As a PI and mentor, I am committed to adequately preparing my trainees to be successful in any career they choose to pursue. My training and mentoring philosophy is to foster a research environment that is collaborative, intellectually stimulating, and inclusive and supportive of individuals from diverse backgrounds and identities.

 Committed to:

•diversity, equity and inclusion

•continuously improve as a mentor

•understanding the whole unique person, encouraging them to be their authentic selves

•preparing trainees to be successful in whatever careers they choose to pursue

•foster a research environment that is:

•collaborative

•intellectually stimulating

•inclusive and supportive of individuals from diverse backgrounds and identities

Key components of my mentoring and training activities include:

1. Weekly one-on-one meetings with each member of my research program to discuss progress, challenges and to set goals. I will also use these meetings as an opportunity to check-in on the wellness of my trainees.

2. Regular group meetings, where all members will give general research updates at every meeting and serve as the main presenter based on an established rotation schedule.

3. Based on their career stage, I will encourage trainees to gradually establish the appropriate level of scientific independence and encourage ownership of and leadership on research projects and collaborations.

4. Dissemination of research: members of my lab will present their research regularly at symposia and conferences. I will encourage senior graduate students and postdocs to apply to give conference talks.

5. I will identify funding opportunities(e.g.fellowships) specific for each individual’s research project, identity and career goals, encourage them to apply and support them through the application process.

6. Consistent with the culture in the plant sciences at Michigan State University, scientific collaboration is a critical component of interdisciplinary research, and will be fostered in my lab.

7. Scientific outreach: I will encourage each member of my lab to periodically participate in a scientific outreach or public engagement activity of their choice. Creative activities directly associated with their research, career goals or demographic identities will be encouraged.

8. Promoting an inclusive environment and lab culture: My lab will participate in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and cultural sensitivity trainings and discussions ~2x/year.

9. I will attend one workshop per year focused on training to be a more effective mentor todiverse trainees.