Dorothea Schlözer Mentoring Program
What are my career prospects following my doctoral degree? What criteria are paramount in deciding to pursue an academic or non-academic career? How should I behave in competitive situations? And how can I combine my family life with a career in academia or elsewhere?
Questions like these demonstrate that a successful career is more than just delivering optimal results at work. A relationship with an experienced mentor and the exchange of ideas with other doctoral and postdoctoral researchers can provide important orientation and support at this stage in life.
The University of Göttingen is therefore offering a mentoring program for female postdoctoral researchers and late PhDs at the Göttingen Campus, designed to accompany early career researchers through this phase of their career. It represents a contribution to increasing the number of women in leading positions at universities and other research institutions. The program is based on three elements:
MENTORING
Mentoring is the core element of the program. Mentors are established professors of the Göttingen Campus and other if desired. In confidential One-to-one mentoring meetings, the mentors provide the opportunity to share experience, and support their mentee individually regarding career planning and challenges. More than 200 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from different faculties and 5 Max-Planck Institutes participated already in the program. More than 100 professors of the Göttingen Campus participated as mentors.
TRAINING
Specific qualification workshops focusing on developing key skills (mostly 2-day intensive workshops). The qualification workshops take place in cooperation with the Career Coaching Programme, and participants from both measures mingle in the workshops.
NETWORKING
Information and Networking Events concerning career related topics give the mentees the opportunity to expand their network, learn role models and get advice from Campus' experts.
The Program started in 2010 as a pilot project for young academics. The program's 14th round started in March 2024. The mentoring program is part of the Dorothea Schlözer Program which provides different instruments to support female researchers.
Original Feedback of our Mentors:
"Growing together with my mentee and exploring together the best option for a future pathway - it was exciting to think about the next career step, prepare applications and interviews, and now wait and keep fingers crossed! Also, my mentee was super interested and positive towards the program and I had the feeling that I could really support and encourage a young scientist in finding their way."
"This program not only allows young female scientists to gain insight into the behind-the-scenes aspects of research, but it also provides valuable learning experiences for mentors. Often questions and discussions challenged me to reflect more deeply, while the program fostered connections, broadened perspectives, and has the potential to encourage mentees to pursue their dream careers, whether in academia or beyond."
"It is very satisfying to help ECRs with their next career steps. Interactions help broadening perspectives in academia."
"It was simply rewarding to see how the mentee developped her career goals and find her way of dealing with difficulties. Since young female researchers have often greater doubts about their career goals it's highly useful to have such a program."
"Receiving support and encouragement from a mentor - outside her own research team - can enhance a young researcher's confidence, empowering them to take on challenges and pursue ambitious projects. A mentor can provide valuable insights into career paths, including advice on academic positions, helping the mentee make informed decisions."
Still undecided whether mentoring is for you? Perhaps this article will help you decide: Bercht, A. L., R. Kamm (2024): How mentoring and a shift in mindset and practices can help navigate fast-paced science. In: ICES Journal of Marine Science, fsae121.