Mentor–Mentee Compact

This compact outlines the parameters and expectations of our work together. It should be completed annually with both the mentor and mentee present and revisited periodically throughout the research experience.

Mentee:
Mentor:
Project:
Date:

1. Time Commitment and Schedule

The mentee will work at least _____ hours per week on the project during the academic year.

  1. The mentee will propose their regular work schedule to the mentor by _____ week of the term.

  2. The mentee will communicate any anticipated extended absences or changes in availability as early as possible.

2. Communication

On a daily basis, our primary means of communication will be through Slack and we agree that a reasonable expectation for response time will be _____.

3. Emergency Contact

In case of an emergency:

  • Mentor can be reached at: ______________________________
  • Mentee can be reached at: ______________________________

4. Regular Meetings

We will meet one-on-one to discuss progress on the project and reaffirm or revise our goals for _____ minutes, _____ times per week.

  1. It is the mentee’s responsibility to schedule these meetings. The mentee should reach out at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester to schedule these one-on-one meetings.

  2. In preparation for these meetings, the mentee will:

  • Review progress toward current goals.
  • Identify questions, challenges, or areas where assistance is needed.
  • Provide updates on completed and ongoing work.
  • Identify priorities for the upcoming week.
  • Bring relevant code, data, notes, figures, or other project materials when appropriate.
  1. The mentor will provide feedback, guidance, and assistance appropriate to the mentee’s level of experience and the needs of the project.

5. Research expectations, goals, and probation

Expectations

When this research experience constitutes a probationary period, continued participation in the research group is contingent upon satisfactory progress toward the goals and expectations outlined in this compact.

During the probationary period:

  • The mentor and mentee will establish clear, measurable expectations for research progress, work habits, communication, and skill development.
  • The mentor will provide reasonable feedback and guidance to help the mentee meet these expectations.
  • Progress will be reviewed at _____ weeks and again at the conclusion of the probationary period.
  • If the mentee is not making satisfactory progress toward the agreed-upon outcomes, the mentor will communicate this to the mentee as early as reasonably possible and identify areas for improvement.
  • If, at the conclusion of the probationary period, the mentee has not demonstrated satisfactory progress or met the agreed-upon expectations, the mentee will transition out of the research group.
  • A decision not to continue in the research group is not intended as a judgment on the student’s overall academic potential. It reflects the determination that the current research placement is not an appropriate fit for the student, mentor, or project.

Probationary Period

Start date: ______________________________

Review date: _____________________________

End date: ________________________________

In Research Goals, we detail requirements for successful completion.

Research Goals

At the beginning of each term, the mentor and mentee will establish a small number of specific, measurable goals for the research experience.

By ________________, the mentee will:

  1. Goal:

    Expected outcome/deliverable:

    Target date:

  2. Goal:

    Expected outcome/deliverable:

    Target date:

  3. Goal:

    Expected outcome/deliverable:

    Target date:

Goals should be specific enough that both the mentor and mentee can determine whether they have been completed.

Examples of measurable outcomes include:

  • Complete a literature review covering _____ papers by _____.
  • Learn and demonstrate proficiency with _____ software, programming language, or method.
  • Analyze _____ datasets/samples using an agreed-upon analysis pipeline.
  • Produce _____ figures/tables suitable for inclusion in a presentation or manuscript.
  • Write a _____–page research summary/report by _____.
  • Present research findings at _____ lab meetings/conferences.
  • Complete and document a reproducible analysis pipeline.
  • Contribute _____ substantive changes/analyses to the project repository.
  • Prepare a poster, presentation, manuscript section, or other research product by _____.

6. Feedback and Getting Help

Getting help

If the mentee has questions or needs help while working on their project(s), the mentee is encouraged to ask questions early rather than allowing a problem to delay progress. When possible, the mentee should describe what they have tried, what they expected to happen, and where they encountered difficulty.

Changing expectations

If the mentee or mentor would like to make changes to the research experience, open communication early on is strongly recommended.

Changes may include adjustments to:

  • Project scope or research direction
  • Work schedule
  • Meeting frequency
  • Research responsibilities
  • Project milestones
  • Learning objectives
  • Expected deliverables

Changes to goals or expectations should be discussed and documented when appropriate.

Feedback

The mentor and mentee will review progress toward the agreed-upon goals at least 2 times per semester.

During these check-ins, we will discuss:

  • Progress toward measurable research outcomes.
  • Progress toward skill-development goals.
  • Challenges or barriers to progress.
  • Whether the current goals remain appropriate.
  • Priorities and milestones for the next period.
  • Feedback for both the mentee and mentor about the research experience.

Goals may be revised when the scope, timeline, or direction of the project changes.

7. Professional Expectations

The mentee agrees to:

  • Conduct research responsibly and ethically.
  • Follow applicable laboratory, departmental, university, and research-safety policies.
  • Maintain appropriate records of research activities in a research journal.
  • Properly document code, analyses, experiments, and other research products.
  • Communicate honestly about progress, difficulties, and mistakes.
  • Give appropriate credit to collaborators and sources.
  • Respect the time, contributions, and ideas of other members of the research group.

The mentor agrees to:

  • Provide appropriate guidance and feedback.
  • Clearly communicate expectations and project priorities.
  • Provide opportunities for the mentee to develop research skills and independence.
  • Give constructive feedback on the mentee’s work.
  • Communicate changes in project direction or expectations in a timely manner.
  • Support the mentee’s professional and academic development.

8. Other Considerations

Other considerations not addressed above that are important to our work together:

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Agreement

By signing below, we agree to these expectations and working parameters. We understand that this compact is intended to support a productive, respectful, and mutually beneficial research experience and that expectations may be revised through open communication as the project develops.

Mentee: ___________________________________

Date: _____________________________________

Mentor: ___________________________________

Date: _____________________________________

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