Researcher Mentoring Program

Develop your skills and strategise your academic career aspirations with the support and guidance of an experienced, senior researcher.

About the Program

The Flinders University Researcher Mentoring Program pairs early career researchers (ECRs) with senior academics. Through the Program, senior researchers support ECRs to develop their research careers, meet their research aspirations and goals, and strategise for future academic success.

This Researcher Mentoring Program also provides an opportunity for ECRs to create a University-wide community with their fellow mentees who are at similar career stages (within 8 years post-PhD). This ECR community serves as a source of support and information for the mentees during the Program and beyond.

This Program runs from March to November each year. In the weeks leading up to the official launch in March, we hold sessions to provide mentees and mentors with information about the Program, expectations, and guidance about mentoring. During the Program, each mentee–mentor pair meet regularly, according to the schedules they decide. In addition, the cohort of mentees gather for three Roundtable Workshops to discuss topics of relevance to their career stage.

Details for next year's Program will be available in November.

How to Apply

Applications are by expression of interest for both mentees and mentors.

Expressions of interest are now closed for the 2025 Program.

The 2026 round will open in November 2025 so watch out for announcements.

This Program is coordinated by Dr Jen Beaudry, Manager, Researcher Training, Development and Communication.

Message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

We are pleased to offer the Flinders University Researcher Mentoring Program for Early Career Researchers in 2025.

The Program is an opportunity for early career researchers (ECRs) to benefit from the support and valuable skills and knowledge of senior researchers at Flinders. This Program has served more than 280 ECRs since 2012. The feedback from the mentees has been consistently positive, highlighting improvements to their research profiles and well-being. I personally participated as a mentor in this program and found it an extremely rewarding experience.

The University values the “culture of care” and wealth of experience that our senior academic staff bring to mentoring our early career researchers. I strongly encourage researchers at all stages of their careers to participate in this Program either as mentees or mentors.

Professor Raymond Chan
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

Testimonials from Mentees

“My mentor has been excellent and provided me with support specific to my role, promotion application and work-life balance.

“I always come away from [our meetings] feeling really positive about my research trajectory and plans to develop my individual research identity.”

“The one-on-one sessions have been incredible! I didn’t realise how much I needed a mentor outside of my own field to help me see the bigger picture of things and take a new approach to challenges.”

“It has been great getting to know a leader from another college and to work through some strategies for advancing my career.”

Testimonials from Mentors

“[The program] provides an opportunity for self-reflection and understanding what has worked well for me and where I have previously struggled.”

“The program is extremely well organised and the resources are excellent.”

“[The program] reinforces how far I have come in my own career and what I have to offer others.”

“I have also been learning some skills and strategies from hearing about my mentee’s practices (e.g., efficiencies, time management, and boundaries).”