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Project mentors are bioinformatics experts who join project teams to provide scientific oversight. They guide trainees through the project process and serve as the primary research advisors for the project, ensuring that projects progress smoothly and remain educational for trainees.

For Trainees

Trainees receive project mentorship automatically as part of being in a project team. To learn more about joining project teams, check the project page.

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Tips for being a good project team mentee:

  1. Ask questions and listen carefully to the answers.

  2. Admit when you don't know something or feel stuck.

  3. Accept feedback with an open mind.

  4. Do the tasks you agree to take on and be reliable.

For trainees

For Mentors

Project mentors serve as the scientific advisors for BRN project teams. This role is similar to the role of a research advisor in an academic laboratory. However, there is often more than one Project Mentor per project team.
 

How to join?

  1. To become a Project Mentor, you should first apply to be a BRN Community Mentor. Learn more about becoming a Community Mentor here.

  2. When a new project proposal has been accepted, it will be announced to Community Mentors if it contains a project mentorship opportunity. At that point, you can indicate your interest & availability.

  3. If selected as a project mentor, you will be invited to join the project.

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What are the expectations of a project mentor?

  1. Project mentors meet virtually with project teams every 2 weeks (or more).

  2. They provide the team with feedback and help direct the research project.

  3. The mentor will also be acknowledged as a co-author on any publication resulting from the project which they mentored. 

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Tips for being a good mentor:

  1. Remember that trainees are volunteers and this research experience is educational.​​

  2. Be generous as you can with your time. Trainees come from a wide array of time zones, which makes scheduling a challenge. Some trainees may also need extra attention and advice that requires additional time.

  3. Keep open lines of communication with the Project Program (Message Henry on Slack, or email projects@bioresnet.org). If anything goes wrong, you have questions, or feel lost, just let them know and someone will assist you.

  4. Be compassionate, empathetic, and supportive with trainees. Please treat them the way you wanted to be treated when you were first learning.

  5. Align tasks & requests to the learning objectives of the trainee. They will tell you what they hope to gain from the project -- do your best to align the work you assign them with their goals.

For mentors
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