Mentorship in Action: supporting undergraduate research in health
As a liaison librarian for the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo, Jackie Stapleton has had years of experience mentoring graduate students through knowledge synthesis projects. She has developed a mentorship roadmap aligned with the research process to foster confidence and resilience, empowering their success.
Jackie Stapleton, liaison librarian Faculty of Health
A unique undergraduate opportunity
In spring 2025, Stapleton was presented with a unique opportunity: Ecaterina Rosu, recipient of the 2024–2025 Hallman Undergraduate Research Fellowship, needed support to complete a scoping review with the goal of publication and to support a future thesis research project.
What made this opportunity exceptional were the circumstances. Knowledge synthesis projects are a significant undertaking — especially for undergraduate students. Success requires a clear research topic, support from a faculty member, dedicated time and a motivated student. While the Hallman Fellowship provided much of the necessary support, it was Rosu’s dedication and original idea that brought everything together.
As a child, Rosu witnessed their grandmothers' distrust in the healthcare system after living under a communist regime. This inspired them to explore how individuals in post-communist countries perceive and interact with healthcare practitioners. Their interest in the factors that contribute to the distrust in healthcare services led them to Dr. Samantha Meyer, professor in the Faculty of Health, whose research program is focused on trust as it relates to health service use and access among vulnerable populations.
Ecaterina Rosu, recipient of the 2024–2025 Hallman Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Dr. Samantha Meyer, professor, Faculty of Health
Building a support network
Dr. Meyer was happy to act as a faculty supervisor but recognized that Rosu would benefit from additional technical guidance on conducting a scoping review. Having previously worked with Stapleton, Meyer was well aware of the depth of resources and support available from the Libraries, so recommended Rosu connect with her for support.
With all the pieces in place, Rosu began their review. Stapleton provided one-to-one consultation at key stages, guiding Rosu through skill-building activities and connecting them with additional resources to reference as they progressed through their project.
This approach not only gave Rosu the support they needed but also built their confidence to continue independently. Between meetings with Meyer and Stapleton, Rosu also found support from other students working with Meyer — many of whom had benefited from Stapleton’s mentorship themselves.
“As a librarian, I see my role as an educator. I teach students about knowledge synthesis research methodologies and the foundational information navigation skills they can carry with them as they take on their own research,” says Stapleton. The success of this approach to mentorship is evident in the ripple effect of students supporting one another across Waterloo’s campus and beyond. The success of this approach to mentorship is evident in the ripple effect of students supporting one another across Waterloo’s campus and beyond.
The Hallman Undergraduate Research Fellowship supports undergraduate students who wish to participate in research projects under the supervision of Faculty of Health researchers, with a focus on health promotion and education. The application form for the 2025–2026 award will be available in fall 2025.
To learn more about knowledge synthesis projects, the Libraries host workshops each term or reach out to one of our librarians.