Mentoring program available for Penn State faculty building their research careers
Research Professor Sarah Chilenski offers valuable support as senior faculty mentor
Sarah-Chilenski-Prevention-Research-Center
Sarah Chilenski, research professor of health and human development with the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State.
October 14, 2025
By Sara P. Brennen
Early career researchers looking for a helping hand in building their careers at Penn State can now turn to Sarah Chilenski, research professor at Penn State’s Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center.
In July, Chilenski was appointed as a senior faculty mentor through Penn State’s Office of Educational Equity. Participants in her research mentorship program will meet with renowned researchers, attend panel discussions, and receive one-one mentoring from Chilenski during the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.
To learn more about research mentoring program, contact Sarah Chilenski via email.
“We want to help faculty at any Penn State campus find their research community at Penn State,” Chilenski said. “We can provide introductions to leading faculty and help participants build relationships with them.”
The first panel discussion will take place via Zoom on Oct. 21 at noon, “Demystifying Penn State Research Centers: Part 1. Purpose of Centers & Benefits to You.” Participants can register here.
In November, participants will have an opportunity to meet with Catherine Bradshaw, University Professor and senior associate dean for research in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, an internationally renowned researcher focusing on school-based prevention of behavioral and mental health problems. Bradshaw and Chilenski will discuss their own career trajectories and answer participants’ questions about building a succesful research career.
In December, attendees will hear from directors at Penn State research centers about the work being done in their centers and their visions for future work in their respective fields.
Through mentoring, Chilenski hopes to help participants overcome challenges often faced by early career researchers.
“People can become easily overwhelmed with the number of different things they’re responsible for, and it’s hard to figure out how to prioritize. New people are pretty consistently asked to do a lot of things. It can be hard to say no and decide what to prioritize in the moment.”
Chilenski began her research career as a graduate student at Penn State and is now a research professor with more than two decades of experience in research and evaluation. She has served as principal investigator for projects funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Annie E. Casey Foundation and many other federal and state funding agencies.
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Mentoring program available for Penn State faculty building their research careers
Research Professor Sarah Chilenski offers valuable support as senior faculty mentor
Sarah-Chilenski-Prevention-Research-Center
Sarah Chilenski, research professor of health and human development with the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State.
October 14, 2025
By Sara P. Brennen
Early career researchers looking for a helping hand in building their careers at Penn State can now turn to Sarah Chilenski, research professor at Penn State’s Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center.
In July, Chilenski was appointed as a senior faculty mentor through Penn State’s Office of Educational Equity. Participants in her research mentorship program will meet with renowned researchers, attend panel discussions, and receive one-one mentoring from Chilenski during the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.
To learn more about research mentoring program, contact Sarah Chilenski via email.
“We want to help faculty at any Penn State campus find their research community at Penn State,” Chilenski said. “We can provide introductions to leading faculty and help participants build relationships with them.”
The first panel discussion will take place via Zoom on Oct. 21 at noon, “Demystifying Penn State Research Centers: Part 1. Purpose of Centers & Benefits to You.” Participants can register here.
In November, participants will have an opportunity to meet with Catherine Bradshaw, University Professor and senior associate dean for research in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, an internationally renowned researcher focusing on school-based prevention of behavioral and mental health problems. Bradshaw and Chilenski will discuss their own career trajectories and answer participants’ questions about building a succesful research career.
In December, attendees will hear from directors at Penn State research centers about the work being done in their centers and their visions for future work in their respective fields.
Through mentoring, Chilenski hopes to help participants overcome challenges often faced by early career researchers.
“People can become easily overwhelmed with the number of different things they’re responsible for, and it’s hard to figure out how to prioritize. New people are pretty consistently asked to do a lot of things. It can be hard to say no and decide what to prioritize in the moment.”
Chilenski began her research career as a graduate student at Penn State and is now a research professor with more than two decades of experience in research and evaluation. She has served as principal investigator for projects funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Annie E. Casey Foundation and many other federal and state funding agencies.
