New Mentorship Program Aims to Better Connect Researchers With Students

New Mentorship Program Aims to Better Connect Researchers With Students

Researchers at The University of Toledo study everything from social and psychological experiments to freshwater algae and the earliest development of brain cells. Students play an important role in that work, providing valuable assistance to researchers while gaining hands-on experience that can help prepare them for future careers.

"Students are essential to the research process," said Kaitlynn Grey, research administrator with the UToledo Jacobson Center for Clinical and Translational Research (JCCTR). "With our faculty having so much on their plate outside of the lab, the majority of the work is done behind the scenes by these students."

The new Research Mentorship Program, launched by the Jacobson Center for Clinical and Translational Research this academic year, is designed to make it easier for faculty researchers and students to connect and expand opportunities for students to become involved in research earlier in their academic careers.

"This will not only provide support for the faculty in finding students, but it is also going to ensure the students who are seeking research opportunities can get the experience they need to build competitive applications for residency programs," said Dr. Steven Haller, director of the JCCTR.

The program is open to research across the University, not just medical or health-related studies. Student roles can also extend beyond conducting experiments, including opportunities such as quality control and other research support positions.

The goal is to make meaningful, hands-on research experience more accessible to students at all levels, including medical students early in their training.

"As this program grows, we could even market this as a selling point for potential students, showing them the support the University is willing to offer them in getting that hands-on lab experience," Haller said.

Faculty members who become Research Mentors will be listed on the Jacobson Center for Clinical and Translational Research website as research contacts for students seeking projects. Mentors also gain access to JCCTR resources including poster design and printing, abstract development and publication support, illustration software for presentations and grant applications, and the JCCTR conference room with full video conferencing.

The center also supports opportunities for students to share their research findings through the Central Society for Clinical and Translational Research annual meeting, where medical students present their work as first authors.

Grey said connecting students with researchers is also an important component of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences' Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation.

Eligible faculty members must be in good standing with an active research program and commit to mentoring at least one medical student per year, along with completing a brief annual activity report. New faculty may join as conditional Research Mentors during their first year.

Interested faculty members can contact Haller or Grey for more information about joining the program.