What Should the Mentee Do Initially?
• The mentee should take the responsibility for the initial contact.
• To do this, send the mentor an email explaining interests and background.
• Share CV's (curriculum vitaes) or resume before attending the conference to give each other background and ideas for discussion.
• Before meeting the mentor, the mentee should read some of the mentor's published work, and come to the conference with questions and topics to discuss.
• The details of the initial meeting (e.g., day/time) between mentee and mentor at the annual ASB conference should be planned prior to going to the conference.
Discussions with Mentor at Annual Conference and/or During Correspondence
• Mentee should express their educational and career goals to mentor.
• Discussions should be designed to provide professional career strategies, skills and guidance from the mentor's experiences in the scientific/academic community.
• Discussion topics may include (and others mentee and mentor choose to discuss):
• summer research opportunities
• selecting a career path
• achieving promotion/tenure and/or other career advancement opportunities
• obtaining extramural funding
Activities with Mentor at the Annual Conference
• Have discussions on topics as suggested above.
• Attend each other's presentations/posters.
• Share a private meal at least once during the conference.
• Go to at least one of the scheduled events together.
• Accompany the mentor during informal times (e.g., coffee breaks) so that you can be introduced to the mentor's students and/or colleagues also attending the conference.
• Make plans for other activities for rest of year.
