Mentoring Programme | Junior PIs

Supporting Careers of Junior PI’s in Academia

Application period for the cycle 2025/26:
21 November to 6 December 2024

You have made it! You are an independent PI, a group leader, a boss, an established scientist, a mentor, teacher, and supervisor – congratulations to this huge success.

Besides all the enthusiasm, you may have realised that you were not (yet) prepared for all the challenges. You might feel that you are (here and there) falling short of your own and external expectations.

Do not feel bad if you sometimes feel a little overwhelmed. This is a very demanding stage of career! We got you covered with this programme and support you on your way to a content, successful, inspiring, happy PI, and capable leader.

If this resonates with you, you’d value support, and are ready to invest in this path, then apply!

The Concept

The ESMI Mentoring Programme is based on a one-to-one mentoring (Tandem), a strong Mentee peer-group, accompanied by ESMI-arranged workshops given by an external coach.

Target Group

Early-stage PIs working in academia
(start of independent position max. 5 years ago)

Duration

One year of arranged mentoring (February 2025 to February 2026)

Group Size

Five seats per cycle

Three Main Pillars

1 – Mentee-Mentor Tandem

Why not take advantage of a senior PI that has successfully mastered all the hurdles you currently face?

A Tandem is defined as an independent and confidential professional alliance free of hierarchy between the junior PI (Mentee) and the experienced, senior PI (Mentor). This alliance forms a one-to-one partnership with a specific mandate like leadership, time management, resilience, coping strategies, support on your career path or similiar. It is on the Mentee to organize and prepare the tandem-meetings!

2 – Mentee Peer-Group

You are not alone – you might be surprised how much you can benefit from exchanging stories, problems, perspectives, ideas, and solutions with your in-the-same-situation peers.

3 – ESMI-arranged Workshops

Throughout the year of arranged mentoring, three (mandatory) workshops are offered: an introductory workshop, mid-term review, and a final one. All workshops are led by an external coach who is also available for continuous counselling during the year.

Application Documents

Applications for the term (2025/26) are accepted between 21 November and 6 December 2024.

Eligibilty Criteria

You are an early/young PI working in academia
You have started your independent position max. five years ago (not earlier than November 2019)
You are a member of the ESMI (subscribe here)

How to apply:

The filled application form (download template below) needs to be sent within the application period to Doris via office@e-smi.eu. The application form includes:

Short bio
Motivation letter
(max of one page, this should outline your need for mentoring, current work/life situation, expectations on mentoring, challenges you are facing as junior PI,…)
The most important areas in which the mentoring programme could be helpful for you.
Your research background and successes incl. list of publications.
Details on your preferred choice of mentor.

Download Application Form Template

Submit your application via email to Doris @ office@e-smi.eu.