This blog was written by SOT Student member Ian Krout.
If you talk with successful professionals, whether an established principal investigator (PI) at a leading research institute or the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, one common thread emerges: the crucial role of a mentor along their journey to success. However, as trainees, the idea of a mentor is a bit perplexing. Of course, our PIs act as fantastic academic and research mentors, but what about on topics such as the intricacies of running a lab, budgeting, career advancement, and overall professional development? What about after we graduate and move on to new realms? Not only does the transient nature of graduate school make finding a lifelong mentor difficult, but it is also one of the biggest reasons why a mentor is so important.
Luckily for those involved with SOT, the SOT Mentor Match program offers a unique and effective means of connecting with a mentor at any stage of your career. These mentors are individuals who are scientific experts in their fields and professionally established in a career you may have interest in or want to learn more about. Moreover, these individuals have gone through a similar path as you are currently on and are willing to step forward to guide and mentor those seeking advice. For me, the Mentor Match program has provided a lifelong mentor and has profoundly impacted my research, personal, and professional growth thus far.
I became a mentee in the Mentor Match program when I was in the third year of my PhD and was extremely uncertain about my future trajectory. It was during a time when I was hitting my first set of large experiments and issues associated with those. In the moment, I was very lost as to what my next steps might be. The mentorship I received during this formative period proved invaluable in clarifying my career goals and propelling me forward. Finding and working with a mentor during these trying and defining times offered me a level of support that kept me positive and engaged.
Below are my tips on finding a great mentor and establishing and maintaining a rewarding relationship:
- See yourself in your mentor
A good mentor is someone who you look up to and whose achievements and values resonate with your aspirations. Look for someone who has walked a path similar to yours and has achieved what you hope to achieve one day. This individual is the right person to provide insight and advice on how to get there. This choice should not just come from a professional title standpoint but also from a leadership, managerial, personality, and ethics standpoint.
- Embrace inquiry
As a mentee do not be afraid to ask questions. A good mentor will provide you with candid feedback that will offer honest insight to consider. I often chat with my mentor about the academic landscape and the pros and cons of independent academic research. These conversations have provided me with a unique “peak behind the curtain” as to what it would be like if I were in that same role. In the same way, your mentor can provide insight on experiments, conferences, protocols, and grants—providing a novel opinion and set of eyes.
- Find a coach and a fan
A great mentor will champion your success and offer their support through both success and setbacks. Often, research and academia are filled with failures and rejection in experimentations and grant writing, so having someone who understands this landscape can make all the difference.
- Early and often
Your mentor is more than likely an extremely busy person. Schedule your meetings and pose questions well in advance to ensure meaningful interactions and full effort from your mentor. Also, don’t only reach out with huge career events; some of the best conversations I have had with my mentor are instead small questions about research, work-life balance, conferences, or grant/manuscript reviews.
- Mentor up!
As a mentee, you should be looking to your mentor not only for direct advice and support but also as an example for how to mentor and help others. Use this Mentor Match experience to shape the type of mentor you want to be, implementing mentoring techniques and styles in your life. Eventually, it will be your time to mentor the next generation, so doing so effectively is key! A quote from my mentor, Dr. Jason Cannon, reflects this point perfectly: “I have had such amazing mentors over the course of my career, which compels me to take any opportunity I can to try to be a good mentor. I find the mentee’s drive and innovation to be inspiring, and the mentors benefit every bit as much from the program as the mentee.”
To all the confused trainees unsure of their next steps scientifically, professionally, or personally, I have been there! Yet, with the help of mentorship, I have begun to figure out my short and long-term goals and have reached a level of clarity where I am confident that I am headed in the right direction. My biggest advice to you is to take the time out of those busy schedules to find a mentor(s) and begin to foster a relationship that will prove to be immensely beneficial as you progress through your career, whatever shape that may take.
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