AUTHORS: Brita Ostermeier & Sydney Woods

Congrats first-year GW IBS students, you’ve made it to spring! This means you’re completing your final rotation and considering your choice for a permanent mentor. You may be in a position where you’ve enjoyed multiple rotations for several different reasons. Or, perhaps, you’re considering a 4th rotation because you haven’t found that perfect fit yet. Deciding on your mentor is no trivial task, so GW SOBS is here to help! Finding a good mentor/mentee fit can sometimes feel daunting to a young PhD student, so we’ve created a comprehensive list of considerations to help you make your final decision.

Qualities of a Good Mentor

While mentorship styles can vary from person to person (as we will discuss in the next section), there are some underlying qualities that all good mentors should have. 

Knowledgeable. Your mentor should be knowledgeable about the area of research you are interested in. When troubleshooting experiments, mentors should offer suggestions based on their expertise on the current methods used in the field.

Supportive. Your mentor should be supportive of both your development as a scientist and your future career endeavors. Think of your mentor as your biggest advocate, as someone who will vouch for you and support your scientific and personal development. In addition to being supportive of your science & career goals, your mentor should recognize the importance of balancing work and personal life.

Approachable. An approachable mentor will be open to your ideas, make you feel comfortable asking questions, and offer communication methods to make you feel heard. 

Effective Communicator. Mentors may have different communication styles. Some mentors prefer to communicate via text, Slack, or Whatsapp, whereas others prefer email. No matter how they communicate, you should feel like you can reach out to them and receive timely feedback. 

Connected. Your mentor should have connections with other labs and universities. Whether these are current collaborations or possible future collaborations, your mentor’s network of connections can help your research progress and can also help your career networking.

Mentorship Styles

There is a spectrum of mentorship styles ranging from hands-off to micromanager. Many mentors fall somewhere in between, so identify which way your mentor leans and whether this is a mentorship style you would benefit from. Your mentoring needs might differ from your classmates, but that’s ok! When considering your mentoring style also consider the lab environment. For example, if a PI is more hands-off, but there are senior postdocs in the lab, you can lean on the postdocs for experimental support. Additionally, mentors have different methods of communication and expectations for your work hours, publishing goals, and conference travel. You should plan to communicate about these expectations with your potential mentor prior to joining.

Lab Environment and “The Science”

In addition to choosing a good mentor, it’s also important to consider the lab environment and culture that come along with them! Are you passionate about joining a large research group with more independence, or do you prefer a smaller tight-knit lab with more support? You will spend most of the next 4-5 years in this lab environment, so it’s important to reflect on your experience during rotations and highlight where you felt the most comfortable (or the most challenged)! Each lab tends to carry its own culture and “vibes”, which may vary slightly as members come and go but usually stays consistent overall. On that note, try not to make your decision based on whether you get along well with a particular post-doc, lab technician, etc. as they may leave during your time in the lab. 

Another important choice unique to the IBS program is whether to join a permanent lab in Ross Hall/SEH, CNH, or CNRIC. While having this many possible locations is a fantastic opportunity, it can also prove stressful, as each location comes with its own benefits and fantastic research labs. In the end, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of each potential lab and location and make the decision that works best for you! 

Along similar lines, it is common for students to feel pressured to join a lab doing similar work to their own background, or make decisions based on whether “the science is good”. Some students join the program with a particular research project in mind and end up choosing an entirely separate route into something new and exciting. Just remember that your research interests may evolve as you pursue your PhD. Don’t be afraid to pursue a new research topic or new technique if you feel more strongly about choosing a lab outside of your background. Think of your PhD as a chance to expand your skillset and become a well-rounded scientist rather than picking the research topic you will study forever. Conversely, if you know exactly what you’d like to pursue and have found a mentor to support you, trust your gut, and congrats!

Know How You Work

A big part of the decision process is reflecting on your own work style and identifying what works best for you. Throughout your rotations, there may be aspects you liked (and disliked) about each lab. Take the time to identify why you liked or disliked certain components of those experiences, which may provide insight into the mentorship style that will benefit you most. Finally, understand that doing a PhD involves a lot of growth, both scientific and personal, so do not rule out things that seem challenging. It may be helpful to identify what skills (both scientific and personal) you would like to learn through your PhD.

Your Other Mentors

While your PI will play a big part in your PhD journey, one mentor cannot give you all your mentoring needs. So, don’t be afraid to seek out other mentors. Each mentor can serve different roles in your career. For example, you may want to choose mentors to compensate for skills/techniques that are not a part of your lab and/or you may choose a mentor that can help your personal and career development.  After choosing your mentor and lab, you will put together several committees during your doctoral research, and all of these committee members may serve as additional mentors (or collaborators)! Similarly, don’t forget about your graduate program directors, post docs, and older graduate students, who may serve as additional mentors and resources for you when you need guidance.

Choosing Between Multiple Suitable Mentors

What happens when you reach the end of rotations and can’t seem to choose between multiple mentors with great qualities? This is a common occurrence, so no need to fret! In this situation, consider reaching out to a graduate program director, professor, or IBS administration member you feel comfortable consulting with. They are here to guide you through difficult decisions and walk you through the process, and they may provide added insight as a neutral third party. You can also reach out to older IBS students who work in the lab or may have rotated there to hear about their experiences and whether that’s an environment you’re interested in. If you are having difficulty connecting with someone, or have any questions pertaining to choosing a mentor, please reach out to the GW SOBS e-board and we will happily connect with you!

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We hope this guide to choosing your mentor will help make your mentor decision even a little bit easier. In reality, there is no perfect mentor-mentee matchup. Weigh your pros and cons to see what situation you will benefit most from. As stated in the previous section, don’t be afraid to reach out if you need a second opinion. The students, program directors, professors, and IBS administration are here to help!