Mentoring Philosophy As a mentor, my goal is to promote creativity and problem solving skills while sharing a passion for the subject matter. Providing challenges in a supportive environment can help boost confidence as well as teach students what they are really capable of. I want students to feel welcome and comfortable, without the work becoming too mundane or stagnant. As a result, I aim to continuously provide new challenges and opportunities to learn, but at a smooth and steady pace to prevent the work from becoming too daunting or stressful. This, I feel, is the best environment for personal growth. Entering academia in the hard sciences, in my experience, can be extremally intimidating as there are so many incredibly knowledgeable and skilled people. My goal is to clear the path between undergraduate and graduate study and give mentees the skills to make the transition smoothly and with confidence.