Future Mentors Program builds research skills and confidence for Purdue’s Honors students
As undergraduate research becomes an increasingly vital part of the Purdue experience, the John Martinson Honors College (JMHC) is ensuring that Boilermakers receive exceptional mentorship from graduate researchers through the Future Mentors Program.
Zahra Tehrani, director of the Future Mentors Program, says the program was designed with the goal of connecting undergraduate students with high-quality mentored research experiences.
"Graduate mentors need formal training to ensure that the time and effort they invest in their mentees is mutually beneficial. Mentorship goes beyond just research guidance—it supports students’ professional and personal growth. These aspects are essential to strong mentoring and can enhance research productivity," Tehrani says.
The Future Mentors Program provides mentors with evidence-based strategies to provide a strong foundation of skills, which mentors can draw from as they build their own unique mentoring styles, says Tehrani. Effective communication, aligning expectations, constructive feedback and power dynamics management are key components of the program, she adds.
The first component of the program is a JMHC course in which graduate students attend mentorship training through active learning exercises and case studies. They apply these strategies while mentoring undergraduates in their research labs. JMHC undergraduates apply to work on projects that align with their interests.
An essential component of the program is the community of practice, where mentors connect to discuss what worked, what didn’t and any other challenges, Tehrani says.
“This community of practice is a safe forum for graduate students to come together and strategize solutions,” Tehrani continues.
Andreas Hoess, a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering, says undergraduates learn valuable research, presentation and time management skills, while graduate mentors learn to advise and delegate in addition to research support.
“The most valuable part is guiding undergraduates through the tough transition from a classroom environment to an applied research setting,” Hoess explains.
Interdisciplinary Connections
Mentor, Bruno C. Krause Moras and mentee, Christina Joslin at the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Fall Undergraduate Research Expo
The Future Mentor Program is uniquely positioned as part of the JHMC to foster interdisciplinary connections. Students from all majors are invited to work alongside graduate students across various backgrounds based on their research needs.
A key connection fostered by the program is a relationship with the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR). Graduate students help prepare their mentees to present at the OUR Fall Undergraduate Research Expo, which builds students' confidence and connects them with the broader research community. As part of their coursework, graduate students serve as judges to continue supporting undergraduate researchers.
Graduate judges provided constructive feedback on how new researchers can improve their presentation skills. The judges from the Future Mentor Program help provide consistency and rigor in communication evaluations, explains JJ Sadler, associate director of OUR.
“The interactions undergraduate researchers have during their presentations is key for their continued research and academic success. That’s why programs that train individuals on how to best support students are necessary,” says Sadler.
Mentorship directly influences a student’s confidence and performance, as well as the decision to pursue further research opportunities in their education, says Tehrani.
The course prepares graduate students to become faculty or industry leaders who will improve the mentorship landscape in the future.
“Investing in mentorship training now enhances the undergraduate research experience and helps build the next generation of effective mentors,” she says.
For more information on the Future Mentors Program, visit the JMHC website.
Giuliana Corliss
Communication Assistant for Teaching and Learning, tlcoms@purdue.edu