ADVANCE Faculty

A program for mid-career researchers.

ADVANCE Faculty

Open to assistant and associate professors working at the University of Luxembourg. Researchers holding a PhD on a permanent contract may also apply.

Participants in ADVANCE Faculty should apply with an external Mentor from their discipline. The aim is to provide support on how to navigate the academic career and advance, as well as to share experiences and gain insights on leadership skills. In addition to the one-to-one mentoring conversations, participants will be able to participate in workshops and benefit from peer-coaching sessions.

An effective mentorship depends on different factors: the ability to build trust is paramount, the commitment of both parties, and a clear goal. Mentees should embark on this journey with a well-defined objective: what are their needs and what do they expect from their mentors? The associated training programme will allow participants to enhance their personal learning experience.

Application Period: 23 September – 15 December 2025

Program Duration: 1 January 2026 – 30 July 2027

Overview
ADVANCE Faculty is an 18-month mentoring initiative designed to support academic career development and leadership skills. Participants will engage in one-to-one mentoring conversations, workshops, and peer-coaching sessions.

Eligibility
– Assistant and Associate Professors at the University of Luxembourg
– Researchers holding a PhD and employed on a permanent contract

Mentoring Format
Applicants must apply with an external mentor from their discipline. The mentor should provide guidance on academic advancement, leadership, and navigating career challenges.

Application Requirements
Eligible applicants must submit a 2-page proposal including:

Mentor Identification: Name, affiliation, and discipline of the proposed mentor
Visit Plan: Suggested format (e.g., 6 meetings: 4 online, 2 in-person)
Budget Estimate: Costs related to travel, accommodation, or other logistics
Motivation Statement: Why you are applying and what you expect from the mentoring relationship

The program coordinator is available to assist applicants, particularly in identifying suitable mentors.

Submission Process
Submit your proposal via by email to: gender.equality@uni.lu
Deadline: 15 December 2025 (23:59 CET)

Selection Process
The program aims to accommodate 8 participants. Applications will be reviewed by the steering committee. Selection is based on eligibility, clarity of objectives, and mentor suitability
Selected participants will be notified by the program coordinator by 23 December.

Orientation meeting

The Program Coordinator will host an initial orientation meeting with selected participants and their mentors. This meeting will provide a comprehensive overview of the program and address any questions or concerns.

Following the mentor introduction, each mentor-mentee pair will be asked to complete and sign a mentorship agreement. The mentorship agreement serves as a vital document, outlining the goal of the partnership, the format and frequency of the meetings, as well as confidentiality rules and other relevant guidelines. It helps establish clear expectations and guidelines for the mentorship journey.

The mentor and mentee should meet 6 times in the subsequent 18 months. The Program Coordinator will check in to ensure the match is working effectively and to support with any issue that may arise.

We expect the mentorship conversations to lead to a careful reflection and action plan, to further encourage it we will ask mentees to write a reflection document, where they briefly share the topics discussed (bullet points), what was most useful from the session, and any actions they agreed to.

ADVANCE Faculty participants will be invited to take part in a tailor-made training program consisting of short, half-day workshops held every five months. Topics will include: Understanding Your Leadership Style; Presenting Yourself with Confidence; Negotiation Strategies and additional topics identified by participants

Participants will also be encouraged to form a peer group and will be introduced to peer-mentoring techniques to enhance collaborative learning and support.

The program coordinator will be always available to guide the mentors and mentees, clarify any issues, and/or adjust; ADVANCE takes an agile approach; our primary goal is to support the participants. In addition, we will carefully monitor and ask for feedback to ensure the quality and efficacy of the program and its different components.