Resources for Labs and Mentors


Building a culture of belonging and success 
AGeS is committed to expanding meaningful, sustainable, and successful participation in geochronology. We can collectively help members of our community thrive by building a culture of belonging and success. Individuals succeed when they are part of a safe community in which expectations are transparent. Whether you are a mentor on an AGeS funded project, a member of a lab that is hosting an AGeS-Grad awardee, leading a geochronology community effort, or are a graduate student forming new collaborations, we encourage you to thoughtfully build, support, and participate in an inclusive research culture. 

Inclusive Practices for Mentors:

  1. Develop Mentorship Plans
    • Allow opportunity for both Mentor and Mentee to set expectations and revise plans as needed
    • Outline benefits to both Mentee and Mentor
    • Determine a meeting frequency and communication plan
  2. Codes of Conduct in the lab or field
    • Identify and define appropriate and inappropriate behaviors
    • Describe a plan for the ethical treatment of people, land, and data
    • Outline disciplinary action and reporting for conduct violations
    • Build in mechanisms for continued re-evaluation of the effectiveness of the Code of Conduct and opportunities for its revision
  3. Communication and Support Strategies
    • Openly and safely discuss racism and other identity-based hostilities and their impacts on mentee/participants experiences in science
    • Determine how and how often will you communicate with your mentor/mentee
    • Build community and cohorts for early career success
      • Invite lab visitors to research group meetings
      • Craft near-peer and peer mentorship relationships
      • Provide opportunities for socializing and team building. Some or all of these social events should be alcohol-free.
    • Regularly check in on project progress and ask how you can help
  4. Provide Key Information Early
    • Plan ahead and be prepared
    • Ensure project or lab expectations are clear and transparent
    • Provide lab protocols, example budgets, relevant literature, etc.

AGeS-Labs are encouraged to:

  • Discuss projects with AGeS-Grad applicants regarding the project feasibility, timeline, and budget
  • Provide guidelines for what is expected before visiting the lab
  • Help students find low-cost ways to participate (e.g., recommend cheaper places to stay, shared transportation, etc.)
  • Provide protocols for lab work and data interpretation
  • Stay involved as agreed upon with AGeS-Grad awardee and follow up after the lab visit
  • Invite AGeS-Grad awardees to group meetings during their visit and introduce them to other members (student, postdoc, researchers) of the lab
  • Help the AGeS-Grad awardee build their geochronology network, toolkit, and community
  • Incorporate BAJEDI principles into the laboratory practices

Example Mentorship Plan:

Example Codes of Conduct:

Example AGeS Lab profiles: