Materials Research Society Mentoring Program

Materials Research Society

Mentoring Program“A lot of people have gone further than they could because someone else

thought they could.” Unknown

MENTORING DEFINED

• Mentoring (from Greek Méntōr) means Enduring

• Mentoring opens up lines of communication, breaks down barriers and stereotypes, and fosters cultural understanding

• Mentoring provides a supportive, safe relationship for those seeking advice, guidance, and candid feedback

• Mentoring is a vehicle for professional and personal development for mentor and mentee

Mission To support the advancement of graduate students in the STEM fields

and increase capacity of highly qualified diverse MRS members supporting the MRS Diversity statement http://www.mrs.org/diversity/

Goals• Increase graduate students’ success by providing them with

opportunities for improved access to information, professional development, and networking opportunities

• Provide opportunities for students to see what Materials Science offers as a career and broaden their perspective about career choices

• Provide venues for dialogue about demands of work and family, the diverse issues of teaching, research, publishing, and proposal writing

MRS MENTORING PROGRAM

COMMITMENT

• Defines the roles and responsibilities of mentors and mentees

• Recruits well-recognized mentos from MRS members

INNOVATION• Provides professional development seminars at the world renowned

Materials Research Society

• Provides training, tip sheets, and e-mail updates

EXCELLENCE

• Implements a system of awards and recognition

• Uses metrics to measure and monitor progress and success

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS

• Initial Pilot Program introduced in Fall 2012

• One year commitment is suggested• Matching of mentee/mentor is based on similar interests and career

goals, collocation in the same region when possible• Training component for mentees/mentors http://

mentoring-works.com/webinars.html• Sharing of mentoring best practices and lessons learned at MRS

meetings to improve the program

• Status review/evaluation at 3 month, 6 months, and 1 year

• Potential annual renewal of mentor/mentee match

PROGRAM DESIGN ELEMENTS

• Commitment to the program, coaching, and feedback

• Respects confidentiality of discussions with mentee

• Strives to have good listening skills

• Genuine interest for the mentee’s need for development• Maintains time commitment with mentee of at least meeting

once a month

• Desires to share information, experiences, and knowledge

• Strives to make the mentee feel safe in expressing him/herself• Provides advice and resources to help the mentee achieve

his/her goals

MENTOR: PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

• Commitment to the program

• Genuine desire to grow both professionally and personally

• Respects the privacy of discussions with mentor• Positive accepting attitude towards mentor’s suggestions and

feedback and follow up

• Comprehends his/her career goals

• Acknowledges responsibility for his/her own career advancement• Understands that the mentor/mentee relationship is a

supplement to succeed in career planning

MENTEE: PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

Opportunity to nurture institutional leaders

Improved climate of collegiality and cooperation

Increased capacity to develop highly qualified diverse MRS membership

OVERACHING BENEFITS

• Guided assistance to define and achieve career goals

• Training for leadership positions• Improves access to MRS resources• Fosters links to organizational structure and

culture• Exposure to practical advice on balancing

work/family through workshops• Enhances professional and personal

development• Provides networking opportunities across

institutions and beyond

• Joint research potential• Improves mentoring skills• Satisfaction of helping a colleague and becoming

a role model• Improves networking potential• Provides professional and personal

encouragement and problem-solving strategies• Provides an opportunity to build talent in the field• Supports MRS diversity goals

For MentorFor Mentee

• Increase the diversity of MRS membership

• Retain and graduate diverse students in the STEM fields• Increase the number of diverse students attending and presenting at the

MRS

• Increase diversity in faculty positions• Improve the quality of the research in STEM fields from diverse graduate

students

• Create strong support network for diverse MRS members in STEM fields

• Provide awards and incentives for excellence to diverse MRS members

ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES

Materials Research Society Mentoring

Program

Q & A