Polonium Foundation is running a mentoring program!
Polonium Mentoring is a global mentoring Programme connecting scientists and industry professionals in various disciplines and at all career stages.
The aim of the programme is to support the progress of researchers by facilitating direct peer support. We connect students and young professionals with Mentors who have progressed further in their careers. Mentors will offer guidance on relevant aspects of professional development tailored to the goals established in each mentoring pair. For mentees at early career stages, Polonium Mentoring enables a strong start towards a successful future and offers support during pivotal stages in further career development. The programme also includes support to more experienced researchers and those who consider career switch into the industry or business settings. We strive to ensure a steady flow of guidance and support for participating mentors and mentees.
How do we pair people together?
Each pair of Mentor-Mentee is matched based on the information provided in their application forms. Pairing criteria differs from case to case and can include current or desired: field of work, career path, geography, skills, and other commonalities and preferences. Mentees have a chance to ask for a certain Mentor, however the final pairing of the pair depends on the Polonium Mentoring Team.
How is the application structured?
In principle Mentors are recruited first. Once we select a suitable set of Mentors, collect their bios and display them on Polonium Network (Polonium Foundation indexing and networking platform), we begin the recruitment of Mentees.
Mentees have an opportunity to search through and pick their preferred Mentor, however pairing ultimately depends on the Polonium Mentoring Team. In some cases, we may consider recruiting additional Mentors at a later stage, so that the matching criteria of certain mentees are met.
‘22-’23 Edition:
2022 was our pilot edition. We focused on Mentors being PhD students with experience of studying in the UK, and Mentees being Polish undergraduate students in the UK. We recruited 20 great Mentors and 20 motivated Mentees. If you want to learn more details, visit our mentoring 2022 page.
‘23-’24 Edition:
In 2023 we broaden the scope of the project. We welcome students, scientists, and professionals from all around the world, no matter your nationality or location. You can apply to be a Mentee at all career stages. To become a Mentor, you should be a PhD student or above (in academia) or be at least of comparable experience in industry.
The recruitment for Mentoring 2023 is now open! Check out our 2023 mentoring page to find more!
Benefits of the programme
As a Mentee, you will be paired with a more senior researcher offering guidance in the area you want to improve on - whether grant writing, moving to industry or re-establishing a work-life balance. Additionally, you will be able to network with other Mentors and Mentees.
As a Mentor, you will be able to help a scientist in developing his/her career. You will be offered a mentoring workshop and networking opportunities. You can get a certificate to add mentoring to your CV, and you will also get a chance of winning the Mentor of the Year prize, which will be subject to mentees’ nominations. And to thank you for volunteering in our programme, we will feature you on our social media.
Additionally, each participant of the program can attend one of the paid events (meetups, conferences) organized by Polonium Foundation for free!
Mentorship meetings
First meeting of participants will be held virtually in the form of a training organised by the Polonium Mentoring Team.
Then, each Pair schedules an appropriate and sufficient number of meetings, according to their availability and needs. The duration of the meetings as well as the topics discussed, depend on the arrangements between the Mentor and the Mentee.
Feedback
Your satisfaction with the Programme will be surveyed through feedback forms. Answers to the online questionnaires will be gathered at the milestones of the Programme.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do I have to pay for participating in the programme?
A: No, it’s totally for free!
Q: As a mentee, can I directly choose my mentor?
A: Yes and no. You are welcome to browse through our mentors and see whom you would like to be paired with, but the final decision is done by the organisers and based also on other information you provide in your registration form.
Q: As a mentee, am I guaranteed to get a spot in the program with my registration?
A: No. We will do our best to find a mentor for you, but if we cannot find a suitable person you might be moved to the next edition of our programme.
Q: As a mentor, can I choose the mentee?
A: The organisers will match the pairs based on the mentee’s needs and mentor’s expertise. If you are unhappy with the relationship with your mentee, please contact the organisers.
Q: Am I expected to meet with my mentor/mentee in person?
A: It depends on the location of both the mentor and the mentee. If you do not work in close proximity, we expect that you would meet virtually. We do hope that you would get to meet your mentor/mentee in person at least once, perhaps during our annual conference Science Polish Perspectives.
Q: Can I quit the program?
A: If you are unhappy with the program, please contact the organizers.
Further questions?
You can get in touch with us by writing to mentoring@poloniumfoundation.org
Community Partners:
Special thanks to the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom for providing guidance and support.
