PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe an intervention-based research mentoring opportunity for higher education students in health- and mental health-related disciplines.Design/methodology/approachThis paper includes a retrospective case study to demonstrate the application of a unique research mentoring method with a voluntary interdisciplinary team of undergraduate and graduate students on a project funded by the National Institutes of Health in the United States of America. The research mentoring experience is described through a pedagogical approach based directly on the focal intervention under study (e.g. GenerationPMTO).FindingsWe present the process of an intervention-based model of research mentoring as a unique opportunity to build student research skills and provide exposure to evidence-based interventions applicable to general health populations. Findings demonstrate the research team’s success in forming a collaborative research mentoring environment, performing key research tasks effectively and making reliable fidelity ratings.Practical implicationsThis paper provides novel insight into an isomorphic process using intervention-based research mentoring as a pedagogy to enhance students’ research skills and application.Originality/valueUnderstanding effective research mentoring approaches can influence the trajectory for future generations of mental health researchers and scholars who may not otherwise be exposed to research in their clinical training programs or courses of study. This paper provides insight and recommendations for how mentors can engage higher education students intentionally in research opportunities using intervention-based research mentoring.
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