Mentoring Graduate and Undergraduate Students

1. Mentoring Graduate and Undergraduate Students Larissa R. Brunner Huber, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Public Health Sciences

2. Background • Syracuse University • BA Anthropology, minor Mathematics • University of Massachusetts • MS Epidemiology • Emory University • Ph.D. Epidemiology

3. How was I mentored? • Syracuse University • Mathematics Professor • TA experience • University of Massachusetts • Epidemiology professor • Operations Manager • Emory University • Epidemiology professor • “Academic” writing

4. What did I learn from my mentors? • Grading papers • Interacting with students • Interacting with healthcare professionals • Planning a study • Preparing manuscripts • Writing “academically” • Dealing with difficult people

5. Coming to UNC Charlotte • Small department • Many more students than faculty members • Undergraduates!

6. Independent studies • What may not work • Agreeing to do independent studies for students you’ve never had in class • Independent study based on solely on student’s interest • Independent study with no concrete end product

7. Independent studies • What does work • Find a topic that you AND the student are interested in • Be firm about the end product

8. Success stories with independent studies • Jennifer Ersek • NC PRAMS data • Physical activity and post-partum depressive symptoms • Publication in JOGNN

9. Success stories with independent studies • Views and Intentions towards Pregnancy Study • Approached by 2 undergraduates, 6 graduate students • Learned how to plan a study, collect data • Resulted in pilot data, publication, 2 thesis topics for involved students

10. Chairing thesis committees • What may not work • Saying “yes” to everyone • Not being involved in development of objective, hypotheses • Not being actively involved in analysis, writing

11. Chairing thesis committees • What does work • Be choosey! • Have specific deadlines, be firm and realistic about them • More work upfront means less work later

12. Success stories with thesis committees • Chantel Martin • NHANES data • Micronutrients and development of uterine fibroids • “Best Paper” awards, publication in JWH • Jordan Lyerly • NHANES data • Breakfast skipping and physical activity • “Best Paper” awards, publication in PHN • Lauren Graham • NC PRAMS data • BMI, weight gain and C-sections • Revise/resubmit in Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care

13. Some thoughts about mentoring junior faculty • Little things can make a big difference • Offering to read a manuscript, reappointment materials • Sharing thoughts about teaching, teaching observations • Don’t necessarily need to be “senior” to make a difference

14. Mentoring: Lessons learned • Be choosey! • It’s okay to say “no”! • You can’t say “yes” to everyone • Need to know your limits • But give them guidance as to who to approach • It’s okay to be “greedy”! • It is not wrong to want an end product that benefits the student AND you

15. Mentoring: Lessons learned • Be respectful, encouraging, helpful • Many times you hear they aren’t getting advising they need • Remember they are students and need guidance • They don’t know everything! • Tap into what they are passionate about, but know your limits • Pass on your knowledge • They want to learn, many look up to you • It is okay to be friendly with your students • Barriers are good, but it is okay for your students to see you as a real person • Stay in touch with your former students