Mentoring in biomedical science graduate programs: a student's perspective

The traditional model for the mentoring of graduate students has been for the student to receive all formal mentoring from the thesis advisor, the laboratory principal investigator (PI). While this continues to be a successful model for some students, other students find that they need or desire additional mentors during their graduate career. Graduate programs have a responsibility to provide their students with increased mentoring opportunities. Three means that graduate programs could use to serve the diverse needs of students are discussed as well as the potential benefits to the program and the students.