An Online Course for Research Mentors
- Appreciate and communicate to mentees the importance of mentoring in their development as researchers
- Articulate the pros and cons of different mentoring models
- More effectively fulfill the many roles and responsibilities a research mentor may be expected to perform
- Engage in research mentoring in a more structured and intentional way, with attention to navigating the specific phases of the relationship
- Proactively apply specific strategies to build and maintain effective research mentoring relationships
- Identify and address challenges that might arise in a research mentoring relationship
- Routinely reflect on and adapt your research mentoring practices
Who should take this course? This self-study professional development course is designed to help faculty members (or other experienced researchers) optimize their mentoring relationships with graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-career faculty. The course predominantly addresses research mentoring that occurs within biomedical, behavioral, and social science fields. However, many of the principles and approaches covered in this course are applicable to other disciplines and other types of mentoring relationships.
What topics are covered? The course is divided into seven self-paced modules listed in the black navigation bar at the top of the page. Click on the “Learning Objectives” button to see a description of specific knowledge you can expect to acquire by engaging with the course material.
How long does it take to complete the course? Your progression in the course is self-paced, but the average completion time is about 2 hours. The most time-consuming element, but also the most valuable, is completion of the reflection questions for each module. Some users also spend time exploring the supplemental resources that we provide. Note: All of the resources from the course and a full bibliography can be downloaded by clicking on the links in the maroon banner at the bottom of the page.
I’m ready! How do I get started? Begin by completing the Warmup Reflection below. Then proceed through each module by clicking on the topic buttons in the black navigation bar at the top of this page.
Warmup Reflection: From the picture options provided below, choose one that best represents mentoring to you. Briefly explain your choice by typing in the box beneath. After submitting your response, listen to the course authors discuss their photo choices.
