Mentor roles and responsibilities
Pharm Ds working on their scholarly projects have two mentors: an assigned faculty mentor from the USC School of Pharmacy, and a chosen mentor who can be anyone with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience to serve as a research mentor (e.g. a USC faculty member from any school, preceptor, or other health care professional).
Mentors must be named on the initial project proposal, and are encouraged to collaborate with students on research planning and design. Mentors' work with students is the first check to ensure the proposed research meets FINER criteria (Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant). Mentors are also expected to guide students throughout the research and poster creation processes, but each group will have different needs for support in these times.
The tabs above provide information resources and help for each step of the research process. The materials linked are available to all USC students, staff, faculty, and preceptors. You may use these sources throughout your work with students in addition to sharing your own preferred sources.
Learn about mentoring for research
Pharmacy research : a how-to guide for students, residents, and new practitioners by ISBN: 1582122415Publication Date: 2015Includes several chapters with guidance for mentors and building a mentoring research relationship.
Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Science: Strategies for SuccessThis book is written for those mentoring students who only conduct research. Regardless, it includes helpful information on communication between mentor and mentees, and practical advice for mentoring to encourage diversity.
- Caponi SN, Osei-Sraha B. The Importance of Mentoring. Pharmacy Times, 2011.Brief article from Pharm D students on the role of mentors vs preceptors.
- Best Practices for Mentors (Northwestern University)Northwestern University surveyed successful mentors and compiled this site of tips.
- How to Mentor Graduate Students (University of Michigan)This guidebook includes some processes and systems unique to the University at which it was made, but also provides a succinct overview of research mentor's functions, roles, and methods of achieving success.
Forms for mentors
Forms and registration information for mentors. Coming soon!