Mentoring typically involves a close relationship between two scholars with different levels of experience.  It includes modeling of research and career skills, discussing and development of those skills, and creating an inclusive environment where all mentees feel valued and respected. Although the roles can overlap, mentors are different from friends, teachers, or advisors.

The Mentoring Role

Mentors often provide guidance in the following areas:

• Technical understanding and skills
• Research ethics
• Progress in graduate programs
• Development of research projects
• Meeting colleagues
• Understanding cultures of disciplines
• Opportunities to present or publish work
• Opportunities for postdoctoral training and career positions
• Interacting with funding agencies and obtaining funding

As the breadth of this list suggests, junior scholars rarely find one individual who can mentor them in all areas. However, finding a constellation of people and resources to provide guidance in all these areas can be critical to a successful research career. Recognizing the importance of mentorship, some graduate programs seek to establish means for their students to obtain guidance without relying on the luck of finding a single excellent mentor.

Being Mentored

While mentors have responsibilities to share knowledge and experience with junior scholars and respect their rights, they also expect early-career scholars to take on certain responsibilities. To foster mentoring relationships, a developing scholar can:

• Approach appropriate senior scholars

• Be diligent in studies and scholarship

• Understand the formal requirements of programs and universities

• Maintain regular contact with advisors and mentors

• Respect the boundaries of your advisors and mentors

• Be open to constructive and feedback

• Consider and thoughtfully apply the advice you receive

• Communicate your concerns or challenges openly and respectfully