1. Mentors, Mentees & Mentoring “helping our faculty and trainees reach their full potential”
Charles J. Gomer, Ph.D.
Professor of Pediatrics and Radiation Oncology
Vice Chair of Pediatrics for Faculty Affairs

2. Why does USC promote mentoring?
“Behind every successful person, there is one elementary truth: somewhere, somehow, someone cared about their growth and development. This person was their mentor.”
(Beverly Kaye, Up is not the only way, 1997)
* Many times there will be multiple mentors *

3. Mentors share experiences and advice in a variety of areas
Career advancement, guidance on resources and promotion
Professional Practice skills
Grantsmanship , scientific oversight
Publishing, scientific writing skills
Teaching skills, curriculum development
Enhancing professional visibility (networking)
Overcoming barriers to success – time management
Meshing a career with a personal life

4. Characteristics of a Good Mentor
Approachable and welcoming
Shares information and experiences openly
Good communication skills
Trustworthy
Provides accurate and appropriate feedback
Technical expertise
Motivating, encouraging, positive, and empowering
Allocates appropriate time to mentoring
An effective intermediate

5. Characteristics of a Good Mentee
Asks questions
Willing to be mentored
Strives to give his/her best at all times
Accepts criticism graciously
Has courage to try new things
Accepts responsibilities
Open and honest
Respectful and grateful
Listens, watches, learns, grows

6. Mentoring Skills: Listening
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood” Steve Covey
“Never miss a good opportunity to shut up and listen” Will Rogers

7. Mentoring Skills: Empathy
One of the most important skills you will ever acquire
It is listening so intently and identifying so closely that you experience the other person’s situation, thoughts, and emotions.

8. Mentoring Skills: Building Trust
Follow policies and guidelines
Make expectations clear
Provide feedback that is useful
Maintain a positive tone
Demonstrate concern for the mentee

9. Postdoctoral Goals Expand research expertise
Perform public presentations
Publish, publish, publish
Acquire grantsmanship & teaching skills
Develop professional relationships
Develop mentoring skills

10. Postdoctoral Expectations
Favorable work environment
Facilities, resources, funding
Research focus
Advisor is present and provides input
Enhanced learning potential
Professional development opportunities

11. Advisor Expectations Laboratory skills Bring in expertise
Learn and teach new skills
Contribute positively to the advisor’s research program
Design, perform, supervise, present, publish

12. Student Goals To be able to participate in real science
To be able to understand research problems
To determine the data needed and how to collect it
To develop abilities to think independently and creatively
To acquire attitudes & skills of a scientist
To become adept in the laboratory

13. Student Expectations
A positive relationship with their faculty mentor and research team
Respect
Real work, not busy work
New friends and social interactions
Succeeding in a new organization, setting, laboratory

14. Mentoring students Make sure students know they matter
Explain the “why” when you ask them to do something
Look for opportunities to reward them
Provide feedback
Make work enjoyable
Model the behavior you want

15. USC Mentoring Resources
Primary Link
mentor.usc.edu
Resources (Faculty Portal)
faculty.usc.edu/mentoring (Development and Mentoring)
Research (workshops and training)
research.usc.edu