Guidelines for Faculty Mentors

Program Tentative Dates:  May 24 – July 23

 The following guidelines are designed to assist faculty mentors participating in McGovern Medical School at Houston (UTHealth) Summer Research Program for MS1 students.  Please review the information and adapt it to your own method of mentoring.  These guidelines are intended to enhance the mentoring mechanisms you may already have in place and to offer suggestions.

PREPARING FOR THE STUDENT…

Before your student arrives, you should have an outline of the research you are setting up.  Remember that they must have a complete project as they are required to write an abstract of their research at the end of the 9-week program.  This abstract will be posted online under research and in a limited-edition publication.

You, or someone you designate from your group, should outline what will be expected of your student. There are numerous relevant issues you will want to convey and the following is a sample of topics to address.

• Under whose immediate direction will the student work, if not directly under yours?
• Are there any safety issues you should stress?
• Between what hours should the student be present? The summer program is designed for full time employment by the student: 40 hours/week.
• What sort of written research records you require?
• Do you have group meetings, and is attendance required and/or participation expected?
• What specialized training should the student receive? Your student will receive the following training at Orientation:
• Introduction to Laboratory Safety
• Introduction to Animal Sciences Training
• Ethics and Clinical Research

If your student will need specialized training beyond the above, you should schedule it shortly after your student begins in your lab.

• There are two holidays which will fall during the program period: May 31^th July 5^th
• Which phone the student can use, the phone number where the student be reached, and the limitation on personal calls.
• It is important that the student knows her/his personal cell phone is to be turned off during lab hours.
• Indicate which computer the student can have access to.
• Assign a drawer, file or other space that can be locked so that the student has a secure place to lock up any valuables during the day.

ORIENTATION/TRAINING…

At Orientation, Monday, May 23rd, there will be speakers from the Medical School. We will also conduct various trainings during orientation.

** Your student will arrive at your office to begin on Tuesday morning, May 24^th at 8am unless you specify otherwise.**

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR STUDENT…

Your MS-1student has several requirements they are expected to meet in order to complete the program:

• Mandatory attendance at all programs of the Seminar Series. These will be held on Thursdays at noon in MSB 2.006 and will last about one hour.  Please enable your student to attend these lectures.  The Seminar Series will have presentations from several Medical School faculty/researchers.
• An abstract must be prepared of the research the student accomplishes. Please see “Final Abstracts” section below.
• Preparation of a poster for the Research Forum in the fall.
• Participation in the Research Forum in the fall.

BEFORE YOUR STUDENT(S) ARRIVES…

Students accepted to the UTHealth Summer Research Program receive the following information and forms:

• A review of what is expected of them in this program.
• Information covering all the mandatory items: Orientation, seminar series, Closing Program, abstracts, posters, and participation in the Research Forum (in the fall)

WHAT IS ASKED OF THE STUDENT…

Students are asked to treat the summer as an opportunity, not just a job. They are to conform to the research hours and habits of their research environments, attend the meetings and lectures that are scheduled (compulsory!) and, if required at the departmental level, prepare and present their research projects to research faculty. They expect to be exposed to various tasks of a research lab and to work hard.

RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETINGS…

If your student is being directed by another member of your group on a day-to-day basis, please make a point to meet with your student at least once a week to discuss the progress of the research – more if possible. Engage the student in your discussions and encourage note-taking as a form of measuring performance and research progress.  A student must clearly understand the goals and what is expected, as well as remain focused on the project.  In order to enhance the student’s development even further, provide as much direction and feedback as possible about your student’s strengths and areas needing improvement. This will be invaluable information as the student begins to build self-confidence and successes in the laboratory.

WHAT IF A PROBLEM SHOULD ARISE?

In the past, our mentors have been very pleased with the presence of students in their research groups. However, if a problem should arise, please contact Linh Trinh (x-5105) or Dr. Gary Rosenfeld (x-7435), the program director, immediately, and we will assist you in a solution.

FINAL ABSTRACTS…

Your student will need your assistance in preparing and polishing the abstract during the week before it is due.

Email a copy with your electronic signature to Mrs. Linh Trinh by Friday, September 23rd.

CLOSING PROGRAM…

The Closing Program will be held on Friday, July 29^th.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION…

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