Finding a Mentor

Mentors Make a Difference

Students often expect that finding a mentor is a simple matter of logging into a system to find the right match. However, in a campus as diverse and decentralized as SDSU, students may need to be resourceful, patient and persistent in finding a good mentor match.

Mentors have different communication styles and availability. Students should also consider whether they want to work independently one-on-one with a mentor or as part of a larger team when they are trying to decide on which mentors to contact.

Ways to Find a Mentor

Try one or more of the following strategies to find a mentor for a research, scholarly or creative project.

Within Your Department

1. Search the faculty directory in your department. Most will describe the faculty member's interests. Identify some faculty with whom you'd like to work.
2. Are you taking a class from someone you really like or admire? Perhaps that person is a research-active faculty member (but keep in mind some instructors are not engaged in research or creative activities).
3. Ask your department/major advising office if they know of faculty who mentor undergraduate students in research or creative activities. Some departments even have systems for matching undergraduates to opportunities, but understand that even those may not include all opportunities on campus.

Within Your College

1. Look out for and attend faculty networking events hosted by registered student organizations relevant to your interests. Faculty who are interested in mentoring students volunteer their time at these kinds of events.
2. Peruse social media, university email communications, and Canvas announcements for opportunities; mentors are often trying to reach students and use these channels to promote open opportunities.

University-Wide

1. Attend the SDSU Student Symposium (S³). Held every spring, S³ is a great way to learn about what research is being done around the university. You can often talk with student presenters about their experiences to identify a faculty member who might be a good match for your interests.
2. Get matched with a mentor through the SURP-Match process by perusing the funded projects looking to hire students while applications are open for the SDSU Undergraduate RSCA Program (SURP).
3. Check Handshake for positions posted by individual faculty or research projects.
4. Do not be afraid to consider positions outside your major, if you're qualified for the experience. Learning how to work across disciplines is a highly-valued skill itself, so you will not be at a disadvantage in most fields by engaging in related but distinct research or creative activities. SDSU has an experts directory where you can search for certain topics of interest and learn which faculty may be involved in those topics.

Beyond SDSU

1. Check the SDSU Research Foundation for job postings - many are research related.
2. If you are willing to live elsewhere during the summer, you can search for summer research opportunities at other universities. Some successful search terms include "research experiences for undergraduates," "REU," or "summer undergraduate research fellowship."

Contacting Mentors

Direct Email

Sometimes a direct email to the faculty member works well. Briefly describe yourself (what year you are, maybe your GPA or your career goals or specific classes you've taken) and your interest in learning more about what the faculty member does. Be sure to write a good email - you can search "how to email a professor" for tips, but our friends at the University of California, Santa Cruz have some good tips to get you started.

Attend Office Hours

Sometimes visiting office hours is a good way to get your foot in the door. You'd be surprised how few students take advantage of this opportunity. Showing up allows the faculty mentor to see your communication skills in action, and it demonstrates that you're interested enough to actually seek them out.

Go Through A Peer or More Senior Student

Identify students (upper-level undergraduate or graduate student) in a mentor's research group. They might be in a position to either introduce you, ask about openings on your behalf, or send along your qualifications and contact information to the mentor.

Being Persistent

Some faculty are overwhelmed by the numbers of emails they receive, and they do not or cannot respond to all inquiries. A slow response or failure to receive a reply does not mean that you are not suitable for research or creative activity work. You want to be gently persistent, not irritatingly so.

If your initial email message didn't get a response, try the following:

1. Follow-up a week or two after the original email (unless you get an "out of office" reply, and then wait a week after their stated return date).
2. Ask what skills you might be able to gain on your own that would make you able to contribute more quickly to their work. There are so many sources of information and training on the internet now that you might be able to take a workshop or class to gain valuable skills that can set you apart from the crowd.
3. Try emailing the same faculty member before the start of the next term (Spring, Summer, or Fall) and see what their needs are for the upcoming semester as openings may change on a term-by-term basis.

Evaluating a Potential Mentor

• Shared Interests: Does the mentor's research align with your academic goals?
• Availability and Commitment: Can the mentor dedicate time to your mentorship?
• Communication Style: Do you feel comfortable communicating with the mentor in person and virtually?
• Inclusivity: Do you feel safe in the mentor's presence and in how you have seen them interact with other people?
• Trainings: Has your mentor completed any research mentor-specific trainings like those offered by SDSU's Center for Inclusive Excellence or other organizations?

Building a Strong Mentor-Mentee Relationship

A good mentor-mentee relationship is built on trust, mutual respect, and open communication. By following these tips, you can find a mentor who will support your academic and professional goals.

• Be Proactive: Initiate contact, ask questions, and actively participate in your mentorship.
• Set Clear Goals: Define specific goals for your mentorship and discuss them with your mentor.
• Be Open-Minded: Embrace feedback and be receptive to new ideas.
• Be Respectful: Value your mentor's time and expertise.
• Be Punctual and Reliable: Adhere to agreed-upon meeting times and deadlines.
• Seek Feedback: Ask for constructive criticism and feedback on your work.
• Express Gratitude: Show appreciation for your mentor's time and guidance.