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Research Mentoring at the University of Utah

The Office Research Education (REd) is excited to share our new offerings in research mentoring for both mentors and mentees. The goal with this initiative is to provide classes and resources to enhance the knowledge and implementation of effective research mentoring for University of Utah faculty, staff, post-docs, and graduate students. Some of our new offerings include
  • Research Mentoring Certificate
  • Variety of speakers for professional development
  • Various tips and resources that we share periodically
Research Mentoring Listerv

Get started by joining the research mentoring listserv to receive information and updates on research mentoring and mentor development opportunities on our campus.

Research Mentoring Certificate

The purpose of the Research Mentoring Certificate is to increase the capacity of the University of Utah to provide high-quality research mentoring. Participation in the program is available to University of Utah graduate students, post-docs, staff, and faculty. The certificate involves six classes presented in Canvas course format, accompanied by five live meetings held via Zoom. 

The Zoom meetings use case studies to demonstrate issues that may arise in mentor-mentee relationships and are intended to facilitate conversation and provide an opportunity for participants to work through problems collaboratively. Topics covered in the online classes and the case studies are organized around core mentor training competencies grounded in academic research (e.g. Pfund et al. 2013) and modified based on participant feedback and facilitator expertise. These competencies include: 

         Maintaining effective communication

         Aligning expectations

         Assessing understanding

         Fostering independence

         Cultivating academic literacies

         Research and mentoring ethics

         Promoting professional development

 
Mentoring

Throughout the certificate programs, we will develop our capacities to mentor the diverse undergraduate researchers with whom we work.

Upon successful completion of the program, staff, graduate students, and post-docs will be eligible to serve as mentors for the purposes of the Office of Undergraduate Research’s funding programs.

Research Mentoring Certificate - Cohort - Spring 2023

Program Dates: 1/27/2023 - 3/3/2023; Friday's from 9:00am - 10:30am
Length: 6 Weeks
Time Commitment: 10 - 15 hours
Facilitator: Alexis Christensen, PhD
Certification Requirements: In order to earn the Certificate of Achievement, participants must
  • complete pre- and post-certificate surveys
  • complete all the required pre-meeting work by the deadlines posted in Canvas
  • attend at least (4) four of the (5) five 90-minute class meetings

If you have any additional questions about this certificate, please email researcheducation@utah.edu 

 

 
Cohort Schedule:
 Cohort Classes Asynchronous Content Required Work Synchronous Meeting
Class 1: Elements of Effective Mentoring/Developing a Mentoring Philosophy (Asynchronous)
  • Mentor Development Program Information
  • Readings
  • Handouts 
  • Pre-Survey
  • Mentoring Philosophy Draft
 N/A
Class 2: Establishing Expectations and Maintaining Effective Communication
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”
 Friday, February 3 from 9:00 - 10:30am
Class 3: Assessing Understanding and Fostering Independence
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”
 Friday, February 10 from 9:00 - 10:30am
Class 4: Fostering Academic Literacies
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”
  • Mentoring Philosophy Draft 2
 Friday, February 17 from 9:00 - 10:30am
Class 5: Research and Mentoring Ethics
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”
 Friday, February 24 from 9:00 - 10:30am
Class 6: Promoting Mentees’ Career Development
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Post-Survey
  • Final Mentoring Philosophy
 Friday, March 3 from 9:00 - 10:30am
Those who are unable to successfully complete the Research Mentoring Certificate – Cohort may request to transfer to the Research Mentoring Certificate - Individual Classes; please email researcheducation@utah.edu for more information.

Research Mentoring Certificate - Individual Classes

This is pathway to earn the Research Mentoring Certificate involves completion of six individual classes over the course of 18 months. To earn the certificate, participants must complete pre- and post-certificate surveys, all the required pre-meeting work by the deadlines posted in Canvas and attend all five 60-minute Zoom class meetings. 

* Introduction to Research Mentoring is entirely asynchronous and must be completed first. The following classes involve asynchronous and live work and can be completed in any order:

Individual Classes Asynchronous Content Synchronous Session Registration
Introduction to Research Mentoring (Asynchronous)
  • Pre-Survey
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Videos
 N/A REGISTER HERE
Establishing Expectations and Maintaining Effective Communication
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”

Sixty (60) Minutes Zoom Meeting

 REGISTER HERE
Assessing Understanding and Fostering Independence
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”

Sixty (60) Minutes Zoom Meeting

 REGISTER HERE
Fostering Academic Literacies
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”

Sixty (60) Minutes Zoom Meeting

 REGISTER HERE
Research and Mentoring Ethics
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”

Sixty (60) Minutes Zoom Meeting

 TBA
Promoting Mentees’ Career Development
  • Readings
  • Handouts
  • Case Studies
  • Reflection “quiz”
Sixty (60) Minutes Zoom Meeting
 TBA
Ready to take a deeper dive in research mentoring? Check out the following additional research mentoring resources: 
 

If you have any additional questions about this certificate, please email researcheducation@utah.edu.

Last Updated: 1/6/23