A tool for clarifying expectations in undergraduate research experiences

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Education
• Organizational Management

Background:

• Clear expectations are crucial for effective education and management.
• Internship programs require structured guidance for success.
• Mentorship in research experiences benefits both trainees and mentors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a simple intervention, the Expectation Clarity Tool, for clarifying expectations in undergraduate research internships.
• To assess the impact of this tool on community college interns and their mentors in biotech settings.
• To determine if the tool improves understanding, confidence, and overall internship outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Mentors used the Expectation Clarity Tool to define project expectations, success metrics, and support strategies.
• Interns independently completed a similar exercise to identify knowledge gaps.
• Mentors shared their completed tools with interns.

Main Results:

• The majority of mentors reported increased confidence, new mentoring skills, and improved trainee relationships.
• Most interns reported increased confidence and a positive impact on internship success.
• The intervention positively affected mentor-intern relationships and perceived internship outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The Expectation Clarity Tool is an effective intervention for enhancing communication and setting clear expectations in research internships.
• This simple tool benefits both mentors and interns, leading to improved confidence and internship success.
• The findings suggest a transferable model for improving mentorship in various educational and organizational contexts.