<br/>I had a long career at a U.S. EPA national research laboratory and was mentored by two scientists:  a brilliant physical chemist who made me think in different ways (he taught me how to put my mind in the mind of a chemical), and also by an older analytical chemist who taught me most of what I know about analyzing environmental compounds using mass spectrometry.  These mentors were not assigned, but just happened organically.  The analytical chemist was in my branch and we worked together on projects, and the physical chemist was down the hall.  This mentoring laid my foundation for a successful career in environmental analytical chemistry, as I had not taken a single environmental chemistry class prior to coming to EPA.  While at EPA, I also mentored several postdocs and a few graduate students, and got the chance to train them one-on-one in environmental mass spectrometry.  After almost 25 years at EPA, I moved into academia and began mentoring graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scientists from other countries.  As a new professor at the University of South Carolina, I also have a mentor assigned to me, and he was key to me navigating a new career in academia, including teaching, writing grants, setting up my new lab, and learning how to run a large research group.  I will share stories and experiences for what worked well and what challenges I face with mentoring.

My experience as a mentor and mentee in government and academia

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.