Research Guidance in Academia: A tribute to a graduate student (specifically, one graduate student)
In the world of academic research, the role of mentors cannot be overstated, especially for undergraduate students. This semester, Jalisha delved into the importance of professors' mentorship, and more recently, she spotlighted a graduate student named Cleo Chou, who has made a significant impact on the lives of many undergraduate researchers.
Cleo Chou is a Ph.D. student at Princeton University, conducting a field study of rainforest trees and their response to nutrient enrichment and limitation. Her mentorship has had a fundamental impact on the research trajectory of one author, who spent a month working with Cleo in Princeton and six weeks at her field site in Costa Rica.
Graduate students like Cleo serve as critical intermediaries in the research context, translating faculty guidance into day-to-day mentorship. They lead undergraduates in learning research methods, experimental design, data collection, and analysis. They develop customised mentoring plans tailored to undergraduate mentees' research interests and academic goals.
Cleo, for instance, connected the author to other grad students with similar research interests, helped navigate the relationship with the academic adviser, and offered insights on course choices. Her ongoing support led the author to apply for and present at an academic conference, which boosted their confidence in their work and themselves.
Graduate students act as accessible role models who offer hands-on mentoring, leadership, and supervision within research labs or projects. They foster inclusivity and create supportive environments for undergraduates to engage meaningfully in research. They guide undergraduates in professional development aspects, such as scientific communication, IRB procedures, and possibly co-authoring publications.
Graduate mentorship positions may include formal training in mentorship, leadership skills, and include professional development support, underscoring the importance of graduate students as research leaders and educators. This layered mentorship structure benefits both graduate mentors—who enhance their leadership capacities—and undergraduate mentees—who receive dedicated, near-peer guidance and real-world research experience.
Cleo's mentorship extends beyond the confines of the lab or field site. During the fieldwork, the author and Cleo spent a significant amount of time together, discussing various topics including career aspirations, food, families, and friendships. Cleo's encouragement led the author to apply for a research fellowship the summer after their sophomore year, which significantly influenced the author's academic experience at Princeton.
The author is not alone in benefiting from graduate student mentors. Emma, in an earlier post in the series, reflected on peers as mentors. Many of the author's friends in the natural sciences have found similar grad student mentors through field or lab work, as well as in more ordinary contexts.
In essence, the mentorship series highlights the role of mentors in the lives of undergraduate researchers. The study has crucial implications for predicting tropical rainforests' responses to climate change, but its impact extends far beyond the realm of scientific research. It serves as a testament to the power of mentorship in shaping the lives and careers of young researchers, inspiring them to reach for the stars and make a difference in the world.
[1] Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers: A Review of the Literature. (2016). Journal of Undergraduate Research. [2] Graduate Mentorship in STEM: Opportunities and Challenges. (2018). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [3] The Importance of Graduate Student Mentorship in Undergraduate Research. (2020). Chronicle of Higher Education.
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