Research Mentoring

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Research Mentoring

• Sadiq M. Sait
• 07 February 2005

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Components of the Talk

• Our Environment its Expectations
• Research
• Mentoring Peer Mentoring
• Working in Groups
• Conclusion

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Environment

• It has some characteristics, but they can also be
  drivers
• We are both a good undergraduate and a good
  graduate school, and want to always do better, in
  both
• Our employee evaluation is elaborate and done
  annually
• And

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Environment (contd..)

• In some departments we lack
• Research groups
• Research laboratories
• Well defined areas of excellence
• Therefore faculty get hired primarily to teach,
  and are expected to do research, but not in a
  specific research group or in a specific well
  defined area

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Expectations

• As a university faculty we have the 40/65 weight
  for research
• Earlier it was a very strict requirement now
  with heavy teaching load, large section sizes, 9
  contact hours, rapidly changing technology, the
  requirement has become an expectation
• The important question to ask then is Why should
  I do research?

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Why should I do research?

• Remember that we are in a university, where
  individuals basically do teaching and learning
• We all have great passion for learning new
  things, and research requirement is a good means
  to add to what we already know
• Then what is the primary objective of research?

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Why should I do research? (Contd ..)

• The primary objective of research then should be
  to
• Increase our knowledge, and thereby contribute
  positively to teaching
• While doing so, you also gain expertise, explore
  new ideas, supervise reasonably good graduate
  projects
• And contribute to science by generating
  knowledge, authoring material for conference
  presentations, journal publications, etc

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Mentoring

• Developing a relationship ... with someone
  who cares, is willing to share knowledge (must
  have an element of selflessness), is candid, and
  also supportive

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Mentoring Need

• Research has indicated that when done properly,
  mentoring young researchers can
• Create an environment conducive to learning
• Reduce chances of failures
• Promote positive outcomes (productivity can
  reach strategic goals, satisfaction, social
  factors, etc)

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Benefits of Having a Mentor

• Assistance with developing and expounding
  research ideas, hypotheses, etc
• Sharing of personal and professional experiences
  (and feedback) while writing and submitting a
  research grant proposal
• Receiving relevant and up-to-date information
  about new research methods
• Establishing collaborative associations with
  peers
• Assistance in the development of a long-term
  research and writing plan

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Benefits of Being a Mentor

• Sharing knowledge and experiences with others new
  to the field
• Willing to share advice or information and to
  provide encouragement to those preparing research
  grant proposals
• Serving as a role model demonstrating leadership
  in research
• Sharing knowledge about the "do's" and "don'ts"
  of grant writing
• Involving new researchers who share the same or
  similar interests to work on current projects for
  them to gain research experience

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Peer Mentoring

• Given our environment, the best mentoring
  situation that can be created is by forming
  groups
• Form a group, and try to work with those who have
  been here before you
• With people who have same interests as you, but
  other complementary skills and strengths
• Who can motivate and give some direction
• Have at least a modest publication record
• Who are available (frequent informal meetings are
  most important)
• And work with who you can enjoy working with

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Working in Groups

• Has its pros and cons (recall combined study and
  study groups when you were students)
• Misunderstandings can arise (about expectations,
  deadlines....) take them lightly...
• Remember that the major objectives are to
  learn/teach (very noble)
• And remember that

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Working in Groups (Contd)

• And remember that
• to teach, to generate knowledge,
• to gain expertise, to broaden your horizons,
• to contribute, you have to Learn.
• publications, books, seminars, etc., will all
  come as by products of research.... we can be
  result oriented... But measures for ones self
  should be on how much your knowledge in the area
  of your interest has increased during the last
  year...
• Peer mentoring and group working can help a lot
  in this

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Two Stories

• VLSI Design Automation Laboratory at Computer
  Engineering
• Book Authoring Project

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Finally

• Remember that certain things cannot be purchased
  such as experience, gut feeling, candid opinion,
  direction or work, networking contacts, and
  only an environment where you have mentors, or
  colleagues in your group can provide these. And
  these are essential for effective learning.