Mentoring in the Social Science Laboratory: Advancing Graduate Student Research & Training
Publication Date
4-17-2026
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Mentoring and Tutoring Partnership in Learning
DOI
10.1080/13611267.2026.2660644
Abstract
Graduate research programs aim to cultivate students’ abilities to conduct scientific research, including theory development and application, research design, data analysis, and transferable skills like collaboration and communication. Historically, social science training has emphasized individual rather than team-based work. This may limit knowledge creation and negatively impact student confidence and overall mental health. With a growing emphasis on team science and calls for expanded and focused non-academic career preparation, the role for social science laboratories for graduate training remains underexplored. This paper uses an expert panel approach to identify specific tasks and mentorship strategies for engaging graduate students in social science labs and identifies spaces of untapped potential for fostering research skills, personal growth, and career readiness through team-based research.
Keywords
alt-ac careers, graduate student mentorship, research collaboration, Social science laboratory, team science
Department
Anthropology
Recommended Citation
Alissa Ruth, Cindi SturtzSreetharan, Melissa Beresford, Abigail M. York, Amber Wutich, Robin G. Nelson, Jonathan N. Maupin, Megan Jehn, Elisabeth Ilboudo Nébié, Daniel J. Hruschka, Emir Estrada, Caitlin Drummond Otten, Shauna B. BurnSilver, and Alexandra Brewis. "Mentoring in the Social Science Laboratory: Advancing Graduate Student Research & Training" Mentoring and Tutoring Partnership in Learning (2026). https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2026.2660644
