Mentors & Mentees: A Panel Discussion July 16, 2010 Fellows

Mentors & Mentees: A Panel Discussion July 16, 2010 Fellows Survival Course

Panel Discussion Julie Dombrowski, MD, Acting Instructor Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Janis L Abkowitz, MD Clement A Finch Professor of Medicine Head, Division of Hematology Adjunct Professor of Genome Sciences, Department of Medicine Thomas Hawn, MD-PhD, Associate Professor Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine

Choosing a Mentor Finding a Fit Getting the Facts

Choosing a Mentor Research area Short & long term goals Approach Basic science, clinical epi, translational Junior vs Senior—pros and cons Lab funding Lab size & personnel Dual mentoring

Choosing a Mentee Research background Level of enthusiasm Signs of commitment Optimal size of research group Lab funding for salaries & expts Personality fit

Choosing a Project: Mentee issues

Choosing a Project: Mentee issues Finding passion Importance of question Short & long term goals Degree of creativity Degree of independence Feasibility Anticipate time line for publishable data Is it grant worthy?

Choosing a Project: Mentor issues Similar to Mentee concerns Foster pathway to independence Balance short & long term projects Foster projects related to expertise of lab Reality of grant funding Think Big, but also foster completion (even if result appears small)

Executing a Project: Early Mentee Issues

Executing a Project: Early Mentee Issues How much experience do you have? What level of mentor involvement ? How to work with senior post-docs # of projects in different phases Actively re-assess success potential

Management Style: Mentor Issues Micro vs macromanaging How often to meet? Letting go—which expts? Providing personnel support

Executing a Project: Later Mentee Issues When & how to focus Choosing when & what to publish When to submit a K grant Project independence & leaving labs

Research Dark Days: Will I ever get “good” data? Anticipate them How to navigate them Focus vs diversity Priorities—life & work Career & project alternatives

Manuscript & grant writing How polished is the draft? Giving time to review When to solicit input beyond mentor

Conflicts

Conflicts Project priorities Mentor vs mentee grant needs Which projects can the mentee take? Personnel conflicts Personal life issues