MENTORSHIP

I believe my contributions through mentoring are as important as my research endeavors – throughout my career I have benefitted greatly by having excellent mentors and my hope is to give back by being an excellent mentor myself. I ascribe to the philosophy that positive mentoring experiences increase productivity, commitment, satisfaction, and knowledge sharing. Specifically, I see my key role as providing a combination of guidance, support, and fostering an environment conducive to learning, excitement, and growth. I think the success of a research team requires an investment in developing relationships, proper communication, mutual respect, and passion for scientific discovery, and my mentoring philosophy is centered on these principles.

Mentoring Philosophy:

  • Each individual will require personalized training and therefore an individualized approach will be driven by a detailed written and mutually agreed upon career development plan tailored to the individual goals and future career plans for each trainee.

  • I will provide for every trainee under my mentorship an environment that is intellectually stimulating, emotionally supportive, safe, and free of harassment.

  • I will provide guidance and support via regular one-on-one meetings to discuss research progress, challenges, future directions, and eventual career plans. Trainees will also participate in weekly lab meetings to discuss larger research goals and progress of the team as a whole.

  • I will ensure the development of scientific lab skills including essential laboratory techniques, proper note keeping, data analysis and interpretation. While some specific lab techniques may be taught by experienced technicians in the lab, I am a very “hands-on” PI and will be involved in the teaching all of the aforementioned skills, including thorough explanations of laboratory techniques. Importantly, I will assist students in learning to design and plan experiments, and instill the importance of rigor and reproducibility.

  • Moreover, I will use a method of gradually developing independence in each trainee, first closely working with them on a one-on-one basis, then giving them more responsibility and increased expectation, once mastery has been demonstrated.

  • Students will be provided with mentorship in scientific writing and presentation skills, and will be provided with opportunities to assist with abstract and manuscript preparation as well as develop individualized grant proposals. Each student will also be expected to attend and present at 1-2 national conferences annually.

  • Throughout every member’s time in my laboratory, I will be supportive, equitable, accessible, encouraging, and respectful. I will foster each trainees professional confidence and encourage critical thinking, skepticism and creativity.