The Challenge of Mentorship.

It is hard to pinpoint a particular event or experience that prompted me to get into science in the first place, probably because science has always been an interest and part of my life. I am continually fascinated by the complexity and adaptability of nature and the process of scientific inquiry. It all began with catching bugs, making plant concoctions in my playhouse, and dyeing part of my mom’s new carpet blue with my first chemistry set. Fortunately, I had parents who recognized and fostered this passion from an early age. They allowed a constant stream of insects, reptiles, and amphibians to be caught and observed in my terrarium and each mentored a junior high Science Fair project all the way to the state competition at the University of Illinois. This acceptance and support bolstered my passion for a life of scientific discovery. My career in science officially began during my undergraduate years at Indiana Wesleyan University. As a student in a small liberal arts college with a strong science department, I had opportunities one might not have at a larger state or private school. I had the privilege all 4 years to serve as a laboratory technician and undergraduate student instructor. Initially, this work involved organizing stocks and preparing laboratory supplies. As I progressed in my studies and began my independent research with Dr Burton Webb, my responsibilities expanded to include running laboratories, aiding in the design and testing of new laboratory experiments, and delivering a few laboratory lectures. Working in Dr Webb’s laboratory gave me hands-on experience, an idea of the complexity of pathophysiologic conditions, and an appreciation for the scope and application of scientific research. As a senior, I had the opportunity to train a sophomore to take over the project when I graduated. Overall, this experience confirmed my passion for scientific inquiry and gave me an appreciation of the challenge of mentorship. I have been extremely fortunate in my career to have mentors at each step who were perfect for the stage of career I was in. During the undergraduate years, they fueled my passion for scientific discovery and began to teach me the skills needed for a career in research. In graduate school at the University of Michigan, Dr Jeffrey Martens dispensed invaluable mentoring in both writing articles and grants and delivering effective oral presentations. Importantly, Jeff went beyond this basic training, constantly challenging me to think about what I was doing and why, honing my experimental design and pushing me to get out of my comfort zone and strive for excellence. My postdoctoral mentor at Temple University, Dr Walter Koch, gave me the space to let me drive my research and develop independent pathways, challenged me with mentoring opportunities, and exposed me to the broader aspects of what a Principal Investigator (PI) does besides supervising a laboratory. Looking back, I can see how each mentor has stretched and molded me into a confident researcher and influenced the development of my personal mentoring style. Through my experience, I have gained some perspective on the difficulty of selecting a mentor and of being a mentee worthy of their continued investment and hope my experience will encourage the next generation of scientists in their career pursuits. When beginning graduate school, I think it is extremely important to acknowledge one’s strengths and weaknesses and to choose a mentor who will work to iron out those weaknesses. Trainees should also pay close attention to mentoring style, the attitude of the mentor and their laboratory, and the environment they foster when considering whether this environment is one in which they would struggle or thrive. When I began graduate school, the PI nicknamed my 2 laboratory members Statler and Waldorf, the pair of cranky old Muppets that heckled everyone from the balcony. The heckling was never ill-spirited and provided a constant push to grow as a scientist and respond appropriately to the inevitable criticism and challenge of scientific peers, reviewers, and grant