The Science Education Office offers a series of Science Mentoring workshops for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are mentoring Harvard undergraduates in the laboratory or field.
To learn more about the mentoring workshop content and certificate series, please contact Anna Babakhanyan, PhD, Undergraduate Science Research Advisor FAS Science Education.
Science Mentoring Workshop Intensives 2019-2020
Part 1. Undergraduate Research Fellowships & Writing Recommendation Letters / Developing Research Projects with Undergraduates/Diversity and Inclusion
Workshop facilitator: Anna Babakhanyan, PhD
Content Developer: Margaret A. Lynch, PhD
The first part of the workshop focuses on undergraduate fellowship applications (including summer programs) and writing recommendation letters. By participating in this workshop, you will learn which fellowships are available to Harvard undergraduates to support their undergraduate research. Through a discussion of case studies, you will examine the role of the mentor in the application process, and how to write descriptive and accurate letters of recommendation. The second part of the mentoring workshop focuses on developing undergraduate research projects. Mentoring an undergraduate can be both rewarding and challenging. In this workshop, you will learn how to design undergraduate-friendly research projects, set appropriate expectations, and foster effective communication. We’ll discuss several cases studies to explore these topics in more detail.
Harvard Cambridge campus: Register HERE
November 19, 2019
9:30 am - 2:00 pm (light lunch provided)
Northwest Laboratories, 52 Oxford Street, Room 353
January 10, 2020
9:30 am - 2:00 pm (light lunch provided)
Northwest Laboratories, 52 Oxford Street, Room 353
January 16, 2020
9:30 am - 2:00 pm (light lunch provided)
Northwest Laboratories, 52 Oxford Street, Room 453
Harvard Medical School campus:
(Thank you to the HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows for hosting and co-sponsoring this workshop.)
January 23, 2020
10:00-2:30 pm (light lunch provided)
Waterhouse room, Gordon Hall, HMS
Register with the HMS Postdoc Office: https://postdoc.hms.harvard.edu/event/mentoring-science-undergrads-lab-12320?delta=0.
Part 2. Mentoring Undergraduates: Handling Challenges,/Celebrating Successes/Diversity and Inclusion/Supporting Student Science Writing
Workshop facilitator: Anna Babakhanyan, PhD
Content Developer: Margaret A. Lynch, PhD
This second workshop intensive focuses on handling challenging situations & celebrating achievements, embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and supporting student science writing. Through discussion of case studies, you will learn about common mistakes in mentorship and strategies to prevent and address problems. We will also discuss ways to recognize and celebrate success of your mentees. Next, you will examine how to increase your awareness of diversity and equity as a foundation for inclusive excellence. The final part of the mentoring workshop focuses on supporting student science writing. Through examination and analysis of undergraduate writing, you will explore strategies to help you support and improve your mentees skills in writing scientific proposals and abstracts without rewriting those documents yourself.
Harvard Cambridge campus: Register HERE
December 3, 2019
9:30 am - 2:00 pm (light lunch provided)
Northwest Laboratories, 52 Oxford Street, Room 353
February 6, 2020
9:30 am - 2:00 pm (light lunch provided)
Northwest Laboratories, 52 Oxford Street, Room 453
March 6, 2020
9:30 am - 2:00 pm (light lunch provided)
Northwest Laboratories, 52 Oxford Street, Room 353
Harvard Medical School campus:
(Thank you to the HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows for hosting and co-sponsoring this workshop.)
March 13, 2020
10:00-2:30 pm (light lunch provided)
Waterhouse room, Gordon Hall, HMS
Register with the HMS Postdoc Office: https://postdoc.hms.harvard.edu/event/mentoring-science-designing-underg...
Part 3. Undergraduate Researcher Panel
Workshop facilitator: Anna Babakhanyan, PhD
Content Developer: Margaret A. Lynch, PhD
The final workshop of the series is a panel discussion with Harvard senior undergraduate researchers. Hear directly from students what it’s like to be an undergraduate doing science research at Harvard. Bring your questions for discussion.
This workshop is followed by the Award Ceremony during which mentors who have completed the series will obtain their Certificates of Completion.
Harvard Cambridge campus
April 2020 - date and location TBD
To register for the Harvard Cambridge campus workshops, please visit To register for the Harvard Cambridge campus workshops, please visit .
To register for the HMS campus workshops, please contact the HMS Postdoc Office: https://postdoc.hms.harvard.edu/contact-us.
To learn more about the mentoring workshop content and the certificate series, please contact Margaret A. Lynch, PhD, Associate Director of Science Education.
For registration questions: please contact Anna Babakhanyan, PhD, Undergraduate Science Research Advisor
