Mentoring

Scholars engage with peer mentors to discuss real-life situations and experienced mentors share their insights and advice.

Peer Mentoring Teams

Peer team meetups provide an opportunity for Scholars to practice their skills and solve real-life challenges. Peers offer fresh perspective and support. Meetups occur weekly during the foundational training and once monthly during the following 6 months.

Experienced Mentors

Researchers with experience leading labs, managing personnel, and navigating research careers offer their insights and lessons learned. Experienced mentors share and answer questions during informal conversations called “Fireside Chats” and offer tips in “What I wish I had known” videos.
Sofiya Alhassan, PhD, FACSM

Sofiya Alhassan, PhD, FACSM

Professor

Director, Pediatric Physical Activity Laboratory

Graduate Program Director

Department of Kinesiology

School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts

My research focuses on implementing community-based health-behavior interventions in young children and their families. My favorite thing about science is creating effective interventions and mentoring future scientist. As a person, I enjoy spending time with my twin boys.

Megan Baldridge, MD, PhD

Megan Baldridge, MD, PhD

Associate Professor

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine

Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis

My research explores the interactions between the microbiota, viral pathogens, and the host immune response. I enjoy the fun of gradually unraveling complex scientific mysteries with my trainees and collaborators. Outside of the lab, I like to spend my time traveling and playing with my two young kiddos.

Joey Barnett

Joey Barnett

Professor, Pharmacology

Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

My research engages several facets of cardiovascular research with a focus on cardiovascular development. I enjoy the challenges, both intellectual and practical, of exploring how things work. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, some birdwatching, and three grand nephews.

Kevin P. Campbell, PhD

Kevin P. Campbell, PhD

Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

My lab studies how cis-regulatory elements specify genome-wide patterns of expression. The best part of science is the shared excitement among lab mates that comes from pursuing a new idea. When I am not in the lab I am usually birding, sailing, or trying to paint watercolors.

Patricia Champion, PhD

Patricia Champion, PhD

Professor of Biological Sciences

Associate Dean for Research, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

College of Science, University of Notre Dame

My research focuses on the mechanisms used by mycobacterial pathogens to interact with their hosts and cause disease. One of my favorite aspects of science is training postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate researchers. I love seeing them excel in science after they leave Notre Dame. Some of my favorite things are spending time with my family, running, and making homemade pasta.

Barak Cohen, PhD

Barak Cohen, PhD

Alvin J Goldfarb Professor of Computational Biology

Department of Genetics

Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis

My lab studies how cis-regulatory elements specify genome-wide patterns of expression. The best part of science is the shared excitement among lab mates that comes from pursuing a new idea. When I am not in the lab I am usually birding, sailing, or trying to paint watercolors.

Gautam Dantas, PhD

Gautam Dantas, PhD

Professor

Pathology & Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Microbiology, and the Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology

Interim Co-Chief, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine

Co-Director, PhD Program in Computational & Systems Biology

Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis

My lab works at the interface of microbial genomics, ecology, synthetic biology, and systems biology, to understand, harness, and engineer the biochemical processing potential of microbial communities. I really enjoy brainstorming potential solutions to small and big scientific questions with members of my research team. My favorite activities are spending time with my family, long distance cycling, playing board games, building with Legos, and baking bread.

Enrique M. De La Cruz, Ph.D.

Enrique M. De La Cruz, Ph.D.

William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and Chair of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry

Yale University

My research focuses on the chemistry and physics of the actin cytoskeleton and ATPase enzymes that rearrange RNA and regulate bone calcification.  I enjoy helping young scientists, including my laboratory trainees, navigate and achieve their long-term career goals.  When not engaged with science, I enjoy searching for vintage vinyl records and spending time with my wife and kids (not necessarily in that order!).

James M. DuBois, DSc, PhD

James M. DuBois, DSc, PhD

Bander Professor of Medical Ethics and Executive Director

Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences

Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis

I do social science research on topics such as informed consent, data sharing, ethics education outcomes, and social issues surrounding novel biomedical technologies. I love asking new research questions and learning (much more than writing up findings—because unlike the reader, I already know how the story ends). I like to unwind by drumming or reading a book with my dog by my side.

Tammy English, PhD

Tammy English, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences

Director of the Emotion and Relationships Lab

Washington University in St. Louis

My research focuses on emotion regulation and how individuals can foster well-being across adulthood into old age. I enjoy exploring ideas with students and collaborators from different backgrounds and perspectives. Outside of work, I like to do jigsaw puzzles and spend time in nature with my family.

Benjamin Major, PhD

Benjamin Major, PhD

Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor

Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

We study how changes in protein-protein interactions impact signal transduction and human disease, with a particular focus on oxidative stress in cancer and neurodegeneration. I love discovery, working at the bench, sifting through large datasets, feeling the energy of science within our team, and contributing to research that improves the health of sick humans. Off campus, I love traveling and exploring, often to cities, and recently have joined my lab with a healthy golf addiction.

Sunny Shin, PhD

Sunny Shin, PhD

Professor of Microbiology

Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

My research focuses on how the innate immune system recognizes bacterial pathogens and how bacterial pathogens evade innate immunity to cause disease. I love sharing the process of scientific discovery with my students and postdocs and helping them develop as scientists. Some of my favorite things include spending time with my family, cooking, and travel.

Christina Stallings, PhD

Christina Stallings, PhD

Professor

Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

My research focuses on the molecular basis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis, from the perspective of the pathogen and the host. There are so many things I love about science, including discovering things never known before, problem solving, and helping my trainees achieve their personal and professional goals. Outside of science, I love running, reading fiction, and cuddling with my dog.

Stephanie W Watts, PhD

Stephanie W Watts, PhD

Professor

Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University

I am a cardiovascular pharmacologist who studies blood vessel (dys)function in health and disease. I love being a scientist because I get to wear so many hats: I am a detective, a mentor, a teacher, a communicator, an artist, etc. As a person, I love exercise (sanity!) and baking; somehow, they balance one another off!

Craig Wilen, MD, PhD

Craig Wilen, MD, PhD

Associate Professor in Laboratory Medicine and Immunobiology

Yale School of Medicine

My research focuses on how viruses interact with the immune system in the gut and airway to cause infection and disease. I love the freedom to work with others to pursue interesting questions and discover new knowledge. I enjoy spending time with my family, being outdoors, cooking, and gardening.

Zhongsheng You, PhD

Zhongsheng You, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Cell Biology and Physiology

Washington University School of Medicine

Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms that safeguard the genome and transcriptome in human cells, with the overall goal to improve the understanding and treatment of cancer. I enjoy working with my trainees in the lab to make discoveries and watching them grow into independent scientists and thrive in their own careers. I like books, movies and exercise.