Apply to Arqus Mentoring Programme for Early-Stage Researchers 2025-2026

The Arqus Mentoring Programme for Early-Stage Researchers is designed for doctoral candidates and early-stage postdoctoral researchers interested in receiving high-quality support during a decisive phase in their academic careers. The deadline to apply is 31 March 2025, 23:59 CET.

Within this competitive international programme, early-stage researchers are matched with established researchers from another Arqus university to receive feedback and advice on topics such as career options and decisions, time management, application processes, work organisation and skills development. It is an excellent opportunity to think about your future trajectory and gain insight into academic pathways.

To accompany the mentoring journey, online training sessions and check-ins for the mentee group will be organised throughout the year. This third edition of the 9-month programme will begin in early October 2025 with an in-person kick-off workshop in Graz, Austria.

Pursuing a successful research career and navigating the (official and unofficial) rules of academic life can be challenging or even discouraging. During this process, exchanging with and gaining feedback from someone not directly involved in your research project, employment or thesis supervision can be beneficial. An experienced mentor can provide insight and offer a space for discussion about the challenges and opportunities of life in academia. 

Please be aware that a mentor is not a second supervisor, the aim of the mentoring is not academic collaboration but support with challenges in academic life, personal and professional growth, and career development. Mentors will be from comparable or adjacent disciplines to the mentee, but matchings will not be according to specific research topics or narrow research fields.

Key aspects

• Mentees will be matched with a mentor from another Arqus university from our mentorship database
• Mentor and mentee meet for a minimum of four (virtual) sessions over the course of nine months.
• An in-person visit of the mentee at the mentor’s home institution is highly encouraged, but not mandatory. We will help you to explore funding options. 
• Mentees will take part in four one-and-a-half-hour online training sessions offering input and opportunities for exchange on how to successfully navigate academia and how to respond to shared challenges.
• To ensure a clear focus on strategic (personal) decisions and further career steps of interdisciplinary researchers, guiding materials will be provided.
• Mentors will have the opportunity to participate in regular Mentors’ Lounges, led by the programme facilitator. 
• An in-person kick-off workshop in early October 2025 in Graz, Austria, will allow mentees to connect and exchange experiences (funding for travel and accommodation available)

The trainer and host for both mentees and mentors is Dr Yasmin Dolak-Struss, who is a systemic coach, trainer and facilitator. She has been supporting researchers on European funding programmes and career development for more than 16 years and has a background as a researcher in the field of biomathematics.  

Target groups and eligibility criteria

You must be affiliated with one of the Arqus universities or the associate partners National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Durham University in one of the following ways to apply: 

1. as a doctoral candidate/PhD student beyond the first year of their doctoral studies with an ongoing enrollment  or 
2. as a postdoctoral researcher with an active employment contract 

The first selection of participants will be made by local selection committees at each university. As a second step, shortlisted participants will be asked to join a short online meeting with the organising team. Based on the quality of the applications, up to four spots will be allocated to each university. Applicants will be informed about the selection outcome within a month after the deadline. 

Participants commit to staying with the Mentoring Programme for nine months and to attend the online group meetings. You are not eligible if you have already participated in the Arqus Mentoring Programme previously. 

Funding for the kick-off workshop will be available, please note however, that you might have to complete a subsequent application for the funding, depending on your home university (more information will be provided once you have been selected). 

If you are from National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy or Durham University and are unable to travel to/receive funding for the kick-off workshop, you can still apply to the Mentoring Programme and participate in the virtual components of this programme. 

How to apply

The deadline for the application is Monday 31 March 2025, 23:59 CET.

Please apply using this online form. Only fully completed forms can be considered. 

• Please prepare a statement of motivation (300-500 words in English) on why you want to participate in the programme, what your current career goals are, which challenges in academia you would like to have support with, how you expect to benefit from the Mentoring process etc. This will be the key aspect for the selection process. Please note: If you use any supporting tools such as DeepL or ChatGPT make sure that the application consists solely of your own thoughts and motivations and reflects the level of your English language skills. 
• Please also attach your (academic) CV (in PDF Form)

Programme and dates

For questions, please contact phd-pursuit@arqus-alliance.eu 

Call published on 06 Mar 2025