Introduction
You’ve got a scientific mentor, and you’re ready to take them for a spin. But how do you make the most of this opportunity?
As a student, your mentor can be your guide through the world of research, lab work and all that fun stuff. But what if you don’t know where to start? How do you make sure your time with your mentor is as valuable as possible?
Make the Most Of Your Mentorship
It’s the first day of your mentorship, and you’re nervous. You’re excited to learn from someone who’s been doing what you want to do for years, but you’re also worried that they’ll think you’re not good enough.
You shouldn’t be. Your mentor has chosen to take on this role because they want to help you succeed. And there are tons of ways for you to make the most of your mentorship experience so that it helps you get ahead in your career.
Set Goals for Yourself and for Your Mentor Relationship
Before anything else, figure out what you want out of this mentorship relationship—and make sure it aligns with what your mentor wants too! Are you looking for advice on how to approach a certain problem? Do you want them to review some documents or slides before an important meeting? Or maybe they can just give you an honest opinion on how well-prepared you are for a presentation.
Whatever it is, write it down and share it with them, so they can set their own expectations as well (and vice versa). If there’s something specific that’s critical to both of you, make sure it gets done right away—this is one way that mentorships tend not go very well: if one party feels like they are doing all the heavy lifting.
Find a Mentor Who Can Help You Break Through
Finding the right mentor takes a bit of work, but it’s well worth the effort. Start by researching potential mentors on their research group website and through Google Scholar, and choose those whose work is relevant to your own interests. Don’t be afraid to contact people outside your immediate field if they have done relevant work in the past or if they are interested in working with you.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential mentors, ask your colleagues for recommendations, or e-mail them asking to schedule a meeting. It can feel daunting at first, but remember that mentoring is a two-way relationship: You both benefit from the experience!
During this meeting, don’t be shy about asking questions — after all, you’ll have plenty during regular meetings later on. But don’t forget to listen too. A good mentor will be able to help you develop more than just scientific skills; they’ll also help you learn how to get along better with people and succeed in your career goals.
Mentoring in Science
As a scientist, it’s important to have a mentor. A mentor can help you navigate the world of research, make connections with people who can help your career, and provide guidance and advice when you’re stuck. But how do you find a good mentor? What should you look for in a mentor?
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your scientific mentorship:
- Find someone who is knowledgeable about your area of interest.
- Look for someone who has experience working with students.
- Make sure they have time and energy to invest in your growth as a scientist.
How to Help and Be Helped
As you start your research career, you will likely work with multiple mentors. While it’s easy to focus on what you can get out of a mentor relationship, it’s important to remember that mentoring is a two-way street. You should try to help your mentors as much as they help you. Here are some ideas for how to do that:
- Ask questions. If there’s something you don’t understand about the project or the lab, ask! Your mentor may be able to give you an explanation in person or via email, or at least point you toward resources where you can find answers on your own.
- Share what works for you. If there’s something about your work habits or process that has helped make things easier for you, let your mentor know! They may be able to use this information themselves (or share it with other students).
Find A Scientific Mentor You Truly Respect And Admire
You need to find someone you truly respect and admire.
You should respect your mentor not just for their technical expertise, but for their approach to the challenges of a research career. Your mentor doesn’t have to be a Nobel Prize winner or a member of the National Academy of Sciences, but they should be someone who is widely considered to be successful at what they do.
They also need to have time and interest in mentoring you; this may mean that you have more than one mentor. A good mentor is someone who can help you realize your strengths and interests, and guide you towards opportunities that will allow you to grow as an independent scientist.
Why You Need a Mentor Who is Different Than You
One of the best things about having a mentor who is more senior than you is that in addition to sharing their wisdom and experience with you. A mentor who has been in your field for longer can help you navigate that very specific set of problems that comes from being a woman or person of color within a predominantly white male field.
For instance, if your mentor has personally dealt with any issues around discrimination, they will be able to provide you with strategies for dealing with it. In fact, one of the major advantages of having a mentor who is different from you — and preferably also more senior than you — is that they can share valuable advice on how to deal with certain types of people and situations in your field.
They Can Suggest New Directions For You To Consider
You might not be asking the right person or the right questions. You could be limiting your options by never looking beyond what’s most familiar to you when trying to find solutions to your issues.
Not only that, but you want someone who will help you think outside the box. Someone whose knowledge of your field is broad enough and deep enough that he or she can offer advice that helps you break out of any ruts into which you’ve fallen without realizing it.
They should keep an open mind and always try to see things from a different angle and how they can help guide you in doing this. They should also always be willing to guide you through every step of their process, from start to finish. Your mentor needs to have a growth mindset so that they are able to adapt their approach to meet your learning style and interests if necessary.
Data Science Mentors
Learning data science can be a challenge, and it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. With so many tools, techniques, and platforms available, it can be hard to know where to start—and even harder to find someone who can help you learn. That’s where data science mentors come in!
Data science mentors are experts who are willing to answer your questions and guide you through your journey as a data scientist. They’ll offer tips on how to make the most of your time learning (and getting paid), how to land your first job, and even how to become an expert yourself.
There are plenty of ways for you to find a mentor: social media groups, online forums, meetups at local universities or companies that hire data scientists. You might also want to ask around at conferences or events if anyone knows someone who would be willing to mentor you. If that doesn’t work out? Try using Twitter, see what comes up.
Postdoc Mentor
Working with a postdoc mentor is an incredible opportunity that can help you make the most of the next phase of your career. Whether you’re thinking about starting your own lab, continuing on in academia, or transitioning into industry, a postdoc mentor is a great resource for making sure you get all the skills and training you need to succeed.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your relationship with your postdoc mentor:
- Start by being clear about what you hope to get out of working with them. What do you want to learn? What kind of skills do you want to develop? What advice would be helpful for you?
- Make sure that both parties know what’s expected from them. What does each person need from this relationship? How will it benefit them professionally? How often will they meet? How long will it last? What are some goals for future meetings or projects (if any)?
- Be honest about how much time and energy they can devote to helping guide your career path. If they’re already busy with other projects or commitments, let them know as soon as possible, so they can plan accordingly.
Learn How To Work Well With Your Mentor
Your mentor may be your boss, a peer or a more senior person. Regardless of their position in the organization, you can get the most out of your mentorship by following some of these basic rules:
- Be prepared. Don’t show up empty-handed when you meet with your mentor. Come armed with a list of questions and the latest version of any documents related to those questions (proposals, manuscripts etc.).
- Respect your mentor’s time. If possible, send an agenda ahead of time so that they can come prepared as well. If you get off track during the meeting, politely suggest that you continue on another occasion — this will ensure that both parties have enough time to discuss all issues at hand.
- Ask questions — lots of them. Unless your organization has set specific expectations for what your mentor should expect from you, then ask away. Even if what you are asking is obvious to them; remember it is not obvious to you!
- It’s OK not to know something. Nobody knows everything! Your mentor wants to help foster growth; don’t let pride stand in the way of improvement by pretending that you already know something when you don’t have a clue what it is about (again: respect their time.). This goes along with always being honest about where you think your strengths and weaknesses lie, as this will help them tailor their guidance best for you and allow them to serve as an even better resource moving forward.
Lastly, trust that they want what’s best for everyone involved (and especially for yourself). You chose this person because they are someone whose ideas, opinions, and thoughts matter greatly to how things work around there and how things work best around there.
They want the same thing as everyone else: success all around.
Be Prepared For Meetings With Your Mentor
Make the most of your time together by preparing for meetings with your mentor. Have specific questions or issues you want to discuss, and come prepared to address them. Prepare a list of questions or issues and run it by a friend or colleague before you meet with your mentor to make sure there is enough content to fill your meeting slot. Sending an agenda ahead of time is another way to get the most out of your mentoring sessions.
By avoiding generic, broad questions such as “How was your weekend?” or “What do you think I should do next?”, you will save both you and your mentor’s valuable time. Be sure not to waste either’s valuable time by being prepared, specific and on-topic during meetings.
If You Have A Problem, Discuss It With Your Mentor
Proactive problem-solving is the name of the game. First, if you have a problem in the lab, talk about it with your mentor. The mentor is the person who can best help you solve your problem. If you are having trouble getting started on a new project, talk with your mentor about how best to use their time and resources. Asking for help is a sign of strength — not weakness.
When should you not talk to your mentor? If the issue involves them (e.g., they’re creating an unsafe work environment), then try discussing it with someone else. Talk to them first, unless they’re clearly at fault or otherwise found wanting in some way. It’s never a bad idea to start at the top.
Your Relationship Will Change Over Time
Your scientific mentor relationship will change and evolve over time. And it’s important to be flexible and open to that evolution, without ever losing sight of the benefits that this relationship will bring you. Don’t fixate on a particular outcome for the relationship, since things may turn out differently than you expected.
Your mentor might become a lifelong friend or business partner who will be there for you in moments of need and cheer with you on your accomplishments.
You might also mentor others yourself — and when that happens, remember how much your own mentorship meant to you, so that you can show others the same respect and care.
With hard work and determination, your mentor might also become your boss one day. If they haven’t already hired you as an employee, they might just do so because of all the value they know you can add to the workplace. If nothing else, then at least write them a letter of recommendation when the time comes.
What Are the Seven Roles of a Mentor
What Are the Seven Roles of a Mentor?
Mentors play an important role in helping scientists and researchers develop their skills and careers. They can help you to:
- Understand the culture of your field
- Learn how to ask questions, engage in research, and write papers
- Grow your network and make connections with other researchers who share your interests
- Establish yourself as an authority in your field so that other researchers will seek you out for collaboration or advice on their own projects
- Learn the protocols for conducting research that is ethical and responsible, so you can avoid making mistakes that could damage your reputation or get you into trouble with ethics boards or regulatory agencies
- Understand how academia works (who gets tenure, how grants are awarded), so that you can navigate it more easily when it comes time for promotions or tenure reviews
- Find funding for your research project
A Good Scientific Mentor Can Help You Become An Effective Scientist
For example, mentors can help you avoid pitfalls and improve important research, presentation, and networking skills. They can help you get jobs and funding, which are both crucial for the development of a research career in science.
Whether it’s a formal or informal relationship with a scientific mentor, it’s essential to keep an open mind about what you want to get out of it. Your goals may change over time, so don’t hesitate to tell your mentor what else you would like from them.
It is also good practice to reflect on how well your mentor is helping you achieve your goals and give them feedback on what they could do differently so that they know how they can best support you.
Conclusion
A mentor is someone who guides you through your career, and a scientific mentor is someone who teaches you how to conduct research. A scientific mentor can be a professor or a researcher at the university where you are studying.
You already know that mentorship is a two-way street.
You know that a scientific mentor is there to help you, but you also know that you have to be proactive in your own success. Scientific mentor helps you develop your research skills, teaches you how to perform experiments, and guides you in your career.
Not only that, but you know that the relationship hinges on your ability to stay flexible and adaptable, and to stand up for yourself when the time comes.
If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to making the most out of your mentorship relationships as a young scientist.