Difference: NotesToMentors ( vs. 1)

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Notes to Mentors

Notes to Mentors
- Mentors’ To Do List
- Mentor/Co-mentor role and responsibility

Mentors’ To Do List

Connect with student on skype to discuss the research project, outline a project plan and set expectations (what can the student expect in terms of office space, facilities, computer as well as what is your working style, preferred mode of communication, etc etc). Make sure the student understand how his work may contribute to GROWTH and the larger scientific body of knowledge.
Help student with arrangements for local accommodation (students pay for the accommodation from their stipend)
Connect mentee to students in your group who can provide valuable information about travel, transportation, money, food, customs, and everything else which can help the mentee prepare for a trip abroad
If possible arrange for someone to pick up the student from the airport (this may be especially helpful if the student is going to Taiwan, Japan or India)
Make sure the mentee gets introduced to your research group. Students greatly appreciate if there is any social event they can take part in - group lunch/dinner, trips, etc
Assign a co-mentor (grad student or a postdoc) who can provide daily advice and guidance to the student
Review and approve all project deliverables (project plan, two progress reports, an abstract and a final report). You will use the Caltech SURF SFP online system to do that.
Students are required to give a final presentation after their summer research experience. These presentations will generally take place at the students’ home institutions. Make sure that your mentee is in touch with their local advisor back home and making such arrangements.
If possible, arrange for a presentation in front of your research group or department prior to student’s departure

Mentor/Co-mentor role and responsibility

This section is an excerpt from the handbook for mentors of the Caltech SFP Office which manages the highly successful Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program which has run for several decades now. The tips and information in these sections is a summary of valuable lessons learnt by hundreds of SURF mentors.

The Role of a Mentor

The primary role of the mentor is to serve as the senior partner in collaboration with the student. Our hope is that through their participation in an undergraduate research project, students will be able to: develop a research question, problem, or design; apply basic principles and knowledge found in the literature related to the research question; develop a research proposal to address or resolve a specific research question or problem; apply and evaluate methodology throughout project; collect, interpret, and critique data in order to resolve a research question or evaluate a design; communicate research findings; and appreciate what the process of scientific research entails. It is important that the student be offered—and eventually accept—intellectual responsibility for his/her own project, so it is critical that a mentor be a teacher, a coach, and a research partner. Including students in all aspects of research life is important. You might consider requiring students to attend group meetings; including students in research discussions; and inviting students to participate in lab/group social activities.

Mentor Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the mentor are to prepare for the student’s arrival and to help the student meet all of the requirements of the program in which the student is participating; however, there are a number of specific responsibilities that each mentor will have in preparing for the project and in guiding the student in the summer: oversee supervision in the proposed research and consult with the student at regular and appropriate intervals throughout the project period; ensure that student receives all necessary lab and safety training; arrange for payment of all research expenses; ensure that student completes the full program; not provide student with export controlled information or items; be in residence for at least six of the ten weeks during the project period; collaborate with student on the preparation of two progress reports, an abstract, and a final technical report and to approve and sign off on these requirements; help the student prepare for the final oral or poster presentation.

Who May Serve as a Co-Mentor?

We strongly encourage mentors to assign co-mentors to each undergraduate Mentors often assign another member of the research group to provide day-to-day supervision of a summer student. Co-mentors may be senior graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, technical staff, or other colleagues.

The Role of a Co-Mentor

While mentors have the overall research, safety, and financial responsibility for summer students, they may assign a co-mentor to provide the day-to-day oversight of the student and project. The role of the co-mentor will vary from group to group, and co-mentors should consult with the mentor to determine the degree of responsibility they will have for a student. Some co-mentors will be given full responsibility and authority for supervising a student; others will provide limited oversight or guidance. Our hope is that through their participation in an undergraduate research project, students will be able to: develop a research question, problem, or design; apply basic principles and knowledge found in the literature related to the research question; develop a research proposal to address or resolve a specific research question or problem; apply and evaluate methodology throughout project; collect, interpret, and critique data in order to resolve a research question or evaluate a design; communicate research findings; and appreciate what the process of scientific research entails. It is important that the student be offered—and eventually accept—intellectual responsibility for his/her own project, so it is critical that a co-mentor be a teacher, a coach, and a research partner.

Expectations for Co-Mentors

In addition to providing day-to-day support, co-mentors play an important role in supporting the academic and professional growth of undergraduate researchers. Expectations include: encourage and guide students toward intellectual ownership of project; include student as a colleague in all aspects of research. You might consider requiring students to attend group meetings; including students in research discussions; and inviting students to participate in lab/group social activities; help initiate interaction with mentors. The face-to-face time students get with mentors differs from group to group. This interaction is important in helping students develop academically and professionally. Consider setting up a series of joint meetings where you and the student can discuss the project with the mentor; provide advice, encouragement, guidance, and wisdom. If you notice that a student is struggling with research, academic, or personal issues, please contact the SFP office immediately; practice clear communication around expectations, project outcomes, and lab/group culture; encourage students to take some time and reflect on the project and research; provide guidance to help students complete program requirements (i.e. progress reports; abstract, final paper, and final presentation); lead student to develop new ways to approach problems; discuss academic and professional paths.

Tips for Mentors

Read the Tips for Mentors provided by the Caltech SFP Office.

-- IvaKostadinova - 20 Oct 2016

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