Searching for A Mentor

To get started with my research project, I first need to find a mentor to oversee the project. Personally, my mentor search has been somewhat difficult. I began my search with an email to one of my current professors who has been very helpful to me in the course I am taking with her, which was research methods. I scheduled a meeting with her and during the meeting I spoke to her about my idea for research; how I would like to do a project involving mental health of individuals who have experienced trauma. She then told me that that type of project would not be of interest to her, and she directed me to a few other professors that have an expertise in mental health. After she gave me this information I then emailed the professors she recommended and met with a few of them. Two of the professors that I found on my search were open to do the research project with me, but I did not want to pick a mentor too fast and have it be not the best fit for me, so I told them I would think about it and get back to them as soon as I made a decision. I then spoke with Dr. Kelly Wonder, who is the director of the McNair program, and she directed me towards four different undergrad students who have had both of the professors that I was interested in as mentors for their own research projects. They then told me the strengths and weaknesses of these professors, as well as whether they enjoyed working with them or not. Talking to their past mentees really gave me an understanding of the kinds of people my potential mentors are, and gave me a feel for how much time they would put into the project if I chose them. These conversations let me know how much work I would have to do on my own, and how much help I would get from them. After talking with the past mentees, I still did not know who I was going to pick as my mentor, so I set up a meeting with Dr. Axelrod, who is the director of the Human Development Center and has many connections to people in all different fields. I told him my research idea, and then my specific research question: how do adverse childhood experiences affect the mental health of college students when they are adults? Once he heard my research question he knew who to direct me to. He stated that this person is doing research that involves the ACEs and is almost the exact research question that I am planning on doing. I set up a meeting with the professor he recommended I speak with and I am very excited to see where it goes and whether I can join them in their research or not!