One of the first steps to get started on your research/creative work journey is to identify an available mentor to guide you, support you, and collaborate with you in your research/creative work endeavors. Careful thought and planning should go into the process of determining a potential mentor, which includes presenting yourself and your research/creative work background and/or ideas to a prospective mentor, and formally requesting their mentorship. This page contains steps you can follow to find a suitable mentor for your research/creative work interests and goals.
While your mentor should be someone compatible with your research/creative work interests and work style, please note that UROP requires Entering Research and Creative Work, Project, and Presentation funding applicants to have a mentor who meets at least one of the following criteria:
- UHM faculty (I/R/S/B/A/J/M tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure track faculty)
- Have submitted and been granted a Mentor Eligibility Petition
- The Mentor Eligibility Petition is an option for mentors who do not meet the initial eligibility criteria but would like to request mentorship for a UROP-funded research/creative work project
- Petitions, including support documentation from the official UHM supervisor, should be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to submitting any mentoring documents related to a UROP funding opportunity.
The above information may not be universally available for a particular mentor, so we recommend that you: (1) ask your potential mentor directly; (2) inquire within your department of interest; and/or (3) send an inquiry to UROP about criteria particular mentor. When inquiring about eligibility, please be sure to exercise proper academic and professional etiquette in your communications with potential mentors, a department, or UROP.
Tips on Finding a Research/Creative Work Mentor
Whether you are new to campus and/or your major or ready to do mentored research/creative work, start with some preliminary research.
- Reflect on your interests and goals.
- What are you curious about? What kind of research/creative work do you want to do? What are your career aspirations? How do you learn best? What kind of mentorship style do you prefer?
- Develop a list of prospective mentors.
- Try ForagerOne: ForagerOne is a research/creative work networking platform and one-stop-shop for undergraduate research/creative work opportunities. It is managed by UROP and free for all undergraduate students, faculty, and staff at UHM.
- Did you take an interesting class that you enjoyed? Talk to the instructor/consider asking them to be your potential mentor.
- Do you have a field that you are interested in? Look at departmental personnel webpages (i.e., “People,” “Faculty,” etc.); they list faculty/staff biographies and their research interests. Note that your mentor does not have to be in your department but must have expertise in your research or creative work topic.
- Need some ideas and examples? Check out UROP’s Past Projects and Presentations It contains a list of mentors who mentored UROP-funded students in the past.
- Need some help? Talk to your professors, advisors, peers, and/or UROP staff.
- Do not wait until the last minute (e.g., the week before a UROP proposal is due), as building relationships can take time.
Once you have a shortlist of mentors who match your interests and needs, reach out to them.
- Send a message sharing your background and requesting a meeting.
- A formal message introducing yourself. Let them know the purpose of the requested meeting, Explain your background, and what research/creative work you are interested in.
- Be polite, professional, and concise in your communication. Be sure to proofread and be sure to use appropriate titles (e.g., Dr. Soandso, etc.).
- Share a 1 to 2 page resume/CV as an attachment.
Be ready to present yourself and your ideas in a professional manner. This is your chance to share your background and convince them of your motivation and potential to do research/creative work.
- Do some background research on the mentor’s work and current projects.
- Prepare some questions to ask them, such as their expertise, expectations, availability, resources, and opportunities.
- Be ready to talk about your own interests, goals, skills, and ideas.
- You can also prepare a short presentation or proposal if you have a specific project in mind, but be concise.
- Be polite, professional, and concise in your communication.
- Be sure to use appropriate titles (e.g., Dr. Soandso, etc.) unless asked otherwise. Dress appropriately. Be on time. Be judicious with your potential mentor’s time.
After the meeting, follow up on your discussion regardless of whether you plan on asking them to formally serve as your mentor.
- Send a follow up message thanking them for the meeting.
- If they agreed to mentor you at the meeting, suggest potential next steps.
- If you would like to ask them to mentor you, request mentorship and suggest potential next steps.
- If they decline to mentor you or are not a good fit, thank them for their time and ask for referrals or suggestions. Keep looking until you find a mentor who is compatible with you and your research aspirations.
- If the prospective mentor expresses interest in mentoring you, discuss plans and expectations.
- Ensure they will be available to you for guidance and set mutual expectations. See UROP’s Expectations for Mentors on the Mentorship Resources
- Send a follow up message thanking them for the meeting.