What is a mentor?

Your mentor is a crucial guide in your journey at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Identifying a faculty mentor who is knowledgeable in your area of interest is an important first step. Early conversations with faculty will help you understand different mentorship styles and refine your research focus.

Finding the right mentor is essential, and we encourage you to begin this process as soon as possible. Keep in mind that graduate school is a time for exploration, and your research interests may evolve. You may even discover new areas of interest along the way.

Mentors, also known as advisers or principal investigators, are selected from faculty who have full faculty privileges or master’s-level privileges, as designated by the graduate school. They play a key role in providing personal, professional, and academic advice throughout your program.

Your mentor will guide you in selecting coursework, research opportunities, and career development and will provide encouragement, feedback, and direction to help you navigate your graduate school journey. Your mentor will also assist with forming your Thesis/Program Advisory Committee.

The mentor-mentee relationship

The mentor-mentee relationship is rooted in the ancient tradition of apprenticeship in the university system. Mentorship goes beyond simply helping you accomplish professional tasks to meet the mentor’s goals—it involves sharing wisdom, experience, personality, and style to prepare you for independent success in your professional career.

Effective mentorship relies on ongoing communication between you and your mentor. It is the mentor’s responsibility to establish this communication pattern, identify opportunities for you to develop professional skills in areas like laboratory work, written and oral communication, and data analysis, and guide you toward functional independence.

As a student, you are responsible for taking intellectual ownership of your project, driving the research forward, seeking opportunities for growth, and reaching out for help from peers and faculty when needed. Being open to constructive criticism is an essential part of your development.

Identifying potential mentors

Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offers a uniquely flexible environment for your studies. As a student, you have the freedom to choose any Mayo mentor, regardless of your chosen research track. You can also follow your mentor’s evolving research, which allows for dynamic, adaptable learning.

Your first step is to identify Mayo Clinic researchers whose work aligns with your areas of interest. You are required to select your mentor within six months of starting your program. Here are several paths you can explore to find faculty members whose research resonates with yours:

Reaching out to potential mentors

Emailing is often the best way to reach out to a potential mentor. When crafting your email, be concise and professional. Here’s a recommended format:

• Keep your subject line clear and direct, such as “Inquiry About Mentorship Opportunity.”
• Start with “Dear Dr. XX” or “Dear Professor XX” (avoid using first names and titles like Mr./Ms.).
• Introduce yourself briefly. Mention your name, year, track, and any relevant skills or past research experience.
• Clearly state why you are emailing them (e.g., to inquire about their mentorship availability).
• Share why their research interests you. Show that you’ve taken the time to review their work and explain why it resonates with your goals.
• Ask if they would be available to meet to discuss potential mentorship. Example: “Could you please let me know if you would be available to meet sometime in the next week or so to discuss the possibility of doing research with you?”
• Conclude with a polite sign-off such as “Sincerely, [Your Name].”
• Include your resume/CV or unofficial transcript/academic history.