Exploring Mentoring in the Context of Team Science.

Area of Science:

• Team Science
• Mentoring
• Postdoctoral Research

Background:

• Limited understanding of postdoctoral scholars' career trajectories toward independence.
• The crucial role of mentoring in academic research development is under-explored.
• The impact of team science principles on postdoctoral training is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the team science framework's influence on collaboration and independent researcher development.
• To examine the perspectives of both mentors and mentees on this process.
• To identify key factors in successful postdoctoral training within collaborative research environments.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with faculty mentors and their postdoctoral mentees.
• A convenience sampling strategy was employed to recruit participants.
• Qualitative thematic analysis was used to interpret interview data.

Main Results:

• Mentees identified themes of collaboration, mentoring evaluation, and resource exploration.
• Mentors discussed scholarly productivity, mentoring styles, team culture, T32 scholar development, and program evaluation.
• Scholars experienced a collaborative atmosphere fostered by mentors, enhancing their scientific thinking.

Conclusions:

• The team science framework, supported by effective mentoring, promotes collaboration and scientific thinking in postdoctoral scholars.
• Mentors play a vital role in cultivating an environment conducive to developing independent researchers.
• Further research should include all team members' perspectives to understand team dynamics comprehensively.