Resources for Mentorship and Advising

Below you will find buttons that link to specific resources followed by text that provides a brief description of that resource. Click on the buttons below to access the resources that interest you. 


NEW Report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

  • A study of STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical) mentoring programs and practices at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The study has particular focus on identifying evidence regarding successful programs for mentoring of individuals traditionally marginalized in STEMM fields, including women, individuals from racial/ethnic groups historically underrepresented in STEMM, and first-generation college students. Guiding questions for the study were:
    • What are common definitions and differentiations among the various models of mentoring in STEMM?
    • What are the most successful elements of effective mentoring relationships in STEMM education at the various stages of career development?
    • How can and should mentees and mentors be trained to be more effective in the mentor-mentee relationship?
  • Alternatively, you can check out their online guide to explore the content and recommendations of the report.

Nature's Guide for Mentors

  • The Nature awards for creative mentoring in science were created to celebrate the impact that mentorship has on the success of young scientists. This article is a reflection on the components of effective mentoring based on the submitted nominations for the awards. This article includes a tool for faculty to assess and reflect on their own mentorship skills.

Guiding the Way: Mentoring Graduate Students and Junior Faculty for Sustainable Academic Careers

  • This article introduces the reader to literature, ideas, and processes that authors have used in mentoring graduate students and junior faculty of color, including women. The article presents a mentoring process model that prepares individuals for professional careers that integrate the work of knowledge production in research, teaching, and service that embraces the cultural heritages of the mentee's background.

 

From Deficits to Possibilities

  • Beronda Montgomery, a plant biochemist at Michigan State University, details the mentoring lessons that she got from plants on cultivating individual growth through environmental assessment and optimization. Montgomery urges mentors to think shifting the focus of the mentor-mentee relationship so that it centers on the mentee. Her approaches to mentorship detailed in this article focus on breaking down barriers to individual development by promoting a growth mindset.

    National Research Mentoring Network

  • Through their national network, NRMN implements and disseminates innovative, evidence-based best practices to improve mentoring relationships at institutions across the country. Faculty can explore the NRMN website for resources to improve mentoring skills as well as to help their trainees get in touch with additional mentors through the myNRMN network.