JPL Mentors | Mentoring Tips
These notes are directed to JPL staff serving as mentors of students conducting
research projects at JPL who are registered through the Caltech Student-Faculty
Programs Office in SURF, MURF, Axline Scholars, USRP, Space Grant,
or PGGURP. Students in all of these programs have the status of Fellows
and come to JPL as Affiliates.
Who May Serve as a Mentor?
Any member of the JPL technical staff may serve as a mentor.
The Role and Responsibilities of the Mentor
The primary role of the mentor is to serve as the senior partner in a collaboration
with the student. It is important that the student be offered, and
eventually accept, intellectual responsibility for his/her own project, but
for most students the project will be the first research experience, so the
mentor has also to be a teacher and a coach as well as a partner.
The primary responsibilities of the mentor are to prepare for the student’s
arrival and to help the student meet all of the requirements of the program
under which the student is registered; however, there are a number of specific
responsibilities that each mentor will have in preparing for the project
and in guiding the student through it during the summer:
- Write a Project Description outlining the background, motivation,
and objectives of the project and the nature of the work the student will
do; stating any hazards to which the student may be exposed in carrying
out the work and the specialized training that must be completed before
the work may begin; providing literature references or web sites where
the student will be able to learn more about the subject; and giving contact
information.
- Consult with the student on the planning of the project
and review a draft of the student's project plan. Note that the proposal
or project plan must be the student’s product; the mentor may not
write it, but may and should provide advice and guidance during its preparation.
- Make sure that the mentor’s organization is aware
of the date of arrival of the student and that preparations have been made
to provide a place for the student to sit, a computer, and a telephone.
- During the summer, oversee the student's work on the project
and consult at regular and appropriate intervals. If the mentor will be
away, he or she should designate a co-mentor or colleague to supervise
the student.
- Sign the progress reports and abstract which the student
must submit throughout the summer. Mentors must authorize someone to sign
the reports in their absence. Mentors should use the progress reports as
an opportunity to discuss research progress, problems, etc. Students should
use the reports to practice technical writing skills.
- Collaborate with the student in writing the abstract and
final report. The paper must be submitted prior to the student's departure
from JPL.
- Help the student prepare for the oral presentation during
the week of JPL Summer Seminar Day, held during the last week of the program.
An oral report is a requirement for all the students registered through
SFP.
- Ensure that the student will have an audience for his or
her talk.
- Contact the Student-Faculty Programs Office (sfp@caltech.edu or
call 626.395.2885) or the JPL Education Office (Petra.A.Kneissl-Milanian@jpl.nasa.gov or
818.354.0726).
