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Mentors

Our mentors are professors, academics with doctorates and doctoral candidates (for student mentees) and sometimes also people with doctorates in science-related institutions. They often do not work at Bielefeld University, but are active throughout Germany and sometimes beyond.

The reasons for volunteering as a mentor vary - many want to pass on the support and encouragement that they either received themselves or missed at the beginning of their own careers.

The main task of a mentor is to share their own experiences and perspectives with the mentee. The time investment is limited to the meetings with the mentee, the number of which can vary depending on availability and geographical proximity. Beyond this, there are no obligations, and participation in the closing ceremony is optional.

Advantages

• Reflection on one's own career and the informal structures in the academic system
• Open exchange with an interested mentee with whom there is no mentoring/dependent relationship
• Insights into the situation and decision-making contexts of female students / early career researchers
• Further development of counselling skills
• Possibly new contacts within Bielefeld University