1. Set expectations: Support, yet challenge, your mentees
Mentors, co-mentors, and students come to the undergraduate research experience with their respective sets of expectations about each other and about the project on which they will collaborate over the summer. Mentors have the responsibility to manage student expectations and to communicate their own expectations about how they will interact with the student. Mentors should define the roles and relationships within the research group for the student. Finally, mentors should evaluate their mentee's level of knowledge, skill, and ability and find ways to educate, stimulate, and challenge the mentee through the research project.
2. Be a positive role model
Good mentors are respected by their mentees. A mentee can learn a lot from their mentor simply by watching how their mentor behaves in any particular situation. Good mentors will also look out for experiences, or even create situations in which their mentees can become involved to learn new things.
3. Be genuinely interested in your mentee as an individual
A mentoring relationship is a very personal one, which is often important to the mentee. As a mentor, get to know your student's academic, research, professional, and personal goals, so you can help them in a way that meets their personal best interest. Additionally, mentors must keep in mind that they are interacting with the whole student. Students come to their research projects with all their other experiences and relationships. If a student is not performing well, seems disengaged from the project, or appears to have other things on his/her mind, the mentor may inquire whether things are going OK. Some students will respond to the invitation to talk, others will not. If a mentor is concerned, they should contact the Student-Faculty Programs Office or the Counseling Center at Caltech (626.395.8331)