UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1367

Mentoring Philosophy My mentoring philosophy centers on building independence through structured guidance. I begin by understanding student career goals and current skill level, then assign them ownership of discrete, achievable project components that align with lab priorities; these might include managing cell culture protocols, performing flow cytometry analyses, or conducting literature reviews. I share my own research failures and pivots openly to normalize setbacks as learning opportunities, creating a safe environment where mistakes during technique acquisition are expected and used for growth. Rather than providing answers, I guide them through inquiry-based problem-solving; when data looks unexpected or a protocol fails, we work through troubleshooting together. I balance this independence with regular check-ins to ensure accountability, assess understanding, and adjust the challenge level - pushing them beyond comfort zones while providing support structures. Ultimately, I aim to transform students from task-followers into scientific thinkers who can formulate hypotheses, critically evaluate results, and connect bench work to translational outcomes that matter for human health.