MENTORING GUIDELINES FOR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
The Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group recognizes that the mentoring of graduate students by faculty is an integral part of the graduate experience. Because of the uncertainty as to the nature of mentoring, the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group has outlined the following mentoring roles to guide the relationship between faculty and graduate students. Faculty and graduate students must realize that, while the major professor will be the primary mentor during a student’s career at UCDavis, many of the mentoring “functions” defined below may be performed by program faculty other than the major professor. An important corollary to this recognition is that faculty members must realize that much of their interaction with all students has an important mentoring component to it. Graduate students also have responsibilities to insure successful mentoring and these are also indicated below.
Faculty have a responsibility to mentor graduate students. Mentoring has been defined as…
I. Guiding students through degree and track requirements. This means:
1. Discussing and documenting a clear map of program requirements from the beginning, making clear the nature of the coursework requirements and qualifying examination, and defining a timeline for their completion.
2. Discussing and documenting guidelines for starting and finishing dissertation or thesis work, including encouraging the timely initiation of the dissertation or thesis research. Major Professors and Advisees should file signed degree/research termination requirements and timeline with the BME Graduate Coordinator.
II. Guiding students through thesis or dissertation research. This means:
1. Evaluating clearly the strengths and weaknesses of the student’s research.
2. Encouraging an open exchange of ideas, including pursuit of the student’s ideas.
3. Checking regularly on progress.
4. Critiquing written work.
5. Providing and discussing clear criteria for authorship of collaborative research.
6. Assisting in finding sources to support dissertation research
7. Being aware of student’s research needs and providing assistance in obtaining required resources
III. Guiding students through professional development. This means:
1. Providing guidance and serving as a role model for upholding the highest ethical standards.
2. Treating students respectfully.
3. Encouraging and critiquing oral and written presentations.
4. Encouraging participation in professional meetings of regional groups as well as of learned societies.
5. Facilitating interactions with other scholars, on campus and in the wider professional community.
6. Assisting with applications for research funding, fellowship applications, and other applications as appropriate for the respective discipline.
7. Being the student’s advocate in academic and professional communities.
8. Providing career guidance, specifically assistance in preparation of CV and job interviews, and writing letters of recommendation in a timely manner.
9. Assisting the student in identifying opportunities for professional employment upon graduation.
10.Recognizing and giving value to the idea that there are a variety of career options available to the student in her/his/your field of interest and accepting that the student’s choice of career options is worthy of your support. For example, guiding the student to teaching opportunities when appropriate for the student’s goals.
As partners in the mentoring relationship, graduate students have responsibilities. As mentees, students should:
I. Be aware of their own mentoring needs and how they change through their graduate tenure. Graduate students should discuss these changing needs with their mentors.
II. Recognize that one faculty member may not be able to satisfy all of a student’s mentoring needs. Seek assistance from multiple individuals/organizations to fulfill the mentoring roles described above.
III. Recognize that their mentoring needs must respect their mentor’s other responsibilities and time commitments.
IV. Maintain and seek regular communication with their mentors, especially their major professor.
V. Put forth your best effort toward fulfilling degree requirements particularly thesis or dissertation research. Your best effort means either having or developing the following work habits:
1. Initiative
2. Diligence
3. Conscientiousness
4. Perseverance
5. Independence
6. Thorough knowledge of literature related to the research project
7. Critical thinking including defense of all decisions related to research methodology
8. Intellectual ownership of research project
9. Willingness to help more junior students in your research group.
Approved by the UC Davis Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group
Date: October 17, 2005
