What is a Research Mentor?

<li><p>What exactly is a research mentor? Is it someone you work with in their facility or someone that is 1 on 1 with you and guides you to do an induvidual project or can it be either? I am planning to work with them in their lab. I know people that did this, so I probably won’t be doing anything exciting/useful, but so long as I can be there and watch them do it and gain insight from them, it is good enough for me.</p></li>
<li><p>How should I go about contacting them? What should I talk about? What approach do most people use, when they want to work with a researcher who could mentor them? Do I talk about my past experience, passion for research, credentials, etc.? I have emails of potential people.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you.</p>