For Residents and Fellows: What to Look for in a Laboratory Research Mentor

Preparing for a laboratory or research-based career in academic medicine involves learning and acquiring a broad set of knowledge, skills, and experiences that facilitate the transition from trainee to faculty member. It also involves identifying and cultivating solid mentor/mentee relationships in the laboratory environment. It is well known that different skill sets and mentoring approaches are necessary for those pursuing laboratory-based research as compared with those needed for clinical practice and patient-oriented research. Here, we discuss several key approaches to help mentees identify fruitful mentor/mentee relationships.