Help to Identify Potential Research Mentors

With the help of a new database, CARTI now offers a mentor matching service that helps early-career faculty identify potential research mentors. Matches are made based on research interests and technical expertise.

While we work to populate the database with willing mentors, a match is not guaranteed. However, once a match is made, CARTI will facilitate introductions and ensure scheduling of an initial meeting to help establish goals and expectations.

Mentors and mentees will be asked to:

• Complete a mentoring agreement that outlines the terms and duration of the relationship, including:
  • Frequency of meetings
  • Length of mentorship
  • Research, training, and professional goals
• Meet within one month of being matched
• Meet at least twice per month for the first two months, followed by regular meetings throughout the mentorship
• Complete a short survey about their experience with the program

For Mentees

For early-career researchers, strong mentorship is essential for success in securing NIH K career development awards. Research mentors can provide guidance in molecular techniques or preclinical models for basic or translational researchers, or help in study design, statistics, and regulatory processes for clinical researchers. Good mentors help ensure that research plans align with NIH priorities and advise on how to best pivot or refine specific aims as needed. Great mentors act as coaches and sounding boards while the mentee learns to lead and innovate.

Mentee Eligibility

• Have at least 20 percent protected time (8 hours/week) to conduct research.
• Have a topic of research interest you would like to pursue and/or a research skill you are interested in learning under the guidance of a mentor.
• You are UMSOM faculty.
• You qualify for the NIH definition of Early Stage Investigator.
• Senior fellows (MD, PhD, MD/PhD) may use this service to help identify co-mentors or advisors.
• Exceptions for faculty of other ranks can be made based on research and need for additional training.

Mentee Expectations

• Mentees are expected to pursue mentorship on a research topic or skill that is complementary but non-overlapping with that of the mentor.
• You are expected to drive your mentorship meetings, which includes:
  • Maintaining a regular cadence of meetings, the first one within one month of being matched with a new mentor
  • Developing meeting agendas
  • Presenting progress on research protocols, research project progress, manuscript preparation, and/or grant applications
  • Identifying your professional development goals and knowledge gaps

For Mentors

You can play a vital role in shaping research careers by guiding mentees through grant submissions, protocol development, and manuscript preparation. In return, you gain opportunities for scholarly collaboration, enhanced professional recognition, and valuable contributions toward promotion and leadership advancement.

Mentor Eligibility

• Full-time Associate Professor or Professor at UMSOM
• Must have active research funding
• At least one year of prior mentoring experience

Mentor Expectations

• Assist mentee in establishing timelines and grant submission deliverables.
• Provide expert guidance on developing research plans, executing research, preparing manuscripts and grant applications.
• Advocate for your mentee within UMSOM to ensure successful balancing of research and other responsibilities.

We expect mentor-mentee relationships to evolve over time and potentially blossom into a long-term collaboration. It’s also possible to outgrow a mentoring relationship. Therefore, we encourage mentors and mentees to agree to an initial, finite timeframe with options to renew upon expiration.

However, it’s also possible that conflicts and unanticipated circumstances arise that would necessitate early termination of a mentoring relationship. Thus, all CARTI mentoring agreements include a no-fault clause for such cases. We ask that any terminations be handled in writing with CARTI cc’ed.

How to Apply

If you meet eligibility requirements, please email umsomcarti@som.umaryland.edu with the subject line “Request to Participate in Mentor Match Program.” Indicate if you wish to participate as a mentee or mentor, and include your CV and any questions.