Early Career Mentorship Lunch Event

Invited to Participate: Early career scientists and students

Location: Rion Ballroom, Reitz Union, University of Florida

Time: Tuesday, May 5th, 12:30 – 13:30

Join us for an Early Career Mentorship Event during the Tuesday lunch break at ForestSAT 2026 focused on building connections and supporting career development. Early career scientists and students are invited to meet with 16 experienced professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, who will share insights and advice on navigating careers in forestry, remote sensing, and beyond. The flexible format allows attendees to connect with multiple mentors, ask questions, and gain perspectives from across the field. Participants will rotate between mentors every 10–15 minutes.

Event Timeline

• 12:05 – 12:25 | Lunch served at Grand Ballroom
  Buffet available on the 2nd floor. Please proceed to the Rion Ballroom (3rd floor).
• 12:25 – 12:30 | Welcome
  Brief overview of the format.
• 12:30 – 13:20 | Mentor–Mentee Roundtables
  • Participants select a table and rotate every 10 minutes.
  • Open discussion guided by starter questions.
• 13:20 – 13:30 | Transition to Sessions

Discussion Starters

Career & Development

• What skills beyond research have been most valuable?
• How do you balance work and personal life?
• What would you do differently at my stage?
• What skills are most important right now?

Research

• What big questions will shape the next 5–10 years?
• How do you choose projects?
• Strategies for writing papers and grants?
• How do you stay current with the literature?

Networking

• How do you build collaborations?
• How to connect with senior researchers at conferences?

Mentorship

• What makes a strong mentor–mentee relationship?
• What qualities do you look for in collaborators?

Practical Advice

• What habits improve productivity?
• How do you handle rejection?
• What should early-career researchers avoid?

Mentors

We thank all mentors for their time and participation.