Peer Mentorship Program
Current Biophysics graduate students established a framework for a formalized Biophysics graduate student support network in 2021. This program exists to support the development of personal, academic, and career goals for early career scientists through intentional relationship building of mentorship networks prior to throughout graduate school. Peer mentorship groups are composed of 3-6 students across class years. Each group decides their own preferred meeting time, frequency, and format. Monthly reminders are provided by email with a suggested conversation topic. We hope that this program fosters the following:
- An opportunity for observational learning
- Sharing experiences, challenges, and triumphs with peers
- Encouraging asking for help often, early, and effectively
- Establishing independence, individuality, and allow for evolving self-determined success metrics
- Strengthening the climate within the program through student-only interactions
- Providing a forum for students to be empowered to actively help one another achieve their goals
- Solidifying the strength of the Biophysics program and maintain strong involvement from current and former trainees
- Normalizing having a mentorship network or set of mentors rather than relying on just one individual at any given time