For SMART Faculty Mentors

Interested in being a SMART mentor? Read more about what the SMART program offers students and complete a research mentor commitment form by Jan. 23, 2026. Be sure to indicate whether you can fund a student or if you request the SMART program to fund a student. We will try out best to find a good match depending on research interests and funding.

Once matched, review the participant's application to become familiar with the student's background, experience, abilities and interests.

Before the program begins:

• Communicate with the student to recommend reading.
• Plan a project that is suitable for the participant and of benefit to your lab's goals. Provide the participant with a written outline of the project.
• Make sure members of your lab understand the participant is to be treated as a colleague, as a part of the scientific community.

Once the SMART program session begins:

• Meet with the student early in the summer to discuss the project and your lab environment. Make your requirements known to the student.
• Discuss the student's goals and how his/her efforts this summer can move him/her closer toward those goals.
• Maintain a sufficient level of contact with the student and supervisor to monitor the student's progress. Let the student know how he/she is progressing.
• Provide advice for further career development. Share your personal experiences with the student.
• Provide the program director with feedback regarding the student's performance. Advise the program director of any significant problems that arise in time to take action to solve the problem.

A good mentor can help a mentee understand the system and facilitate career advancements. Here are a few additional reasons why mentors matter, and what being a mentor means.

• A mentor can contribute to, but is not responsible for, the success of the mentee.
• Mentors can relate to mentees from completely different backgrounds.
• A mentor can encourage someone to make appropriate choices and develop plans for succeeding. Building self-confidence is important to career development.
• A mentor can help a mentee gain opportunities for development.
• Your mentee is not you. Every person is unique and can be helped to develop individual talents, sometimes exceeding everyone's expectations.