Discussion Topics
Mentees, are you not sure what to talk about with your mentor? Mentors, are you looking for articles to share with your groups? Check out the links below for some curated articles relating to the following discussion topics:
Advisor / Advisee Relationships
Maintaining a positive relationship with your advisor and navigating difficult conversations with them can be an incredibly difficult part of graduate school. Here are some resources on managing up and maintaing positive relationships in lab:
- Dysfunctional Advisee-Advisor Relationships: Methods for Negotiating Beyond Conflict (Science Careers article)
- Managing your Advisor (Blog by Nick Feamster and Alex Gray)
- Dear Advisee: What your Advisor Wants you to Know (APA article)
Careers Outside Academia
More and more often, PhD students are leaving academia after graduation, and these paths are no longer "alternative careers." Still, it can be difficult to get advice about transitioning out of academia; hopefully these links help:
- From Academia to Industry: A Short Guide (Nature Jobs blog)
- How to Sail Smoothly from Academia to Industry (Nature Career article)
- Tips For Transitioning into a Non-Research Career (ASM article)
- Transitioning From Academia to Industry: Perspectives from Indeed’s Data Scientists (Medium blog by Robyn Rap)
Choosing a Lab
Many first year students may want to discuss choosing a lab, and adviser, with their mentor. The links below suggest things to consider when deciding on a lab:
- 52 Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Science Job (Nature Jobs blog)
- How to Choose your Next Lab (BiteSize Bio webinar)
- Choosing a Good Mentor for Scientists (Addgene blog by Joanne Kamens)
- Choosing a Thesis Lab (Science Careers article targeted toward MD/PhD students)
Developing Confidence
Confidence is a key factor to success both in and out of the lab, but can be difficult for women in male-dominated careers. Below are links that discuss how to develop confidence and assertiveness in the workplace.
- The Confidence Gap (The Atlantic article)
- Confidence A Key Success Factor For Women In Startups And STEM (Forbes article)
- For Women To Rise We Must Close "The Confidence Gap" (Forbes article)
- The Confidence Factor for Women: Closing The Gap for Women In STEM (Medium blog by Carol Sankar)
Negotiating
As students near the end of graduate school and start to think about next steps, negotiating position and salaries is a common topic of discussion. Below are some resources that discuss the art and science of negotiation.
- Women and Minorities Negotiating Salaries (Science Careers article)
- A Harvard Professor Explains How Women Can Negotiate Better (The Cut article)
- Choosing a Good Mentor for Scientists (Addgene blog by Joanne Kamens)
- The Art And Science Of Negotiation For Women At Work (Forbes article)
Networking
Knowing how to network successfully is an important skill to learn during graduate school. The links below provide some tips on networking, such as developing your "elevator talk". Your mentor may be able to help you practice your "elevator talk" and give suggestions about how they network.
- Networking Tips for Graduate Students (Nature Jobs blog)
- Not Networking - Building Relationships for Success (Webinar by Joanne Kamens)
Combating Bias in Lab
Women working in male-dominated spaces often face sexism and bias at work. Here are some resources to help handle these situations and combat bias in lab:
- Race- and Gender-Based Bias Persists in US Science (Nature Careers article)
- "Girl Power:" Gendered Academic and Workplace Experiences of College Women in Engineering (Social Sciences article)
- Why Men Don't Believe the Data on Gender Bias in Science (Wired article)
- Gender Discrimination in Science is Especially Common (Scientific American blog by Cary Funk)
Women in Leadership
Developing and asserting one's leadership style is often challenging, but especially so as a woman in a male-dominated field. The links below can serve as a starting point for discussions with your mentor on how to be a leader in your career, either as a PI or outside of academia.
- Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders (TED talk by Sheryl Sandberg). This talk (and her book, Lean In) has been discussed for the past few years and can help kick-off a discussion on being a leader.
- What it Takes to be a Great Leader (TED talk by Roseline Torres). This talk shares general advice on leadership from Roselinde Torres, senior partner and managing director at BCG.
- Becoming the Mentor I Want to Be vs. the Mentor I Need to Be (Medium blog by Dr. Isis)
- The Power of Introverts (TED talk by Susan Cain). Not all leaders are extroverted. This TED talk is great to discuss, especially if you identify as an introverted person.
Work / Life Balance
Graduate school tends to blur the lines between work and life to the point where they may feel like one and the same. These articles might help you find the correct balance and a happier experience in grad school:
- The Happy PhD Zone: How To Maintain A Work-Life Balance In Academia (Blog by Signe Asberg)
- How to Choose your Next Lab (BiteSize Bio webinar)
- The Superwoman Fallacy: What it Really Takes to be an Academic and Parent (Article in The Guardian)
- How do you Achieve Work/Life Balance in Academia? (Nature Jobs blog)
- What is the ‘Right’ Work/Life Balance in Academia? (Blog post)
Other Helpful Links
Here are some other articles, blogs, and more that we've compiled and might be helpful for sparking discussion within your mentoring groups. If you come across any materials that you think would be helpful to others, please send them to us at hgwisementors@gmail.com!
- What Mentors Wish Their Mentees Knew (Harvard Business Review article)