Suggested Questions to Ask Potential Mentors

1. Are you a "hands on" mentor? If not, who would provide me with direct supervision and teaching in the laboratory or clinical research setting?
2. How often would I meet with you and in what setting?
3. How many other members are in the research group? What are their various roles?
4. Am I expected to provide funding for my own reagents, supply costs, travel to meetings, etc.?
5. How would my research project be chosen?
6. Would I be able to have input and/or choose between a number of possible projects? Or would I be expected or allowed to come up with a proposed project independently?
7. Will I be able to use a research associate or clinical trials monitor to help me with data gathering?
8. Have any fellows who have worked with you gone on to independent research careers?
9. How long do most trainees stay in your research group, and where do they go when they leave your research group? Into academic positions, industry, or practice settings?
10. What types of grants do you envision for my work?
11. Have you had experience in helping mentees obtain grants?
12. What types of peer-reviewed publications do you see arising from potential projects? Will there be opportunities to publish review articles or book chapters?
13. Will there be opportunities to publish review articles or book chapters?
14. Do you have assistant or other editorial status on peer-reviewed journals? (Such a mentor may be able to involve a trainee more integrally in the peer review process, the benefits of which include good practice in the critical appraisal of research studies; recognition for a worthwhile form of scholarly volunteer work; and expansion of knowledge of the most current concepts.)

Young faculty may not have had fellows work with them before. Do not automatically exclude them from your search, but discuss with them the possibility of having a co-mentor who is a more senior person. Some institutions mandate that each trainee has a three-person research committee to provide a greater range of expertise and guidance for the trainee.