{"688514":{"#nid":"688514","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Welcome Wreck: Building Community for Georgia Tech Research Faculty","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen research faculty arrive at Georgia Tech, they bring bold ideas, deep expertise, and the drive to build something meaningful. They step into labs, lead sponsored projects, mentor students, write proposals, manage teams, and push the boundaries of innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut alongside the excitement of a new role comes questions:\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWho do I call when I am unsure about a process?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHow do I find collaborators outside my unit?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhat is written policy, and what is simply how things are done?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor many research faculty, the first few months at Georgia Tech are a mix of opportunity and uncertainty.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat is where Welcome Wreck comes in.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.gatech.edu\/faculty-resources\/research-faculty\/welcome-wreck\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWelcome Wreck\u003C\/a\u003E is a peer-to-peer initiative designed to ensure that new research faculty do not have to navigate those early months alone. Instead of proffering another checklist or formal training session, the program offers something simple and powerful: a conversation with a peer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA key predictor of research faculty success and retention is appropriate onboarding from the beginning of their employment with us,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EMaribeth Coleman\u003C\/strong\u003E, assistant vice provost for research faculty. \u201cA priority for my office is to provide orientation opportunities to our new colleagues that help them understand the role of research faculty, the importance we have to the Institute, and to welcome them into our vibrant research faculty community.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWelcome Wreck is the first step of this process. It is designed to ensure that new research faculty feel supported, are aware of the resources available to help them succeed in their role, and are connected to a senior colleague who can provide mentorship.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cParticipating in Welcome Wreck was an incredibly meaningful experience,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EAlex Djalali\u003C\/strong\u003E, senior research engineer at Tech AI. \u201cIt offered a genuine introduction to Georgia Tech not only as a world-class institution but as a vibrant and supportive community. Because of the program, I felt truly welcomed, built new connections, and gained a deeper appreciation for the many opportunities Georgia Tech provides its students, faculty, and employees.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach newly hired research faculty member who participates is matched with an experienced research faculty ambassador from across campus. These ambassadors understand the nuances of this career pathway because they have walked it themselves. They know the formal systems and the informal ones. They know the policies and the unwritten norms.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZerrin Ondin-Fraser\u003C\/strong\u003E, a research scientist at the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation, serves as lead ambassador for Welcome Wreck. She explains that the program is rooted in lived experience:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I first joined Georgia Tech as research faculty, I quickly realized how much of the role you learn by doing,\u201d explained Ondin-Fraser. \u201cThere are formal processes and policies, but there are also unwritten norms, informal networks, and everyday questions that do not always fit into an onboarding checklist. Welcome Wreck was created to bridge that gap. It is about making sure that new research faculty do not have to navigate those first months alone. By connecting colleagues who have lived this pathway, we are building a culture of mentorship, shared insight, and belonging that strengthens not only individuals but Georgia Tech\u2019s entire research enterprise.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe format of Welcome Wreck is intentionally flexible. Meetings can happen over coffee, in an office, or virtually. Some conversations focus on grant strategy, while others explore career pathways, interdisciplinary collaboration, or simply how to make a large campus feel smaller. The goal is that they all, no matter the format, create the feeling of being welcomed into a community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose early connections matter. Research faculty often work across disciplines, centers, and institutes. Building networks beyond one\u2019s immediate unit can open doors to collaboration, new funding opportunities, and long-term partnerships.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a new research faculty member navigating the Georgia Tech ecosystem, Welcome Wreck provided helpful guidance [for me] to understand my role and how I could connect with other research faculty on campus,\u201d explained \u003Cstrong\u003ELucas Clay\u003C\/strong\u003E, extension professional at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business. \u201cThe impact extended well beyond that first meeting. Since participating in Welcome Wreck about five months ago, I have already had the opportunity to participate in multiple grants with other Georgia Tech research faculty and learn about initiatives on campus that may have gone unnoticed without the guidance I received from the Welcome Wreck team.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWelcome Wreck complements formal HR onboarding by adding a human layer of connection grounded in shared experience and peer guidance. It creates space for honest questions, real stories, and practical insight. Welcome Wreck turns what could feel like a solitary transition into a connected beginning.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOpen to all newly hired research faculty across Georgia Tech, Welcome Wreck reflects a simple perspective: Strong research communities are built not only through projects and proposals but through relationships.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhether you\u2019re in your first week or a few months into your role, it is never too late to connect,\u201d said Ondin-Fraser.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program operates on a rolling basis, allowing new research faculty to join at any point during the year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENew research faculty interested in participating are encouraged to reach out at \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:zondin6@gatech.edu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ezondin6@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E or visit the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.gatech.edu\/faculty-resources\/research-faculty\/welcome-wreck\u0022\u003EWelcome Wreck program page\u003C\/a\u003E to learn more.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor many research faculty, the first few months at Georgia Tech are a mix of opportunity and uncertainty. That is where Welcome Wreck comes in.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The peer\u2011to\u2011peer onboarding program connects new faculty with experienced colleagues."}],"uid":"27998","created_gmt":"2026-02-25 15:16:09","changed_gmt":"2026-02-25 15:20:58","author":"Brittany Aiello","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679425":{"id":"679425","type":"image","title":"FacultyOrientation.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1772032716","gmt_created":"2026-02-25 15:18:36","changed":"1772032716","gmt_changed":"2026-02-25 15:18:36","alt":"A photo of a new faculty member at orientation, holding a folder that reads \u0022GT Research.\u0022","file":{"fid":"263588","name":"FacultyOrientation.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/FacultyOrientation.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/FacultyOrientation.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":192999,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/25\/FacultyOrientation.jpeg?itok=3S3icALO"}}},"media_ids":["679425"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/faculty.gatech.edu\/faculty-resources\/research-faculty\/welcome-wreck","title":"Welcome Wreck Program Information"}],"groups":[{"id":"619192","name":"Faculty Affairs"},{"id":"660365","name":"Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty"},{"id":"131901","name":"Provost"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"}],"keywords":[{"id":"85401","name":"research faculty"},{"id":"1646","name":"New Faculty"},{"id":"172775","name":"Maribeth Gandy Coleman"},{"id":"194946","name":"zerrin ondin-fraser"},{"id":"194947","name":"faculty community"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EZerrin Ondin-Fraser, Research Scientist, CIDI\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["zondin6@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}