improving research mentoring relationships
Research & Graduate Education has partnered with the School of Medicine Office of Faculty Affairs and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Office of Education and Training (OET) in offering a formal research mentor education program.
This program meets the National Institutes of Health (NIH) mentor training requirements for institutional training grants effective January 2025.
This program teaches mentors how to improve mentorship relationships at all research career stages and promote cultural change that values diversifying the research workforce. This program is built on the Center for Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) Entering Mentoring curricula, which is theoretically-grounded, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive.
If you have any questions for the Research Mentor Education team, please reach out to mentoreducation@uw.edu.
Objective
Designed to help mentors develop skills engaging in productive, culturally responsive, research mentoring relationships to optimize the success of both mentors and mentees. – CIMER Mentor Training
This program implements Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) curricula Entering Mentoring for mentors of research trainees.
The objective of this program offered by the UW and Fred Hutch is to provide a flexible, interactive training program for research mentors in both clinical research and biomedical research environments in the School of Medicine.
Peer Learning Model
Effective mentoring can be learned, but not taught. – W.H. Freeman, 2014
The CIMER Entering Mentoring curricula provides an evidenced-based, interactive training modules led by School of Medicine peer faculty who have completed the research mentor facilitator training for this program.
Themes & Concepts
The following themes are included in the CIMER Entering Mentoring mentor training curricula:
- Maintaining Effective Communication
- Aligning Expectations
- Assessing Understanding
- Addressing Equity and Inclusion
- Fostering Independence
- Promoting Professional Development
- Articulating Your Mentoring Philosophy and Plan
Registration
Registration is free and open first to all UW School of Medicine clinical and biomedical research faculty. If you have any questions, please reach out to mentoreducation@uw.edu.
NOTE: Registration for the winter sessions will open in the coming weeks. If you would like to be added to the list to receive an email when registration opens, please email mentoreducation@uw.edu.
- VIRTUAL
- Feb 5, 9am-12pm & Feb 6, 9am-12pm
- Mar 5, 9am-12pm & Mar 6, 9am-12pm
- IN-PERSON
- Feb 27, 9am-4:30pm, Fred Hutch
- Mar 13, 9am-4:30pm, UW Medicine SLU
- VIRTUAL
- May 13, 9am-12pm & May 14, 9am-12pm
- May 20, 1-4pm & May 21, 1-4pm
- IN-PERSON
- Apr 23, 9am-4:30pm, Fred Hutch
- Jun 4, 9am-4:30pm, UW Medicine SLU
Community of Practice
The Research Mentor Education program will develop a growing community of practice among trained faculty in the UW School of Medicine, Fred Hutch, Seattle Children’s, and other partners.
The goal of this community is to provide a safe and supportive space for continued development of one’s personal style and philosophy of mentoring.
CIMER also provides a list to online networks and communities of practice for mentors and mentees.
Elia Tait Wojno, PhD serves as the Director of Mentor Education in the Office of Research and Graduate Education (RGE) and an Associate Professor of Immunology.
As a researcher and educator, Elia is passionate about training the next generation of scientists.
Research Mentees
Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars can greatly benefit from developing skills and knowledge to effectively engage with their research mentors.
Some resources for mentees are listed below:
Fred Hutch Cancer Center is an independent organization that also serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program.