Mentoring scheme
The Royal Society mentoring scheme has two strands of support; one for early career schemes and one for mid-career researchers.
“[The mentoring scheme] has been one of the highlights of my time at [university] and is something I hope to be able to do for others one day. I couldn't be happier with my pairing and the scheme.” Dr Joshua Kestel, Newton International Fellow mentee
“This was a great scheme to be part of. The online training session was very helpful and it was very rewarding to be able to mentor a new research fellow who is not only facing challenges that all RFs face, but new ones due to the current research landscape. I felt that I learnt a lot from my mentee.” Royal Society mentor
About the scheme
The mentoring scheme is open to eligible research fellows in the first year of their award.
For first year Career Development, Dorothy Hodgkin, Newton International and University Research Fellows, the scheme focuses on career development rather than research support, with matches made within general research field and based on the interests of registered mentees and mentors.
For Faraday Discovery Fellows, the scheme runs for two years, and focuses on tailored career support.
If you would like further information about involvement with the mentoring programme, please email mentoring@royalsociety.org.
How does the scheme work?
The scheme offers the next generation of research leaders the opportunity to be paired with an experienced mentor. Mentors act as an impartial sounding board to help the mentee navigate the challenges in their first steps to independence.
Who could I be paired with?
For early career schemes, mentors will be a current or former Royal Society Research Fellow or a Fellow of the Royal Society.
For Faraday Discovery Fellows, mentors will be a Fellow of the Royal Society.
How are mentoring pairs matched?
Mentees are required to register to provide detail about their research field, mentoring interests and geographical location. Royal Society staff then match as closely as possible based on this information. Whilst efforts are made to pair mentees with mentors in a similar field, it is important to note that the focus of the mentoring scheme is on career management and personal development rather than research support.
Both the mentee and mentor are asked to confirm that they would like to proceed as a pair. Find more about the matching process (PDF).
How would the partnership run?
Pairs are encouraged to establish a framework of communication that suits both parties including the frequency and method of interaction. It is the responsibility of the mentee to drive forward the partnership. The Society is hands off in its approach to pairs but we do have guidance on how to make an effective mentoring pair (PDF).
The Royal Society also runs training workshops throughout the year to provide support for those participating. They offer practical tips for making the most of the partnerships and are run by Professor Dorothy Griffiths (Imperial Business School).
If you have any questions about this scheme please contact the team.