Training Opportunities
- For faculty
- For bench mentors (graduate students, postdocs, and research staff)
The BioSTAR Office’s mentor trainings are based on a curriculum developed by CIMER at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Data from a randomized control trial indicates the curriculum improves research mentoring skills in both junior and senior research faculty alike. To read more mentoring publications from the team that created this curriculum, visit the publications page the UW Madison team has assembled.
The Center for Faculty Excellence also offers a similar mentoring program to any research faculty at UNC. Their program is often divided into more, shorter sessions in case that may be easier for scheduling.
Facilitators
Dave McDonald, PhD (he/him): Director of BBSP, Office of Biomedical Science Training & Research (BioSTAR)
Dave is the Director of the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP) in the BioSTAR Office. He works with first-year PhD students to help them build essential skills to ensure their success in graduate school. In this capacity, Dave advises students on finding faculty to rotate with in their first year, building a mentor-mentee relationship, and deciding which lab to join for their dissertation research.
Laura Hawkins, DPhil: Director of the Learning & Working Environment, Office of Biomedical Science Training & Research (BioSTAR)
As Director of the Learning and Working Environment, Laura serves the School of Medicine community as an impartial resource and works to foster a positive, safe, respectful, and supportive environment so all members of the community can succeed and thrive. To this end, she works with community members to problem-solve individual concerns with objectivity and neutrality; provides guidance and educational opportunities to labs, departments, units, and student groups; and tracks metrics related to the learning and work environment in order to inform systemic changes.
Ashalla Freeman, PhD: Director of Engagement & Student Success and Postdoctoral Workforce Development, Office of Biomedical Science Training & Research (BioSTAR)
Ashalla supports success, recruitment, and retention efforts for UNC’s Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP) and postdocs across the SOM, including advisement, coaching, and career/community development initiatives. She previously served as Co-PI/Director of the NIH-funded UNC IMSD program which aimed to broaden participation in the biomedical research workforce and promote the development and success of biomedical PhD students.