Mentoring
Mentoring Reception 2009

Mentoring program participants at the 2009 Mentoring event in Chicago.

Mentoring Program

SfN recognizes the importance of mentoring to the professional development of its members. The mentoring program provides opportunities for early-career neuroscientists to benefit from access to experienced professionals while giving mentors the opportunity to contribute to the future of the neuroscience profession.

SfN's mentoring program began in 2005 under the leadership of the former Committee on Women in Neuroscience (C-WIN).  The  Professional Development Committee (PDC) oversees the current program and will guide its future growth.

Mentoring: A Networking Event at the Annual Meeting

  • Who can participate: Participation is open to all. We encourage participants from diverse backgrounds, fields, and work sectors.  To participate, both mentors and mentees are expected to attend the SfN annual meeting. 

  • Call for mentors for Neuroscience 2010 will open in the spring.

  • Meet with a mentor:  Mentee sign up for Neuroscience 2010 will open in the summer.

  • Scheduling: To facilitate discussion before the annual meeting, SfN staff will provide mentor-mentee pairs with contact information. The mentoring program officially starts at the meeting with a reception Sunday evening - both mentor and mentee must attend.

  • At the meeting: SfN encourages mentor-mentee pairs to attend sessions together, share a meal, or meet in the designated mentoring lounge area of the SfN exhibit booth. SfN hopes the mentoring relationship continues after the meeting.

Mentor-Mentee Roles 

Mentors should be experienced professionals in the neuroscience field.  The primary role of the mentor includes:

  • Guiding the mentee through the meeting
  • Sharing career and coaching experience (e.g. grant writing, salary negotiations, career choices)
  • Social networking, such as introducing the mentee to colleagues
  • Being a familiar face among the thousands
  • Attending the mentoring reception and meeting with the mentee (as able) at the meeting

Mentees can include undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral students or young professionals who have not yet received tenure. 

Resources

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