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Information for Mentors | Co-Mentors | Mentoring
Tips
Who May Serve as a Co-Mentor?
Mentors often assign another member of the laboratory group to provide day-to-day
supervision of the Amgen Scholars. Co-mentors may be senior graduate students,
postdoctoral scholars, technical staff, or other colleagues.
The Role of a Co-Mentor
While faculty mentors have overall professional and financial responsibility
for the SURF/MURF/Amgen Scholar students in the laboratory, they may assign the
role of co-mentor to others. The role of the co-mentor will vary from laboratory
to laboratory, and co-mentors should consult with their advisors to determine
the degree of responsibility they will have for a student. Some co-mentors will
be given full responsibility and authority for supervising a student; others
will provide limited oversight or guidance.
The primary role of the mentor/co-mentor is to serve as the senior partner in
a collaboration with the student. It is important that the student be offered—and
eventually accept—intellectual responsibility for his/her own project,
but for most students the project will be the first research experience, so the
mentor has also to be a teacher and a coach as well as a partner.
The primary responsibilities of the mentor/co-mentor are to prepare for the student’s
arrival and to help the student meet all of the requirements of the program under
which the student is registered; however, there are a number of specific responsibilities
that each mentor will have in preparing for the project and in guiding the student
through it during the summer:
- Mentors are invited to write an Announcement of Opportunity (AO)
outlining the background, motivation, and objectives of the project
and the nature of the work the student will do, providing literature
references or web sites where the student will be able to learn
more about the subject; and giving contact information. Prospective
co-mentors should consult with their advisors if they would like
to put a project forward as an Amgen Scholars project. AOs will
be submitted online and posted on the Amgen Scholars web site.
- Consult with the student on the planning of the project and review
a draft of the student's proposal. Note that the proposal should
be the student’s product; the mentor may not write it, but
may and should provide advice and guidance during its preparation.
- Mentors will complete the online Mentor Recommendation Form by
the February 22 deadline. Co-mentors may assist with the evaluation
of applicants. Mentors will be prompted by the SFP Online system
to complete the evaluation when the student has submitted his/her
application. Contact the SFPO at 626.395.2885 or via email if
you have questions or need further information.
- Mentor/co-mentor must be aware of the date of arrival of the
student and make relevant preparations, including providing a place
for the student to sit, a computer, and a telephone.
- During the first week after the student’s arrival, the
student will be required to attend a Safety Orientation Meeting.
Following the meeting, the mentor/co-mentor or laboratory safety
officer must review with the student the Workplace Specific Safety
Orientation Checklist for students and, with the student, sign
the form. The student must return the signed form to
the Student-Faculty Programs Office.
- During the summer, the mentor and/or co-mentor oversees the student's
work on the project and consults at regular and appropriate intervals.
- Sign the progress reports and abstract which the student must
submit throughout the summer. Mentors must authorize someone to
sign the reports in their absence. Mentors should use the progress
reports as an opportunity to discuss research progress, problems,
etc. Students should use the reports to practice technical writing
skills.
- Collaborate with the student in writing the abstract and final
report. The paper must be submitted electronically by the fourth
Friday in September. Mentors will receive a prompt from the SFP
Online system to approve the paper online. November 1 is the deadline
for approved final reports.
- If a student continues work on the project during the academic
year, he or she must still submit an interim report by the deadline.
A final draft describing additional work or results may be submitted
later for the SFP archives.
- Help the student prepare for the oral presentation, normally
given during the third week in August or on the third Saturday
in October. An oral report is a requirement for all the students
in SFP-sponsored programs.
- Mentors/co-mentors are invited to introduce the student at the
oral presentation. We encourage lab groups to attend the presentation
to support and encourage the student!
- Contact the Student-Faculty Programs Office [Email us at sfp@caltech.edu or
call 626.395.2885] if administrative problems arise.
Amgen Scholar Stipends
The Amgen Scholars stipend is $5,500. Mentors are responsible for
all research-related costs.
Vacation Requests
Students may take vacation time during the summer with the approval
of the mentor; however, students must complete all 10 weeks of the program
by the fourth Friday in September.
Co-Mentor Advisory Council
The Co-Mentor Advisory Council serves as liaison between the
SURF/MURF/Amgen Scholars co-mentors and the Student-Faculty Programs office.
They also assist in the planning and implementation training and support programs.
Co-Mentor Training and Support
Co-mentor workshops are held each June to provide training and support
for co-mentors and those mentoring students for the first time. The workshops
are given by experienced mentors and co-mentors who will give advice and tips
from their experience and observations. It is a good opportunity for co-mentors
to ask questions and get information and resources.
For tips on mentoring, click
here.
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