University at Buffalo (UB)
Teaching and Mentoring Resources for Doctoral Students
As you embark on your doctoral journey, it is crucial to recognize that your expertise and impact extend beyond your research. As future academics, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of scholars.
UB has the tools to enhance your mentoring skills, hone your teaching abilities, and cultivate a foundation for successful academic careers. Through the exploration of mentoring techniques, teaching skill development and strategies for effective instruction, these resources will empower you to excel both inside and outside the classroom.
As future academics, you will share knowledge, guide students and create engaging learning environments. Our resources will support your growth as educators while providing valuable insights, practical strategies and resources to enhance your teaching abilities and ensure that you are well-prepared to excel in the classroom.
- Teaching Assistantships (TA) are typically assigned by departments to current graduate students in their department, primarily to doctoral students. Being a TA allows you to develop teaching skills while being responsible for a lab, recitation or teaching a course by yourself. Discuss teaching opportunities with your faculty mentor or director of graduate studies. Even if you don't intend to enter an academic career path, teaching is an important professional skill to develop.
- TA Orientation is a free virtual event for teaching assistants, held virtually every August by the Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation (CATT). This orientation helps prepare graduate teaching assistants for success in their teaching roles at UB and in the future. Whether you are a new TA or have previous instructional role experience, this orientation is for you!
- The Office of Inclusive Excellence offers tips, resources and events for Inclusive Pedagogy. Find recordings of past events, and view upcoming webinars and self-paced online courses.
- The Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation hosts The Teaching Table Podcast, a monthly podcast on teaching.
Featured Partner: CATT
The Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation (CATT) provides leadership and support for delivery and assessment of 21st century instruction across physical and digital learning environments.
Effective Teaching Micro-Credential
Offered by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), the Effective Teaching micro-credential will prepare participants to be more effective educators. This micro-credential is free and open to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Building your support team and finding multiple mentors to meet your needs is important. You can build your skills and mentor network by exploring various mentoring resources.
- The Network for Enriched Academic Relationships (NEAR) is a transdisciplinary online mentoring directory for students to find faculty mentors and allies beyond their substantive research areas. Students can connect with current faculty members in various departments to receive guidance and support around many topics and issues of importance.
- The National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) is an independent professional development, training and mentoring community dedicated to supporting academics in making successful transitions throughout their careers. UB's institutional membership offers an array of resources to you.
- School of Social Work Mentor Program links current students with alumni.
- Finding a Career Mentor (in Addition to an Academic One) is a useful article on Inside Higher Ed.
- One mentor isn't enough. Here's how I built a network of mentors article on Science.org.
Mentoring Up for doctoral students is a program from the Center for Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) that helps individuals learn mentoring skills. Each session addresses issues and challenges that mentees might encounter at every stage of their careers. Topics include:
- Maintaining Effective Communication.
- Aligning Expectations.
- Addressing Equity & Inclusion.
- Building Research Self-Efficacy.
- Achieving Independence.
- Seeking Professional Development.
The Mentoring Up program runs each semester and is hosted by the Graduate School.