Competencies
| Mentor competencies | Mentor best practices | Mentee competencies |
| Set and clearly communicate expectations of your trainees, as well as your own commitments and limitations. | Communicate your expectations in writing and invite questions and discussion about them. Re-visit your lab expectations periodically to ensure they are aligned with your values and practices. | Review the expectations communicated by your mentor(s) and assess whether they align with your own expectations. Communicate regarding any questions or differences in a timely manner. |
Suggestions/Resources
Refer to the Mentoring Resources page for supporting materials and training opportunities.
- Prepare a mentoring compact or other written description of your lab expectations. Share it with candidates before they join your group and use it as a framework to facilitate discussion with current lab members; treat this as a living document that you update as needed.
- Examples of mentoring compacts of different styles are available on the resources page.
- Workshops to support writing personalized lab expectations documents will be offered annually to faculty at all ranks.
- Hallie Dowling-Huppert can provide support to mentors who would like to develop or revise their mentoring compacts or prepare a lab values statement.
Potential pitfalls for mentors
- Requiring trainees to routinely complete tasks outside of agreed-upon working days or hours.
- Taking a trainee into your lab if you cannot come up with a plan to provide them with mentoring, funding, and support for their professional growth.