Junior Faculty Mentoring Program
To enhance the level of effective mentoring of junior clinical and translational research faculty, the CTSI Junior Faculty Mentoring Program is collaborating with and complementing the campus-wide UCSF Faculty Mentoring Program and other ongoing UCSF research mentoring programs.
Graduates of the CTSI Mentor Development Program and other senior clinical and translational researchers have volunteered to be contacted by junior research faculty who need mentors. Access the CMP wiki (UCSF only) to learn more about Finding a C & T Research Mentor.
Also on the wiki are the Mentor Development Program (MDP) Seminars. Specifically, the MDP Seminar "Defining Mentorship From the Beginning" has important resources for mentees including Definitions of Mentor Roles (also below), Mentoring Check List examples to guide successful meetings for mentors and mentees, and Individual Development Plan examples.
Definitions of Mentor Roles
Lead Mentor
Lead mentors have the overall responsibility for developing the creative and independent research careers of their mentees. In addition to being experts in the scientific and/or methodological area that the mentee has chosen to pursue, lead mentors are familiar with faculty, resources and databases within and outside of their discipline at UCSF, and have resources that may include research staff that can facilitate the mentee's research. Lead mentors also provide guidance to their mentee about didactic coursework and training opportunities; help identify potential collaborators and build a mentoring team; assure that projects are progressing in a timely fashion from data collection to presentations and publication; assist with development of grant applications and securing funding for projects; provide advice about career direction and academic promotion; provide advise about navigating institutional challenges and barriers, and facilitate networking on a local, national, and international level.
Co-Mentor
Co-mentors are responsible for working with the lead mentor on overall mentoring responsibilities as outlined above for the mentee and for providing particular guidance in their areas of expertise.
Research Mentor/Advisor
A more limited role than a lead or co-mentor with possibly less resource sharing and often for set periods of time. The research mentor/advisor may provide guidance in many of the areas outlined for a lead mentor or co-mentor but most often to a lesser degree. For example: supervision of a summer research project, a 1-year commitment of research supervision; assistance with writing of paper(s), and/or research/grant review.
Advisor
In general, advisors have informal relationships with mentees and may or may not have a concordant area of research but are familiar with the institution and program. Advisors may assist in developing and refining the mentee's program of research, networking, family advice, and help launch their career. Meetings are usually arranged on an as needed basis.