Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2024
Abstract
Developing robust professional networks can help shape the trajectories of early career scientists. Yet, historical inequities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields make access to these networks highly variable across academic programmes, and senior academics often have little time for mentoring. Here, we illustrate the success of a virtual Laboratory Meeting Programme (LaMP). In this programme, we matched students (mentees) with a more experienced scientist (mentors) from a research group. The mentees then attended the mentors’ laboratory meetings during the academic year with two laboratory meetings specifically dedicated to the mentee’s professional development. Survey results indicate that mentees expanded their knowledge of the hidden curriculum as well as their professional network, while only requiring a few extra hours of their mentor’s time over eight months. In addition, host laboratories benefitted from mentees sharing new perspectives and knowledge in laboratory meetings. Diversity of the mentees was significantly higher than the mentors, suggesting that the programme increased the participation of traditionally under-represented groups. Finally, we found that providing a stipend was very important to many mentees. We conclude that virtual LaMPs can be an inclusive and costeffective way to foster trainee development and increase diversity within STEM fields with little additional time commitment.
DOI
10.1098/rspb.2024.0149
Recommended Citation
Lotterhos, K. E., Bernal, M. A., Phifer-Rixey, M., & Hanley, T. (2024). Lighting pathways to success in STEM: A virtual Laboratory Meeting Programme (LaMP) mutually benefits mentees and host laboratories. Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 291(2023), 20240149. Doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0149
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
