Like the circle of life, there’s the circle of mentoring relationships. If the mentoring is effective, the roles of the mentee and mentor will change. Sometimes, mentees begin the cycle over again, this time acting as a mentor themselves. 

This transition can be exciting, but many new mentors find themselves intimidated by new responsibilities.  In the final episode of Season Two, students and postdocs tell us about the moments they took on their first mentoring roles. They share what intimidated them, what skills they needed to learn, how they were supported through the transition, and what it was like to end a mentoring relationship. 

To learn more about the Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM report, and for a guide to implementing best practices at your institution, visit NAS.edu/mentoring. 

Brought to you by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.