The St. Michael’s Hospital Research Student Association (SRSA) is excited to announce the Peer to Peer Trainee Mentorship Program! This program allows incoming graduate students to be paired with a more senior graduate student.
A key objective of the mentorship program is to provide incoming students with guidance to help them integrate into the Institute, discover the resources available, advise them about the best ways to get started with their training, and help them navigate various aspects of being a research student.
Trainees who volunteer for the program will benefit from the opportunity to hone their mentoring skills. They will be able to provide insight and advice to mentees stemming from their own personal experiences. This also encourages self-reflection and aids in the development of communication skills.
The feeling of isolation is a common complaint among research trainees, especially during the pandemic. We hope that this mentorship program will introduce trainees to their fellow graduate students, and help to develop a supportive community. Such networking would provide everyone involved with professional development opportunities and encourage social interactions.
If you are interested in applying to be a mentor or mentee this year, please fill out the following respective forms
Applications are due December 31st, 2023 at 4:00 PM. Pairings will occur within 2-3 weeks of application.
For the Mentor Survey Application, please click here
For the Mentee Survey Application, please click here
By joining the SRSA Peer to Peer Mentorship Program, you agree to undertake several responsibilities. These responsibilities apply to both the mentor and mentee.
The Peer to Peer Mentorship Program is a trainee-run program by the St. Michael’s Hospital Student Research Association (SRSA). This program aims at providing all trainees with resourceful knowledge and assisting their academic and professional growth. It also presents an excellent opportunity for building community amongst trainees and across lab settings within the institute.
Master’s: 2nd year+ PhD: 1st year+ (if done a master’s or transferred), 2nd year+ (if direct-entry) PDF: Any year
Anyone! Even if you have been at SMH for a year or two but feel you would benefit from this program, you are welcome to apply.
Yes. For example, if you are a first year PhD student, you can be paired with a senior PhD student as a mentee and with a first year master’s student as their mentor.
The time commitment depends on you and your respective mentor/mentee. We do not put limits or minimums on the time you spend together, but it is recommended that you communicate at least once every two weeks to gain the most out of the program.
During these times, meetings should occur virtually. On-site meetings are restricted to those that are critical for hospital operations, therefore, please refrain from in-person meetings for the purposes of the program. We will monitor the situation and provide updates.
Please contact SRSA at srsa@smh.ca if you have any questions, concerns or feedback.
