Sections:

When to Start

Begin to search for a mentor and project as early as possible, at least several months in advance of your intended start date.

All students are required to have a faculty mentor. If your mentor is not from Harvard, you also need to identify a Harvard University-affiliated mentor who can serve as an extra advisor to you and provide assistance as needed in case of difficulties with your primary faculty mentor.

Where to Search

Reach out for exploratory conversations with:

Search for opportunities:

  • Search the OSE Database of Opportunities in the Harvard Catalyst Profiles section: login at the top left of the Profiles page, then select the Opportunity Search tab near the top of the page and conduct your search from there
  • Search Community Service Projects
  • Look for project connections during your clinical electives, AISCs, and other HMS courses
  • Identify fellowship opportunities
  • Read the OSE weekly e-newsletter News You Can Use
  • Continue a previous project

How to Choose a Mentor

  • Speak with two to four potential mentors– see Reaching out to a Potential Mentor
  • Look for a mentor who:
    • Has successfully mentored other students
    • Is responsive and available, responding to correspondence and willing to meet with you. A potential mentor that doesn’t respond promptly is a warning sign that they may be challenging to work with. If you have heard nothing back in a week, it is reasonable to send a follow-up email. Failure to respond to a second email is definitely a warning sign that they are unlikely to be a good mentor.
    • Has grant funding
    • Has a publication record
    • Has an HMS faculty appointment
  • Decide which mentor will be best for you
    • Ask your SIM Fellow or OSE staff for advice
    • While you should be working in an area where you have interest, some students have set the bar too high in terms of finding a mentor who would mentor them on exactly what they wanted to do.
    • Some students in the past met with far too many potential mentors. At some point, you need to make a choice. You are not entering a permanent relationship with your mentor.
    • Your dream project may not be available, but thousands of other projects are. Some of these are certain to be of interest to you.
    • Past students have recommended that the mentor is more important than the project.

Reaching Out to a Potential Mentor

Email Templates for Writing to a Potential Mentor

Approach a Potential Mentor about a Scholarly Project Template

[Please alter the wording to fit your needs and prevent identical emails.]

Dear Dr. X,

My name is X and I am a X-year medical student at Harvard. Before starting here…
Now that I am a medical student…
In particular, I might like to…
As you know, HMS has a scholarly project requirement where students work with a mentor to answer a problem or idea related to medicine. The topic can be approached from a variety of scientific or social science fields.
I see that you have posted a student opportunity regarding…
I would really appreciate any insight you have for someone interested in developing a research question regarding…
I would like to learn about…
Alternatively, I might like to…
If you are willing, I would like to meet with you to discuss these topics and how to pursue them.

Thank you in advance for your time.


Kind regards,

X


Approach a Potential Mentor about a Summer Research Project

[Please alter the wording to fit your needs and prevent identical emails.]

Dear Dr. X,

I am a first-year MD student in the Pathways program at HMS, and I’m writing to ask about the possibility of working in your research group this summer. I will be available to work full time from DATE to DATE.
I graduated from X university with a degree in X. For my undergraduate research, I worked in X lab studying X. [If no lab research experience, either omit this sentence, or describe a related experience that might be relevant to the PI’s work]
I am interested in your lab’s work on X, because X.
I’d like to discuss the possibility of working with you this summer, and any options to obtain funding this summer. [If you have access to funding, state that instead: “I have/will apply for funding from X source for this work.”]
I am available to meet in-person/ Zoom [pick one or both]. Some days and times that work for me are: [List dates]
If these options don’t work, please let me know some dates and times that are good for you. I look forward to discussing potential summer projects in your lab.

Thank you,
X

Meeting a Potential Mentor

Make a plan ahead of time by gathering information beforehand and identifying what you hope to discuss during the meeting:

  • Learn about the potential mentor’s work
  • Be ready to share your background and needs for the project
  • Identify potential mutual goals

When you meet with a potential mentor:

  • Share the HMS mentor guide (Harvard ID required).
  • Seek advice and feedback. Seek to understand the mentor’s group. Are there others with whom you would be working? Be clear about when you are available to meet.
  • Share your scholarly project requirements with your potential mentor and go over the OSE’s process for funding.
  • At the end of the meeting, define your next steps. Make clear how you and the potential mentor will communicate going forward. Be explicit that you are meeting with more than one potential mentor.

Following Up After You Meet With a Potential Mentor

  • Within a week, send a summary of your understanding and a thank you note. Until you have settled on a mentor, it is probably a good idea to keep potential mentors with whom you’ve met apprised that you are still looking.
  • You should email no less frequently than monthly. If you choose a different mentor, send a thank you note and inform those with whom you met.
  • If you are going to go forward with a mentor, schedule your next meeting and define next steps via email.
  • The important thing is to stay engaged and keep things moving. You need to be the driver and “manage” your mentor-mentee relationship.

Working With a Chosen Mentor