2023 ASM Mentor Program

The ASLO meeting mentor program is designed to match novice meeting attendees, students, and early career scientists with an experienced scientist who can help them navigate the meeting, network with colleagues and can provide them with scientific and career advice. This program also facilitates connections between scientists from different regions and cultural backgrounds. Information obtained through the program registration is used to match mentors with mentees who share common research disciplines.

Typically, the ratio is roughly a 2-to-1 match of mentees with mentors. Mentors will send an initial contact email prior to the meeting to introduce themselves and to discuss meeting objectives, such as sharing science, networking, and career opportunities. Meetings between mentors and mentees may occur at coffee breaks, during meals, and at poster sessions. It is also likely that many of the mentors attend their mentees’ talks or poster presentations and provide them with constructive feedback and advice. Based on post-meeting surveys of past participants, a majority of both mentees and mentors rated the personal and professional value of participating in the meeting mentor program as moderate to high. Many mentors and mentees reported that they have formed lasting relationships and remained in contact after the meeting.