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  • Graduate Student Handbook
  • Preface
  • PART I. POLICIES AND RESOURCES
  • CHAPTER 1
    • 🗒️Academic Policies
      • Academic Integrity
      • Policies and Procedures on Ethical Practices in Research
      • The Responsible Conduct in Research and Rigor and Reproducibility Courses
      • Ownership and Use of Research Data, Reagents, Records, Protocols, or Code
      • Responsibilities of Authors
        • Protecting Whistleblowers
        • Financial Conflict of Interest in Research
      • General Rules of Conduct for ISMMS Students
  • CHAPTER 2
    • 🗒️Administrative and Financial Policies
      • Tuition
        • PhD and MD/PhD in Biomedical Sciences or Neuroscience
        • Master’s Degree Programs and PhD in Clinical Research
      • Funding Package and Direct Compensation
      • Financial Assistance and Services
        • Financial Counseling
        • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid
        • Additional Work and Funding Resources
          • Supplemental Work-in-Another-Department (WIOD)
          • Tuition Waivers for Non-Faculty Mount Sinai Employees
          • Work-Study Positions
          • Travel Awards
  • CHAPTER 3
    • 🗒️Enrollment and Registration
      • Pre-Enrollment Policies
      • Registrar's Office
      • Guidelines for Registration and Cross-Registration
        • Add/Drop
        • Maintenance of Matriculation
        • Full-time Equivalency Status
        • Courses Taken at Partner Institutions
        • Visiting Scholars
        • Non-Matriculating Status and Course Auditing
        • Registration Holds
        • PhD Student Registration
      • Grading Policies
        • Grading, Course Examinations, and Missed Examinations
        • Calculation of GPA
        • Retaking Courses to Improve GPA
        • Graduate School Grade Appeals Process
        • Transfer Credits and Course Exemptions/Waivers
      • Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
        • Time to Degree Policy
        • Academic Standing
        • Committee for Academic Review (CAR)
          • Membership of CAR
          • Appeals Process
        • Program-Specific Criteria for Satisfactory Academic Progress
      • Leave, Withdrawal, and Readmission
        • Leave of Absence (Voluntary)
        • Leave of Absence (Involuntary)
          • Administrative Leave
          • Academic Progress Leave
        • Parental Leave
        • Return from Military Service
        • Withdrawal and Readmission
        • PhD in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience Student Vacation Policy
      • Transcripts
  • Chapter 4
    • 🗒️Student Affairs and Services for Graduate Students
      • Student Services and Resources
        • Career Services and Strategy
        • International Student Services
        • Student Health Services
          • Student Mental Health Services
            • Referrals
            • WellConnect
        • Disability Services
        • Student Housing
          • Real Estate Office
        • Academic Informatics and Technology
          • The Library
          • Aufses Archives and Mount Sinai Records Management Division
          • Academic IT Support Center (ASCIT)
        • Affirmative Action
        • Safety and Security
          • Sexual Assault
          • Harassment
            • Definitions of Unacceptable Behavior
            • Grievance Committee
          • Mistreatment
            • Mistreatment Policy
            • Reporting and Consulting Mechanisms
          • Clery Act
          • Fire Safety
          • Alcohol and Drugs
            • Alcohol Policy – Levinson Student Center
            • Drug Testing
          • Infection Control
        • Office of the Ombudsperson
      • Campus-Wide Policies, Regulations, and Requirements
        • Rules of Conduct
        • Student Behavior
        • Faculty, Staff, and Student Relations
        • FERPA
        • ISMMS Social Media Guideline
        • Acceptable Use of Technology Policy
          • Use of Hardware and Software
          • Web, Data, and Cloud Storage
          • Email and Collaboration Technology Usage
          • Protected Health Information and Other Confidential Information
          • Secure Messaging and Encryption
        • ISMMS Policy on Business Conflicts of Interest
        • Student Intellectual Property
  • PART II. PROGRAMS OF STUDY
  • Chapter 1
    • PhD in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
        • Seminars, Works-in-Progress, and Journal Clubs
        • Lab Rotations
          • Rotation Guidelines
          • MD/PhD Student Rotations
      • Selecting a Multidisciplinary Training Areas (MTA)
      • Advising
        • Academic Advisor
        • Selecting a Research Mentor
        • Changes to a Research Mentor-Mentee Partnership
          • Mentoring Changes due to the Relocation of the Research Mentor
          • Mentoring Changes due to an Unproductive Partnership
          • Procedures for Dispute Resolution
        • Thesis Advisory Committee
          • Specific Criteria
          • Procedures
      • Thesis Proposal
        • General Considerations
        • The Written Document
        • The Oral Presentation
        • The Thesis Proposal Committee
        • Deadline
      • Dissertation Defense
        • Written Document Format Options
        • The Dissertation Committee
        • The Defense and Seminar
        • Dissertation Deposit
      • Transfer to Master degree (MPhil or MSBS)
      • Program Specific Policies
        • Program Alumni and Alumni Association
  • Chapter on Multidisciplinary Training Areas
    • Multidisciplinary Training Areas
      • Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Medicine (AIET)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Cancer Biology (CAB)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cells (DRS)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics (DMT)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Genetics and Genomic Sciences (GGS)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Immunology (IMM)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Microbiology (MIC)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Neuroscience (NEU)
        • Typical Curriculum
  • Chapter 2
    • MD/PhD Program
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
        • Core Graduate School/PhD Curriculum
        • Medical School/MD Curriculum
        • Annual MD/PhD Retreat
        • Milestones and Maximum Time to Degree
      • Advising
      • Thesis/Dissertation
  • Chapter 3
    • Clinical Research Education Program
      • Program Information
      • Program Competencies
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
          • PhD in Clinical Research (PhDCR)
        • Graduation Requirements
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
          • Consequences of failure to maintain satisfactory progress
      • Curriculum
        • CRTP and MSCR Curriculum
        • PhDCR Curriculum
        • Requirements for Coursework on Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR)
        • Independent Study
        • Electives Offered in Other Programs or at Other Institutions
      • Advising
        • Faculty Advisors
        • Near-Peer Mentoring Program
        • Thesis Research Mentors (MSCR)
        • Dissertation Research Mentors (PhDCR)
        • Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MAC)
      • Master's Thesis
        • Registration, Mentor Selection, and Thesis Proposal
        • Master's Thesis First and Final Drafts
        • Timelines for the Master’s Thesis and Forms
        • Student Checkout Requirements
      • Doctoral Dissertation (PhDCR)
        • Written Dissertation Research Proposal
        • Oral Presentation of Dissertation Research Proposal
        • Admission to Candidacy
        • Written Dissertation, Defense, and Deposit
        • PhDCR Timeline and Required Forms
    • MD-MSCR/PORTAL Program
  • Chapter 4
    • MS in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS)
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curriculum Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
      • Advising, Thesis Committee, and Research Mentor
      • Changes to a Research Mentor-Mentee Partnership
        • Mentoring Changes due to the Relocation of the Research Mentor
        • Mentoring Changes due to an Unproductive Partnership
        • Procedures for Dispute Resolution
      • MSBS Thesis
        • Formatting, Depositing, and Defending the Thesis
        • The Master’s Thesis Review Committee
        • Deadlines and Publications
        • Required Forms
      • Master's to PhD
  • Chapter 5
    • MS in Biomedical Data Science (MSBDS)
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
      • Advising
      • Capstone Project
  • Chapter 6
    • MS in Biostatistics Program
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
      • Curriculum
        • Theory and Methods Track
        • Clinical Applications Track
      • Capstone Project
  • Chapter 7
    • MS in Genetic Counseling
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Advising
  • Chapter 8
    • MS in Healthcare Delivery Leadership (MSHCDL)
      • Program Information
      • Program Competencies
      • Program Requirements
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
      • Advising
      • Capstone Project
  • Chapter 9
    • Master in Health Administration (MHA)
      • Program Information
      • Program Competencies
      • Program Requirements
      • Curriculum
      • Advising
      • Internship and Capstone Project
        • Students Enrolled or Pursuing 2 Programs
  • Chapter 10
    • Graduate Program in Public Health
      • Master of Public Health (MPH) and Advanced Certificate in Public Health (ACPH)
        • Program Information
        • Additional Information for International Students
        • Program Competencies
        • Program Requirements
          • Curricular Requirements
            • Master of Public Health
            • MD-MPH Program
            • DPM-MPH Program
            • Mount Sinai Residents and Fellow Physicians
            • Advanced Certificate in Public Health
          • Requirements to Graduate
          • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
          • Students Enrolled or Pursuing 2 Programs
        • Curriculum
          • General Public Health Track
          • Biostatistics Track
          • Outcomes Research Track
          • Global Health Track
          • Health Care Management Track
          • Environmental Health Sciences Specialty Track
          • Epidemiology Track
          • Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Track
          • Advanced Certificate in Public Health
        • Advising
          • Specialty Track Advisors
        • Culminating Experience
          • Description of the Thesis, First Author Manuscript, and Capstone
          • Public Health Research Day
          • Culminating Experience Submission Deadlines
      • Master of Science in Epidemiology
        • Program Information
        • Additional Information for International Students
        • Program Competencies
        • Program Requirements
          • Requirements to Graduate
          • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
        • Curriculum
        • Advising
        • Thesis or First Author Manuscript
          • Public Health Research Day
          • Thesis/Manuscript Submission Deadlines
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  1. Chapter 1
  2. PhD in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience
  3. Advising

Selecting a Research Mentor

PreviousAcademic AdvisorNextChanges to a Research Mentor-Mentee Partnership

Last updated 11 months ago

Selecting a Research Mentor The choice of a research mentor and an associated multidisciplinary training area (MTA) by the student (mentee), as well as the mentor’s acceptance of the mentee, should be regarded as a mutual commitment. This partnership is based on the understanding that the student will remain with their chosen research mentor until the thesis is completed. Students should select a mentor only after completing a period of research rotation. Both mentor and mentee should use the as a basis to make sure that both parties are aware of their respective responsibilities and expectations, and apply the knowledge and skills from the “Responsible Conduct of Research” training (Course Code BSR1021). Such a partnership relies on open and transparent lines of communication to ensure understanding of the mentoring partnership and enhance the mentee’s training experience.

Students must understand that their research mentor is a primary mentor, providing research direction and career guidance. Research mentors are expected to foster the student’s independence, encourage collaborative work, presentations, and departmental seminar participation, introduce the student to colleagues, assist with manuscript writing and submission for publication, help identify and address strengths and weaknesses, and support career development. However, other faculty who take particular interest in the student’s growth and development as scientists may also serve as important mentors. Students are encouraged, with the guidance of their mentors and advisors, to develop relationships with those faculty whom they feel can provide significant research, career, and personal guidance, and may choose to include these faculty members on their thesis advisory committee (see section on to follow).

Disagreements or disputes may arise between a mentee and their research mentor, thesis advisory committee, or MTA. These disputes may arise from the student’s laboratory training experiences or from concerns that the student’s academic progress is not meeting the expectations of the thesis advisory committee, MTA, and/or mentor. In such circumstances, every effort should be made to rectify these issues before they escalate into a situation that could make the mentor(s)-mentee partnership non-productive. Procedures for mediating disputes are outlined in Changes to a Mentor-Mentee Partnership which follow.

Irreconcilable differences that are not resolved by mediation may necessitate a change in the mentor(s)-mentee partnership, thesis advisory committee, or MTA. Such changes may be instigated by the mentor(s) or mentee, and policies and procedures to make such changes are outlined in Changes to a Mentor-Mentee Partnership which follow.

For MD/PhD students, the choice of a research mentor and MTA is done through lab rotations during the first two summers in the MD/PhD program. MD/PhD students end their second year in the program with being accepted into the laboratory of a Graduate Faculty member.

Each PhD student should complete the before the end of the second semester in the Program. MD/PhD program strongly encourages its students to submit this form by March 1 of the second year/ fourth semester in the Program; however, for the form deadline is June 30 of that year. At this time, the student must also select at least three members for an Advisory Committee. Committee members should be selected because of their ability to provide scientific and/or technical support for the dissertation project. Advisory Committee members must be members of the Graduate Faculty. Two Advisory Committee members are experts in the area of the student’s research; a third member must be from a related field but need not be expert in the student’s area of research.

MD/PhD students are encouraged to add a clinical/translational (C/T) investigator, who need not be a member of the Graduate Faculty, to their Advisory Committee to provide feedback about the C/T impact of their research. This Form should be submitted to the Graduate School Office with all the required signatures as soon as possible, but no later than June 30.

One indication of satisfactory progress in the Program is the demonstration of the potential for research and the timely selection of a mentor and MTA. PhD students are expected to declare a dissertation advisor and MTA no later than 12 months after matriculation. MD/PhD students are expected to declare by the end of the second year in the Program.

The choice of a research mentor by the student and the acceptance of that student by the future research mentor should be considered a commitment on the part of both parties that the student will remain with the chosen research mentor until the thesis is completed. If a student is contemplating a change in research mentor or MTA, or, if the research mentor is unsatisfied with the academic progress of the student, mediation should be sought to remedy this situation by first meeting with the MTA Director and the student’s Advisory Committee. (MD/PhD students should also confer with the MSTP directors.) If necessary, the Dean of the Graduate School may also meet with the student and their research mentor. Movement between MTAs is permitted if the student is certified, in writing by the MTA Director(s), to be in good academic standing by the original MTA and is accepted, in writing, by the proposed MTA. Students who are contemplating a change must discuss this fully with the current research mentor. These changes invariably involve some loss of time and dislocation to both student and research mentor and possibly extra coursework. Careful guidance by the student’s Advisory Committee will reduce the number of such changes and will increase the likelihood that those changes that do occur are productive.

Compact for PhD Students and Preceptors
Thesis Advisory Committee
Dissertation Advisor/MTA Declaration Form