1. How Mentor helped Telemachus!
Jane F. Reckelhoff, Ph.D.
Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor
Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Biochemistry
Director, Women’s Health Research Center
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi
Biochemistry

2. Mentor
Odysseus entrusted his son, Telemachus, to Mentor: “ Person who imparts wisdom”
So definition of a mentor is “loyal, trusted friend, enlightened advisor, teacher
Oddyssey by Homer, 8th century BC

3. My advice to postdocs, jr faculty:
Before or at the same time as identifying a mentor,
Know what you want to do. Have a plan.
Develop a 5 year plan for yourself
Important to have realistic goals

4. My advice to postdocs, jr faculty:
Know what you want to do. Have a plan.
Work hard. Study hard. Do your best.
As a postdoc, learn as many new things, techniques,
ideas, as you can, begin to network.
As junior faculty, read and study every night.
Know the recent literature. Network with colleagues.

5. Make sure you give yourself time to think in addition
to performing experiments or clinical work.
Physician scientists: > 50% protected time

6. My advice to postdocs, jr faculty:
Know what you want to do. Have a plan.
Work hard. Study hard. Do your best.
3. Get good mentors.

7. You will benefit from having mentors throughout your career.

8. Characteristics of mentor/mentee relationship
Mentors perform different duties at different times, change over time:
Mentor-advisor
Mentor-confidant
Mentor-critic
Dynamic process, works best 1 on 1

9. Mentor/mentee relationship
Mentors demonstrate and teach style and methodology in doing research
Mentors evaluate and critique scientific research, improve mentee’s communication skills
Mentors promote career development

10. Mentor/mentee relationship
Relationship is exclusive: outlives the time spent in formal training
Requires trust
Professional courtesy
Women need mentors, too, and they don’t have to be other women.

11. Characteristics of mentor/mentee relationship
What a mentor is not:
Not just a “patron” (resource provider)
Not just a supervisor (one who oversees the dissertation or research)
Not just a role model

12. Characteristics of mentor/mentee relationship
Mentee is dependent on mentor: funds,
positions when they finish the programs
Therefore, mentee is vulnerable to abuses of power, both in acts of commission and acts of neglect

13. Selection of a mentor—with whom to work
Active publication record in high quality journals
Extramural funding as support base
National recognition
Rank, tenure, proximity to retirement

14. Selection of a mentor—with whom to work
Prior training record
Current positions of recent graduates
Recognition for student accomplishments
Organizational structure of the laboratory, direct observation of the lab in operation; size of research group
Personality

15. Selection of a mentor -- as an advisor
Based on the mentor’s accomplishments:
-- successful funding -- grant writing skills
-- successful team player -- assistance with navigating the institution
-- successful leader -- learning leadership qualities

16. Responsibilities of mentees
Act in mature and ethical manner, mindful of mentor’s time constraints
Be proactive in your own training and education
Devote appropriate time and energy to achieving academic, research excellence
Maintain open lines of communication with mentor

17. Responsibilities of mentees
Trainees should recognize the mentor’s responsibility in monitoring the integrity of their research
Mentees should be mindful of mentor’s time constraints

18. Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentoring Plan--CRRC
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3>
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Write NIH K99 or AHA Scientist Development Grant
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and CRRC seminars
Identify Mentor
Establish Mentoring
Committee
Establish research plan
and perform experiments
Attend departmental and
CECR seminars, journal
clubs
Ethics Course
Submit abstract to
scientific meeting
Write individual
fellowship grant
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Professional Skills
Course
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and
CRRC seminars, journal
clubs

19. Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentoring Plan--CRRC
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3>
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Write NIH K99 or AHA Scientist Development Grant
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and CRRC seminars
Identify Mentor
Establish Mentoring
Committee
Establish research plan
and perform experiments
Attend departmental and
CECR seminars, journal
clubs
Ethics Course
Submit abstract to
scientific meeting
Write individual
fellowship grant
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Professional Skills
Course
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and
CRRC seminars, journal
clubs

20. Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentoring Plan--CRRC
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3>
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Write NIH K99 or AHA Scientist Development Grant
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and CRRC seminars
Identify Mentor
Establish Mentoring
Committee
Establish research plan
and perform experiments
Attend departmental and
CECR seminars, journal
clubs
Ethics Course
Submit abstract to
scientific meeting
Write individual
fellowship grant
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Professional Skills
Course
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and
CRRC seminars, journal
clubs

21. Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentoring Plan--CRRC
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3>
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Write NIH K99 or AHA Scientist Development Grant
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and CRRC seminars
Identify Mentor
Establish Mentoring
Committee
Establish research plan
and perform experiments
Attend departmental and
CECR seminars, journal
clubs
Ethics Course
Submit abstract to
scientific meeting
Write individual
fellowship grant
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Professional Skills
Course
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and
CRRC seminars, journal
clubs

22. Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentoring Plan--CRRC
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3>
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Write NIH K99 or AHA Scientist Development Grant
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and CRRC seminars
Identify Mentor
Establish Mentoring
Committee
Establish research plan
and perform experiments
Attend departmental and
CECR seminars, journal
clubs
Ethics Course
Submit abstract to
scientific meeting
Write individual
fellowship grant
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Professional Skills
Course
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and
CRRC seminars, journal
clubs

23. Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentoring Plan--CRRC
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3>
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Write NIH K99 or AHA Scientist Development Grant
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and CRRC seminars
Identify Mentor
Establish Mentoring
Committee
Establish research plan
and perform experiments
Attend departmental and
CECR seminars, journal
clubs
Ethics Course
Submit abstract to
scientific meeting
Write individual
fellowship grant
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Professional Skills
Course
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and
CRRC seminars, journal
clubs

24. Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentoring Plan--CRRC
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3>
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Write NIH K99 or AHA Scientist Development Grant
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and CRRC seminars
Identify Mentor
Establish Mentoring
Committee
Establish research plan
and perform experiments
Attend departmental and
CECR seminars, journal
clubs
Ethics Course
Submit abstract to
scientific meeting
Write individual
fellowship grant
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Professional Skills
Course
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and
CRRC seminars, journal
clubs

25. Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentoring Plan--CRRC
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3>
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Write NIH K99 or AHA Scientist Development Grant
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and CRRC seminars
Identify Mentor
Establish Mentoring
Committee
Establish research plan
and perform experiments
Attend departmental and
CECR seminars, journal
clubs
Ethics Course
Submit abstract to
scientific meeting
Write individual
fellowship grant
Present at national
meeting
Meet with Mentoring
Committee
Professional Skills
Course
Perform research
experiments
Publish manuscripts
Present seminar
Attend departmental and
CRRC seminars, journal
clubs

26. Skills for mentors
Know of the role(s) mentors can play at various career stages: grad/med students, postdocs, jr faculty
Have the ability to evaluate someone's strengths and weaknesses, and help guide them to build on strengths, improve on weaknesses
Know how to provide feedback, constructive criticism, and advice

27. Skills needed by mentors
Know how to listen to someone to understand their perspective on their own situation—value their opinion
Know the rules and procedures related to mentee's situation - e.g., as a student, postdoctoral fellow, or junior colleague
Know the job market and the opportunities therein  

28. Tips for mentors
Respect mentee – maintain their confidentiality –built on trust
Act responsibly: because mentee may depend upon mentor (financially, professionally), occasions of abuse can occur:
“Indentured servant”
Avoid inappropriate or sexual relationships/ abuse with mentee
Avoid becoming competitive with mentee

29. Tips for mentors
Review and keep in mind longterm goals of mentee – may be different than yours
Evaluate goals together on a regular basis
Help mentee develop effective oral and written communication skills

30. Tips for mentors
Give advice and help negotiate institutional and professional politics
Assist in finding professional employment based on mentee’s goals
Provide mentee advice on “career enhancing” and “career killing” initiatives/attitudes

31. Tips for mentors
Rejoice in mentee’s accomplishments

32. Even mentors need mentors
For every new position/ job you undertake, you could benefit from mentors

33. How to evaluate a mentor-mentee relationship
Dept or university-wide: survey to mentees and mentors
Mentee succeeds in his/her goals, moves on to new position, publishes papers, receives grant funding, receives awards for work/teaching
Is not successful: leaves program, position, etc.

34. When to end a mentoring relationship
Never
When the mentee has achieved his/her goals
When mentee moves to another position/place – lack of proximity to make relationship work
When mentor moves to another position/place – lack of time to fulfill mentorship duties

35. When to end a mentoring relationship
Mentoring relationship may take on different directions/auspices:
-- mentor acts as “sage”
-- mentor acts “prn”

36. Mentorship in Grant writing at UMMC:
K awards, NRSA, AHA postdoctoral fellowship,
SDG, R01
Reviewers: Faculty that have recently served on
study section
Specific aims page
Research questions, preliminary data
Full grant

37. Opportunities for funding as a postdoc or early stage investigator
NIH:
Individual NRSA
K-99 Fellow to Faculty Award— within 5 years of
terminal degree-- don’t need “green card” to apply
K01, K02: Mentored Awards -- pays salary

38. Opportunities for funding as a postdoc or early stage investigator –
may not have citizenship requirement
National Kidney Foundation Grants
American Heart Association: Postdoctoral Fellowship
Scientist Development Grant
Grant-In-Aid
Other Foundations: ADA, JDRF
National Science Foundation: basic research

39. Grant Funding Opportunities for clinician scientists
NIH “K” Awards- KO8, K12, K23, K24, etc –only for clinician scientists
NIH's Clinical and Translational Science Awards
NIH –many requests for applications (RFAs) for clinical research
Howard Hughes Physician-Scientist Early Career Award
Am Heart Assoc. - Clinical Research Program, etc

40. How to find mentors outside your institution: common research interests – collaborator common educational interests

41. My advice to postdocs, jr faculty:
1. Know what you want to do. Have a plan.
Work hard. Study hard. Do your best.
Get good mentors.
Get involved with your professional society.
APS, ASN, ASH, Council on Hypertension, ACC,
ASPET, others

42. Benefits of getting involved with your professional society
Networking with peers, potential collaborators,
new mentors, grant reviewers, manuscript reviewers
Society benefits: trainee benefits, travel awards, early
career awards, website information, special grants, etc.
3. Opportunity for leadership experience and skills
development

43. My advice to postdocs, jr faculty:
1. Know what you want to do. Have a plan.
Work hard. Study hard. Do your best.
Get good mentors.
Get involved with your professional society
5. Develop collaborations.

44. Establish synergistic research partnerships/teams
- the successful “lone wolf” is rare
Because of the complexity of science today, it is difficult
to be an expert every technique, method, etc.
Need other investigators to discuss your ideas.

45. Multi- and interdisciplinary research will be required to solve the “puzzles” of complex diseases/conditions
Physiology
Genomics
Proteomics
Metabolomics
Molecular Biology
Imaging
Drug development
Clinical trials
Population studies
Outcomes research

46. My advice: 6. LOVE what you do.
The fun/thrill of discovery: you won’t consider research to be “work”
“Feel lucky” – John Hall, Ph.D.

47. Women scientists
Read “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead” -- Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook
Attend the AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar