Mentor Resources

ASPIRATION Mentor FAQs 

1. What are the student meeting schedules?

Students meet virtually on:

• Saturday, June 6: 10 AM – 12 PM (Orientation)

• Following Saturdays: 10 AM – 11:30 AM

Student syllabus and schedules

2. What are the mentor responsibilities?

Mentors play an important role in guiding students through the process of understanding and communicating scientific research. Responsibilities may include:

• Helping students interpret and understand scientific papers

• Explaining experimental methods and figures

• Guiding scientific discussions

• Providing feedback on summaries, infographics, posters, and presentations

• Helping students stay on track with weekly goals and deadlines

• Encouraging participation and teamwork within student groups

Mentors are not expected to lecture extensively or provide all content. The program is designed to be collaborative and student-centered.

3. Will mentors need to prepare presentations?

Yes. Mentors will typically prepare:

• An introductory presentation about the selected scientific paper/topic

• A second presentation focused on experimental methods and figure interpretation

Some mentors may also choose to share:

• examples of scientific communication

• infographic ideas

• poster examples

• presentation tips

Templates, examples, and guidance will be provided to help you prepare.

4. What if I cannot attend all scheduled Zoom sessions?

Attendance during the first week is strongly encouraged, as this is when mentors will meet their student groups and begin project discussions.

If you are unable to attend certain sessions later in the program, please let us know in advance and we will work with you on scheduling and communication.

We understand that many mentors are students or researchers with summer schedules, internships, travel, or research obligations.

5. What if I do not have prior mentoring or teaching experience?

No worries! Prior experience in scientific communication, teaching, or mentoring high school students is not required.

We will host a mentor orientation before the program begins to provide:

• mentoring guidance and best practices

• examples and templates

• tips for working with high school students

• program expectations and workflow

• communication suggestions and troubleshooting strategies

We will also hold mentor check-ins throughout the program to provide ongoing support.

6. What kinds of papers/topics can mentors choose?

Mentors may select papers related to their research interests or areas of expertise. Topics may include:

• cancer biology

• neuroscience

• immunology

• genetics/genomics

• AI in medicine

• bioengineering

• infectious diseases

• cardiovascular biology

• metabolism

• stem cells

• drug development

• public health

• environmental health

• computational biology

• other biomedical or biotechnology-related fields

We encourage mentors to select papers that are scientifically meaningful while still adaptable for high school students.

7. What are the expected student deliverables?

Student groups may produce:

• a one-page public summary

• infographic adaptation(s)

• posters

• oral presentations

• symposium presentations

Students participating in the High School Student Symposium may further refine these materials for presentation.

8. What tools will students use?

Students may use a combination of:

• ChatGPT and other AI-assisted tools

• BioRender

• Canva

• Google Slides/PowerPoint

• scientific literature databases and resources

Mentors help guide students on responsible and effective use of these tools.

9. What is the student demographic?

Students are high school students from across the Houston area, including both public and private schools. Most students are in grades 9–12 and have varying levels of prior research experience.

Some students may already have research experience, while others may be participating in their first formal research communication program.

10. How many students will each mentor work with?

Mentors will typically work with approximately 2–4 students, depending on final enrollment numbers and research interest matching.

Groups are generally organized based on student interests, mentor expertise, and potential symposium presentation goals.

11. Is participation in the symposium required?

No. Participation in the High School Student Symposium is encouraged but not required.

However, many student groups choose to continue refining their projects for symposium presentations, posters, or oral presentations.

12. What support will mentors receive during the program?

Mentors will receive:

• orientation materials

• presentation templates

• example projects

• mentor check-ins

• program coordination support

• communication support from program organizers

The goal is to create a supportive environment for both mentors and students.