Mentorship

The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) places mentorship at the pinnacle of our priorities for the development of our graduates' professional career and their overall educational experience. It is one of our core values. As such, we provide multiple resources and opportunities for faculty, postdocs, and students to engage in the mentorship process, either as the mentor or mentee.

To facilitate discussions between mentors and trainees on topics such as roles, responsibilities, and expectations, SGPS requires that faculty mentors and trainees follow appropriate guidelines for successful mentoring relationships as put forth by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). In addition, graduate students and postdocs generate Individual Development Plans that assist both students, postdocs, and their mentors in near and long-term goal setting, expectations for the graduate school or postdoc experience, and assessment for specific areas of professional development.

Our graduate students also engage in mentoring of other graduate students, undergraduate students, and even high school students who enter the research laboratories over the summer months. This type of experience is one of many resources available for faculty, postdocs, and students to practice and improve their roles in mentoring relationships.