Getting Started with the EMGS Mentoring Program

You are invited to participate in a mentoring program sponsored by the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society. You may choose to participate as a mentor or as the mentored or both! Participation in the EMGS Mentoring Program could have a number of tangible benefits for you. You could obtain scientific and technical advice from someone knowledgeable in your field. You might receive assistance with grant or manuscript writing. You might learn who in your field is currently looking for a postdoc. These types of mentoring interactions will occur based on your specific circumstances: your experiment won't work, the grant deadline is approaching, or you're looking for a new position.

The Mentoring Program is open to all EMGS members. Senior Investigators, Professors, Postdocs, graduate students will be part of the effort. The Mentoring Program is a joint effort between the Membership and Professional Development Committee and the Education Student and New Investigator Affairs Committee.

The Mentoring Program provides the necessary elements to offer young members of EMGS guidance, support and advise in their scientific careers. Mentors and Mentees are encouraged to enroll in the program online by completing the appropriate Profile Form. Mentee and mentors will be matched based upon their selection of interests and preferences indicated on their profile.

Mentor Profile Form
Mentee Profile Form

The matching process will be performed manually by members of the Task Force upon reviewing the submitted Mentor and Mentee profiles. The matches will be communicated to the respective individuals. It is the responsibility of the Mentoring Program participants to make the contact. A “broker” will be available to provide

Expectations of Mentoring Program Participants

• Matches will be made and communicated monthly.
• Matched participants are expected to establish the initial contact within two weeks.
• Matched participants are expected to communicate at least three times a year. Additional frequency is at the discretion of the participants.
• Matched participants are encouraged to meet face-to-face during the Annual Meeting to facilitate interaction with attendees.

At the start, however, it’s important for mentor and mentored to get to know one another. Obviously, a mentor will not be in a position to offer scientific or career advice if he or she isn't familiar with your research and career goals. To begin developing a collegial relationship, mentor and mentored need to arrange some initial interactions, and the Annual EMGS Meeting is an ideal time for this.

At the meeting, you could:

• Meet for coffee or a meal, maybe the evening before the meeting starts.
• Attend the Student/New Investigator Poster Session and Welcoming Reception.
• Attend each others posters and presentations.
• Be introduced to other EMGS-ers, and discover a great group or people.
• Explore career and education opportunities.
• Discuss which special interest group meetings to attend.
• Join the same EMGS committee as your mentor.

After the meeting, you could:

• Have an email discussion of what you found particular new or exciting at the meeting.
• Discuss how this new information might relate to your particular research.
• Let the mentor know about upcoming projects and how the mentor can assist with those projects.