ADVANCE Fellows

ADVANCE Fellows will open a call in November every year. Deadline: 30 November.

Eligibility criteria

• Postdoctoral fellows and senior doctoral candidates working at one of the participating institutions: the University of Luxembourg; the Luxembourg Institute of Health and the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (contract valid until 30 June of the following year).
• Support from the line manager/supervisor
• Availability to attend the the planned events, namely: kick-off, workshops, and closing event (exact dates will be announced in the call).

Application

To apply please fill out the online form and attach the following documents:

• A motivation letter, explicitly saying why they want to participate (maximum 2 pages).
  The letter should also detail what the applicants expect from the programme and from a mentor and give an overview of their background and future career plans.
• Support letter from their supervisor (template below).

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  Template for support letter

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  ADVANCE Fellows – Application online form

Review process

Applications for the ADVANCE Fellows programme will be reviewed according to the following evaluation criteria:

• Eligibility: The applicant’s eligibility and expectations will be evaluated for alignment with the aims and goals of the ADVANCE Fellows program.
• Commitment: The applicant’s demonstrated commitment to actively participating in the program will be assessed.
• Potential Impact: The potential impact of the applicant’s involvement in the program on their personal and professional development will be considered.

Applicants should ensure that their applications address these criteria effectively. Additionally, they should be prepared to participate actively if they are chosen as fellows.

• A brief assessment will be written for each applicant.
• A maximum of 20 participants will be selected for each call.
• Applicants will be notified by 31 December of the results.

In 2025 the Fellows Mentoring Strand will organize the following events:

• 8 January 2025, 10.00-15.00: Orientation workshop (Mentees only)

• 10 January 2025, 13.00-14.30: Matching event online

• 20 January 2025, 11.00-15.00: Kickoff event

• 27-28 March 2025, 9.00-17.00: Leadership workshop (Mentees only)

• 19 June 2025, 11.00-15.00: Closing event (TENTATIVE)

• Peer-coaching circles 2025 (13.00-15.00): 3 February; 5 March; 29 April; 3 June; 3 July

As specified in the eligibility criteria, mentees should actively participate in the planned events.

Orientation workshop

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

Matching event

Successful applicants and participating mentors will join in an online matching event. The event will follow a “speed-dating” approach, promoting people to connect and get to know each other. After the event mentees will be asked to provide up to three names of Mentors. The programme coordination will then match the pairs of mentors/mentees aiming to achieve maximum compatibility given the choices and goals of the mentees.

Kick-off event

The matched mentors and mentees will participate in a kick-off event, allowing in-person meetings. This event will have a keynote speaker and foster collaborations and exchanges among participants.

Following the matching, 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.

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  Template Mentoring Agreement

An effective mentorship depends on different factors: the ability to build trust is paramount, the commitment of both parties and a clear goal. The mentor and mentee should meet 4-6 times between February and July. The mentee is responsible to initiating the meetings and setting the agenda.

The Programme 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 careful reflection and the creation of an action plan. To further encourage this, we will ask mentees and mentors to write a common reflection document. In this document, they will briefly (in bullet points) share the topics discussed, highlight the most useful aspects of the session, and outline any agreed-upon actions. At the end of the program, fellows are expected to submit a portfolio that includes a reflective essay and a career development plan.

• Advance your career (half-day)

  A short workshop on career planning: skills, values, and goals. This workshop will give participants the space to reflect on what is important to them and identify needs that they can then discuss with their mentors.

• Leadership Skills (2 days)

  A workshop targeted to improve key leadership skills such as self-awareness, communication, confidence, adaptability, conflict resolution, and time management.

• Peer-Coaching Circles

  Peer-coaching circles will run alongside mentoring conversations, providing a space for participants to engage in group discussions aimed at advancing their professional development. These circles will promote collaborative learning among participants, enhancing the overall mentoring experience by fostering connections, skill development, and problem-solving abilities.

• and more…

  Besides the 2 mandatory workshops, the program offers other training opportunities in collaboration with the participating institutions. The program will also support bottom-up initiatives from each cohort.

The programme 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 programme and its different components.

ADVANCE Fellows is run in partnership with the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research and the Luxembourg Institute of Health.