On this page: News I Upcoming Events from CIMER I External Mentoring Events of Interest
Upcoming CIMER Events
View current and upcoming workshops, and sign up for an interest list to be notified when future workshops open.
Culturally Aware Mentoring (CAM) Online with CIMER
Workshops are three 3-hour sessions over three weeks. Attendance at all three sessions is expected. Culturally Aware Mentoring workshops are advanced trainings intended for mentors who have already completed core mentorship education and reflected on their practice. Therefore, prior mentor training is a prerequisite.
Current and upcoming trainings:
June 2, 09, 16, 2026: 1:00 – 4:00 PM CST online. $1800 per participant.
Sign up on the interest form 
to be notified of future CAM workshops.
Culturally Aware Mentoring Facilitator Training (CAMFT)
Facilitating Culturally Aware Mentoring is a “train-the-trainer” workshop designed to prepare participants to lead the in-person Culturally Aware Mentoring (CAM) workshop at their own institutions. Participants must have previously completed the CAM workshop to be eligible. In the 2-day workshop, participants will increase their knowledge and skills related to culturally responsive facilitation approaches, gain understanding about the underlying principles of the CAM workshop, assess their own readiness as co-facilitators, and create an implementation plan.
This facilitator training workshop is currently offered once annually in the spring; applicants must apply with at least one other person who can be their co-facilitator when implementing CAM
Sign up on the interest form to be notified of future CAM FT workshops.
Entering Mentoring Facilitator Training (EMFT)
Facilitating Entering Mentoring training is a “train-the-trainer” workshop designed to increase the capacity for research mentor trainings offered at colleges and universities, research institutes, and governmental organizations. Participants engage with the Entering Mentoring curriculum, learn how to facilitate Entering Mentoring and begin the planning of their first mentor training workshop.
Registration is *$2,700 per participant for individual and *$3,000 per participant for teams of 3-5 individuals (includes a one-hour post workshop implementation consultation per team). Trainings are offered both online and in person
*Prices are subject to change and good through current fiscal year only. The most up-to-date pricing is noted in each recruitment email. See pricing page for current prices.
Current and upcoming trainings:
Register for upcoming open sessions by following the link to complete the google form. A payment link will be sent separately once a spot has been confirmed.
- January 26-30, 2026 (online). Click here to register by completing the google form
- February 23-27, 2026 (online). To register and complete the google form click here
- March 16-20, 2026 (online). To register and complete the google form click here
Cancellations must be made no later than 21 days before the workshop.
Sign up on the interest form to be notified of future EM-FT workshops.
Research Curriculum Development Institute (RCDI)
Research Curriculum Development Institute is a workshop for undergraduate and graduate research training program directors in STEMM. This workshop is offered by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) and the Wisconsin Institute for Science Education and Community Engagement (WISCIENCE). Workshop participants develop a custom curriculum for their research trainees, a plan to assess research trainee learning, and skills to facilitate Entering Research activities.
Registration is *$2,700 per registrant for individual.
*Prices are subject to change and good through current fiscal year only. The most up-to-date pricing is noted in each recruitment email.
Current and upcoming trainings:
to complete the January interest form.Sign up on the interest form to be notified of future RCDI workshops.
News
Checkout recent publications and news from CIMER & collaborators below!
Become a part of CIMER’s exciting new CAMP cohort!!
This 8-month program provides heads of labs with the deep learning needed to navigate mentorship relationships during times of complexity. We still have space to add a few more folks to our 2026 cohort– if interested apply by November 14, 2026 Please note scholarships are available to cover the cost of the program.
Publication Alert
New publication from Janet Branchaw and Christine Pfund:
Building Strong Mentorship Ecosystems to Support Positive URE Student Outcomes
(September 2025)
The comprehensive researcher development framework (CRDF): Core learning outcomes for research training
(September 2025)
Download and read the commentary by our colleagues from Colorado University-Anschutz in Academic Medicine: Sustaining the Biomedical Research Workforce: Medical School Leadership in Supporting Research Learners
(June 2025)
Tools for coordinating measurement use in science education and training
(May 2025)
The article highlights the importance of developing a shared understanding of evaluation design and measurement use toward fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in improving education and training interventions.
National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change.
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This article reports on the usage and impact of the University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s online mentor training module, Optimizing the Practice of Mentoring (OPM).
Measuring the Interpersonal Component of the Mentoring Relationship: The Mentorship Working Alliance Scale-Mentee Version.
(April 2025)
This study introduces a new instrument, the mentorship working alliance (MWA) – mentee version, and presents initial evidence supporting its validity in evaluating the interpersonal elements of mentoring relationships.
Getting Started With Culture Change in Science: Lessons in Retooling.
(March 2025)
Rooted in the intuitive, theoretically grounded view of culture as a tool kit that people use to solve various problems, the authors offer examples of cultural change work emerging from the National Science Foundation-funded Inclusive Graduate Education Network.
Scaling evidence-based interventions: Examining factors promoting and limiting the dissemination of research mentor training.
(February 2025)
The article reports on individual and institutional factors promoting and limiting mentor training implementation efforts of trained facilitators.
Publication
“A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Intervention to Increase Cultural Diversity Awareness of Research Mentors of Undergraduate Students”
This article sheds light on the significance of providing mentors with training in cultural awareness and sensitivity to enhance the mentoring experience for young scientists. By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, this research offers valuable insights into empowering the next generation of scientists. Read the full article on Science.org to uncover the compelling findings and implications for scientific mentorship.
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Podcast: Thriving or Burn Out in Mentoring, Pastoring, Service & Vocation – Part 1 w/ Christine Pfund
Listen to CIMER’s Dr. Christine Pfund on Nii Addy’s latest podcast episode on thriving or burnout in mentoring and more. You can listen or watch on @AddyHour on Youtube or at AddyHour.com .
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CIMER Leader Helps Organize, Present National Mentoring Workshop for Research Universities, Funders, Associations
(Jan. 23, 2023)
F2F and Synchronous Online Mentor Training Outcomes
Read the article published on September 16, 2022, in CBE – Life Sciences Education . This article investigates if training modality affects mentor training outcome.
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Enhancing Research Mentors’ Cultural Awareness in STEM: A Mentor Training Intervention
.Don’t Let Mentoring Burn You Out
Mentoring is undoubtedly a high-impact and high-stakes relationship. Mentors give their time, attention, and resources to develop others. Usually a volunteer activity, mentorship goes above and beyond a person’s formal job requirements. When a mentor is well-intended but too depleted to deliver essential mentor functions as a consequence of burnout, the result is marginal mentoring: dysfunctional or disengaged mentoring that is no longer of value. Read the article .
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Evaluation of a Culturally Responsive Mentorship Education Program for the Advisers of Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Program Graduate Students
CBE—Life Sciences Education Vol. 21, No. 3 Read the article .
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New Curriculum!
Mentor Training for Research Development Professionals available now on MyCIMER.
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External Mentoring Events of Interest
International Mentoring Association (IMA) is a professional association and resource for supporting mentoring excellence and best practices. The IMA mission is to create global communities for sharing best practices that lead to development of highly effective mentoring programs via a support base of diversity through a variety of venues. A conference is held every-two years and brings together mentoring practitioners and scholars from higher education, private and public sector institutions.
The Mentoring Institute (University of New Mexico) Takes place each fall in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The organization aims to support the development and enhancement of mentoring programs and convene a local, state, national and international group of colleagues to discuss evidence-based practices and research.
SACNAS: Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is a yearly, multidisciplinary event that aims to support individuals in their research and professional development and provide a space to celebrate multicultural traditions. The conference occurs each fall.
The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) is a conference that welcomes undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, administrators and faculty who are committed to encouraging students who are minorities, first-generation, veterans, and/or disabled to advance their work in STEM research careers. The annual conference occurs each Fall.
Understanding Interventions (UI) was established to facilitate dissemination and exchange of hypothesis-based research on interventions and initiatives that broaden participation in science and engineering research careers. The conference is designed to create a dialogue among behavioral/social science and education researchers, evaluators, and faculty in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields who participate in intervention programs. Please see the website for conference and publication outlet information.