receive this guide to help you understand the program. After reading the
guide, you will receive a link to join our Slack workspace, where you will be
introduced to your mentor and start your journey.

Programs and Responsibilities

5. What programs can scholars participate in?

Scholars can participate in two main programs at Girls In Research: the Research
Scholar program and the App Builder program. These programs cater to high school
students interested in writing research papers or developing digital applications,
respectively.

6. What are the subject areas available for research?

Girls In Research offers six tracks in the Research Scholar Program: social sciences,
natural sciences, humanities, tech, applied arts & design, and business & finance.
You can choose to focus on a specific track based on your interests and academic
background. All AppBuilder scholars are on the same track.

7. What are the responsibilities of a scholar at Girls In Research?

As a scholar, you are responsible for actively participating in the program, completing
assigned tasks, and communicating regularly with your mentor. You will be guided
through the process of building a web-based or mobile application. Your main
responsibilities include attending one-on-one mentoring sessions, completing
reading assignments, and working on your application.

8. How long is each paid mentored session?

Each mentored session is 1 hour long; 50 minutes for mentoring, and 10 minutes for
writing reflections and feedback.

GirlsInResearch.com | 7 Bell Yard London | WC2A 2JR United Kingdom | [email protected]

 Time Commitment

9. What is the time commitment required for scholars?

Scholars are expected to commit 2-4 hours per week for contact activities such as
mentorship sessions, workshops, and Girls in Power. Additionally, scholars should
plan for at least 5-10 hours of self-study and coding per week, though scholars who
put in additional time and effort may be able to make more progress during the
program. Dedication of enough time is important to ensure meaningful engagement
and progress in their projects.

Community Involvement

10. Can scholars participate in the Girls In Research community events?

Yes! Scholars are actively encouraged to participate in Girls In Research community

events, including expert workshops, masterclasses, and power talks. These events
provide valuable learning opportunities and allow you to engage with other scholars
and professionals in your field.

Part 2: App Builder Program Content and How To Guide

This is a 4-week program where you will create your first original digital application.

Week 0: Onboarding

● Decide on a weekly time/day to meet with your mentor.

Week 1: Introduction and Planning

● Meet with your mentor, discuss your strengths and weaknesses.

● Brainstorm a topic and plan out the hackathon timeline.
● Identify whether there are any micro-courses you need to complete.
● Meet with your mentor twice this week

Week 2: Development and Feedback

● Receive feedback on your tech stack and development approach.

GirlsInResearch.com | 7 Bell Yard London | WC2A 2JR United Kingdom | [email protected]

 ● Identify potential pitfalls in your approach (e.g., high complexity or cost).
● Aim for a deeper backend with more interesting functionality (e.g., explore
using ML rather than linear regression for decision making).
● Meet with your mentor once this week

Week 3: Refinement and Bug Fixing

● Ensure you have a working front end with a reasonable backend.

● Focus on what your project will look like at demo day and solve the most
pressing problems/bugs.
● Get assistance with UI/UX as needed, and attend any relevant workshops at
your mentor's suggestion.
● Meet with your mentor once this week

Week 4: Finalization and Demo Day

● Prepare for demo day at the end of this week.

● Reflect on what worked well and what didn’t.
● Acknowledge and celebrate your efforts and achievements!
● Meet with your mentor twice this week

Other Points

● Girls in Research has budgeted a limited amount of money to support App

Builder scholars. If you need access to specific software or wish to push an
app to the App Store, contact [email protected]. Most scholars
complete the hackathon using free tools.
● You are allowed, encouraged even, to use any and all tools available to you to
speed up your work, including Google, StackOverflow, and code-writing
software such as ChatGPT and Co-Pilot (students get free access to co-pilot
with GitHub student)
● Your mentor is not expected to write any code, but they may assist with
debugging if time permits during the scheduled sessions.

Suggested Tech Stack

The suggested tech stacks should only be used if you're unsure where to start! It’s
best if you work with your mentor to use preferred methods and tech stack.

GirlsInResearch.com | 7 Bell Yard London | WC2A 2JR United Kingdom | [email protected]

 ● Level 1: Python backend, Streamlit front end (quick setup if you already know
Python)
● Level 2: Anvil.works - Full stack web apps with just Python
● Level 3: React / React Native with Next.js for web/mobile app development

Note: The choice of tech stack should be guided by your interests. This does not
constitute a hierarchy where level 3 is better than level 1. It’s perfectly acceptable if
you focus more on deep learning and build a simple front end in Streamlit on one of
the final days. Conversely, it’s also okay if you are more interested in UI/UX and
spend most of your time on the front end!

Monthly Themes

Each month, there will be a theme for the App Builder/hackathon program, see
project suggestions under each theme. Scholars are highly encouraged to come up
with their own projects!

June: Equality & Diversity

● Inclusive Hiring Platform
● Diversity Awareness Game
● Accessibility Enhancer

July: Climate Change & Green Accountability

● Carbon Footprint Tracker
● Green Business Finder
● Sustainable Living Planner

August: Food Supply Chains

● Farm-to-Table Tracker
● Food Waste Reducer
● Supply Chain Optimizer

September: Data-Driven Decision Making

● Small Business Analytics
● Smart City Dashboard
● Personal Finance Advisor

October: Social Media

● Mental Health Monitor
● Safe Social Platform
● Community Engagement Hub

GirlsInResearch.com | 7 Bell Yard London | WC2A 2JR United Kingdom | [email protected]

 November: AI for Science
● Research Assistant Bot
● Citizen Science Platform
● AI-Driven Experiment Planner

December: Connectedness & Community

● Neighborhood Helper
● Event Organizer
● Community Bulletin Board

Summary

● Week 1: Meet, understand strengths and weaknesses, brainstorm topic, plan

timeline, identify micro-courses.
● Week 2: Development and feedback on tech stack, identify pitfalls, encourage
deeper backend functionality.
● Week 3: Working front end and backend, focus on demo day preparation,
solve pressing bugs, get assistance with UI/UX.
● Week 4: Prepare for demo day, reflect on process

Part 3: App Learner Program Content and Guide

App Learner
The App Learner program is designed for students with no prior coding experience,
providing a personalized learning plan tailored to your needs and interests. This
foundational program prepares you for the more advanced App Builder program by
building essential skills in programming and computational thinking. Your mentor
will assess the student's current knowledge, interests, and learning style to create a
customized curriculum. We recommend the following courses to help gain a strong
understanding of computer science and programming:

● Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python by MIT

(edX)
● Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science by MIT (edX)
● CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python by Harvard University (edX)

These courses provide a comprehensive introduction to programming,

computational thinking, and data science, equipping you with the necessary skills to

GirlsInResearch.com | 7 Bell Yard London | WC2A 2JR United Kingdom | [email protected]

 transition smoothly into the App Builder program, where you will apply your
knowledge to develop innovative applications. Your mentor will guide and support
you through these courses, helping you build a solid foundation in computer science.

Part 4: Key Points Of Being A Scholar

(After You Are Paired With A Mentor)

Key Points:
● You are the foundation of Girls in Research: Your passion, dedication, and
enthusiasm drive the success of our program! As a scholar, your curiosity and
commitment to learning inspires not only your peers but also your mentors
and the entire GIR community.
● Calls with your mentor should be in Slack using Slack Huddle
● Please remember that you and your mentor should both fill in a reflection
form at the end of every session! This is in the last 10 minutes of your
session!
● While most mentor/scholar sessions will be one-on-one, we may group
scholarship students together in pairs based on shared interests. This allows
them to collaborate and discuss relevant topics, though each student will still
be responsible for completing their own individual project.

Thank you

Thank you for your commitment to learning and contributing to the research
community. Your enthusiasm and hard work are vital in advancing your research
journey.

GirlsInResearch.com | 7 Bell Yard London | WC2A 2JR United Kingdom | [email protected]