Mentoring during Uncertain Times

Christina M Termini; Melanie R McReynolds; Florentine U N Rutaganira; ReAnna S Roby; Antentor O Hinton Jr; Calvin S Carter; Sunny C Huang; Zer Vue; Denise Martinez; Haysetta D Shuler; Brittany L Taylor

doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2021.01.012

Mentoring during Uncertain Times

Trends Biochem Sci. 2021 May;46(5):345-348. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2021.01.012. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
² Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
³ Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
⁴ Fisk-Vanderbilt Center of Excellence, Peabody College Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Geminii, Inc., Iowa City, IA, USA.
⁷ Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁸ University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
⁹ Winston-Salem State University Department of Biological Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. Electronic address: shulerh@wssu.edu.
¹⁰ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: btaylor@bme.ufl.edu.

Abstract

Scientific success is mainly supported by mentoring, which often occurs through face-to-face interactions. Changes to the research environment incurred by the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have necessitated mentorship adaptations. Here, we describe how mentors can broaden their mentorship to support trainee growth and provide reassurance about trainee development amid uncertain circumstances.

Keywords: emotional intelligence; mentoring; technological resources; training; uncertainty; virtual mentoring.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

COVID-19 / epidemiology*
Humans
Mentoring*
Pandemics*
Research Personnel / education*
SARS-CoV-2*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding