Mentoring can offer many advantages to postdocs as you develop new skills (e.g. teaching, applying for grants), continue to grow and develop your career as an academic or consider a career change. After many discussions with postdocs, we have decided to introduce a scheme in the Department of Plant Sciences where postdocs will be supported in their search for a mentor or mentors. This means that as a mentee you have two options:
Option 1: if you are just starting as a postdoc, then your mentor may be working in the department and we can help you identify this person.
Option 2: If you are more experienced and are looking for a mentor outside the department, then we can help you find buddies who can support you in your search for an external mentor (you will also support your buddies in their search for a mentor).
Many people feel that they would benefit from mentoring but are unsure about formulating their needs. If that's the case for you, you may want to contact us for an informal chat that may help you identify at least one clear area where a mentor may be useful.