Duration of Program

• Formal mentorship will last 3 months, beginning after mentor and mentee have been paired

We set this parameter to help us manage connections and to solicit feedback from mentors and trainees at an appropriate time point. You are encouraged to continue the mentorship and long as both parties see fit.   

Nature of Meetings

• The student is responsible for driving the mentoring relationship, arranging meetings, setting the goals and gain agreement for ways the mentor may assist them.
• Mentors and mentees will meet at minimum once a month
• Meetings can be in person or virtual (phone, video conference)
• The time frame and meeting frequency can be altered if both the mentee and the mentor agree. We recommend this be established in the beginning and agreed upon by both parties.
• At the end of each meeting, we recommend discussing a list of action items to be completed by the following meeting

If your mentor/mentee becomes unresponsive at any point during the 3-month period, please inform the program coordinator as soon as possible.

Mentee Worksheet

• Mentees will be provided with a worksheet to help them identify career interests-, short- and long-term goals, and expectations for the program. Mentees have the option to share this with their mentor during the first meeting to use as a launching point for discussion

Informational Interviews

• Informational interviews are used to help students identify which mentors would be a good fit, and vice versa 
• Mentors may respectfully decline an informational interview if they have received several requests

Program Evaluation

• Evaluation surveys will be sent to mentees and mentors and at the conclusion of the formal mentoring period (3 months)
• Survey will ask questions about your mentorship experience and offer a place to submit feedback
• HBN will conduct check-ins with mentees as needed

LinkedIn Group

• The Hopkins Biotech Network will create and manage a private LinkedIn group that all mentors and mentees will be able to connect through
• Each cohort of mentors and mentees will have a separate group

Even if you have mentored with us before, we request that you join the new LinkedIn group

How the process works:

1. Mentees will be selected and notified by the Hopkins Biotech Network
2. Mentees will be invited to a private LinkedIn group where they will have access to mentor information and profiles
3. Mentees will contact 3-5 potential mentors and conduct short 10-15 minute informational interviews to learn more about the mentor
4. Mentees will submit their top 3 choices of mentors to HBN
5. HBN will pair mentees with a mentor

To ensure the mentorship is mutually beneficial, input from mentors will help guide the matching process. We will make our best effort to pair a mentee with their top choice. Students will have an opportunity to connect with all mentors in the program to extend their network beyond the one-on-one mentorship.

Mentee:

1. Always treat your mentor with respect and maintain professionalism
2. Initiate the scheduling/execution of all meetings
3. Prepare an agenda for each meeting, and send 2-3 days in advance
4. Follow-up each meeting with the following:
            i. Brief, bulleted summary of the discussion
            ii. Any agreed upon dates/times for the next meeting
            iii. List of action items discussed
6. Clearly discuss with your mentor what your expectations and what you aim to achieve with the program
7. Complete all required program evaluations/questionnaires

Mentor:

1. Treat your mentee with respect
2. Offer mentee your undivided attention during meetings
Set a learning climate which encourages problem solving, critical thinking, and risk- taking
3. Ask lots of questions and help the mentee look at ideas from a variety of perspectives
4. Use active listening techniques, question intuitively and respectfully, give constructive and specific feedback and – where appropriate – suggest areas for improvement
5. Recommend activities they can engage in on their own time to advance their goals
6. Offer and utilize your network to help the mentee achieve their goals
7. Complete all program evaluations/questionnaires

Keys to Mentorship Success:

1. Have mutual respect
2. Maintain confidentiality and professionalism
3. Be supportive and empathetic
4. Clear and open communication
5. Have defined goals, and be willing to modify as appropriate
6. Discuss action items, and be sure to follow through

MISSION: What We Do:

CASSS is an agile, non-profit scientific organization whose strength is in bringing together professionals from industry, academia and regulatory agencies to solve scientific and technical problems in order to advance the development of biopharmaceuticals. CASSS enables regulatory capacity building, knowledge-sharing and global access by leveraging strategic partnerships, scientific expertise and a diversity of views in all of our activities.

PURPOSE: Why We Exist

CASSS exists today to enable a global community of industry, academic and regulatory professionals to work together to resolve scientific challenges in the field of biopharmaceutical development and regulation.

OUR COMMUNITY (NETWORK): For Who We Exist

CASSS’ community includes process, analytical, regulatory and other related scientists in the field of biopharmaceutical development and regulation.

VALUE PROPOSITION: The Reason People Choose CASSS

Our promise to our constituents is that by attending a CASSS meeting, you will meet the right people and  gain tangible knowledge that will help you bring biopharmaceutical medicines to patients who need them more quickly, safely and for less cost. CASSS utilizes its dedicated volunteer network of experienced individuals to bring together the right people (experienced leaders in the field), the right way (a culture of engagement), at the right time (scientifically relevant content).

CORE VALUES:

Integrity
Community
Purpose
Collaboration
Distinction

Learn more about the organization at CASSS.org