Answer their questions. They are usually contacting you because they've read your research papers and want to learn more, and because they want to learn from you and likely conduct somewhat-similar research themselves.
Schedule a time to talk online/in-person with them if possible.
Ask them questions. Prompt them to share more about their research experience and interests.
Listen to them, and base your advice on how much they already know.
Consider sharing/e-mailing them a list of other scientists to possibly contact, who are also conducting research in their area of interest.
Read about our Support a Student program (below) if you or someone you know might be interested in providing advice to the student in an ongoing way.
Scientists who want to help our students in the long-term are encouraged to to discuss Supporting a Student.
What does it mean to support a student? It just means that you want to help support a student in an ongoing way by answer their questions and providing advice to them. How much time this takes is completely up to you.
Before you discuss Supporting a Student, you should talk to a student in person or online and make sure they feel like someone who would be good to work with and would benefit from your experience. It's OK to take time to consider this option and/or contact me with questions (ian.freedman@wcsdny.org).
We call this Science Research but really students are allowed to conduct research into any field they want. Having said that, students are aware that some fields are easier to conduct research in than others.
We encourage Students and Scientists:
a) to exchance emails as needed, and
b) to meet periodically (online or in-person) to discuss the student's research project 1-3 online meetings per month for 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the student's needs and the scientist's availability. Really, there are no strict limits or requirements about how often you are expected to meet with students, so it's up to students and scientists to discuss this together.
Student Expectations:
Respect your time
Maintain respectful and effective communications
Respond to your questions and concerns in a timely manner
To schedule meetings with scientists, and to show up to those meetings on time and prepared
Follow through on their research obligations to the best of their ability
About the Students in the Program:
Our research students are in grades 10-12 and live in the Wappinger's Central School District, which is about 1.5 hours north of New York City.
Students can stay in the program for up to 3 years. Not all students will continue in the research program for 3 years.
The students have a good work ethic and are passionate about science! If I'm being totally honest, many of our students are more responsible and make for better research assistants than the average college student.
Most of our students are what would be considered "high performing"and are taking several honors classes. However, we don't limit the program to students in honors classes. We feel passionately that research opportunities should be afforded to all students who are interested, provided that they show the necessary motivation and responsibility.
Students are not supposed to contact researchers until they are deemed "ready" to reach out to scientists and engage in their research topic at a high-enough level.
What Are the Benefits of Supporting a Student?
Scientists are helping to train young minds and future scientists in the ways of scientific research in their specific fields.
Students benefit greatly from working with professional scientists! In many cases, they need the advice of scientists in order to determine the best courses of action for their research.
Students who are collaborating with a scientist are eligible to receive college credit through the University of Albany Science Research Program. This program is a huge proponent of programs like ours. If you visit their website, you can find a number of high schools that have research programs.
Working with Multiple Scientists: It's not uncommon for students to work with multiple scientists. In some cases, it's encouraged. Some example include: (a) a graduate student and their advisor, (b) a family member and one of their colleagues to avoid U-Albany conflicts, (c) a scientist who doesn't actively do research but is an expert in their field and someone who is active in research, (d) two scientists with different areas of knowledge that might both apply to a students' research, etc.
Working in Labs. If you have a lab, it is 100% your choice about whether to make lab space available to students. It is OK to offer Support a Student without offering them access to your lab, or to wait to assess their development before you open up your lab space. Certainly some student projects would benefit from access to a lab, but students are also aware that this may be hard to find, and that there are sometimes legal, financial and logistical complications with inviting high school students into a lab.
Research Boards/Committees: Student projects are expected to be reviewed by a review board (IRB, SRC, etc.). In some cases, depending on a students' project, we are aware that projects can be approved by other organizations, such as a university's IRB, etc.
What If Something is Not Working Well?
Know that I'm doing my best to prepare students to work effectively with scientists. Normally, the scientist/student relationship works well for both parties! But sometimes, for a variety of reasons, you may find that things aren't working out. If there is an issue:
Feel free to talk to your mentee and/or me about your concerns. I can be reached at ian.freedman@wcsdny.org. I'm also happy to arrange for a virtual discussion with me if you want.
Sometimes, Supporting a Student may may need to be paused or ended. If so, that's OK. Just please let me know. Similarly, if a student needs to alter or end the Support a Student relationship, I will do my best to make sure they contact you.
If you stumble across this page and are willing to Support a Student, but don't know any students who might be interested in receiving your support please contact me and I'll ask around to look for potential students. I also know research teachers at other schools who I could put you in touch with.
If You're Ready to Support a Student:
Talk to the student and form a tentative plan and make sure that everyone has clear expectations in regards to meetings, communications and expectations.
E-mail me (ian.freedman@wcsdny.org).