A survey of the mentor-mentee relationship in early career research (ECR): Implications for publishing and career advancement in the STEMM disciplines

Early career researchers (ECRs) are the most abundant workforce in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). ECRs are generally mentored by experienced principal investigators (PIs) who direct the research objectives. The ECR mentee- mentor partnership can be mutually beneficial, but it is a critical relationship for ECRs with implications for publishing and career development. In this study, a mixed methods approach involving a survey, X polls (formally Twitter), and semi-structured interviews were used to determine how the ECR mentor-mentee relationship affects ECRs and their perceptions of career development in STEMM. To address this aim, two main research questions were developed: (1) Who do the STEMM ECR mentees and mentors currently perceive to be ECRs? and (2) What characteristics of the ECR mentee-mentor relationship are perceived to be important for ECR publishing practices and career progression? The main survey findings indicate that respondents largely from the life sciences and health field and they consider Ph.D. researchers and postdoctoral researchers as ECRs, but mentors also to a greater extent than mentees perceive new PIs (< 2 years experiences) as ECRs. Survey respondents also mostly agree on publishing practices regarding journal selection criteria such as journal scope and impact factor, although mentees appear to favor journal prestige and open access publishing more than mentors. This is likely due to the importance of visibility early in ones career. Mentees take the lead in preparing manuscripts for submission, although a minority have described issues regarding authorship disputes. Finally, setting clear expectations, being collegial, mutually respectful, and having regular communication was identified by survey respondents and interviewees as integral features of a healthy ECR mentee- mentor relationship. In conclusion, the mentee-mentor relationship is critically important for ECR career development, and the findings of this study have wider implications for the development of effective ECR mentee and mentor training programs across the STEMM disciplines.