Engage in Mentoring

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Welcome to the IBS Mentoring Program!


This initiative reflects our commitment to you and your professional development. This unique online networking and career development opportunity helps you to find, connect with and share experiences with others. Your mentor or mentee can be in the same city or on the other side of the world!

Choose a "Mentor" or "Mentee" path below to get started. 

Our primary aim is to pair an experienced professional with someone who is new to their career or thinking of branching out. Participants will have access to a variety of resources to navigate their career path. Please note, participants in the program must be members of the IBS and agree to the Code of Conduct.

Note: This service is for members only. Members must be logged in the view all tools and resources. 

                                                         

Join us this December 8-13 in Atlanta, USA for the IBC 2024 Special Mentoring Program Session!

Click HERE for more information!

Organizer: Brenda Yankam, Department of Health, Malaria Consortium, Cameroon

Chair: Tarylee Reddy, Professor, Biostatistics Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, South Africa

About the Session

Attendees of the session "Fostering Professional Growth: The International Biometric Society (IBS) Mentor/Mentee Program" can expect an insightful and engaging experience that highlights the benefit of mentorship in professional development within biometrics. This session will feature experienced mentors and early-career mentees who have actively participated in the IBS Mentor/Mentee Program and other mentorship program, sharing their career journeys and firsthand experiences. Through this session, attendees will gain valuable insights into the diverse career paths within biometrics and the significant impact of mentorship on individual growth. The session aims to inspire greater participation in the IBS Mentor/Mentee Program by showcasing the benefits and positive influence of mentorship, encouraging both potential mentors and mentees to engage and contribute to the professional growth of the IBS community.

About the Panel

Dr José Pinheiro is a Senior Director at Janssen Research and Development - Johnson & Johnson, Somerville, NJ.

Geert Molenberghs is Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at KU Leuven and at Hasselt University.

Scarlett Bellamy is Chair and Professor of Biostatistics at the Boston University School of Public Health. 

Tarylee Reddy is a Professor of Biostatistics Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, South Africa.

Daniel Gyaase is a PhD student in Medicine (Injury Epidemiology) at the George Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University New South Wales, Australia.

Clemence Taremwa is a Biostatistics and Public Health professional and a lecturer of Makerere University School of Public Health, Makerere University Uganda.

Brenda Yankam is a Statistician working with Malaria Consortium, Department of Health, Buea, Cameroon.

Expectations - In order for the mentorship relationship to be successful, it is important that a mentor and a mentee both have reasonable expectations and an understanding of what the relationship is, and is not.

    • Mentoring is not training, social chit-chat, or supervision. Rather, it is a unique relationship that takes both participants out of their day-to-day activities, allowing the mentor to help the mentee plan for their future and strategize around a plan of action for how they will achieve their goals.
    • The IBS mentor’s role is not to teach the mentee everything they know and have learned from their years in the profession, nor to tell a mentee what to do next in their career. Instead, the mentor will focus on facilitating strategic discussions that will help the mentee clarify and organize their own thoughts and professional goals.
    • It is not the role of the IBS mentor to help the mentee find a job or be admitted to a graduate program. Rather, the mentor should be viewed as a supportive senior advisor who is available to provide feedback and answer questions about how the mentee can best navigate their career.
    • It is not the role of the mentor to lead all conversations. Mentees should come to the relationship prepared, with goals and well-developed questions that help to drive future conversations.

    Once you have enrolled in the program, you will be able to use the Mentoring Program search engine to find your mentor or mentee. You will be prompted to respond to a series of questions related to your career stage, your interests, and your desired mode of communication, including your preferred language. The system will identify suitable matches based on your response. 

    Once you select your mentor or mentee from the list of suggested matches, the system will send them a message informing them that a match has been requested and inviting them to accept. Once they take this step, then you are paired in the system and can start communications via the email system built into the IBS website. Some people may prefer to continue using this system, while others may prefer to use their standard work or personal email. That is a personal choice that needs to be worked out between mentor and mentee.

    Another advantage of joining the IBS Mentoring Program is that you will automatically become part of the online Community board and you will receive notifications of upcoming events or interesting articles and other resources. 

    We are excited to welcome you on your mentoring journey. Select your role of Mentor or Mentee below to see the next steps.

    For Mentors (Not a mentor yet? Start here!)

    1. Update your profile to get started

    Having a complete and accurate profile is crucial to the success of selection and matching.

    • Update your profile to make sure your contact information is up to date.
    • Add a recent professional profile picture
    • Expand on your bio
    • Import your education and job history information from LinkedIn. 
    • Update your system preferences to make sure you receive notifications via email.

    2. Enroll in the program

    Complete this form to Enroll as a Mentor

    This is where you'll select demographics that will help us match you with the perfect mentee (i.e your career stage, preferred method of communication, mentoring topics of interest, etc.) Please note that some fields are required for enrollment. The more information you provide, the easier it will be to make the best match. Keep in mind in order to request a mentor or mentee, you must be enrolled in the program. 

    3. Find your mentee

    Use the Mentee Program Directory to input your search criteria or "Search for ALL of the selected values" to peruse.

    Valuable features help you find and recruit matches: 

      •   Track your mentoring relationships
      •       Participate in discussion forums on mentoring topics
      •       Search for helpful mentoring resources 

    4. Connect

    To connect and start a dialogue with a potential mentee, click their name to view their profile page. If you think it's a good match, click on the Mentor Match badge under their profile picture to request a connection. (Make sure your profile system preferences are updated and you have turned-on email notifications)  

    5. Engage

    Once your connection is made its up to you to engage. Read our guide on how to get started here and checkout our Digital Resource Library.  It might be useful for you and your Mentee to complete a simple contract to outline the goals of your relationship. 

    Questions? Explore the Mentor FAQ

    For Mentees (Not a mentee yet? Start here!)

    1. Update your profile to get started

    Having a complete and accurate profile is crucial to the success of selection and matching.

    • Update your member profile to make sure your contact information is up to date.
    • Add a recent professional profile picture
    • Expand on your bio
    • Import your education and job history information from LinkedIn. 
    • Update your system preferences to make sure you receive notifications via email. 

    2. Enroll in the program

    Complete this form to Enroll as a Mentee

    This is where you'll select demographics that will help us match you with the perfect mentor (i.e your career stage, preferred method of communication, mentoring topics of interest, etc.) Please note that some fields are required for enrollment. The more information you provide, the easier it will be to make a solid match. This step must be completed to participate in the program.

    3. Find your mentor

    Use the Mentor Program Directory to input your search criteria or "Search for ALL of the selected values" to peruse.

    Valuable features help you find and recruit matches: 

      •   Track your mentoring relationships
      •       Participate in discussion forums on mentoring topics
      •       Search for helpful mentoring resources 

    4. Connect

    To connect and start a dialogue with a potential mentor, click their name to view their profile page. If you think it's a good match, click on the Mentor Match badge under their profile picture to request a connection. (Make sure your profile system preferences are updated and you have turned-on email notifications)  

    5. Engage

    Once your connection is made its up to you to engage. Read our guide on how to get started here and checkout our Digital Resource Library. It might be useful for you and your Mentor to complete a simple contract to outline the goals of your relationship. 

    Questions? Explore the Mentee FAQ

    Digital Resource Library (Log-in Required to Access)

    Other mentoring programs, including several from IBS Regions

    For Mentees

    Quote from a Mentor

    Jim Todd

    "I love to pass on my experiences in biostatistics, research, epidemiology and health systems, as well as tips on publishing and dealing with colleagues, but even more, I love to listen and learn from younger members of IBS, who have passion and energy to get things done, and excitement in tackling topics that I didn't know existed.  Mentoring is a two-way learning experience, a compensation for getting old, and an inspiration for the future. I would urge everyone to become an effective mentor and get the excitement from the experience." - Jim Todd

    Quote from a Mentor

    Guadalupe Gómez Melis

    My experience as a mentor is so enriching that I’m always eager to engage in a new mentoring relationship with young people. I see the role as a mentor as multifaceted. Mentor and mentee, together, can identify and set realistic goals. The mentor can offer positive and constructive comments, can share his/her experience and knowledge, can help to identify resources and suggest alternative approaches and above all he/she will encourage, support and promote the new ideas of the mentee. I encourage you to embark on this wonderful opportunity that IBS is promoting. You won’t be disappointed! - Guadalupe Gómez Melis

    Quote from a Mentee

    Tarylee Reddy

    "I have been privileged to have had wonderful mentors during my career, which I strongly believe has groomed me into the statistician, leader and person that I am today. While my undergraduate and postgraduate training equipped me with crucial theoretical knowledge, there are numerous key skills which can only be obtained through experience and guidance. Through my interaction with my mentors I have gained (and continue to gain) leadership and management skills; a better understanding of how to maximise my strengths; how to juggle the demands of research, consulting, teaching and more recently, motherhood. Being able to interact closely with someone who has successfully navigated this path before is wonderful." - Tarylee Reddy

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