Dr. J. Robert Hatherill

Department of Natural SciencesDepartment of Natural Sciences

Del Mar College

Transforming Students with Transforming Students with Research MentoringResearch Mentoring

Rationale for Research Mentoring

Science majors often change careers primarily because of lack of interest during the introductory science classes.

Seymour E. Hewitt N. Talking About Leaving: Why Undergraduates Leave the Sciences. Boulder,CO: Westview Press, 1997

Rationale for Research Mentoring

Research mentoring experiences foster interaction between students and faculty and strengthen peer groups, both of which have been shown to positively affect connectedness to the discipline and cognitive and behavioral development.

Horner MS, et. al., Mentoring increases connectedness and knowledge: a cross-sectional evaluation of two programs in child and adolescent psychiatry, Acad Psychiatry, 32(5):420-8, 2008.

Rationale for Research MentoringEmployers desire six attributes that result from research mentoring:

1) Motivation, 2) Leadership, 3) Interpersonal Skills, 4) Project Management Skills, 5) Critical Thinking Skills & 6) Technical and Content Mastery

Stewart B. M., & Krueger, L. E. (1996). An evolutionary concept analysis of mentoring in nursing. Journal of Professional Nursing, 12, 311-321.

Hill, M. N. (1998) My transformation as a leader in cardiovascular nursing. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 12(2), 33-44.

Faculty and Student Team (FaST) Program

FaSTFaST (Faculty and Student Teams) (Faculty and Student Teams)

FaST: collaboration between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Places teams of one faculty member and 2-3 undergraduate students in paid internships with scientists or engineers on projects related to the Lab's research programs.

Each faculty member must make a three-summer commitment; students may participate for one or two summers

SULI (Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship)

This program by the Department of Energy places undergraduate students from 4-year institutions in paid internships with scientists or engineers on projects related to the Lab's research programs.

BLUFF (Berkeley Lab Undergraduate Faculty Fellowship)

This Berkeley Lab program brings faculty to LBNL for an extended period to work with Lab investigators as a continuation of a collaboration established while previously participating in the DOE FaST program. Funding must be secured by the faculty member and/or Lab researcher.

Mentored StudentMentored StudentFemale Role ModelsFemale Role Models

Research Mentoring PartnersResearch Mentoring Partners

ASSESSMENT RESULTS-ASSESSMENT RESULTS-MENTORINGMENTORING

Ability to Work Through Obstacles (n=19)

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Self Confidence

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Time Management

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Team Work

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Critical Thinking Skills

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Self Awareness

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Working Under Time Pressures

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Take Risks

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Interacting Effectively

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Postgraduate Education

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS•• Research mentoring clearly provides many educational benefits as well as life skills to students.

• Implementing an undergraduate research program is a significant strategy for improving undergraduate science education.

• Research mentoring programs should provide a competency- based evaluation of the students’ skill sets.

• Skills gained from mentoring programs allow students to compete more effectively in the workforce.

Del Mar College is in SEA Cohort Del Mar College is in SEA Cohort 44

2010 DOE Student Poster 2010 DOE Student Poster CompetitionCompetition