Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you are a CSULB BUILD Research Mentor, you have access to a variety of benefits. You may also have questions. Below you will find the most commonly asked questions by mentors. If you don’t find the answer to your question here or you would like to suggest a question, please feel free to contact our BUILD Mentors email.

The DCP was created by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In partnership with the NIH, the DCP will “develop, implement, and evaluate innovative approaches to research training and mentoring, with the goal of engaging individuals from diverse backgrounds and helping them prepare for and succeed in biomedical research careers. It provides the opportunity for transformation of the biomedical research workforce through institution-wide and eventually nationwide implementation of successful training and mentoring strategies. The long-term goal is to enhance the NIH mission through a more diverse and robust workforce, attracting talented individuals from all population sectors.” One of the programs that helps it accomplish this goal is the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) initiative. You can learn more about the DPC on their website.

The BMC is a training program that helps support your mentorship of your students, including students from traditionally underrepresented populations. Run by Kelly Young, Ph.D., it is based on the “Entering Mentoring” 9-week training program created by the National Research Mentor Network (NRMN). You can learn more about NRMN on their website. BUILD mentors are required to complete the BMC in order to receive the supply funds that come with your BUILD mentee.

Offered twice a semester by José Rodriguez, Ph.D., the multicultural mentoring workshops provide helpful insights into communicating with today’s mentees, especially for students from traditionally underrepresented populations. BUILD mentors are required to attend one workshop, however many mentors find that attend more is useful.

Students in the BUILD program are selected based on their desire to pursue a health-related research career and their.

As part of the application process, prospective BUILD trainees are required to identify their own Research Mentor. They are advised to do this in a variety of ways:

  • Look for a mentor using the BUILD Faculty Mentor Directory
    • This is why having an up-to-date and easy-to-understand mentor profile is so important. For information on how to find a BUILD mentee, visit the “Finding a BUILD Mentee” page.
  • If they are already working in a research program by an already approved BUILD mentor, they are welcome to continue on in that lab.
  • If they are working in the lab of a faculty mentor who is not an approved BUILD mentor, their mentor can apply to become one.

Detailed instructions, including a video that walks you through the process is on the "Finding BUILD Mentees" page.

Your most important role as a BUILD Research Mentor is to motivate and engage your mentees to pursue doctoral degrees in research and a research career. You also train them in discipline specific skills, support their presentation and publication of research results, provide them with mentoring designed to prepare them to apply to and succeed in applying to graduate programs and in research careers. For more information about your role and responsibilities, visit the “Mentor Responsibilities” page..