More than 100 students from as far away as Florida and Kansas attended the 2012 Upstate GRAD (Getting Ready for Advanced Degree) Lab on campus Oct. 20.

Designed to expose highly qualified underrepresented minority students to the benefits of a career in research and technology innovation, GRAD Lab is a comprehensive, hands-on symposium to help students envision their futures as technology leaders and to encourage students to consider graduate study in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields.

Students attended workshops explaining the nuts and bolts of advanced study with sessions ranging from getting into and funding graduate study to hearing from current graduate students, industry professionals and faculty in engineering fields.

"There is an increasing need in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields for talented, driven and bright leaders who have the ability to make a national and global impact," said Lance Collins, dean of the College of Engineering. "The GEM Grad Lab advances our shared goal of broadening the participation and diversity of those who enter and succeed in STEM graduate programs."

Sponsors of the 2012 Update GEM Grad Lab included Upstate New York Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation; Diversity Programs in Engineering, Engineering Learning Initiatives; Office of Inclusion and Professional Development at the Cornell Graduate School; and the Semiconductor Research Corporation Education Alliance with support from the Intel Foundation. For more information about the GEM Fellowship Program visit gemfellowship.org.

Elizabeth Ellis is communications director at the Graduate School.