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"How to Mentor Undergraduate Researchers"
How to Mentor Undergraduate Researchers By Carolyn Ash Merkel California
Institute of Technology and Shenda M. Baker Harvey Mudd College
How to Mentor Undergraduate Researchers is written for faculty members and
other researchers who mentor undergraduates. It provides a concise description
of the mentoring process, including the opportunities and rewards that a
mentoring experience provides to both students and mentors. Expectations of
mentors are contrasted with those of students. While written primarily with
summer research experiences in mind, the booklet contrasts those intensive
experiences with day-to-day mentoring of undergraduate research during the
academic year including senior theses. Advice is valid for both on- and
off-campus research experiences and most academic disciplines. Practical
information includes:
· How to get started · Mentoring tips · Coaching and Training · Helping
the student to develop presentation skills · Letters of recommendation for
students · Resources and references
Special challenges are also reviewed, including:
· How to handle group dynamics · What if the project fails? · How much
should a mentor demand of a student? · How to deal with varying levels of
student knowledge and abilities
"This is a well-written, informative booklet that is ideal for its
intended audience. I believe it will be very valuable for mentors because it
gives informative, flexible guidelines rather than rigid rules that may not be
appropriate for all cases." --- Reviewer
How to Mentor Undergraduate Researchers may be ordered for
$12.00 plus handling and postage. It may be
ordered by mail, fax, or on the CUR website.
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"How To Get A Tenure-Track
Position At A Predominantly Undergraduate Institution"
"How To Get A Tenure-Track Position
at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution" outlines the process of landing a tenure track position at a predominantly undergraduate institution
(PUI). Applying for a tenure track position at a PUI is a fundamentally different process than applying for a tenure track position at a research institution with a large graduate enrollment. Graduate thesis advisors and postdoctoral advisors are sometimes unaware of the culture at undergraduate institutions. This booklet will bridge the information gap between PUIs and research institutions and give you some practical advice that will make your application stand out from the rest. Topics covered include a description of what a job at a PUI is like, how to prepare yourself for such a position during graduate school and in your postdoctoral years, preparing the application itself, details of the interview process, and negotiating the contract.
This booklet is aimed primarily at current graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty in temporary positions. Those who counsel graduate students as they seek jobs will want to offer this booklet as a handy guide. Faculty members and deans who are hiring will also find useful insights into the process that will improve the hiring process.
Reviewers write:
"I think this booklet is really excellent and will be very helpful to individuals and the community as a whole."
" I think that the manuscript does a very good job of conveying a picture of what life in a PUI is like, and how to prepare for and perform well during the interview. I think many potential faculty will find it to be a valuable resource."
"I wish I'd known some of these things when I interviewed for my first job. And now that I'm hiring myself, I can see how to make the process more humane and fair to candidates."
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"How To
Develop and Administer Institutional Undergraduate Research Programs"
- A step-by-step approach to
developing and managing a campus-wide undergraduate research initiative
- Commentaries on
undergraduate research issues relating to faculty, students and curricula
- Common practices and
surveys
- Useful vignettes
"This manual provides a guide to the crucial
questions that must be raised and answered at various stages in the decision-making and implementation
process...[It is] a much needed guide for the institutions that wish to begin or expand an
undergraduate research program , while at the same time it offers fresh ideas and evaluation tools
for more experienced institutions."
- Larry Wilson,
Past President , Marietta College
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"How To Get Started in Research"
 This booklet provides useful information on
beginning a research program and finding support for the program from both
administrators and funding agencies. Appendices give advice on writing grant
proposals and hosting poster sessions. A list of funding sources for faculty at
PUIs is included. This is a must have booklet for new faculty and is also useful
for faculty with established research programs who want to begin or expand their program
with undergraduates.
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Reinvigorating the Undergraduate Experience:
Successful Models Supported by NSF’s AIRE/RAIRE Program
Edited by Linda Kauffman and Janet Stocks, Carnegie Mellon University
This 40-page booklet summarizes twenty successful models for undergraduate research, both in the classroom and as mentored undergraduate research outside the classroom. Each chapter includes challenges and how they were overcome. Some special topics are:
- Research across the disciplines
- Peer mentors and teaching fellows
- Problem-based learning
- Civic responsibility and
undergraduate research
- Research activities in the education
of teachers
- Undergraduate research abroad
- Assessment of innovative programs
The authors include faculty and administrators from both undergraduate institutions and research universities. Each chapter represents a school that won a special award from the National Science Foundation for success in integrating research and undergraduate education. There is a forward by Joseph
Bordogna, Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation, an Introduction by the Editors, and a Postscript by CUR’s National Executive Officer Elaine Hoagland.
Copies are available for $15.00 plus shipping and handling. They can be ordered by
by mail, fax, or online.
On-line Order Form
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