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. 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.
- 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
The following documents need to be provided within the application period:
- Short bio (tabular CV)
- Motivation letter
(about one page, this should outline your need for mentoring, current work/life situation, expectations on mentoring, challenges you are facing as junior PI,…) - List of publications so far
- The filled application form (template):
Submit your application documents via email to Annette @ office@e-smi.eu.
Timeline & Concept
Mentoring Tree
Timeline 2025
Application period
21 Nov. – 6 Dec. 2024
Interviews
CW 2 (6-10 January 2025)
Introductory Workshop for Mentees
End of January 2025
Matching Process finalised
Beginning of February 2025
Introductory Workshop for Mentors
February 2025
First Tandem Meeting
February/early March 2025
Opportunities for Mentees
- Analysis of current position and challenges
- Definition of priorities
- Definition and implementation of strategies to address the challenges
- Reflection on role
- Expansion of professional network
- Team-up with peers at the same career-stage facing similar challenges
- …
ESMI Coordinating Committee
- Frauke Alves, Göttingen – Chair
- Fabian Schmidt, Tübingen
- Doris Kracht – ESMI Executive Director
- Sophy Poty, Dijon
- Claudia Kuntner-Hannes, Vienna
- Nadja van Camp, Fontenay aux Roses – ESMI Board
- Marlene Wiart, Lyon
Opportunities for Mentors
- Transfer of knowledge and experience
- Reflection of own career path
- Improvement of advisory skills and competence
- Positive experience of leadership role
- Enlargement of network Mentor peer-group!)
- Add-on to CV
If you’d like to volunteer as Mentor, drop a note to the ESMI via office@e-smi.eu.