Attending a meeting as a student can seem intimidating, and ASBC wants to help students navigate the waters. For the 2019 ASBC Meeting, the Program Committee will pair student attendees with experienced ASBC members for informal conversation and casual networking. We are seeking both mentors and student mentees for the 2019 ASBC Meeting.
What is the Student Mentorship Program?
The Student Mentorship Program will pair up veteran ASBC members with first-time student attendees so that they can get as much as possible out of their time at the meeting. While the program will only last as long as the meeting, the tips learned, insights gained, and contacts made will all last much longer and will be the first step toward a lifelong relationship with ASBC.
This program is hosted by the ASBC Program Committee and is open to both student attendees as well as those interested in showing new faces the ropes.
This is not your traditional mentor-mentee program. The Student Mentorship Program is limited to a small group to ensure positive interactions for all involved. Sign up when you register for the 2019 ASBC Meeting.
Participant Expectations
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Mentors and mentees contact each other by email prior to the meeting and tell each other a little about themselves. Either the mentor or the mentee can initiate the email exchange.
- We suggest that mentors and mentees arrange to meet in the registration area and attend the June 24 Opening Session and Keynote together. We also suggest arranging a third meeting place and time during the meeting. For example, make specific plans to meet in the poster area over lunch or at a specific session is a good idea.
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Mentors will share reflections on their experiences at ASBC meetings and try to introduce their mentees to other attendees they know. The point is to develop ideas and strategies for these student attendees to get all the benefits of attending the meeting. Some potential discussion topics:
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What sessions do you plan on attending that are relevant to your professional interests?
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Who should I try to meet before the end of the meeting?
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Is there a strategy to visiting the posters, making the rounds at networking events, or getting the most out of technical sessions or workshops?
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How do you use the meeting as a springboard for new ideas, new projects, or professional development in general?
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Mentors should also help introduce and explain advanced scientific concepts and be available to answer their mentee’s questions as they come up.
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It is appropriate for mentees to prepare a few questions in advance for their mentor about areas of interest and networking.
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Some mentors and mentees stay in contact after the meeting, but this is not an expectation.