What is a BUMP Trainee Research Mentor?
There are three things that we envision a Research Mentor doing.
1. Application assistance: For BUMP mentees who are applying to summer research programs in 2022, Research Mentors will help BUMP mentees prepare their applications. It remains true that one of the best ways to bolster your CV as a STEM undergraduate is to get hands-on research experience.
2. Off-the-bench mentorship: Research Mentors will provide an informal means for BUMP mentees to gain access to and support within research spaces at the University. Research Mentors will also help students explore and develop their scientific interests through regular conversation and help students connect with potential faculty mentors. As research trainees, we don't always realize how valuable our networks and institutional knowledge can be to students who have limited experience in an academic research environment. Note that this responsibility is an off-the-bench arrangement that involves meeting monthly (give or take) to discuss science.
3. Lab mentorship: If possible, Research Mentors will also host BUMP mentees for summer or academic-year research. This is a bench mentorship, in which you will be guiding a BUMP mentee through their own research project. We at BUMP have acquired funding to pay our mentees for their research work and will be releasing a funding application for our mentees soon. If your mentee is admitted into SURF, this bench mentorship can begin in Summer 2022.
Questions & Answers
Q: What level of experience does a BUMP Research Mentor need to have in order to be a successful mentor? For example, could a first or second year graduate student do a good job at items (2) and (3)?
A: We believe that first and second year graduate students can be really good mentors and have valuable insight to share about making it through college and applying to graduate school with our undergraduate mentees. We encourage you to be able to support the students in any way you are able to, but also remain aware of your boundaries and communicate them with us coordinators. We want to honor your limitations. If it’s not the right time for you right now, that’s okay - BUMP Biology is growing, and we aim to be around for a while!
Q: What’s the necessary level of PI involvement in the process of selecting undergraduates to work in the lab? Does the PI need to fund the BUMP mentee? Will we place BUMP mentees in labs based on their particular set of skills?
A: We have acquired limited funding to pay BUMP mentees for their research. Ensuring a livable salary is an important cornerstone of our program. It is our hope that with your help, we can assist BUMP mentees find paid research experiences by helping them apply to existing research fellowships at Columbia and Barnard, like SURF and the SRI, and other institutions across the country and abroad. If they cannot secure an external fellowship, they can apply directly to BUMP Biology for a research stipend on a semesterly basis. We also realize that it’s important to place BUMP mentees in labs where they can explore their interests and skills and acquire new ones. We will be mindful about the process of placing undergraduates in labs where they can thrive.
Q: What if I’m not a biologist? What if I’m more of a computational scientist, engineer, or systems neuroscientist?
A: No worries, we’ll do our best to pair you with a mentee who shares your research interests. Currently, most of our mentee applicants come from Biology and Neuroscience majors, and a lot of them are on pre-medical tracks, but there are other majors represented in our BUMP cohort. Also, if you’re an MD/PhD, we’ll work on pairing you with a student who also wants to do an MD/PhD. Even if your research interests aren’t perfectly aligned, it’s okay - if you can help your mentee dive deeper into the Columbia research community, then that’s great. The goal is to make research accessible and welcoming.
Q: What does item 2 (“off-the-bench mentorship”) entail?
A: Consider item 2 as an introduction to the world of research. Our goal in this program is to provide these students with a connection to the academic research community at Columbia, within which they will have access to research opportunities and experiences. For mentors, you are expected to support the student through their transition to a research lab (this may not necessarily mean your research lab, unless you also elect to take on item 3) and help them if they have any questions or concerns. This may entail helping them hone their research interests, giving advice on how to approach PIs, and connecting them to individuals in labs that can advocate for them when they apply for research positions.
Q: What are the weekly requirements for being a mentor?
A: You are expected to meet with your mentee at least twice per month through a virtual call (e.g. zoom) or phone call. Between live meetings, we encourage you to have regular communication with your mentee to make them feel comfortable and supported. This means talking about your personal experiences as an undergraduate, applying to graduate school, attending graduate school, and conducting research or leadership experience. If your lab is currently recruiting undergraduates, we encourage you to ask whether your mentee is interested in this opportunity or direct them to other available research opportunities.
Q: Some international Research Mentor applicants are concerned that they’re not familiar enough with the US system to be much help in certain situations. Some applicants are also concerned that they’re not familiar enough with Columbia either. What should these mentors do?
A: Your BUMP mentee will also be paired with a Career Mentor from Columbia’s Black Alumni Council. If there is something specific about Columbia or the US education system that your mentee has questions about, you can always suggest that they approach their Career Mentor, who will have direct experience in these environments. Your mentorship is still valuable because of your current experience as a Columbia research scientist and your connection to the academic community. Remember that many BUMP mentees have never had any research experience before. Also, don’t forget that if you get questions that you can’t answer, you can always reach out to us coordinators at bumpbiology@columbia.edu.
Q: Are these students from Columbia/affiliates or is it open to candidates regardless of their current affiliations?
A: Currently, BUMP Biology is only open to Columbia and Columbia affiliates, but we are hoping to expand in the future.
Q: I don’t think my mentor/mentee match is working. We have conflicting interests, or they have goals that I don’t think I can help them with. What should I do?
A: If you don’t think your mentee is a good fit for you, please reach out to us via email (bumpbiology@columbia.edu)! We can work on reassigning you and your mentee. We’d rather know about this early than have you and your mentee stay in a relationship that isn’t productive or satisfying for either of you.
Q: BUMP Research Mentors were given a folder with their mentee’s application materials. Can we share this folder with our mentee and use this space to collaborate on documents?
A: Use the provided resources as you see fit, but if you do share the folder with your mentee, don’t put sensitive information in there. Email us instead (bumpbiology@columbia.edu).
Q: How do we keep our mentee on top of their deadlines?
A: If your mentee is struggling to stick to their deadlines, try scheduling a meeting with them to work on items together. BUMP coordinators can also step in and help keep them up, so keep us in the loop.
Q: Will there be in-person undergraduate research at Columbia this year?
A: There is both in-person and virtual research work that will be available this year through various Columbia research labs.
Q: How are mentors paired with mentees?
A: We pair mentors with mentees based on shared research and personal interests and availability. The lab mentorship component will also be based on this.
Q: Are you still looking for labs in which to place BUMP mentees?
A: Yes, we are still looking for available labs/mentors for BUMP mentees to partake in undergraduate research.
Q: How much would it cost to fund a student for the summer?
A: In our experience, PIs are often not willing to fund undergraduates who don’t have previous research experience, but it’s great if your PI is willing to pay someone. The current average stipend for summer research programs is $5000, when housing is guaranteed.
Q: If I guide my BUMP mentee through a summer research project, how important is it that the summer project actually gets finished during the summer program? Can the project continue beyond the summer program? Does the BUMP program require a write-up from the mentees at the end of the program?
A: Their summer project doesn’t have to be finished at the end of the summer. It can continue into the academic year. We do not require a write-up, but it’s important for the student to be able to reflect upon and explain their project, especially when they are applying to graduate school or medical school. If your mentee is in a specific program (e.g. SURF), then they will need to adhere to the rules of that program.
Q: If I were to have a mentee at the bench, how do I give them a project that’s exciting for them but manageable for both of us?
A: We suggest that the mentee do a spinoff of the mentor’s project, so that they can contribute to the mentor’s project but also have their own thing to make them excited.
Q: How do we guide people who have never done science before to start thinking about science?
A: Encourage your mentee to ask questions, and be open and honest when you don’t have an answer. Mentors should also walk their mentees through their own projects and background. Also, keep in mind that your mentee also has a second mentor: the BAC Career Mentors. You can encourage your mentee to ask their Career Mentor questions that you can’t answer. You can also reach out to us coordinators as well.