Difference between revisions of "C. elegans Community Mentor Match Program"

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== Report to C. elegans community on mentor match program initiative ==
+
==C. elegans community mentor match program 2023==
 +
 
 +
===Goals of the Mentor match program (launched 2020)===
 +
*To foster success of junior researchers, especially those who:
 +
**have identities under-represented in STEM
 +
**lack extensive resources in their current environment
 +
 
 +
*To foster connections between members of the C. elegans community
  
−
Sander van den Heuvel, Brent Derry, Jane Hubbard (WormBoard mentor match sub-committee)
 
  
−
===Mentor match initiative===
 
−
To foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the C. elegans research community, we propose a “mentor match” program to facilitate mentoring relationships for career development.
 
  
 
===Rationale===
 
===Rationale===
−
Mentoring within the larger C. elegans community, in contrast to intra-institutional mentoring, provides an opportunity for mentees to gain from the collective experience of the community. The community already does this on an ad hoc basis, but a more open and accessible mentoring program is needed, especially for people who are members of underrepresented groups in our community.
 
  
−
===Preface ===
+
We believe that one of the best ways to foster the success and retention of junior researchers is through strategic mentor relationships that extend beyond institutional borders. These relationships can foster connectivity to the broader worm community and allow for advice from beyond a mentee’s immediate network.
−
Based on support from the community climate survey of July 2020, we surveyed self-identified potential mentees* for their priorities, opinions, and concerns on the logistics of the match, the need for (and content of) guidelines, and more.  
+
 
−
<pre>
+
In the past, mentees expressed some of the following goals in seeking additional mentorship:
−
*From the 2020 climate survey, >160 people expressed interest in helping with diversity initiatives (thanks!). As if Aug 11, 50 signed up as potential mentees and 37 as potential mentors. <u>88% of the 50 potential mentees surveyed responded</u>
+
 
−
</pre>
+
{|Class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
!Career Stage !! Examples of type of mentorship
 +
|-
 +
|Postdoc||Advice about different career paths, fellowship/grant-writing, publishing, job applications, work-life balance, navigating lab relationships, diversity challenges
 +
|-
 +
|New PI||navigating the transition to being a PI, starting a new lab, diversity challenges, lab and personnel management, grant-writing, publishing,  teaching resources/strategies, preparing for the tenure process
 +
|-
 +
|Established PI||transitions to new career stage and leadership roles, changing institutions or fields of study, diversity challenges
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Overview and logistics for prospective mentors and mentees===
 +
====Overview====
 +
The mentor match is open to postdoctoral fellows and faculty at any career stage.
 +
 
 +
Mentees will have the option to:
 +
*be paired with one specific mentor
 +
*join a PEER mentoring group of others at a similar career stage
 +
*both
 +
 
 +
Priority will be given to prospective mentees who are members of groups that are underrepresented in STEM (e.g., racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, religious, disability, disadvantaged), or that otherwise face equity challenges.
 +
*While we will consider expanding the program to graduate students in the future, graduate students may wish to consider recruiting community members to their thesis advisory committees if this is acceptable within their departmental procedures.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
====Match Logistics====
 +
Match committee:A match committee composed of at least 2 WormBoard members, 2 past mentees, plus additional mentors (total of 6-10 committee members) will coordinate mentor-mentee contacts. The match committee membership will have broad representation and will turn over in a staggered fashion every ~two years to maintain continuity. In this way, many people in the community will be involved over the years.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Prospective mentors – action required by December 1:==== The match committee will update annually (by January 1 of each calendar year) a list of all potential mentors. These will be collected from an annual survey for prospective mentors that will collect information on their field of study, expertise and experience in both academic and non-academic jobs (e.g. grant review panels, teaching, administrative work, journal work, faculty search committees, industry work), as well as some personal information (e.g., type of institution/workplace, and, optionally, gender, minority group, etc.). The survey includes the timeframe the mentor is available. The prospective mentor list and info will be posted for prospective mentees to access.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
A link to the prospective MENTOR survey will be distributed on or about November 1.==== Mentors should sign up anew EACH YEAR that they are available to take a new mentee. Mentors who are maintaining an existing relationship do not need to fill out the survey.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Prospective mentees – action after December 1:==== Mentees will fill out a survey covering your current position, work place, some optional personal information, what you seek help with, your preferences regarding a mentor, etc. In addition, mentees can access the mentor survey results (once available) and will be asked to list people they prefer or would exclude as mentors. Based on all your responses, the match committee will reach out to prospective mentors who will contact you. Once the match is mutually confirmed, the match committee will be notified and the match will be posted on WormBase.
 +
*Prospective mentee/mentor matches can also be made outside the committee. However, we ask that these also be brought to the attention of the match committee, to ensure agreement to guidelines, so that the match can be posted, and so that participants can be contacted in the future to evaluate their experience with the program.
 +
*If a mentee wishes a mentoring committee, they may reach out to additional listed mentors to fill out the committee and indicate to the match committee the outcome.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
====A link to the prospective MENTEE survey will be distributed after December 1, once the MENTOR survey closes and results are posted.====
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Guidelines for mentors and mentees – to which all prospective mentors and mentees must agree:===
 +
Initial commitment is for one year, with possibility to extend this mentorship if mutually agreeable
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Frequency and time of mentor/mentee contact will depend on the goals of the mentee. We recommend contact and/or virtual meetings 3-4 times per year, but this is subject to negotiation.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
All parties must agree to a general professional code of conduct including, but not limited to,
 +
*Maintenance of confidentiality and objectivity.
 +
*Maintenance of professional communication.
 +
*Respect for each other’s time (e.g., adherence to meeting times and to mutually set deadlines).
 +
*While both parties are expected to honor the commitment, either party may request to end the match if circumstances change or if the match is unproductive or incompatible. Either or both parties must notify the match committee in this case.
 +
*Timely response to end-of-year Mentor Match survey for program evaluation.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Follow-up===
 +
*the match committee is open to feedback throughout the process
 +
*mentors and mentees agree to participate in follow up surveys
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Timeline===
 +
*November: MENTOR survey open
 +
*December: mentor info posted
 +
*December: MENTEE survey open
 +
*January: match participants notified and matches posted
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Watch for updates to the program via WormBase, LabHeads email list & social media.
 +
 
 +
===2023-2024 mentor match committee===
 +
 
 +
====Co-CHAIRS====
 +
 +
*Andrea Calixto Mohor, <tigonas@gmail.com>, Professor, University of Valparaiso, Chile (Wormboard member)
 +
*Javier Apfeld, <j.apfeld@northeastern.edu>, Associate Professor, Northeastern University, USA
 +
 
 +
====COMMITTEE====
 +
 
 +
*Heather Bennett, <heather.bennett@trincoll.edu>, Assistant Professor, Trinity College, USA (Wormboard member)
 +
*Brent Derry, <brent.derry@sickkids.ca>, Professor, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada (Wormboard member)
 +
*Jon Hibshman, <hibsjo01@email.unc.edu>, Postdoc, University of North Carolina, USA (Wormboard member)
 +
*Massimo Hilliard, <m.hilliard@uq.edu.au>, Professor, University of Queensland, Australia
 +
*Sandhya Koushika, <spkoushika@tifr.res.in>, Associate Professor, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, India
 +
*Jeff Medley, <jcmedley@ksu.edu>, Postdoc, Kansas State University, USA
 +
*Dan Shaye, <shaye@uic.edu>, Assistant Professor, The University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
 +
*Ethan Ewe, <ethanewe@gmail.com>, Postdoc, Tel Aviv University, Israel
 +
*Sarah Hall, <shall@syr.edu>, Associate Professor, Syracuse University, USA
  
−
See all survey questions and responses here: prospective mentee survey
+
= ''C. elegans'' community on mentor match program v1.0 – November 2020 roll-out =
 +
Sander van den Heuvel, Brent Derry, Jane Hubbard (WormBoard mentor match sub-committee)<br />
 +
Sander van den Heuvel, Brent Derry, Jane Hubbard, Meera Sundaram, Bruce Wightman, Heather Bennett, Adelita Mendoza (2020-2021 match committee)
  
−
===Summary of survey ===
+
Based on support from the community climate survey of July 2020, we proposed a community wide mentoring plan. See additional details of the [[C._elegans_Community_Mentor_Match_Program_Initial_Plan|initial plan]].
−
* <u>Respondents</u>: 93% from doctoral degree-granting institutions
 
−
** 39.5% graduate students,
 
−
** 39.5% postdoc,
 
−
** 21% assistant professor 
 
−
*<u>What do you feel a mentor could best help with?</u> (included open text, grouped below)
 
−
** ~30% professional challenges,
 
−
** ~30% preparing grant proposals and manuscripts,
 
−
** ~10% job/transition to independence,
 
−
** ~10% career development,
 
−
** ~10% lab management
 
−
** ~10% teaching-related
 
−
**Several noted all of the above. 
 
−
* <u>Regarding the “match” - what is important?</u>
 
−
*Institutional type? 
 
−
**33% “very important” or “important”;
 
−
**67% “not important” or “neutral”
 
−
*Same diversity group?
 
−
**35% “very important”, or preferable;
 
−
**65% “not important” or “neutral”
 
−
*Committee or 1-1 mentor?
 
−
**44% one-one,
 
−
**42% committee,
 
−
**14% either,
 
−
*Logistics of matching?
 
−
**56% prefer a short list,  
 
−
**35% prefer the mentor to reach out to them
 
−
**5% want to choose from a large list
 
−
**4% mentors to choose mentees; match to similar fields.
 
−
*Additional open-ended comments
 
−
**Need for both mentors and mentees to be committed and for clear guidelines to be set for both
 
−
**Confidentiality
 
−
**Time limits
 
−
**Identity-driven matching
 
−
**Geographical distribution – “covering all continents”
 
−
**Especially useful for someone starting a lab far from other worm people
 
−
**Overall expression of support for the program
 
  
−
'''Based on these results, we propose the following plan.<br>'''
+
== News and Updates ==
−
'''This plan will be reevaluated over time and modified as necessary based on future survey responses from both mentors and mentees. '''
 
  
−
===Overview of mentor match program (v1.0)===
+
* December 13, 2020: Announcing the [https://blog.wormbase.org/2020/12/15/mentor-match-program-mentee-application-phase/ Mentee Application Phase for 2021]
−
The mentor match will focus initially on early career investigators and postdoctoral fellows. Priority will be given to prospective mentees who are members of groups that are underrepresented in STEM (e.g., racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, religious, disability, disadvantaged), or that otherwise face equity challenges.
 
  
−
We will consider expanding the program to graduate students in the future, since the survey shows that many graduate students also desire access to mentors. In the near term, however, graduate students may wish to consider recruiting community members to their thesis advisory committees if this is acceptable within their departmental procedures.  
+
==Mentor match initiative==
 +
To foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the ''C. elegans'' research community, we propose a “mentor match” program to facilitate mentoring relationships for career development.  
  
−
In addition to the match, to help those who face challenges in their professional lives related to discrimination or unequal treatment, regardless of where they are in their career, we are also working to assemble lists of potential networking contacts representing various groups who can be contacted by graduate students, postdocs and early career investigators. This is a work in progress and is part of our original longer-term initiative for a diversity portal. It will be centralized with the help of WormBase and community members who have reached out to us.
+
== Rationale ==
 +
Mentoring within the larger ''C. elegans'' community, in contrast to intra-institutional mentoring, provides an opportunity for mentees to gain from the collective experience of the community. The community already does this on an ad hoc basis, but a more open and accessible mentoring program is needed, especially for people who are members of underrepresented groups in our community.  
  
−
===Committee or 1-1 mentoring?===
+
==Updated (November 2020) overview and logistics for prospective mentors and mentees==
−
While survey responses were split, the single mentor is logistically easier to arrange more frequent meetings/contact and to maintain privacy. That said, upon mutual agreement by a potential committee of 2-3 mentors, a committee structure could be pursued. In the latter case, annual meetings may be considered. 
 
  
−
===Match Logistics ===
+
==Overview ==
−
1. Initially, a match committee composed of 2 WormBoard members plus 2-3 members, each, of prospective/past mentees and mentors (total of 6-8 committee members) will coordinate mentor-mentee contacts. The match committee membership will turn over in a staggered fashion every two years to maintain continuity. In this way, many people in the community will be involved over the years.  
+
The mentor match will focus initially on early career investigators and postdoctoral fellows. Priority will be given to prospective mentees who are members of groups that are underrepresented in STEM (e.g., racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, religious, disability, disadvantaged), or that otherwise face equity challenges.  
  
−
2. The match committee will assemble and update annually (by January 1 of each calendar year, starting 2021) a list of all potential mentors with information on their field of study, expertise and experience (e.g. grant review panels, teaching, administrative work, journal editorship, faculty search committees), as well as some personal information (gender, minority group, type of institution, etc.).  
+
* While we will consider expanding the program to graduate students in the future, graduate students may wish to consider recruiting community members to their thesis advisory committees if this is acceptable within their departmental procedures.  
  
−
3. Prospective mentors will have the option of indicating that they are available for short-term mentoring (e.g. for one grant submission cycle) or longer-term mentoring (e.g., for transition of postdoc through job search to independence). Prospective mentors will be asked to annually to be added, remain or come off the list for that calendar year.
+
==Match Logistics==
  
−
4. The list of mentors will be posted on WormBase [add future link] so that prospective mentees can look into research interests, location, etc. and consider fit. Once a match is made, the name(s) of the mentor/mentee matches will also be listed on WormBase.
+
'''<u>Match committee:</u>''' A match committee composed of 2 WormBoard members plus 2-3 members, each, of prospective/past mentees and mentors (total of 6-8 committee members) will coordinate mentor-mentee contacts. The match committee membership will turn over in a staggered fashion every two years to maintain continuity. In this way, many people in the community will be involved over the years.  
  
−
5. Mentees will fill out a form* focusing on what they need the most help with.  
+
'''<u>Prospective mentors – action required by December 1:</u>''' The match committee will update '''annually''' (by January 1 of each calendar year, starting 2021) a list of all potential mentors. These will be collected from an '''annual survey''' for prospective mentors that will collect information on their field of study, expertise and experience in both academic and non-academic jobs (e.g. grant review panels, teaching, administrative work, journal work, faculty search committees, industry work), as well as some personal information (e.g., type of institution/workplace, and, optionally, gender, minority group, etc.). The survey includes the timeframe the mentor is available. The prospective mentor list and info will be posted for prospective mentees to access.  
  
−
*Mentee form: (choose as many as you wish)
+
'''The prospective MENTOR survey is now LIVE and can be found'''<br />
−
**Do you seek advice on grant writing or submission/review process?
+
https://forms.gle/YYoRyxjbDz7ax1Ui8<br />
−
**Do you seek advice on manuscript writing or submission/review process?
+
'''We would like to post results by Dec 1 for the January 2021 match.'''
−
**Do you need help navigating administrative and other demands external to your research program?
 
−
**Do you need input/advice on professional activities, such as manuscript reviewing, meeting organization, etc.?
 
−
**Do you need mentoring with teaching, course design, dealing with student issues, etc.?
 
−
**Do you want advice on managing responsibilities outside your trainee’s or staff research project (i.e., personal challenges that can impact their mental health or toxic personalities in the lab or administration)?
 
−
**Do you need help with management of your laboratory finances?
 
−
**Do you need assistance with networking to enhance visibility, input from colleagues, etc.?
 
−
**Would you prefer a mentor from a similar type of institution?
 
−
**Do you prefer a mentor who is part of a specific group based on nationality, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, LGBTQ+, disability, or other? (if so, indicate desired group and indicate whether you wish this information to be confidential to the committee or shared with prospective mentors)
 
−
**Please list several potential mentors, ideally 5 from the list posted here. Please be aware that the availability of mentors may depend on previous mentoring commitments or other activities taken on since the last mentor cycle. <u>''Postdoc mentees are encouraged to discuss their choices with their advisor to avoid any potential conflicts of interest about which they may not be aware.''</u>
 
  
−
6. The match committee will contact prospective mentors based on replies on the mentee form. Mentors will then reach out to the mentee. Once the match is mutually confirmed, the match committee will be notified and the match will be posted on WormBase. Prospective mentee/mentor matches can also be made outside the committee. However, we ask that these also be brought to the attention of the match committee, so that the match can be posted and participants can be contacted in the future to evaluate their experience with the program. In cases where a mentee wishes a mentoring committee, they may reach out to additional listed mentors to fill out the committee and indicate to the match committee the outcome.
+
'''<u>Prospective mentees – action after December 1:</u>''' Mentees will fill out a survey covering your current position, work place, some optional personal information, what you seek help with, your preferences regarding a mentor, etc. In addition, mentees can access the mentor survey results (once available) will have the option to list people they prefer or would exclude as mentors. Based on all your responses, the match committee will reach out to prospective mentors who will contact you. '''Once the match is mutually confirmed, the match committee will be notified and the match will be posted on WormBase.'''
 +
* Prospective mentee/mentor matches can also be made outside the committee. However, we ask that these also be brought to the attention of the match committee, to ensure agreement to guidelines, so that the match can be posted, and so that participants can be contacted in the future to evaluate their experience with the program.  
 +
* If a mentee wishes a mentoring committee, they may reach out to additional listed mentors to fill out the committee and indicate to the match committee the outcome.
  
−
===Guidelines for mentees and mentors ===
+
'''A link to the prospective MENTEE survey will be distributed after December 1, once the MENTOR survey closes and results are posted.'''
 +
 
 +
==Guidelines for mentees and mentors – to which all prospective mentors and mentees must agree:==
 
* Both parties agree to a general professional code of mentor/mentee conduct including, but not limited to,
 
* Both parties agree to a general professional code of mentor/mentee conduct including, but not limited to,
 
**maintenance of confidentiality, objectivity and equal partnership
 
**maintenance of confidentiality, objectivity and equal partnership
Line 100: Line 152:
 
**respect for each other’s time (e.g., adherence to meeting times and to mutually set deadlines)
 
**respect for each other’s time (e.g., adherence to meeting times and to mutually set deadlines)
 
**while both parties are expected to honor the commitment, either party may request to end the match if circumstances change or if the match is unproductive or incompatible. Either or both parties must notify the match committee in this case.  
 
**while both parties are expected to honor the commitment, either party may request to end the match if circumstances change or if the match is unproductive or incompatible. Either or both parties must notify the match committee in this case.  
−
*Frequency and time of mentor/mentee contact will depend on the goals of the mentee.  
+
** Frequency and time of mentor/mentee contact will depend on the goals of the mentee.  
−
*Recommended contact with mentor via email and/or virtual meetings once every three months, or more frequently at first, but subject to negotiation with mentor.  
+
** Recommended contact with mentor via email and/or virtual meetings once every three months, or more frequently at first, but subject to negotiation with mentor.  
−
*For postdocs, 2 years of mentoring as a starting point, but could extend if both parties agree.  
+
** For postdocs, 2 years of mentoring as a starting point, but could extend if both parties agree.  
−
*For early career investigators, mentoring until promotion, but again, this will be negotiable.
+
** For early career investigators, mentoring until promotion, but again, this will be negotiable.
  
−
===Follow-up===
+
==Follow-up==
 
* the match committee is open to feedback throughout the process   
 
* the match committee is open to feedback throughout the process   
 
* mentors and mentees agree to participate in follow up surveys
 
* mentors and mentees agree to participate in follow up surveys
  
−
<q>
+
==Timeline==
−
'''INITIAL ROLLOUT PLANNED FOR END OF NOVEMBER 2020** '''
+
* November: MENTOR survey open
−
The community will be notified by WormBase posting, LabHeads list, social media
+
* December: mentor info posted
−
Plan for rollout:  
+
* December: MENTEE survey open
−
* September/October: assemble match committee
+
* [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sjxINouQliOEhUL6WvMEjk94ck2D2_UmiZ4ANo2ob80/edit#gid=0 January: match participants notified and matches posted]
−
* October/November: gather mentor data and finalize mentee form
+
 
−
* November: Post mentor list/info on WormBase and send notification to open program for mentee applications
+
Watch for updates to the program via WormBase, LabHeads email list & social media.
−
</q>
 

Latest revision as of 17:11, 19 December 2023

C. elegans community mentor match program 2023

Goals of the Mentor match program (launched 2020)

  • To foster success of junior researchers, especially those who:
    • have identities under-represented in STEM
    • lack extensive resources in their current environment
  • To foster connections between members of the C. elegans community


Rationale

We believe that one of the best ways to foster the success and retention of junior researchers is through strategic mentor relationships that extend beyond institutional borders. These relationships can foster connectivity to the broader worm community and allow for advice from beyond a mentee’s immediate network.

In the past, mentees expressed some of the following goals in seeking additional mentorship:

Career Stage Examples of type of mentorship
Postdoc Advice about different career paths, fellowship/grant-writing, publishing, job applications, work-life balance, navigating lab relationships, diversity challenges
New PI navigating the transition to being a PI, starting a new lab, diversity challenges, lab and personnel management, grant-writing, publishing, teaching resources/strategies, preparing for the tenure process
Established PI transitions to new career stage and leadership roles, changing institutions or fields of study, diversity challenges

Overview and logistics for prospective mentors and mentees

Overview

The mentor match is open to postdoctoral fellows and faculty at any career stage.

Mentees will have the option to:

  • be paired with one specific mentor
  • join a PEER mentoring group of others at a similar career stage
  • both

Priority will be given to prospective mentees who are members of groups that are underrepresented in STEM (e.g., racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, religious, disability, disadvantaged), or that otherwise face equity challenges.

  • While we will consider expanding the program to graduate students in the future, graduate students may wish to consider recruiting community members to their thesis advisory committees if this is acceptable within their departmental procedures.


Match Logistics

Match committee:A match committee composed of at least 2 WormBoard members, 2 past mentees, plus additional mentors (total of 6-10 committee members) will coordinate mentor-mentee contacts. The match committee membership will have broad representation and will turn over in a staggered fashion every ~two years to maintain continuity. In this way, many people in the community will be involved over the years.


Prospective mentors – action required by December 1:==== The match committee will update annually (by January 1 of each calendar year) a list of all potential mentors. These will be collected from an annual survey for prospective mentors that will collect information on their field of study, expertise and experience in both academic and non-academic jobs (e.g. grant review panels, teaching, administrative work, journal work, faculty search committees, industry work), as well as some personal information (e.g., type of institution/workplace, and, optionally, gender, minority group, etc.). The survey includes the timeframe the mentor is available. The prospective mentor list and info will be posted for prospective mentees to access.


A link to the prospective MENTOR survey will be distributed on or about November 1.==== Mentors should sign up anew EACH YEAR that they are available to take a new mentee. Mentors who are maintaining an existing relationship do not need to fill out the survey.


Prospective mentees – action after December 1:==== Mentees will fill out a survey covering your current position, work place, some optional personal information, what you seek help with, your preferences regarding a mentor, etc. In addition, mentees can access the mentor survey results (once available) and will be asked to list people they prefer or would exclude as mentors. Based on all your responses, the match committee will reach out to prospective mentors who will contact you. Once the match is mutually confirmed, the match committee will be notified and the match will be posted on WormBase.

  • Prospective mentee/mentor matches can also be made outside the committee. However, we ask that these also be brought to the attention of the match committee, to ensure agreement to guidelines, so that the match can be posted, and so that participants can be contacted in the future to evaluate their experience with the program.
  • If a mentee wishes a mentoring committee, they may reach out to additional listed mentors to fill out the committee and indicate to the match committee the outcome.


A link to the prospective MENTEE survey will be distributed after December 1, once the MENTOR survey closes and results are posted.

Guidelines for mentors and mentees – to which all prospective mentors and mentees must agree:

Initial commitment is for one year, with possibility to extend this mentorship if mutually agreeable


Frequency and time of mentor/mentee contact will depend on the goals of the mentee. We recommend contact and/or virtual meetings 3-4 times per year, but this is subject to negotiation.


All parties must agree to a general professional code of conduct including, but not limited to,

  • Maintenance of confidentiality and objectivity.
  • Maintenance of professional communication.
  • Respect for each other’s time (e.g., adherence to meeting times and to mutually set deadlines).
  • While both parties are expected to honor the commitment, either party may request to end the match if circumstances change or if the match is unproductive or incompatible. Either or both parties must notify the match committee in this case.
  • Timely response to end-of-year Mentor Match survey for program evaluation.


Follow-up

  • the match committee is open to feedback throughout the process
  • mentors and mentees agree to participate in follow up surveys


Timeline

  • November: MENTOR survey open
  • December: mentor info posted
  • December: MENTEE survey open
  • January: match participants notified and matches posted


Watch for updates to the program via WormBase, LabHeads email list & social media.

2023-2024 mentor match committee

Co-CHAIRS

  • Andrea Calixto Mohor, <tigonas@gmail.com>, Professor, University of Valparaiso, Chile (Wormboard member)
  • Javier Apfeld, <j.apfeld@northeastern.edu>, Associate Professor, Northeastern University, USA

COMMITTEE

  • Heather Bennett, <heather.bennett@trincoll.edu>, Assistant Professor, Trinity College, USA (Wormboard member)
  • Brent Derry, <brent.derry@sickkids.ca>, Professor, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada (Wormboard member)
  • Jon Hibshman, <hibsjo01@email.unc.edu>, Postdoc, University of North Carolina, USA (Wormboard member)
  • Massimo Hilliard, <m.hilliard@uq.edu.au>, Professor, University of Queensland, Australia
  • Sandhya Koushika, <spkoushika@tifr.res.in>, Associate Professor, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, India
  • Jeff Medley, <jcmedley@ksu.edu>, Postdoc, Kansas State University, USA
  • Dan Shaye, <shaye@uic.edu>, Assistant Professor, The University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
  • Ethan Ewe, <ethanewe@gmail.com>, Postdoc, Tel Aviv University, Israel
  • Sarah Hall, <shall@syr.edu>, Associate Professor, Syracuse University, USA

C. elegans community on mentor match program v1.0 – November 2020 roll-out

Sander van den Heuvel, Brent Derry, Jane Hubbard (WormBoard mentor match sub-committee)
Sander van den Heuvel, Brent Derry, Jane Hubbard, Meera Sundaram, Bruce Wightman, Heather Bennett, Adelita Mendoza (2020-2021 match committee)

Based on support from the community climate survey of July 2020, we proposed a community wide mentoring plan. See additional details of the initial plan.

News and Updates

Mentor match initiative

To foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the C. elegans research community, we propose a “mentor match” program to facilitate mentoring relationships for career development.

Rationale

Mentoring within the larger C. elegans community, in contrast to intra-institutional mentoring, provides an opportunity for mentees to gain from the collective experience of the community. The community already does this on an ad hoc basis, but a more open and accessible mentoring program is needed, especially for people who are members of underrepresented groups in our community.

Updated (November 2020) overview and logistics for prospective mentors and mentees

Overview

The mentor match will focus initially on early career investigators and postdoctoral fellows. Priority will be given to prospective mentees who are members of groups that are underrepresented in STEM (e.g., racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, religious, disability, disadvantaged), or that otherwise face equity challenges.

  • While we will consider expanding the program to graduate students in the future, graduate students may wish to consider recruiting community members to their thesis advisory committees if this is acceptable within their departmental procedures.

Match Logistics

Match committee: A match committee composed of 2 WormBoard members plus 2-3 members, each, of prospective/past mentees and mentors (total of 6-8 committee members) will coordinate mentor-mentee contacts. The match committee membership will turn over in a staggered fashion every two years to maintain continuity. In this way, many people in the community will be involved over the years.

Prospective mentors – action required by December 1: The match committee will update annually (by January 1 of each calendar year, starting 2021) a list of all potential mentors. These will be collected from an annual survey for prospective mentors that will collect information on their field of study, expertise and experience in both academic and non-academic jobs (e.g. grant review panels, teaching, administrative work, journal work, faculty search committees, industry work), as well as some personal information (e.g., type of institution/workplace, and, optionally, gender, minority group, etc.). The survey includes the timeframe the mentor is available. The prospective mentor list and info will be posted for prospective mentees to access.

The prospective MENTOR survey is now LIVE and can be found
https://forms.gle/YYoRyxjbDz7ax1Ui8
We would like to post results by Dec 1 for the January 2021 match.

Prospective mentees – action after December 1: Mentees will fill out a survey covering your current position, work place, some optional personal information, what you seek help with, your preferences regarding a mentor, etc. In addition, mentees can access the mentor survey results (once available) will have the option to list people they prefer or would exclude as mentors. Based on all your responses, the match committee will reach out to prospective mentors who will contact you. Once the match is mutually confirmed, the match committee will be notified and the match will be posted on WormBase.

  • Prospective mentee/mentor matches can also be made outside the committee. However, we ask that these also be brought to the attention of the match committee, to ensure agreement to guidelines, so that the match can be posted, and so that participants can be contacted in the future to evaluate their experience with the program.
  • If a mentee wishes a mentoring committee, they may reach out to additional listed mentors to fill out the committee and indicate to the match committee the outcome.

A link to the prospective MENTEE survey will be distributed after December 1, once the MENTOR survey closes and results are posted.

Guidelines for mentees and mentors – to which all prospective mentors and mentees must agree:

  • Both parties agree to a general professional code of mentor/mentee conduct including, but not limited to,
    • maintenance of confidentiality, objectivity and equal partnership
    • maintenance of professional communication
    • respect for each other’s time (e.g., adherence to meeting times and to mutually set deadlines)
    • while both parties are expected to honor the commitment, either party may request to end the match if circumstances change or if the match is unproductive or incompatible. Either or both parties must notify the match committee in this case.
    • Frequency and time of mentor/mentee contact will depend on the goals of the mentee.
    • Recommended contact with mentor via email and/or virtual meetings once every three months, or more frequently at first, but subject to negotiation with mentor.
    • For postdocs, 2 years of mentoring as a starting point, but could extend if both parties agree.
    • For early career investigators, mentoring until promotion, but again, this will be negotiable.

Follow-up

  • the match committee is open to feedback throughout the process
  • mentors and mentees agree to participate in follow up surveys

Timeline

Watch for updates to the program via WormBase, LabHeads email list & social media.

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