First Year Mentoring Group Information
The first year mentoring groups were created to support our first year students as they transition into graduate school. Within the Biomedical Sciences Program, the groups offer students with a “home base” until choosing a research mentor in the spring/summer. The small groups are comprised of a graduate faculty member and one to two advanced graduate students. Each mentoring group will discuss wide ranging topics, including graduate school expectations, laboratory rotation selections, preparing for core course exams, and preparing for rotation practice talks. Students are encouraged to actively participate in group discussion and to feel comfortable asking questions and providing feedback. There is a schedule of weekly topics that will be provided to the group. The outline each week is handled by a different advanced student member. Groups will meet in various conference rooms on the 3rd floor of the Harrell Medical Education Building.
The groups will meet on Thursdays from 11:00-12:00 during the fall semester. Depending on group feedback and student need, the groups may or may not meet during the spring semester.
2017 Group Information
Fall 2017 schedule:
| Date/Time/Place | Topic |
| TBA R1-106 | Pre SGM (Faculty and Student co-mentors)w |
| Thursday, 17 August/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Introductions Outline |
| Thursday, 24 August/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Choosing a Lab Rotation |
| Thursday, 31 August/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Graduate School Expectations |
| Thursday, 7 September/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Preparing for exams (GMS 6001 exam I, September 15) |
| Thursday, 14 September/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Writing Chapters/Research Papers -plagiarism |
| Thursday, 21 September/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Rotation Expectations – write-up |
| Thursday, 28 September/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Preparing for exams (GMS 6001 exam II, October 3) |
| Thursday, 5 October/ 11-1/ HME cluster | First Rotation Talk Practice (presentations 10/9-10/13) |
| Thursday, 12 October/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Journal Clubs and Seminars |
| Thursday, 19 October/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Reading Research Papers (GMS 6001 exam III, October 23) |
| Thursday, 26 October/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Attending Scientific Meetings |
| Thursday, 2 November/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Preparing for Qualifying Exams |
| Thursday, 9 November/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Career/Professional Development (GMS 6001 exam IV, November 13) |
| Thursday, 16 November/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Fellowship Applications |
| Thursday, 30 November/ 11-12/ HME cluster | Choosing Your Research Lab/ Choosing Your Committee (GMS 6001 exam V, December 7) |
| Thursday, 7 December/ 11-1/ HME cluster | Second Rotation Talk practice (presentations 12/11-12/15) |