This new ECR-PhD scheme has been created to provide PhD students with support from ECR staff in bolstering the process of completing a doctoral thesis. In turn, ECR mentors will gain better understanding of the students’ experiences, as they progress through the doctorate, which should serve as valuable background in any future supervisory role. However, the ECR mentor role is not the same as the supervisory role. The mentorship relationship should be one of buddying and nurturance, not of academic guidance. The ECR mentor’s role is to provide support and advice with regard to the (often emotional) process of writing a PhD thesis for students who want to talk to a staff member who is not their formal supervisor, perhaps to discuss uncertainties, insecurities or worries.

ECRs should approach their line managers to discuss if it would be appropriate to pursue a supervisory role. The scheme is open to all PhD students, new and established. For more information and an application form, please visit this webpage.

Please, note that the MRC MRC/CSO SPHSU Unit operates a separate ECR-PhD mentorship scheme. If you’re an ECR/PhD student from MRC/CSO SPHSU and would like to join as a mentor/mentee, please get in touch with the PhD representative Simon Barrett (s.barrett.1@research.gla.ac.uk).

IHW also offers mentorship opportunities to research and teaching staff and professional services staff. More information is available on our mentorship webpage.


First published: 14 March 2018