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One of the most coveted awards at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø is the Excellence in Mentorship award. The award recognizes outstanding mentorship of research trainees and is voted upon by the trainees themselves. This is particularly important as mentorship is a distinct and vital contribution to the growth of future scientists and health researchers outside of the traditional classroom setting.

This year, Dr. Sarah Hughes has been named the winner in the Tier I category. We sat down with her to ask a few questions about her views on mentorship.

Q: How does it feel to be acknowledged with this award considering who votes for it?

I am very honoured and humbled knowing that it was my trainees that nominated me for this award.

Q. What is the key to being a successful mentor?

Making a safe and resourced environment in which students have the agency to learn and to grow their skills and confidence. Making training a priority and to engage and teach the students in specific aspects of the training environment while understanding the person as a whole.

Q. Could you share with us a few tricks of the mentorship trade? 

Be present, supportive and fair while having appropriately high expectations that students can rise to.  Realize that each person is unique with different backgrounds and skills and fears and adapt to provide a constructive environment for them. Provide opportunities to enable expansion of skills, knowledge, discuss the process of science, to ask questions, discuss their goals and provide guidance and/or contacts so that students can explore all career paths after leaving the lab environment. 

Q. What is your perspective on the role of mentorship in the development of strong scientific skills? 

A strong mentor is an essential piece of the landscape for students to gain the confidence and autonomy to approach any scientific question or problem they encounter and be able to work through it. This results in a well rounded, highly skilled individual that can adapt to many environments.