Application of the Salient Practices Framework for Undergraduate Research Mentoring in Virtual Environments

Abstract

Undergraduate research is an excellent example of student engagement that leads to numerous benefits for the student and faculty. However, for students to gain the most from the experience, high-quality mentorship is needed.

Effectiveness of online social science undergraduate research experiences: Exploratory evidence

“…Developing a feeling of community in a virtual space are currently underdeveloped skills by students and mentors. These findings are echoed in recent research done in the exercise sciences with online UREs (Hall et al, 2021). Interestingly, similar to access, we see that online students positively associate virtual UREs with connection that can be lacking in their regular online classes and that can lead to academic success (Ragusa and Crampton, 2018).…”

“…Similar to another recent study (Samad et al, 2021), our study suggests that regular points of contact are essential to ensuring students feel connected when completing tasks fully virtually. Mentorship that can help build students' sense of community virtually can include: planning, setting clear expectations, teaching the necessary methods (via video recording or synchronous meetings), having a balance of expectations along with emotional support, having group and one-on-one meetings, providing leadership and mentoring opportunities, and providing professional development and opportunities to present research (Hall et al, 2021;2). 10.3389/feduc.2022.849908 One of the biggest challenges identified by mentors was finding appropriate tasks for undergraduates that did not require the handling of physical materials.…”

Robust Institutional Support and Collaboration Between Summer Training Programs in Cancer and Biomedicine Drive the Pivot to a Virtual Format in Response to the COVID Pandemic

“…The development and support of mentor-trainee relationships is integral to program success and particularly important in a virtual setting as documented in studies of mentoring outcomes during the pandemic [ 11 – 13 ]. To enhance this critical channel of communication, mentors connected with interns on a daily basis to review progress, answer questions, and discuss problems.…”

“…These interactions, as well as virtual lab meetings, served to enhance the trainee’s sense of inclusion through direct connections with members of the research team. This team-building component of this relationship has emerged as an important aspect of effective mentoring in a virtual setting [ 11 – 13 ]. An increased focus on mentor interactions was successful in enhancing mentor-trainee relationships as exemplified in trainee survey comments such as “I have continued working with my mentor after the program ended and he just submitted our paper.…”

“…In fact, 36% mentors across all 2020 OSR programs mentored more than one trainee. This training strategy can involve trainees from one or multiple programs and offers benefits for both the mentor and trainees that are particularly relevant in a virtual environment [ 13 ]. Specifically, trainees may work as a team on complementary aspects of one project or may have individual projects that are related to a larger research question.…”