A new approach to mentoring for research careers: the National Research Mentoring Network

on behalf of the NRMN team(University of Wisconsin–Madison), Christine A. Sorkness(University of Wisconsin–Madison), Christine Pfund(University of Wisconsin–Madison), Elizabeth Ofili(University of Utah), Kolawole S. Okuyemi(University of North Texas), Jamboor K. Vishwanatha(University of North Texas), Maria Elena Zavala(University of North Texas), Theresa M. Pesavento(University of North Texas), Mary Fernández(University of North Texas), Anthony Tissera(University of North Texas), Alp Deveci(University of North Texas), Damaris Javier(University of North Texas), Alexis Short(University of North Texas), Paige Cooper(University of North Texas), Harlan P. Jones(University of North Texas), Spero M. Manson(University of North Texas), Dedra Buchwald(University of North Texas), Kristin Eide(University of North Texas), Andrea Gouldy(University of North Texas), Erin L. Kelly(University of North Texas), N. Gerald Langford(University of North Texas), Richard McGee(University of North Texas), Clifford J. Steer(University of North Texas), Thad Unold(University of North Texas), Anne Marie Weber‐Main(University of North Texas), Adriana Báez(University of North Texas), Jonathan K. Stiles(University of North Texas), Priscilla Pemu(University of North Texas), Winston E. Thompson(University of North Texas), Judith K. Gwathmey(University of North Texas), Kimberly Lawson(University of North Texas), Japera Johnson(University of North Texas), Meldra Hall(University of North Texas), Douglas F. Paulsen(University of North Texas), Mona N. Fouad(University of North Texas), Ann D. Smith(University of North Texas), Rafael E. Luna(University of North Texas), Donald M. Wilson(University of North Texas), Greg Adelsberger(University of North Texas), Drew Simenson(University of North Texas), A. Cook(University of North Texas), Mónica I. Feliú-Mójer(University of North Texas), Eileen M. Harwood(University of North Texas), Amy Jones(University of North Texas), Janet Branchaw(University of North Texas), Stephen B. Thomas(University of North Texas), Amanda R. Butz(University of North Texas), Angela Byars‐Winston(University of North Texas), Stephanie House(University of North Texas), Melissa McDaniels(University of North Texas), Sandra Crouse Quinn(University of North Texas), Jenna Griebel Rogers(University of North Texas), Kimberly Spencer(University of North Texas), Emily Utzerath(University of North Texas), DUPLICATE of Weber-Main(University of North Texas), Veronica Y. Womack(University of North Texas)
BMC Proceedings
December 1, 2017
10.1186/s12919-017-0083-8
Cited by 165Open Access
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Effective mentorship is critical to the success of early stage investigators, and has been linked to enhanced mentee productivity, self-efficacy, and career satisfaction. The mission of the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) is to provide all trainees across the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences with evidence-based mentorship and professional development programming that emphasizes the benefits and challenges of diversity, inclusivity, and culture within mentoring relationships, and more broadly the research workforce. The purpose of this paper is to describe the structure and activities of NRMN. KEY HIGHLIGHTS: NRMN serves as a national training hub for mentors and mentees striving to improve their relationships by better aligning expectations, promoting professional development, maintaining effective communication, addressing equity and inclusion, assessing understanding, fostering independence, and cultivating ethical behavior. Training is offered in-person at institutions, regional training, or national meetings, as well as via synchronous and asynchronous platforms; the growing training demand is being met by a cadre of NRMN Master Facilitators. NRMN offers career stage-focused coaching models for grant writing, and other professional development programs. NRMN partners with diverse stakeholders from the NIH-sponsored Diversity Program Consortium (DPC), as well as organizations outside the DPC to work synergistically towards common diversity goals. NRMN offers a virtual portal to the Network and all NRMN program offerings for mentees and mentors across career development stages. NRMNet provides access to a wide array of mentoring experiences and resources including MyNRMN, Guided Virtual Mentorship Program, news, training calendar, videos, and workshops. National scale and sustainability are being addressed by NRMN "Coaches-in-Training" offerings for more senior researchers to implement coaching models across the nation. "Shark Tanks" provide intensive review and coaching for early career health disparities investigators, focusing on grant writing for graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and junior faculty. IMPLICATIONS: Partners from diverse perspectives are building the national capacity and sparking the institutional changes necessary to truly diversify and transform the biomedical research workforce. NRMN works to leverage resources towards the goals of sustainability, scalability, and expanded reach.

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