Research Mentor Training

Develop the necessary skills for effective mentorship

CCTS offers UIC faculty mentor training to accelerate the process of becoming an effective research mentor. Led by David Dubois, PhD and Tina Grieco-Calub, PhD, the training uses the state-of-the-art Entering Mentoring curriculum developed by the Center for Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

This curriculum provides mentors with an intellectual framework, an opportunity to experiment with various methods, and a forum in which to solve mentoring dilemmas with the help of their peers. By the end of the training, mentors will have articulated their personal style and philosophy of mentoring and have a toolbox of strategies they can use when faced with difficult mentoring situations.

Training participants learn to:

  • Align mentor and mentee expectations
  • Maintain effective communication
  • Assess mentee understanding
  • Enhance work-life integration
  • Foster mentee professional development and wellbeing
  • Promote mentee research self-efficacy
  • Enhance culture awareness and foster an environment of openness and belonging
  • Articulate your mentoring philosophy and plan

After completing CCTS mentoring training, I asked my trainees to reflect on the breadth of skills they might need to be successful in their careers. Mentoring training gave me a structure to start these conversations and develop a plan so that, in the 2-5 years I have with them, trainees can build financial, technical, and social skills to be successful researchers in whatever sector they pursue.

Nathaniel Tran, PhD  |  Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Administration, UIC School of Public Health

Applying some of the skills and techniques from the workshop, I have been better equipped to help medical students implement their research. Specifically, two medical students were recipients of Abstract Achievement Awards by the American Society of Hematology, and another new medical student submitted a T35 application.

Santosh Saraf, MD  |  A Tom Petropulos Professor in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology

2026 Program Details

2026 Training Dates & Location

May 19 and 21, 2026
10:00am – 2:00pm
Westside Research Office Building
1747 W Roosevelt, Chicago, IL

Commitment

The training consists of two 4-hour sessions and takes place in-person on the UIC campus. Participants must be able to attend both sessions.

Eligibility

Participation is open to tenure and non-tenure track assistant, associate or full professors. It is intended for any UIC faculty whose research pertains to clinical and translational science, broadly defined. This includes- but is not limited to- the Health Sciences Colleges, College of Engineering, and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Application Process and Timeline

Space is limited. To express interest, please complete this brief form. Applicants can expect to hear back within 5 business days.

Deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026

For questions, please contact Sudeshna De at sde7@uic.edu.