Each postdoctoral fellow hired in the Department of Mathematics is assigned a faculty mentor. Most mentors will take the initiative of getting in touch with their mentees to arrange for a first meeting, but if your mentor does not, it is your responsibility to contact them.
Agree on expectations
- Ask how often you and your mentor will be meeting.
- Ask whether your mentor will be able to observe your teaching. If not, ask to be referred to a person in the department who has volunteered to help with teaching observations.
- Identify strengths and weaknesses in your background and discuss with your mentor how he/she can support your professional development efforts.
Discuss your career goals and professional development
- Tell your mentor what type of job you would like to get after your postdoctoral fellowship.
- Review the recommended Year 1 Postdoctoral Development plan with your mentor.
- Identify action items that can be taken care of immediately and those for which you will need more time.
If you need help, do not hesitate to ask
- Your mentor can provide professional development advice and guidance.
- Your mentor can answer questions you may have about the university or the department.
- Your mentor can describe our undergraduate curriculum and help you identify courses you may want to teach.
- Your mentor can refer you to colleagues in the department who can help with research, teaching, and outreach activities.
- Your mentor can describe the various seminars we have in the department.