yDiv doctoral researchers, iDiv postdocs and senior scientists are provided with a pool of mentors and one-to-one mentoring to support their career development. Mentors will be iDiv members and iDiv alumni working in scientific and non-scientific professions.

The mentoring can be started at any time. The duration of the mentorship is flexible, but should last at least six months.

Mentees apply with their mentoring topics and can specify up to three preferred mentors. yDiv supports the matching process.

Potential mentees in our programme belong to the following iDiv status groups:

• • yDiv doctoral researchers
  • postdoctoral or senior researchers within an iDiv core group, sDiv, flexpool, support unit, strategic project or another iDiv platform/network
  • members of the iDiv postdoc programme
  • iDiv senior scientists

When you register as a mentor, you can indicate which status groups you would prefer as mentees.

The mentoring lasts a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months. A minimum of two meetings should be scheduled during this time.

Mentees can indicate up to three preferred mentors in their application. yDiv supports the matching process and can also make suggestions for (additional) mentors.
yDiv will review the application and finalise the mentor-mentee tandems in consultation with the mentors.
Mentor and mentee will meet to get to know each other and then decide if they want to start mentoring.

The greatest reward of being a mentor is to see the mentee ‘grow’ in the process. Mentors will also gain new perspectives, especially as the mentoring process invites self-reflection. Being a mentor is also a great way to become actively involved and integrated into the iDiv community. Becoming a mentor is an opportunity to strengthen one’s own leadership skills, to gain new impulses and perspectives, and to enrich one’s own CV.

We also provide our mentors with an online workshop and a guide for mentors.

Your tasks as mentor:

• Define consultation topics and objectives with your mentee at the start of the mentoring relationship, setting clear expectations regarding frequency, duration, and format.
• Foster trust through active listening, recognition, and appreciation.
• Support career planning by sharing insights from your own professional journey including challenges and uncertainties you have faced.
• Provide constructive feedback on their professional profile, skills, and development potential.
• Help mentees prepare for application and selection processes, sharing your experiences with decision-making in academia, industry, or other sectors.
• Offer insights into decision-making structures, formal and informal processes, and unwritten rules in relevant professional fields.
• Advise mentees on handling complex tasks and conflict situations.
• Facilitate networking by connecting mentees with relevant contacts in academia, industry, and other professional sectors.

We are always looking for iDiv members and iDiv alumni from various fields of work who would like to get involved as mentors for iDiv.

You can register to become a mentor at any time. Please fill out the registration form and send it to ydiv@idiv.de.