Future Mentors Program

Effective mentoring of undergraduate researchers requires specific skillsets and approaches. Implementation of these strategies can lead to productive and mutually beneficial experiences for both mentors and mentees. The Future Mentors Program offers research mentorship training for graduate students who are or would like to begin mentoring undergraduates in STEM research. This program is ideal for candidates who plan to pursue a career in academia or leadership roles in industry.

Program Overview

Participants will enroll in HONR 599 (3 credits) and attend a 16-week course for mentor training and practicum experience.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I. Mentor Training:

This interactive training seminar provides a systematic approach to analyzing and discussing research mentorship based on an evidence-based curriculum developed by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER). Each week mentors will engage in group activities and discuss case studies centered around key topics of mentor development:

1. Maintaining effective communication
2. Aligning mentor and mentee expectations
3. Assessing mentees’ understanding and needs
4. Cultivating research ethics
5. Fostering confidence & independence as a researcher
6. Creating an equitable and inclusive environment
7. Building intercultural awareness
8. Promoting professional development
9. Crafting a statement of mentoring philosophy and plan

The seminar will provide mentors with a community of practice to reflect on their mentoring relationship, discuss mentoring dilemmas, and develop strategies to address difficult situations with the help of their peers.

II. Mentorship Practicum:

Mentors will be able to experiment with various methods and develop a personal approach to mentoring by concurrently working with mentees over the course of the fall semester. Each participant will be matched with up to two undergraduate students from the Honors College. Mentors are expected to spend at least 2 hours per week mentoring trainees in both practical research skills and professional development. Mentees will register for independent research (1-3 credits) in the fall semester and may continue working in their mentor’s research group in the spring semester with the approval of the mentor’s faculty PI.

Eligibility

Open to Purdue University doctoral graduate students with the approval of their PI/dissertation chair.

Procedures for Nominations

Graduate students are invited to submit self-nominations. Nominees are responsible for obtaining their PI/advisor’s approval to participate in the program. The Qualtrics intake form has separate fields to briefly describe the following:

1. Utility of the program in relation to career goals
2. Mentee’s research project, including roles and responsibilities
3. Preferred number of mentees and academic majors of mentees
4. Required pre-requisite skills (if any)
5. Minimum number of hours per week mentees are expected to spend on research-related activities

SUBMIT APPLICATION

Nominations are currently being accepted and will continue on a rolling basis. Recruitment of undergraduates will begin on February 1, 2023.

Questions can be directed to Zahra Tehrani, Clinical Assistant Professor, John Martinson Honors College, ztehrani@purdue.edu.