Meeting Abstract

P2.61  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Mentoring the Next Generation of Scientists EDWARDS, Thea*; GUILLETTE, Louis; Tulane University; University of Florida tedwards@ufl.edu

In the United States, there is current emphasis on undergraduate recruitment, mentoring, and education in the sciences. This movement is promoted by major funding organizations, including Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). We are currently in our third year of an HHMI funded program called GATOR, or Group Advantaged Training of Research. Our program pairs undergraduate researchers with graduate student mentors in a two-pronged approach to mentoring that benefits both undergraduates who plan to go to graduate school, and graduate students who will pursue academic careers. We have evaluated our program both quantitatively and qualitatively, using the HHMI-supported national SURE survey and a comprehensive undergraduate survey developed by our second cohort of graduate mentors. Year to year, student gains are influenced by how the program is structured and which components are emphasized. Our retention in science research is good, with the majority of our undergraduates pursuing a second year of research and/or applying to graduate school. Graduate students in the GATOR program report improved confidence in mentoring and appreciation of the importance of a good match between mentor and mentee. We will present our analysis of this team-oriented approach to science research mentoring.