Top TEN things every Mentored Career Development
Awardee should know
10. Productivity counts! The most important gauge of productivity is publications.
Aim to publish 1-2 peer-reviewed papers each year.
9. Stay focused Although you may have many great ideas, make sure that
you work remain focused to foster greater productivity.
8. Meet regularly Have regular meetings with your mentor / mentoring
team. This helps keep you accountable to someone else
and keeps you on the right track.
7. Say “Yes”... and ”No” Get involved in activities outside of your research such as
teaching, administration, and committees. Be strategic
and choose opportunities that fit your schedule and
expertise. Look for opportunities to serve on national
society committees.
6. Organize your time Between work life and home life, we all are very busy.
In order to maximize your productivity, find a system that
keeps you organized.
5. Know your obligations If you have clinical duties, know your obligations up front
and be prepared to negotiate if necessary.
4. Plan ahead Start thinking about your next grant application TODAY.
In this climate, having a grant funded is likely to take 18
months - 2 years. Don’t wait until your last year of
support to apply!
3. Allow time for feedback Specific Aims make or break your grant-distribute them
months before the grant is due to allow time for
revisions. Give your mentor 3-4 weeks to review a final
version of the application and give you feedback.
2. Apply for smaller grants R03, foundation, NSF, AHA, ADA, ALA, Pew, Emtech,
etc. awards can help you get more supplies or technical
support to advance your productivity.
1. Don’t waste this opportunity! Having the expertise and attention of a
successful senior investigator at your disposal is a tremendous
opportunity. Make it work for you!
Top TEN things every Career Development Award Mentor
should know
10. Identify barriers Each mentee has specific barriers to progress. Understand
the circumstances and treat each mentee as an individual.
9. Set goals Early in the mentoring relationship, identify the mentee’s
short and long term goals.
8. Establish milestones Hold the mentee accountable for progress toward his/her
goals.
7. Facilitate networking Introduce your mentee to key colleagues and help them
identify opportunities to participate in their relevant
professional societies.
6. Advise, don’t dictate Enough said.
5. Meet regularly Establish regular intervals for meeting and stick to them.
4. Be available Let your mentee know the best manner and time to reach
you and then be responsive.
3. Be a good role model In addition to good science, model what you value –
hobbies, family, volunteering, exercise, etc.
2. Prepare for transitions Mentoring relationships are transitory and have a
beginning, middle, and end.
1. Work yourself out of a job! The ultimate indication of a successful
mentor is the independence of the mentee.