#  Learning to mentor AND get the mentoring you need 

 





 Semester:   Summer 

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 Year offered:  2026 

 

 

 

### Course description

  
The goal of this nanocourse is to introduce early-career scientists to skills for mentoring and mentoring up (getting the mentorship you need). You will develop skills for engaging in productive, culturally responsive, research mentoring relationships – relationships that optimize the success of both mentors and mentees – and will relate competencies of effective mentorship to the AAMC essential principles for the Appropriate Treatment of Research Trainees. The content will be relevant to participants’ current mentoring roles (e.g. mentoring undergrads, research assistants/post-baccalaureate trainees, or grad students) as well as future mentoring or management roles.

  
Participants will practice mentoring and mentoring up skills through case scenarios and facilitated discussions to solve mentoring dilemmas and share successful mentorship strategies. Participants will also practice using concrete tools to foster productive mentor-mentee relationships. The nanocourse will use materials from the evidence-based Entering Mentoring and Mentoring Up curricula designed by the Center for Improving Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as the Appropriate Treatment of Research Trainees document developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Research, Education, and Training (GREAT).

###   
Course objectives

  
Participants in this nanocourse will be able to:

1. Describe the key competencies of effective mentorship
2. Describe the key competencies of “mentoring up”
3. Communicate and provide constructive feedback effectively across diverse dimensions including communication style, background, and position of power
4. Assess their mentee’s understanding of core concepts and processes and apply multiple strategies to enhance mentee understanding
5. Describe and apply tools for aligning expectations with their own mentors or mentees
6. Define what “independence” means for mentees at various stages and discuss how to foster mentees’ independence
7. Define self-efficacy and apply strategies to increase mentees’ self-efficacy
8. Discuss the impact that individual, systemic, and cultural biases, prejudices, and norms have on trainees and practice discussing equity and inclusion with mentees
9. Identify steps to fostering wellbeing
10. Describe the characteristics of the three AToRT essential principles that should be upheld by the research community (leadership, professionalism, and equity) and discuss their relevance to key competencies of effective mentorship
11. Provide examples of behaviors that violate each of the AToRT essential principles, as categorized by: loss of personal civility, infringement on autonomy, professional and career development abuses, discriminatory behavior based on identity, and excessive pressure to meet unrealistic expectations.

### Class Schedule

  
**Date:** Friday, June 12, 2026  
**Time:** 9:00 am – 5:00 pm  
**Room location:** TMEC Room 306

###   
Milestone credit & Final Assignment

In order to receive Milestone Credit, students must:

- Attend the **entire nanocourse session**.
- Submit the **Final assignment:** Students will write a one-page reflection assignment after the course.

More information about Milestone Credit can be found [here](https://curriculumfellows.hms.harvard.edu/nanocourses).

###   
Course Team 

  
**Dr. Deepali Ravel**  
Director of Education, Harvard Graduate Program in Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases Consortium, [deepali\_ravel@hms.harvard.edu](mailto:deepali_ravel@hms.harvard.edu)

  
**Dr. Taralyn Tan**  
Assistant Dean for Educational Innovation and Scholarship, [taralyn\_tan@hms.harvard.edu](mailto:taralyn_tan@hms.harvard.edu)

##   
Enrollment limit

  
This nanocourse will be capped at 25 participants and is open to all Harvard-affiliated students, postdocs, and other early career scientists. Priority will be given to people who are currently mentoring a trainee or anticipate serving as a mentor in the next year, however others are welcome to sign up.

### Registration & Deadline

  
Register [here](https://hms.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cuazLD94HgKAVhk) by **Monday, June 1**. We will email you by June 3 to confirm whether you have a spot in the course.

**Registration survey URL:** [https://hms.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV\_cuazLD94HgKAVhk](https://hms.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cuazLD94HgKAVhk)



 

 



 

 See also:- [ Upcoming ](/class-categories/upcoming)