I-DEEP Mentoring for Doctoral Researchers
I-DEEP doctoral researchers can participate in joint I-DEEP pilot mentoring activities or their own university’s young researchers’ mentoring programmes. Participation in mentoring is voluntary.
Group Mentoring with Career Focus
To ensure all interested I-DEEP doctoral researchers can receive mentoring, the activities will be organized in mentoring groups consisting of up to 2-4 I-DEEP mentees and one mentor. The focus is on career mentoring, particularly in industrial careers, so research interests may not align between mentors and mentees.
Mentoring Organized in Two Rounds
- First Round (September 2025 – May 2026): Mainly for I-DEEP researchers who started in 2024.
- Second Round: For I-DEEP researchers who started in 2025 (details for 2026 will be provided later).
Commitment and Participation
Mentoring requires a commitment of 8-9 months, including two compulsory joint meetings (kick-off and closing session) and other meetings, which can be face-to-face or online, agreed individually upon by the mentoring groups. Mentoring meetings are recommended to be organized face-to-face if possible. The joint mentoring kick-off event will be organised in the end of September.
Mentees are expected to actively commit to the mentoring process and ensure meetings are scheduled with their mentor and the mentee group. In group mentoring, the mentees also form a peer group to provide support for other I-DEEP doctoral researchers.
Registration as a Mentee
I-DEEP doctoral researchers who wish to participate in the first round of mentoring starting in autumn 2025 should register by 22 August 2025.
Selection of Mentors
The I-DEEP administration and academics/supervisors are mainly responsible for recruiting the mentors. Ideally, mentors hold a PhD in photonics or a related field or a high level position in industry with years of industry and/or research experience. University academics are not the primary target group for mentors. If you know a potential mentor, you can of course inform them about the mentroting programme.
Grouping the Mentees and Mentors
Mentors and mentees are grouped by I-DEEP administration, and the decision on mentoring groups is made by the I-DEEP Steering Committee. The focus is on industry career mentoring, and the possible research interests or topics of the mentees or mentors may not be taken into consideration or aligned.
Timeline for Mentoring
August 2025
- Application time to the mentoring programme.
September 2025
- Grouping of mentors and mentees made and decisions informed.
- Compulsory kick-off session (hybrid format: face-to-face and online) September 30, 2025 at 16.
October 2025 – April 2026
- Individual mentoring group meetings: 2-3 meetings, face-to-face or online, agreed upon by mentors and mentees. Suggested meetings include one at the mentor’s company and one at the university labs of the mentees.
May 2026
- Compulsory closing session (hybrid format: face-to-face and online).