Mentoring in research can provide an individual with skills outside of their own organisation or institution and support growth beyond the resources available to them at their workplace. Through mentoring, researchers can build collaboration opportunities nationally and internationally and develop skills that support them through the process of research, from idea design and grant writing, through to publication.
Aims of the program
- To progress the research careers of talented national and international SCI Early Career Researchers (ECRs), and clinician researchers, particularly those from developing countries and/or those with limited access to experienced researchers;
- To progress and strengthen an ECR’s specific research project;
- To advance SCI research broadly, thereby improving the quality of life for people living with SCI;
- To enhance international collaborations in SCI research;
- To further develop leadership and mentoring skills in mid to senior career SCI researchers.
Program overview
- The program will involve matching mentees with a mentor.
- Stage 1: Potential mentees will submit an application to a small review committee facilitated by the SRI.
- Stage 2: Candidates that meet the application criteria will be invited to an initial one-on-one video call meeting with the SRI Collaborations Manager.
- The Mentor Program is not delivered face-to-face, therefore it is a requirement to have capacity to meet online.
- Stage 3: If the applicant progresses to the next stage, their application will be forwarded to the review committee for scoring assessment and decision.
- Successful applicants will be advised and efforts to match them with an appropriate mentor will be undertaken.
- Mentors will be experienced SCI researchers, who have agreed to provide up to 10 meetings per year, meeting approximately monthly over a 12 to 24 month period. The meeting expectations will depend on the available time of the mentor and will be agreed between the pair depending on available time and goals of the mentor pair.
- The mentor-mentee pair will be expected to work together for 1 to 2 years (the pair may wish to continue the mentor-mentee relationship for longer should the goals not be met in that time or if the relationship is reciprocal and beneficial to both parties).
Eligibility of mentee
- Mentees must be:
- A higher degree research student (enrolled part-time or full-time in a PhD or Masters program); OR
- Less than 5 years post PhD; OR
- A practicing SCI clinician (medicine, nursing, allied health) with an interest in research
- All mentees must have a research project they wish to progress with a mentor
- Mentees can suggest a suitable mentor
- Australian or international applicants can apply, with priority given to those from lower resourced settings (i.e. outside universities and hospitals)
Applications for the 2023 round are now closed.
