This year, the Graduate Students' Association at the University of California, San Francisco, honoured my adviser, stem-cell biologist Renee Reijo Pera, with its annual Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award. I was one of five current or former students who wrote nomination letters filled with examples of how Renee consistently praises our strengths, shores up our weaknesses, and shows real concern for our career development and personal well-being.

One of Renee's strengths is her approachability. Every student in our lab has a regular weekly meeting with Renee, no matter how full her schedule is. Even when she's out of town, she stays in close e-mail contact. I remember once when Renee was rushing to finish writing a huge grant proposal, she still made time at the last minute to go over slides for a presentation I was giving the next day. Renee's availability and approachability make us feel comfortable in the lab and keep our projects focused and on track.

Renee also prepares us for a career in science by repeatedly encouraging us to present posters, give talks, take relevant classes and write papers. She lets us work independently, but provides help when needed. She also helps us set up collaborations with faculty members from other departments and institutions, so that we can develop our own network of contacts. As we approach graduation, Renee has spent hours talking with us about different career options, what to look for in an employer, and how best to present ourselves.

Renee encourages us to make time for personal or family issues and extracurricular activities, and doesn't concern herself with our 'face time' in the lab. Many of us have been active in student organizations on campus, and she has often volunteered for activities when we needed involvement from faculty members. She understands that students who lead balanced lives come to work ready to tackle experiments with energy and a clear mind.

Simply put, Renee is a good mentor because she cares enough to put the time and effort in to helping us succeed no matter what we endeavour — a trait that is, unfortunately, not common enough.

At the University of California, San Francisco, we are organizing a mentorship course for faculty members and students. We hope that these courses and role models such as Renee will help to improve the training of the next generation of scientists.