Graduate and Postdoctoral Education offers two separate series of mentoring workshops for graduate students and postdocs, as well as faculty, designed to help research mentors enhance their skills and develop productive relationships with mentees. In order to create a safe space for authentic conversations between participants at similar levels in their careers, we are offering separate sessions for faculty versus graduate students and postdocs.
Registration: Each workshops can be registered for individually – you do not have to sign up for the full set.
Certificate of Completion: Individuals who complete five workshops will receive a certificate of completion. This series is planned to run annually, so there will be additional opportunities to complete the series. If you have already completed a workshop previously, that will also count towards the certificate.
Contact: Please send any questions to Jana Stone, Assistant Vice Provost for Professional Development in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education.
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Mentorship Series for Faculty
Mentoring Conversations: Setting Expectations and Communicating Effectively
Date/Time: November 19: 1-2:30pm
Location: Exhibition Hall- Home Park
Facilitators: Kenyetta Johnson-Taylor and Karena Nguyen
Genius enrollment link: Register now
Description: This session will give you a chance to learn, discuss, and practice strategies for navigating every day and challenging situations with your mentees so that you both can be successful. We will concentrate on setting mutual expectations and maintaining effective communications. The goal of our mentor training is to accelerate the process of becoming an effective research mentor by providing you with an intellectual framework and a forum in which to solve mentoring dilemmas with the help of your peers. By the end of the training, mentors have a toolbox of strategies they can use when faced with difficult mentoring situations. Research mentor training—based upon the book Entering Mentoring—has been tested and shown to be effective in increasing mentoring knowledge, skills, and behavior.
Mentoring Conversations: Fostering Independence and Professional Development
Date/Time: December 11: 11:30-1pm
Location: Exhibition Hall - Centennial
Facilitators: David Anderson and Jana Stone
Description: This session will concentrate on fostering independence and supporting the professional development of mentees. Participants will discuss the progression of graduate students their research and academics, and how mentors can help support their professional skill development at each stage. The goal of our mentor training is to accelerate the process of becoming an effective research mentor by providing you with an intellectual framework and a forum in which to solve mentoring dilemmas with the help of your peers. By the end of the training, mentors have a toolbox of strategies they can use support the long-term success of mentees. Research mentor training—based upon the book Entering Mentoring—has been tested and shown to be effective in increasing mentoring knowledge, skills, and behavior.
Mentoring Conversations: Inclusive Mentoring
Date/Time: January 16: 11-1pm
Location: Pettit Microelectronics Building - 102A Conference Room Pettit
Facilitators: Jana Stone and Kenyetta Johnson-Taylor
Description: Research has shown that faculty interactions with students in the classroom, laboratory, and advising meetings influence students’ professional socialization, academic performance, and persistence in higher education. In this workshop, faculty will reflect on their current advising and mentoring practice and learn how to develop inclusive-minded mentoring relationships. Equity-minded mentors 1) take personal and institutional responsibility for the success of their graduate students, 2) are attentive to the social and historical context of graduate education and how organizational practices shape the experiences of doctoral students, and 3) affirm the social identities of emerging scholars in ways that facilitate their academic, professional, and social development. Activities in this workshop will develop competencies in these areas and will help faculty establish mutual expectations as a tool that establishes shared expectations between mentors and mentees.
Mentoring Conversations: Fostering Well-being
Date/Time: February 6: 11am-12:30pm
Location: Pettit Microelectronics Building - 102A Conference Room Pettit
Facilitators: David Anderson and Kyla Ross
Description: Research has shown that graduate students struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression at higher rates than the general population. While some stress and uncertainty is unavoidable to researchers, research mentors have a direct impact on the wellbeing of members of their research group. By fostering an environment that supports wellbeing, mentors can positively impact mentees’ sense of autonomy, competence, personal growth, and belonging. Developing the skills to have open conversations about the often stigmatized topics of mental health and wellbeing is key to this process
Writing Mentoring Plans for Grant Applications and Using Individual Development Plans
Date/Time: March 6: 11am-12:30pm
Location: Exhibition Hall - Centennial
Facilitator: Jana Stone
Description: Effective mentoring can promote research progress, reduce academic stress, and prepare graduate students for a variety of career pathways. In 2024, the National Science Foundation (NSF) started requiring mentoring plans for graduate students supported by NSF projects. NSF’s latest guidance indicates examples of mentoring activities include, but are not limited to:
- career counseling;
- training in preparation of proposals, publications and presentations;
- guidance on ways to improve teaching and mentoring skills;
- guidance on how to effectively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplinary areas;
- and training in responsible professional practices.
This workshop will include information on:
- writing effective mentoring plans for NSF and other grant proposals;
- identifying and utilizing existing Institute resources to fulfill funding agency requirements;
- tailoring tools like an individual development plan and research group FAQ templates to support the professional development and success of graduate students and postdocs.
Navigating Conflict and Challenging Conversations: Keep Calm and Influence Others
Dates/Times: This workshop is offered monthly in-person or online.
To check for upcoming sessions:
- Login to Geniuss
- Click "View Course Catalog" on the left
- Search course catalog for "Navigating Conflict"
Description: In this workshop, Assistant Vice Provost for Advocacy and Conflict Resolution Kyla Ross will share strategies for navigating conflict and challenging conversations and will provide an overview of resources and contacts at Tech to help navigate challenging situations.
Mentorship Series for Graduate Students and Postdocs
Mentoring Conversations: Setting Expectations and Communicating Effectively
Date/Time: November 12: 1-2:30pm
Location: Pettit Microelectronics Building - 102A Conference Room Pettit
Facilitators: Kenyetta Johnson-Taylor and Karena Nguyen
Genius enrollment link: Register now
Description: This session will give you a chance to learn, discuss, and practice strategies for navigating every day and challenging situations with your mentees so that you both can be successful. We will concentrate on setting mutual expectations and maintaining effective communications. The goal of our mentor training is to accelerate the process of becoming an effective research mentor by providing you with an intellectual framework and a forum in which to solve mentoring dilemmas with the help of your peers. By the end of the training, mentors have a toolbox of strategies they can use when faced with difficult mentoring situations. Research mentor training—based upon the book Entering Mentoring—has been tested and shown to be effective in increasing mentoring knowledge, skills, and behavior.
Fostering Independence and Professional Development
Date/Time: December 12: 11:30-1pm
Location: Exhibition Hall - Centennial
Facilitators: Jana Stone and Karena Nguyen
Genius enrollment link: Register now
Description: This session will concentrate on fostering independence and supporting the professional development of mentees. Participants will discuss the progression of graduate students their research and academics, and how mentors can help support their professional skill development at each stage. The goal of our mentor training is to accelerate the process of becoming an effective research mentor by providing you with an intellectual framework and a forum in which to solve mentoring dilemmas with the help of your peers. By the end of the training, mentors have a toolbox of strategies they can use support the long-term success of mentees. Research mentor training—based upon the book Entering Mentoring—has been tested and shown to be effective in increasing mentoring knowledge, skills, and behavior.
Mentoring Conversations: Inclusive Mentoring
Date/Time: January 23: 11-1pm
Location: Student Success Center- President's Suite C
Facilitators: Kenyetta Johnson-Taylor and Jana Stone
Genius enrollment link: Register now
Description: Research has shown that faculty interactions with students in the classroom, laboratory, and advising meetings influence students’ professional socialization, academic performance, and persistence in higher education. In this workshop, faculty will reflect on their current advising and mentoring practice and learn how to develop inclusive-minded mentoring relationships. Equity-minded mentors 1) take personal and institutional responsibility for the success of their graduate students, 2) are attentive to the social and historical context of graduate education and how organizational practices shape the experiences of doctoral students, and 3) affirm the social identities of emerging scholars in ways that facilitate their academic, professional, and social development. Activities in this workshop will develop competencies in these areas and will help faculty establish mutual expectations as a tool that establishes shared expectations between mentors and mentees.
Mentoring Conversations: Fostering Well-being
Date/Time: February 27: 11am-12:30pm
Location: Pettit Microelectronics Building - 102A Conference Room Pettit
Facilitators: David Anderson and Kyla Ross
Genius enrollment link: Register now
Description: Research has shown that students struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression at higher rates than the general population. While some stress and uncertainty is unavoidable to researchers, research mentors have a direct impact on the wellbeing of members of their research group. By fostering an environment that supports wellbeing, mentors can positively impact mentees’ sense of autonomy, competence, personal growth, and belonging. Developing the skills to have open conversations about the often stigmatized topics of mental health and wellbeing is key to this process
Navigating Conflict and Challenging Conversations: Keep Calm and Influence Others
Dates/Times: This workshop is offered monthly in-person or online.
To check for upcoming sessions:
- Login to Geniuss
- Click "View Course Catalog" on the left
- Search course catalog for "Navigating Conflict"
Description: In this workshop, Assistant Vice Provost for Advocacy and Conflict Resolution Kyla Ross will share strategies for navigating conflict and challenging conversations and will provide an overview of resources and contacts at Tech to help navigate challenging situations.
Crafting an Individual Development Plan and setting goals
Virtual Session
Date/Time: Thursday, January 30, 1 - 2:30 pm
Location: zoom link provided upon enrollment
In-person session
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 20, 11am - 12:30 pm
Location: Exhibition Hall, Buckhead Room
Facilitator: Jana Stone
Description: In this workshop you will learn how drafting an individual development plan can help you identify and develop the skills necessary to be successful in your academic and professional pursuits. You will come away from this session having crafted actionable short-term goals for yourself. You will also learn practical tips on how to develop a network of mentors who can provide feedback and help you prioritize your goals.