TIPS FOR UROP MENTOR SESSIONS

What is a Mentor Session?

I (Sean) will come to your location and we'll try to accomplish a few things in the time we have together:

1. Photos of mentor and UROP student(s) interacting in a candid way that demonstrates the research (or at least the setting of the research).

2. Portrait of mentor and UROP students together

3. Portrait of mentor

Below are some tips for a successful session

TIP 1

The setting is important!

Ok, this might seem obvious, but hear me out. You and your UROP student have been working together and it's great if the photo can reflect the nature of the work. Even if you've been primarily meeting remotely the setting you choose for the photo helps establish the relationship and the type of work you do. 

TIP 2

Keep it simple

Our time together is pretty short and we have different kinds of photographs to make so if you can think of 1-2 activities to do together that is plenty for the session.

TIP 3

Props are interesting!

If you're in a lab think of what you can show to make the photo interesting and related to the work. If it's a social science research having laptops / tablets, projector screens, whiteboards, etc. is great.

TIP 4

It doesn't have to be real & it should be fun!

The session is pretty brief and I don't want to be in the way of your work. If there's nothing on the agenda for the session with your student we can just pretend that you're working. The important thing is to look as though there's a relationship between mentor / mentee so even if it's just a casual conversation that is fine for photography.

TIP 5

A special note about portraits

This is a really special moment for mentors and students so let's have fun!