Not for Students Only

New Session Announced for 2007: Mentoring and Student Development

Are you curious about the role of mentoring in your education, training, and career development and professional development? How about techniques to find, build, and sustain an effective mentor-mentee relationship? Interested in what your fellow students and professional colleagues have to say about the role of mentoring in student and career professional development? Then mark your calendars now and plan to attend the 2007 Society for In Vitro Biology Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. A special session is being planned to address the role of mentoring in both undergraduate and graduate student professional development. The benefit of mentoring relationships to networking, career development, and job placement will also`1 be topics of discussion. This session, organized and lead by your fellow SIVB students, will provide various perspectives on the role of mentoring, as well as address the many mechanisms involved in undergraduate, graduate, and career mentoring processes. Views of the roles effective mentoring can play in both academic and industry settings will be discussed. These viewpoints will be expounded upon through an audience-lead panel discussion. The success of this student professional development session depends on your participation-so plan to attend and bring your mentor. If you have a mentoring story to share or are simply interested in learning more about the role of successful mentoring in professional development, please plan to attend both the 2007 SIVB meeting and this session. More information will be released as it becomes available, so keep an eye on the In Vitro Report for future updates. If you are interested in helping us develop this mentoring and networking system, please contact either Randy Santiano (randylsantiano@yahoo.com) or Scott Stewart (slstewar@ufl.edu) for more information.

Student Survival Guide for an SIVB Meeting

Going to an SIVB meeting is a great experience but it can be extremely costly if you are not fully informed.
You can miss out on many opportunities if not prepared. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Be a volunteer.

a. A volunteer gets free registration
b. A volunteer might be able to get free hotel (shared with another volunteer) - this is limited but a possibility.
c. A volunteer gets to meet people either through working at the registration desk or as a video assistant - this is a very nice "ice breaker" for meeting people.

2. Learn to "graze"

a. Food can be a costly item at the meetings but with some good "grazing skills" you can spend almost nothing on meals.
b. Go to the opening reception - very yummy and enough for a meal
c. Go to all socials - again, very tasty and filling and you get to meet people
d. Go to committee meetings

i. Most committee meetings are open to all
ii. Many committee meetings include a breakfast
iii. While grazing for breakfast, you will also find out what is going on with SIVB and meet people.
iv. Volunteer to help on a committee - great way to meet people and find out how the SIVB works
e. Stay near the posters and the vendor booths when not in a meeting. There tends to be at least coffee and goodies and oftentimes a lunch. Many vendors will have chocolate or other sweets at their booth!!

3. Find a mentor before the meeting who will assist you in meeting the right people

a. Contact SIVB office or the Student Affairs Committee and ask for a mentor
b. Email one or several people you would like to meet and arrange to meet them at the SIVB convention. An email conversation before the actual meeting helps to "break the ice"
c. Join the SIVB Student Members Listserv and communicate with other students. Go to Yahoo to join or contact Carol Stiff (below)

4. Other suggestions - contact Carol Stiff, kck@turbonet.com or Mary Ann McGill at mamcgill@wisc.edu.