Faculty Mentors
On This Page
Mentoring is the cornerstone of successful research careers and is thus a centerpiece of TADA’s training program.
TADA Mentor Eligibility
A TADA mentor must be an Emory faculty member with active research portfolios in either SUD research and interventions or applying advanced data science methods.
TADA mentors should have substantive experience in the trainee’s area of interest and have some experience with their advanced data methods track. The goal is to apply the chosen advanced data methods in the trainee’s research to help them understand how this fits into their work and expand the types of data they are analyzing.
Fellowship mentoring teams are matched with senior and junior mentors. Co-mentors are available for collaboration and consultation.
TADA Mentor Roster
TADA Mentor Roster
Click the image to view and download the current roster of TADA faculty mentors.Mentor-Mentee Matching
Finding Your Mentors
TADA directors will match all fellowship trainees with two TADA-certified mentors after they have passed their comprehensive exams. One mentor will focus on SUD research and interventions, and the other mentor will focus primarily on advanced data science methods.
Mentoring teams must be comprised of senior and junior TADA mentors from the current roster.
- Trainees may reach out to potential mentors from the mentor roster or ask for TADA directors to connect them. Once selected, mentors will meet with the student and the TADA directors to get an overview of their role and the trainee’s research interest.
- TADA directors will reach out to the trainee’s dissertation chair to connect them with at least one TADA mentor. Ideally, at least one TADA mentor will join the student’s dissertation committee.
TADA Mentor Requirements
Mentor Expectations and Training Requirements
- Meet with mentees at least once a month.
- Support the creation and realization of their trainee’s IDP.
- Review the IDP with the trainee biannually to assess progress, troubleshoot, and assist with revisions as needed.
- Guide students as they develop dissertations, and monitor/discuss research ethics specific to the trainee’s dissertation research.
- Connect trainees with potential collaborators, coach them to present at conferences and to publish, and prepare them for post-graduate professional trajectories (e.g., applying for post-doctoral fellowships, academic positions).
Through the mentored research experience, the mentee is expected to:
- Complete a minimum of 10 hours per week of mentored research experience embedded in one of the mentors' projects
- Write one first-authored paper on drug use using their methods track methods each year and submit the abstract to a conference
- When possible, serve as co-author on other team papers
- Complete an admin supplement from one of the mentors' projects (optional)
The TADA Fellowship Page has more details about the TADA fellowship requirements.
ASOM Mentor Training
When matched as a mentor, TADA program faculty must either have a current Atlanta Society of Mentors (ASOM) certification (within the past three years) or complete their training within three months (or as soon as the next training is offered). TADA mentors will be re-certified every three years while actively mentoring.
TADA staff will archive copies of these certificates for all TADA program faculty who are actively mentoring.
Annual TADA Mentor Training
TADA also requires an annual tailored mentor training for all active mentors: a one-hour, facilitated discussion about the specific expectations of mentorship in TADA, led by Dawn Comeau, PhD. This includes a discussion of TADA mentorship and an exploration of the 'phases of mentorship' for underrepresented doctoral trainees. During this session, mentors identify unique mentoring challenges in the program. If needed, Dr. Comeau will follow up with one-on-one meetings with mentors and work with them to refine approaches for effective mentorship.