Dr. Robert Fairman, a Professor of Biology at Haverford College, explains the value of in-depth lab education during undergrad and gives some insight into his mentorship philosophy. Rob was Dennis’ undergraduate research mentor and a number of the lessons Rob taught are worth sharing on a broader scale. In this conversation, Rob shares great tips about generating thoughtful undergrad research experiences while explaining a course at Haverford called Superlab. He also discusses the value of becoming close to students, standing as a fantastic example of someone who is a friend and advocate first, and a teacher, mentor, scientist, and administrator second.
Some useful links:
Rob’s 2017 Publication on Structuring a Biochemistry Superlab course: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2003145
Science Behind Science with Dennis Grencewicz