We have two separate programs, a 1-on-1 Mentorship Program and a Peer Mentorship Program. On this page you will find:
Our mentoring programs are not currently open for signup. We will reopen the next cycle in late 2024.
If you would like greater access to a network of WOC in EEB, fill out this Google Form to join the WOC in EEB Slack.
Our mentoring programs are not currently open for signup. We will reopen the next cycle in late 2024.
If you would like greater access to a network of WOC in EEB, fill out this Google Form to join the WOC in EEB Slack.
What is mentorship?
The dictionary definition of a mentor is, “an experienced and trusted adviser.” A mentor can be someone who is a friend, a champion, a guide, a role model, a sponsor, a cheerleader, a source of feedback, or a resource. But one mentor can't be all of these things! To be successful in our careers, as mentees it can be helpful to form a mentoring map, where we think about what support we need to grow, how we can get it, and find a variety of people to fill those roles.
With the 1-on-1 mentoring program and the peer mentorship programs, think about how your relationships can fit into this larger network. In the 1-on-1 mentorship program particularly, but also all the time, mentees should have realistic expectations of their mentors, and mentors should have realistic expectations of themselves.
The mentoring map below (borrowed from Dr. Mirjam S. Glessmer's blog and the NCFDD) is a nice template to follow. For more details about how to do this exercise, and what each box means, please check out Dr. Glessmer's blog post on this topic.
With the 1-on-1 mentoring program and the peer mentorship programs, think about how your relationships can fit into this larger network. In the 1-on-1 mentorship program particularly, but also all the time, mentees should have realistic expectations of their mentors, and mentors should have realistic expectations of themselves.
The mentoring map below (borrowed from Dr. Mirjam S. Glessmer's blog and the NCFDD) is a nice template to follow. For more details about how to do this exercise, and what each box means, please check out Dr. Glessmer's blog post on this topic.
Earth Science Women's Network Mentoring Map: Different colored arrows point out from a circle representing you towards categories such as Access to Opportunities, Safe Space, Role Models, and more. Each of these points to spaces to write people in, and some categories have subcategories. For example, the "Access to Opportunities" categories has subcategories for Internal Mentors, Peer Mentors, and External Mentors.
1-on-1 Mentorship Program
The 1-on-1 mentorship program matches up mentors and mentees in a “near-peer” mentorship model. What is near-peer mentorship? It means that mentors and mentees are close to each other in career stage. For example, associate professors mentor assistant professors, and senior graduate students mentor junior graduate students. By using near-peer mentorship, there is more opportunity for two-way learning opportunities. Mentees can get advice from someone who just went through what they’re going through, rather than someone who has had experiences that are 20 years or more out of date.
The hope is that this mentorship program can help women and non-binary people of color find community in EEB, build lasting connections, provide mentees with insight and blueprints for what is possible, and give mentors the confidence that comes with serving as a mentor. Please see the FAQs below to learn more about the program.
The expectation is that mentors and mentees meet once per month for about an hour. We also strongly recommend that you work together to complete a mentorship agreement.
The hope is that this mentorship program can help women and non-binary people of color find community in EEB, build lasting connections, provide mentees with insight and blueprints for what is possible, and give mentors the confidence that comes with serving as a mentor. Please see the FAQs below to learn more about the program.
The expectation is that mentors and mentees meet once per month for about an hour. We also strongly recommend that you work together to complete a mentorship agreement.
1-on-1 Mentorship Frequently Asked Questions
Logistics
Who is responsible for first contact?
The mentor is responsible for reaching out to their mentee initially. They should have received an email with the contact information for their assigned mentee.
I only wanted to be a mentee, but I’ve been told that I must also be a mentor. Why? Can I change this?
When you signed up for this program, we indicated that there are always more people who sign up to be mentees than mentors and that you may be asked to be a mentor as well. We can only run this program if everyone helps out, and we need you to do your part.
Is there a Code of Conduct?
Yes! WOC in EEB has a code of conduct. If you are part of the WOC in EEB Slack then you have already read and agreed to it, but it’s always good to have a refresher. Generally, please don't be a jerk. Please don't place unrealistic expectations on people that you're matched with. Everyone here is volunteering their time. If you say you will meet with someone, don't ghost them. Finally, please be respectful of folks' differences. Just because you belong to a marginalized group does not mean that you don't also carry biases. Please be cognizant and careful that you don't discriminate. Let's be kind and respectful of each other.
Being a Mentor
What if I don’t feel qualified to mentor anyone, especially since my mentee is in a different field?
Everyone is qualified to be a mentor. Meet with your mentee and talk about what their needs are and what you can realistically provide. There are all sorts of things mentors can do. You can provide specific science-related feedback, you can be a confidant for the mentee to talk to, you can be a cheerleader when your mentee is feeling down, you can share in your own experiences as a source of guidance, you can do a focused work session with your mentee, etc. We all have something to offer and serving as a mentor can be incredibly rewarding – and it’s a nice thing to have on your CV!
What if I don’t have time to be a mentor?
We are all busy people and we don’t want to ask too much of our mentors in this program. As a mentor, please be honest about what you can offer, both in terms of your expertise and the amount of time you can afford to spend as a mentor. Most people just meet once a month and chat. Sometimes mentees will ask their mentors to read over writing or give other types of substantive feedback. As a mentor, you are under no obligation to say yes to everything. If your mentee asks for something you don’t have the time to provide, please just tell them.
How can I make sure I’m being a good mentor?
Just be there for your mentee and pay attention to what their needs are. Hopefully, completing the mentorship agreement form together will help you to align your expectations. The mentee should take charge of the relationship to convey their needs to their mentor. Also, please look at the website where there are a ton of resources on mentorship that you can peruse in your own time.
What if I emailed my mentee and they don’t reply?
If, after a few attempts, your mentee does not respond to you, please email Christine Sit, whose contact information is in the email we sent you at the start of the program.
Being a Mentee
What do I do if my mentor hasn’t contacted me?
At the beginning of each program cycle, we ask mentors to reach out to their mentees. If your mentor has not contacted you within a few weeks of the start of the program, please email Christine Sit, whose contact information is in the email we sent you at the start of the program.
What do I do as a mentee?
In the 1-on-1 mentoring matches, the mentee is really in the driver's seat. If you haven't already, take a look at the mentoring network map on the top of this page. Go through the exercise to figure out what type of mentoring you need for yourself. When you first meet with your mentor, ask them about their career path, science, and their interests. See how they can fit into your mentoring map. And of course, you should tell your mentor about yourself, your goals and dreams, and the barriers that you’re facing. At the end of your first meeting with your mentor, the two of you should complete a mentorship agreement. You can either use our mentorship agreement template or come up with one on your own. The point of completing a mentorship agreement is so that both you and your mentor have clear expectations of each other and have a plan to maximize the benefits of this relationship.
I really wanted a mentor that could fill a specific need, and my mentor can’t. What do I do?
You will need to have that need addressed by a different mentor that you find in another part of your life. Please see above for information about mentorship networks. It’s unrealistic to have a single mentor that can address all of our needs. Instead, we should identify what our needs are, who we have available to us, and what they can bring to the table. Talk to your mentor and fill out the mentorship agreement together.
Who is responsible for first contact?
The mentor is responsible for reaching out to their mentee initially. They should have received an email with the contact information for their assigned mentee.
I only wanted to be a mentee, but I’ve been told that I must also be a mentor. Why? Can I change this?
When you signed up for this program, we indicated that there are always more people who sign up to be mentees than mentors and that you may be asked to be a mentor as well. We can only run this program if everyone helps out, and we need you to do your part.
Is there a Code of Conduct?
Yes! WOC in EEB has a code of conduct. If you are part of the WOC in EEB Slack then you have already read and agreed to it, but it’s always good to have a refresher. Generally, please don't be a jerk. Please don't place unrealistic expectations on people that you're matched with. Everyone here is volunteering their time. If you say you will meet with someone, don't ghost them. Finally, please be respectful of folks' differences. Just because you belong to a marginalized group does not mean that you don't also carry biases. Please be cognizant and careful that you don't discriminate. Let's be kind and respectful of each other.
Being a Mentor
What if I don’t feel qualified to mentor anyone, especially since my mentee is in a different field?
Everyone is qualified to be a mentor. Meet with your mentee and talk about what their needs are and what you can realistically provide. There are all sorts of things mentors can do. You can provide specific science-related feedback, you can be a confidant for the mentee to talk to, you can be a cheerleader when your mentee is feeling down, you can share in your own experiences as a source of guidance, you can do a focused work session with your mentee, etc. We all have something to offer and serving as a mentor can be incredibly rewarding – and it’s a nice thing to have on your CV!
What if I don’t have time to be a mentor?
We are all busy people and we don’t want to ask too much of our mentors in this program. As a mentor, please be honest about what you can offer, both in terms of your expertise and the amount of time you can afford to spend as a mentor. Most people just meet once a month and chat. Sometimes mentees will ask their mentors to read over writing or give other types of substantive feedback. As a mentor, you are under no obligation to say yes to everything. If your mentee asks for something you don’t have the time to provide, please just tell them.
How can I make sure I’m being a good mentor?
Just be there for your mentee and pay attention to what their needs are. Hopefully, completing the mentorship agreement form together will help you to align your expectations. The mentee should take charge of the relationship to convey their needs to their mentor. Also, please look at the website where there are a ton of resources on mentorship that you can peruse in your own time.
What if I emailed my mentee and they don’t reply?
If, after a few attempts, your mentee does not respond to you, please email Christine Sit, whose contact information is in the email we sent you at the start of the program.
Being a Mentee
What do I do if my mentor hasn’t contacted me?
At the beginning of each program cycle, we ask mentors to reach out to their mentees. If your mentor has not contacted you within a few weeks of the start of the program, please email Christine Sit, whose contact information is in the email we sent you at the start of the program.
What do I do as a mentee?
In the 1-on-1 mentoring matches, the mentee is really in the driver's seat. If you haven't already, take a look at the mentoring network map on the top of this page. Go through the exercise to figure out what type of mentoring you need for yourself. When you first meet with your mentor, ask them about their career path, science, and their interests. See how they can fit into your mentoring map. And of course, you should tell your mentor about yourself, your goals and dreams, and the barriers that you’re facing. At the end of your first meeting with your mentor, the two of you should complete a mentorship agreement. You can either use our mentorship agreement template or come up with one on your own. The point of completing a mentorship agreement is so that both you and your mentor have clear expectations of each other and have a plan to maximize the benefits of this relationship.
I really wanted a mentor that could fill a specific need, and my mentor can’t. What do I do?
You will need to have that need addressed by a different mentor that you find in another part of your life. Please see above for information about mentorship networks. It’s unrealistic to have a single mentor that can address all of our needs. Instead, we should identify what our needs are, who we have available to us, and what they can bring to the table. Talk to your mentor and fill out the mentorship agreement together.
Peer Mentorship
Our Peer Mentorship Program matches up 3-6 people from the same or very close career stage. Ultimately, it’s up to you and your peer mentorship group to make the most of this program.
Ideally, your peer mentorship group will meet once per month, and as a group, you can decide how you want to structure each meeting. To help you get started, we have outlined recommended activities for your first few meetings to get to know each other. In the Peer Mentorship Welcome Document, you will find guidelines for your first four meetings: Your First Meeting, Cultural Journey, Mentorship Network Exercise, and Peer Mentorship Group Worksheet.
Ideally, your peer mentorship group will meet once per month, and as a group, you can decide how you want to structure each meeting. To help you get started, we have outlined recommended activities for your first few meetings to get to know each other. In the Peer Mentorship Welcome Document, you will find guidelines for your first four meetings: Your First Meeting, Cultural Journey, Mentorship Network Exercise, and Peer Mentorship Group Worksheet.
Peer Mentorship Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Code of Conduct?
Yes! WOC in EEB has a code of conduct. If you are part of the WOC in EEB Slack then you have already read and agreed to it, but it’s always good to have a refresher. Generally, please don't be a jerk. Please don't place unrealistic expectations on people that you're matched with. Everyone here is volunteering their time. If you say you will meet with someone, don't ghost them. Finally, please be respectful of folks' differences. Just because you belong to a marginalized group does not mean that you don't also carry biases. Please be cognizant and careful that you don't discriminate. Let's be kind and respectful of each other.
Can I switch groups? Can my group get some new people?
A lot of work went into creating the groups. We tried our best to match people by career stage, time zone, extra requests based on identity, and research interests. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the best we could do. Please do what you can to proceed with the group that you have. If there are serious problems with harassment or if someone just doesn’t show up, please email Christine Sit.
What do I do if no one has responded / people aren't showing up to the meetings?
If, after a few attempts, no one is showing up, please email Christine Sit.
It's difficult to schedule a meeting because everyone is so busy!
Please do your best to find one time a month to meet. It helps to either set a time that repeats once a month (for example, every third Wednesday of the month at 2pm) or at the end of each meeting, everyone look at their calendars and set the next time together.
I got too busy and want to get back into the program now. How do I rejoin my group or join a new one?
Email your group and ask to rejoin. We also recommend that if you know that you’re going to be busy for a while, let your group know and join them again when you can.
I am too busy now but want to participate later. How do I stay connected?
Try to go to the first meeting, just to meet your group and say hi. Then let them know that you have to step away for a while and let them know approximately when to expect you back.
What do I do if I lost the contact information for my group?
If you can’t find the initial email where you got the group info, please send an email or Slack message to Christine Sit.
My group is too big / too small.
Some groups had to be smaller or larger than we wanted, just to make sure that everyone got a group. You can let Christine Sit know, and we may be able to adjust things during the first few months of the program, depending on if we have no-shows and need to adjust groups to accommodate this.
Do you have recommended activities or conversation topics for each meeting?
Please check out the Welcome Document for recommended activities.
Yes! WOC in EEB has a code of conduct. If you are part of the WOC in EEB Slack then you have already read and agreed to it, but it’s always good to have a refresher. Generally, please don't be a jerk. Please don't place unrealistic expectations on people that you're matched with. Everyone here is volunteering their time. If you say you will meet with someone, don't ghost them. Finally, please be respectful of folks' differences. Just because you belong to a marginalized group does not mean that you don't also carry biases. Please be cognizant and careful that you don't discriminate. Let's be kind and respectful of each other.
Can I switch groups? Can my group get some new people?
A lot of work went into creating the groups. We tried our best to match people by career stage, time zone, extra requests based on identity, and research interests. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the best we could do. Please do what you can to proceed with the group that you have. If there are serious problems with harassment or if someone just doesn’t show up, please email Christine Sit.
What do I do if no one has responded / people aren't showing up to the meetings?
If, after a few attempts, no one is showing up, please email Christine Sit.
It's difficult to schedule a meeting because everyone is so busy!
Please do your best to find one time a month to meet. It helps to either set a time that repeats once a month (for example, every third Wednesday of the month at 2pm) or at the end of each meeting, everyone look at their calendars and set the next time together.
I got too busy and want to get back into the program now. How do I rejoin my group or join a new one?
Email your group and ask to rejoin. We also recommend that if you know that you’re going to be busy for a while, let your group know and join them again when you can.
I am too busy now but want to participate later. How do I stay connected?
Try to go to the first meeting, just to meet your group and say hi. Then let them know that you have to step away for a while and let them know approximately when to expect you back.
What do I do if I lost the contact information for my group?
If you can’t find the initial email where you got the group info, please send an email or Slack message to Christine Sit.
My group is too big / too small.
Some groups had to be smaller or larger than we wanted, just to make sure that everyone got a group. You can let Christine Sit know, and we may be able to adjust things during the first few months of the program, depending on if we have no-shows and need to adjust groups to accommodate this.
Do you have recommended activities or conversation topics for each meeting?
Please check out the Welcome Document for recommended activities.
Mentoring Resources
- Guerilla mentoring: Telling Truth(s) from the Trenches featuring an interview by #VanguardSTEM with Dr. Beronda Montgomery.
- Also, check out the book by Dr. Montgomery Lessons From Plants.
- From Women in Cell Biology, check out their article "Peer Mentoring—Colleagues as a Resource for Your Career Development"
- This paper by Shelton et al. (2021) on "Expanding the Landscape of Opportunity: Professional Societies Support Early- Career Researchers Through Community Programming and Peer Coaching"
- This paper by Elliott et al. (2020) on "An entrepreneurship education and peer mentoring program for women in STEM: mentors’ experiences and perceptions of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intent"
- Read about a mindful mentoring plan on A Practical Guide to Mentoring Across Intersections by Annica Harriot on #VanguardSTEM
- Peer Mentoring Networks: Building and Bonding as a Black Woman in STEM by Arianna Long on #VanguardSTEM highlights the importance of cultivating peer-mentoring networks
- Decolonize Mentorship with VanguardSTEM offers a 4-step guide to being a thoughtful mentor
- Learn about the benefits of having a diverse group of mentors on Creating an Expansive Mentoring Network: Who is On Your Team? by Arianna Long on #VanguardSTEM