Mentees are matched with mentors who suit their professional needs, providing guidance and support to help them progress in their careers.
After registering, both mentees and mentors will be invited to a free online training session, where you’ll learn tips on how to make the most of the programme, as well as what to expect from your partner and what is expected of you.

Only those who attend the training will be validated and moved into the matching phase. Matching is done based on your preferences, whether you aim to continue in academia or transition to another sector.

Mentees are typically PhD students or early-stage postdocs from the BIST community. In exceptional cases, we may accept individuals with other profiles who are considering a career change. If this applies to you, let us know so we can match you with the right mentor.

Mentors are individuals with relevant experience in fields such as academia, research, industry, education, business, entrepreneurship, or public policy. Mentors may come from within the BIST community or external institutions, as long as their expertise aligns with the mentees’ needs.

All participants will be invited to an online training session led by a professional coach and mentor. This session will share tips and strategies to ensure both mentees and mentors understand their roles and expectations.

Training is mandatory to proceed to the matching phase. If you cannot attend that particular day, let us know so we can evaluate options.

If you’ve attended a training session with us in the past, please email us at talent@bist.eu after registering—you won’t need to take the course again (although you’re welcome to).

If you’ve completed a training session elsewhere, provide proof (certificates, email confirmations, etc.) so we can validate your participation. If you lack documentation but have relevant experience, contact us to discuss your case.

After completing the training, you’ll enter the matching phase. Our programme includes two main pathways: career progression and career transition. Your chosen pathway will guide the matching process.

Representatives from BIST centres evaluate all mentee and mentor profiles to ensure suitable pairings. Matches are based on your needs and goals, ensuring that mentors have relevant experience. We intentionally avoid matching mentees with mentors from their own institute or research field.

This is not a scientific mentoring programme, so don’t expect guidance on your experiments or research. Instead, mentors provide insights and advice to help you navigate your career path.

No. The programme aims to connect you with individuals outside your current network. If you already know someone and want to pair with them, you can arrange that independently without involving the programme.

Trust the process—we carefully match participants to ensure meaningful guidance and support.

You and your partner are responsible for organizing your meetings. We recommend one meeting per month over a period of 6–8 months.

Decide on the agenda, location, time, and format (in-person or online). For initial meetings, consider public spaces like libraries, parks, or offices. Online meetings are also an option. Each session should have a clear objective.

As the main beneficiary of the programme, you’re expected to:

• – Have a clear objective: Are you exploring a career in academia? Looking for industry connections? Feeling uncertain about your next steps? Define your goals to get the most out of the mentoring experience.
  
  
• – Take initiative: Contact your mentor, schedule meetings, and manage your agenda.

Mentors are expected to:

• – Guide mentees by listening to their needs and offering advice, sharing experiences, or providing useful contacts.
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• – Avoid offering scientific input or guidance on experiments, as the focus is on career development.

Yes. If you have the time and energy, you’re welcome to participate in more than one mentoring programme.

We encourage you to give your pairing a fair chance. There may be reasons for the match that aren’t immediately obvious. Have one or two meetings before making a decision.

If you still feel the pairing isn’t suitable, let us know. We’ll try to rematch you, but this may take extra time as most mentors are assigned early in the process.

If you’re part of a BIST centre, contact your centre’s representative (details are on the website).

If you’re from an external institution, email talent@bist.eu, and we’ll assist you.

No. Participation is free for mentees, and mentors volunteer their time without payment. This voluntary nature ensures a genuine commitment to the programme.