I’m pleased to announce that I was accepted into the first cohort of researchers for the new Enhanced Mentoring Program with Opportunities for Ways to Excel in Research (EMPOWER) at the University of Maine! We had our program launch yesterday, during which the 28 early-career researchers and their established-career mentors met to discuss the program goals, namely, to gain professional development in funding proposal writing and increase our success rate in an increasing-competitive research funding system.

Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner graciously accepted my request to act as my mentor for the program, which formalizes the mentorship and guidance she has voluntarily offered me without hesitation in my first two years at UMaine. Anne and I have also co-mentored four undergraduate students through their senior Capstone Experience research project in Animal and Veterinary Science. Over the next year, we will meet regularly to discuss and develop my research proposals related to animal health and microbiomes.