Co-sponsored by the Graduate Career Consortium and National Postdoctoral Association

REGISTER: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2081434&group=

Graduate students and postdocs are often asked to mentor undergraduate students, summer interns, rotation students, or research assistants while simultaneously making progress on their own research and career goals. Mentoring can be rewarding while providing an opportunity to develop leadership and teaching skills. However, mentoring can also be challenging, especially when done at the wrong time or without necessary boundaries, appropriate training, and support from your PI. 

Mentoring From the Middle is a three-part workshop series designed for PhD students and postdocs. The series provides practical strategies for building productive mentoring relationships, supporting learning, and addressing problems before they become unmanageable. The goal is to help you find balance between being a supportive mentor and  protecting your own time, research, and professional development. 

We highly encourage attendance at all three sessions; there is no charge for attendance.  

UNIT I. Setting the Stage for Success

Tuesday. September 22, 2026. Noon – 1 pm ET

In this webinar we will explore factors to consider in advance of mentoring a student and discuss how to engage with interns through the on-boarding and orientation process. Communication related to research projects, boundaries, and expectation setting, will be discussed within the context of psychological safety and belonging in the mentoring relationship and group.

UNIT II. Factors That Influence Growth and Learning

Tuesday. October 6th, 2026. Noon – 1 pm (ET)

In this webinar, we will explore factors that influence motivation and student learning with a focus on how effective mentoring can help students build confidence in their research and research-related skills. We will provide practical strategies to cultivate resilience in students who experience imposter fears and who struggle to maintain motivation in response to mistakes, setback, and disappointment. 

UNIT III. Feedback and Communication Skills to Promote Learning

Tuesday. October 20, 2026. Noon – 1 PM (ET)

Even strong mentoring relationships experience challenges which can only be resolved through clear and open communication engaging both the mentor and mentee. In this webinar we will discuss how to cultivate a positive feedback culture and will provide models and tools for providing effective feedback. We will also discuss balancing support for student learning with outside resources, responsibility and accountability and will explore when and how to engage others in resolving situations.