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)
- Second Round September 2026 – May 2027. The registration for the second round is now open.
Commitment and Participation
Mentoring requires a commitment of 9 months, including an online info session, 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.
- September 18, 2026 at 14-15 on-line info session for mentees
- October 8, 2026 at 16-19 Kick-off meeting: Meet your mentor (venue to be confirmed)
- Mentoring meetings: at least 2-4 meetings as agreed upon by the mentoring groups
- May 25, 2027 Closing session at the OPD2027, in Espoo
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 2026 should register by August 31, 2026.
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 inform them about the mentoring 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 2026
- Application time to the mentoring programme closes on August 31, 2026.
September 2026
- Grouping of mentors and mentees made and selection decisions informed
- On-line session for mentees September 18, 2026
October 2025
- Compulsory kick-off session October 8, 2026 at 16: mentors and mentees meet
October 2026- April 2027
- 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 2027
- Compulsory closing session May 25, 2027 at the Optics and Photonics Days I-DEEP event