Benefits for Faculty Mentors

As of January 2026, 18 BYU Marriott faculty members are involved in the Marriott Research Fellows program and play an integral part in the success of the students. Faculty involved in the program serve as mentors to students and are paired up according to interests. Faculty mentors assist students in their learning process as well as receive assistance from these students on current research projects.

Saves Time for Faculty

  • Students who finish the program will have a foundational understanding of fundamental research principles and methodology. Faculty will not need to train new RAs on research basics. Instead, mentors will be able to train them sooner on the more in-depth research principles and practices related to their fields.
  • Additionally, the program offers faculty a network of well-trained research assistants who are prepared to aid with research if mentors need to quickly find new or additional RAs.

Funding for Faculty Projects AND Trial Period Option

  • Once a faculty member is paired with a student, the Deans Office will pay for 230 hours (roughly 1.5 semesters) of research assistant wages. This allows mentors to get the assistance they need with research and provides a trial period with a new RA.
  • If a faculty mentor is satisfied with the quality of the RA’s work, the mentor will continue to pay the RA through the research fund.
  • If a faculty mentor finds that this may not be the best pairing, the RA can finish their trial period and potentially pursue other RA opportunities. Either way, their time with faculty mentors will give them good experience!
  • Faculty can direct already-hired RAs to the Marriott Research Fellows student application.* In the notes section of the application, RAs should explain that they are already hired and mention the name of their faculty mentor/supervisor.

*Please understand that MRF funding does NOT follow or apply to students who were already hired by you as an RA and joined the cohort according to your request.

Faculty Research Needs are Considered and Implemented

  • Program training material has faculty mentors in mind! If you are interested in being paired with an RA, you are invited to fill out a forms that asks you to include your research areas/projects as well as desired RA skills that are a MUST for you. This is how we know what you want in an RA and helps us know to include these skills in our training.
  • Training sessions already include built-in skills that most faculty would like their RAs to have, but we do our best to implement or add skill training according to faculty suggestions.

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