Research Aspirations? Part III: Selecting A Mentor How to Select a Mentor by Dr. Christy-Lynn Cooke Introduction A successful career in research depends on a variety of factors. Often, choosing a mentor is one that little weight is placed on. I would argue that the right mentor is crucial not only to a successful research project, but also throughout one’s research career. A mentor is defined as ‘a wise and trusted counsellor or teacher’. In research, a mentor is someone who has much experience and expertise in your particular field of interest. They are someone who takes responsibility in guiding your project, answering questions and working through problems as they inevitably arise. However, a mentor may also provide their student/mentee with starting material, whether it be articles, charts, tissue specimens etc, which is very helpful, especially for someone who has not ventured into the realms of research. So, how does one find the appropriate mentor? As a resident, this is often a daunting task, not knowing where to start. I have devised a few, hopefully useful steps. 4 First, it is imperative to understand the nature and subject of research that your prospective mentor is involved in. For example, most students find a topic that interests them more than others. Thus, we typically gravitate towards consultants or professors who work in these fields. Many departments have portfolios or CV’s available for each member of the department and their current areas of research. I’d recommend that any student looking for a mentor begin by choosing two or three people whose research areas are of interest. This seems rudimentary, but it is critical that a student genuinely be interested in the work that their mentor is involved in. Reading literature recently published by their mentor is also very useful. This allows the student to determine whether they will enjoy the nature of the research, clinical or basic science, as well as demonstrate his/her productivity. Once an area of research is identified and potential mentors sought, another important aspect is accessibility/ approachability of the mentor. Again, most residents will have little research background, and thus will need much guidance, advice and direction in order to successfully complete a project. For example, a mentor should be easy to contact and available to meet within a reasonable timeframe. I would recommend meeting with a potential mentor at least a few months prior to the project beginning. This will provide the student with the opportunity to discuss objectives and goals with their mentor and plan an outline for the project. Often if a project starts to go awry, a student will become discouraged and unfortunately, this propagates distaste for research. Sometimes all it takes is for their mentor to spend extra time looking at the data, for example, to find a novel association that was unexpected, rather than focus on results that are not working. It is also very beneficial to meet with other students who have worked closely with your potential mentor. These people can often be found by looking at co-authors on publications. It can be very enlightening to discuss how well the mentor truly relates to other students, and whether these colleagues feel the mentor will be a good match for you. For example, personality types are important to consider; if the student knows that they require extra ‘motivation’ surrounding research, then a mentor who is more involved will be better. On the other hand, if a student is very self-motivated and prefers to work independently, then a more hands-off mentor is preferred. This type of information can be obtained either from colleagues/other students ideally. Otherwise, a student may realize that they are not compatible with their mentor months after a project has begun and time has been wasted. Conclusion Overall, even if a student follows these steps, there is no guarantee that they will find their ‘perfect’ mentor. One may not exist! Finding a mentor who is enthusiastic about the same area of research that you are is (Continued on p.5) Research Aspirations? (continued from p. 4) New Staff Member key and if your personalities match, then chances are it will be a good fit. Over one’s career, many mentors will come and go, but there will always be one who stood out and helped shape your career more than the others. These are the people who are worth their weight in gold, but are the most difficult to find. Stay tuned for Part IV of our “Research Aspirations?” series which will appear in the next issue of The Educator. Checklist 5 Investigate potential mentor’s field of research; basic science, clinical, epidemiology 5 Read recent articles published by mentor 5 Meet with mentor, discover personality and approachability 5 Ask for summary of potential research projects from mentor 5 Seek out past/ present students, other colleagues working closely with mentor 5 Arrange second meeting with mentor, finalize project, discuss timelines, goals Dr. Christy-Lynn Cooke completed her PhD at the University of Alberta in 2003 under the mentorship of Dr. Sandy Davidge. She is currently a PGY3 in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Western Ontario. Obituary It is with great sadness that we advise you of the passing of Dr. Fred Bryans, Professor Emeritus in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia, on March 11, 2009. Dr. Bryans was involved in the early years of the association in his capacity as Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UBC, a position which he held for nearly 20 years, and was kind enough to share his recollections with APOG for the writing of our historical book. He was also personally linked to the Molly Towell Perinatal Research Foundation since its conception. We wish to extend our sincere condolences to his wife Jane, and the entire Bryans family. APOG is delighted to announce that Ms. Erika Schofield joined the APOG team as our new Administrative Assistant on January 26, 2009. Erika’s previous employment with the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) has proven to be an asset in her new role. Her email address is [email protected]. Please join me in welcoming Erika to the Association! th ANNUAL CLINICAL MEETING Please visit us at our Exhibitor Booth during the SOGC ACM to obtain free copies of our brochures, booklets, and educational CDs. 5
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