Triennial reproduction symposium: L. E. Casida Award for Excellence in Graduate Education: mentoring graduate students in animal science.

Graduate education in animal science prepares students to enhance the understanding of biology and to utilize this knowledge to increase animal productivity. The mentor is instrumental in the development of scientists and must be dedicated to success of students. The approach used to guide an inquisitive student into a productive researcher and educator is formulated from the experiences of the mentor. The training program that the mentor was exposed to, as well as experiences to identify activities that are successful, can result in a unique program to nurture and stimulate students. A dedication to a productive research program is essential for mentoring. Participation in research early in a graduate program is important and it helps students realize that their research can be innovative and exciting. Frequent meetings between students and mentors are essential and participation in data collection and analyses by the student and mentor are great teaching events. Students must have knowledge of the basic sciences and the discipline as well as their focused research area. A demanding and comprehensive graduate education is essential to expand the scientific development of the future generation of researchers and educators.