Information for Mentors

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Co-Mentors

Who May Serve as a MURF Co-Mentor?
Mentors often assign another member of the laboratory group to provide day-to-day supervision of their MURF students. Co-mentors may be senior graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, technical staff, or other colleagues.

The Role of a MURF Co-Mentor
While Faculty and JPL Mentors have overall professional and financial responsibility for the SURF/MURF students in the laboratory, they may assign the role of co-mentor to others. The role of the co-mentor will vary from laboratory to laboratory, and co-mentors should consult with their advisors to determine the degree of responsibility they will have for a MURF student. Some co-mentors will be given full responsibility and authority for supervising a SURF or MURF student; others will provide limited oversight or guidance.

The primary role of the mentor/co-mentor is to serve as the senior partner in a collaboration with the student.  It is important that the student be offered—and eventually accept—intellectual responsibility for his/her own project, but for most students the project will be the first research experience, so the mentor has also to be a teacher and a coach as well as a partner. 

The primary responsibilities of the mentor/co-mentor are to prepare for the student’s arrival and to help the student meet all of the requirements of the program under which the student is registered; however, there are a number of specific responsibilities that each mentor will have in preparing for the project and in guiding the student through it during the summer: 

• Consult with the student on the planning of the project and review a draft of the student's project plan. Note that the project plan should be the student’s product; the mentor may not write it, but may and should provide advice and guidance during its preparation.
• Mentor/co-mentor must be aware of the date of arrival of the student and make relevant preparations, including providing a place for the student to sit, a computer, and a telephone.
• During the first week after the student’s arrival, the student will be required to attend a Safety Orientation Meeting. Following the meeting, the mentor/co-mentor or laboratory safety officer must review with the student the Workplace Specific Safety Orientation Checklist for SURF/MURF students and, with the student, sign the form.  The student must return the signed form to the Student-Faculty Programs Office.
• During the summer, the mentor and/or co-mentor oversees the student's work on the project and consults at regular and appropriate intervals.
• Sign the progress reports and abstract which the student must submit throughout the summer. Mentors must authorize someone to sign the reports in their absence. Mentors should use the progress reports as an opportunity to discuss research progress, problems, etc. Students should use the reports to practice technical writing skills.
• Collaborate with the student in writing the abstract and final report. The paper must be submitted electronically by the 4th Friday in September. Mentors will receive a prompt from the SFP Online system to approve the paper online. November 1 is the deadline for approved final reports.
• If a MURF student continues work on the project during the academic year, he or she must submit an interim report by the deadline.  A final draft describing additional work or results may be submitted later for the MURF archives.
• Help the student prepare for the oral presentation, normally given during the 3rd week in August or on the 3rd Saturday in October. An oral report is a requirement for all MURF students.
• Mentors/co-mentors are invited to introduce the student at the oral presentation. We encourage lab groups to attend the presentation to support and encourage the student!
• Contact the Student-Faculty Programs Office [Email us at sfp@caltech.edu or call 626.395.2885] if administrative problems arise.

MURF Compensation
MURF students receive $600/week and are paid in two equal installments on the first business day of July and August.

Vacation Requests
Students may take vacation time during the summer with the approval of the mentor; however, students must complete all 10 weeks of the program by the 4th Friday in September.
Click here for Tips on Mentoring.

Co-Mentor Training and Support
Co-mentor workshops are held each June to provide training and support for co-mentors and those mentoring students for the first time. The workshops are given by experienced mentors and co-mentors who will give advice and tips from their experience and observations. It is a good opportunity for co-mentors to ask questions and get information and resources.

For tips on mentoring, click here.