For one year, the doctoral candidate (mentee) forms a tandem with an experienced professor (mentor) of their choice. This one-to-one relationship is voluntary and takes place outside of dependent relationships (e.g. with superiors or doctoral dissertation supervisors).

The mentee chooses her mentor herself; initial contact is made via the programme coordinator. Female professors from colleges and universities can be considered as mentors. You will receive support from the programme coordinator in your search for a suitable mentor. The programme coordinator establishes initial contact with the potential mentor and moderates the meeting and decision-making process as a neutral party. This ensures that both sides can make an independent decision about the collaboration after the initial meeting.

In regular meetings, the mentoring pairs discuss various issues and topics relating to the mentee's professional situation and development:

• professional orientation of the mentee
• Expansion of their qualification and skills profile
• ways of making the mentee visible in the scientific community
• Informal rules of the scientific community
• Discussion of specific decision-making / problem situations
• Exchange of experience
• Compatibility of family and career

Mentoring does not under any circumstances constitute doctoral supervision. As far as possible, specialised questions are left out of the discussions.