Mentoring Academy

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Mentor Academy

The Mentor Academy is designed to develop the mentoring skills of MCCTR-funded investigators, young investigators, and faculty members who wish to serve as mentors for MCCTR investigators. Eligible applicants include faculty members and young investigators at Tougaloo College, UMMC, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Mississippi-Oxford, Mississippi State University, and other colleges and universities in Mississippi.

The academy consists of seven sessions (1-2 hours each) related to topics ranging from effective communication, aligning expectations, assessment of understanding, fostering independence of trainees, and promoting professional development. These sessions will take place during the 2025-2026 school year and will occur biweekly from October through December 2026. The specific dates are TBD based on the participant and facilitator schedules.

Faculty with established mentoring and funding track records will serve as facilitators for each topic. Success will be determined by two outcomes. First, all participants will be able to articulate their approach to mentoring at the conclusion of the sessions. Second, all participants will complete a survey that will serve as an assessment tool to evaluate program efficacy for each class and compare data longitudinally.

Applications

The Mississippi Center for Clinical Translation and Research is currently preparing for the 11th Annual Mentor Academy. Applications consist of the application face page, a curriculum vitae, a 1-2 page application letter of interest, and a letter of support from your department chair or a senior faculty member. The MCCTR will begin accepting applications in Fall 2026.

Syllabus 

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to develop both mentoring skills and grant writing skills of MCCTR funded investigators as well as faculty members who wish to serve as mentors for MCCTR investigators.

Participants will receive training in topics ranging from effective communication, aligning expectations, assessment of understanding, fostering independence of trainees, and promoting professional development. Faculty with established mentoring and funding track records will serve as facilitators for each topic. Success will be determined by two outcomes. First, all participants will be able to articulate their approach to mentoring at the conclusion of the sessions. Second, all participants will complete a survey that will serve as an assessment tool to evaluate program efficacy for each class and compare data longitudinally.

List of session numbers and applicable topics

Session #

Week of 

Session Topics#

1

(In-person)

9/09

  • Orientation and Program Expectations
  • Rewards and Challenges of Mentoring
  • Assessing Your Mentoring Style
  • Addressing All Forms of Discrimination

2

09/16  

  • Aligning Expectations (IDPs and Effective Communication)
  • Setting and Respecting Boundaries

3

09/23

  • "Research Team Meetings": Discussing and Guiding the Science
  • Assessing Understanding

4

09/30

  • Formal Research Training Plans
  • Fostering and Transitioning to Independence

5

10/14

  • Promoting Professional Development
  • Understanding Faculty Advancement

6

10/21

  • Grant Writing

* Meeting dates will be determined in order to ensure that all participants attend.

Required Text and Other Learning Resources:

Mentor Training for Biomedical Researchers. Christine Pfund, Christopher Brace, Janet Branchaw, Jo Handelsman, Kristyn Masters, and Lillian Nanney. Part of the W.H. Freeman Entering Mentoring Series, 2014

# Additional resources for each session topic will be provided in advance of each session date.

For more information