Advance-CTR
Date August 20, 2026
All News

Mentorship in Motion: Early-Career Faculty Take the Lead at "Mentoring Up"

A group of people stand in a circle outdoors on a campus walkway near a building, with one person in the center speaking while others listen, photographed from above.
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Thirty-one investigators from across Rhode Island participated.

People seated at round tables outdoors in a courtyard beside tall building walls, eating and talking; several guests smile while others converse, with white tablecloths, plates, and drinks on the tables.
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There was enough sun to enjoy a summer BBQ outdoors after the workshop.

Group photo of about 31 people standing in a university-style lecture room in front of a projector screen, with empty black chairs in the foreground and a few papers and notebooks on seats.
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On August 13, 2026, thirty-one early-career faculty and investigators from across Rhode Island gathered at 70 Ship Street in Providence for a highly successful workshop, “Optimizing Your Mentoring Relationships by Mentoring Up,” hosted by Advance RI-CTR’s Research Mentoring Program.

Delivered by Dr. Melissa McDaniels, Scientist and Associate Executive Director of the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the interactive half-day training equipped early-stage investigators with practical strategies to proactively manage their relationships with senior faculty mentors and advocate for their own career goals.

Workshop Takeaways Included:

  • Effective Communication & Alignment: Participants used structured alignment tools to establish communication protocols, set workload boundaries, and clarify mutual expectations around feedback and research milestones.
  • Pathways to Independence: Scholars explored methods to secure the tailored guidance needed to transition into independent research careers.
  • Professional Development & Well Being: Attendees tackled case studies focusing on managing clinical and research workloads, personal milestones, and generational workplace dynamics.

Following the morning session, attendees enjoyed a BBQ lunch, where early-stage scholars exchanged insights, learned about peer grant review opportunities, and expanded their peer support networks across the state. Many thanks to the Career Development Award Peer Mentorship Group (CDAPMG), which is led by Dr. Justin Berk, Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, for co-hosting the workshop and luncheon. 

If you missed the event or wish to access CIMER's mentorship resources and alignment tools, visit cimerproject.org or contact cimer@wcer.wisc.edu