My name is Andrea Taylor and I have been working as an
undergraduate Research Assistant with Dr. Shannon Davis. I am assisting Dr.
Davis and Dr. Rebecca Jones on a project that focuses on undergraduate research
and specifically how the relationship between mentor and mentee is developed. If
we learn more about how this relationship starts and how it develops, faculty
members can better prepare undergraduate students to become proficient
researchers.
On a weekly basis, I search for relevant scholarly articles
related to the development of mentoring relationships. I am doing an extensive
literature review to explore the existing data on how mentored students
initiate and develop their relationship with their mentors.
I have discovered in my research this week how college
faculty incorporate their responsibility of mentorship into their demanding
workload. Many faculty that act as mentors to undergraduate and graduate
students have numerous other responsibilities such as publishing their own
research, attending conferences and many serve as committee members within the
university. This adds another factor into how the mentors initiate a meaningful
relationship with their undergraduate students, and how they are able to make
themselves available to them.
After graduation, I may explore job opportunities as a
research assistant. I am currently also a research intern for a company that
deals with Native American issues, and I plan to explore that field further. In
addition, my OSCAR research experience will be helpful if I apply for graduate
school, which may also be an option.
