Identify a Scientific Mentor (or Mentors) in your Area of Interest
There are different types of mentors who can help us throughout the course of our careers. For research, you are seeking scientific mentorship from people experienced in your area of interest. If your mentor(s) is/are not in your particular field, at a minimum they should possess knowledge of the scientific techniques and principles involved in your field of interest. Your mentor(s) will be one of your principal guides as you begin your research project, and it is very important that they be willing to make a personal investment of their time and knowledge in order to insure your success. A wise person once described the ideal mentor as a person who defined their own success or failure by the success or failure of their protégées. As such, they are willing to take the necessary steps to promote you within your institution, within the research funding institutions, and within the wider field-specific and general scientific communities. These relationships are of great importance to your research career, and they will strongly influence the success of your research project and your quest for funding. Thus, identifying the proper mentor(s) should not be done hastily or without adequate consideration.
Various considerations include:
- Their previous research interests and relation to your interest
- Their degree of success (History of funding, publications, current career course)
- Their protégées' accomplishments (where are they, what are they doing now?)
- Their career stage
- Do they have the desire to mentor?
- Do they actually have the time to mentor? (Specifically ask them this question — you need to know if they are overcommitted!)
- Your interpersonal dynamics (only you can judge this one, but you can certainly talk to previous colleagues or protégées about their experiences)
- Consider more than one mentor (it can be helpful to get advice from multiple perspectives)
