Tips for Building the Student-Mentor Relationship
- Let your curiosity and enthusiasm show. This will come naturally if you've chosen a research project and mentor that you are sincerely interested in.
- Structure your project with short and long term goals. Your mentor should help you with this. The clearer you are about expectations for the project in the beginning, the easier it will go as the project gets underway. Expectations to clarify include: when you will need to meet; the duration of the project; who else will be involved; and whether a paper or presentation will be required at the conclusion.
- Always be timely with deadlines.
- Take time to read the materials your mentor suggests. Show them that their time and effort with you are well spent. Be confident in sharing your responses to books and articles.
- Send thank you notes and emails whenever your mentor takes time to meet with you, looks over a draft, or helps you in any way with your project.
