3rd of June Workshops > Mentoring workshops

In 2021, the RFMF is launching a new mentoring program. Following the positive feedback received by the first promotions, we are proud to offer this program for another year!

What is the mentoring program?

Through this program, several mentor-mentee pairs are formed. The mentor is a person who shares his or her experience and knowledge in a particular field or in career development, with someone less experienced (under 33) who wishes to be mentored, known as the mentee. The relationship is therefore based on the voluntary participation of both parties, and offers a number of advantages:

• For the mentee: help with personal and professional development, particularly in the completion of their doctorate in science, their post-doctorate, their writing of articles or thesis, or even in their search for employment or funding.
• For the mentor: exercises active listening, taking a step back, broadening the scope of appreciation... In this position, the "senior" can see his or her way of managing his or her own students evolve through enlightened awareness (without stakes).
• For the RFMF: strengthens intergenerational ties and fosters the sharing of a common culture beyond differences of function and origin, encourages diversity by providing support for certain minorities, promotes parity by providing support from the start of a career, develops links within the RFMF community and fosters the interpersonal network of the "mentee" and "mentor".

How does the program work?

You and your mentor will be monitored by a member of the steering committee throughout the program. Each new promotion is inaugurated at the RFMF's annual JS, while that of year N-1 is closed there. It's also an opportunity to chat with people who have just "mentored or been mentored".

How do I register?

If you'd like to sign up as a mentee for the next promotion 2024-2025, click here ! It will be launched on Monday June 3, 2024 in Saint-Malo as part of the 16th RFMF JS.

If you'd like to sign up as a mentor, please follow this link.

Here are a few testimonials from the "Proof of Concept" class of 2021-2022:

Nathan C. (mentee): "The RFMF's initiative was superb. This program enabled me to get advice and guidance from an experienced researcher to help me plan my future career. Alain taught me a lot about pursuing a scientific career after a PhD, both professionally and personally. It was a very enriching experience, and I can only recommend it!"

Alain B. (mentor): "I had the opportunity, as part of the "mentoring" action implemented for the first year within the RFMF, to carry out a mentor/mentee exchange experience of the utmost interest. I took on the role of mentor to Nathan Carriot, then at the end of his thesis at the University of Toulon. Nathan and I knew each other very little before the start of this experience, apart from a few exchanges during the RFMF's scientific days. All our communications within the framework of this program took place by videoconference. We got to know each other a little better, first and foremost on a professional level, and no doubt a little more than that, given the very open and particularly warm nature of our exchanges. I tried to express my role as mentor by accompanying Nathan at the end of his thesis period, outside its scientific context, which it was not my place to discuss, particularly in the context of preparing for the post-thesis period and the opportunities for continuing in the world of research and potentially higher education. We talked openly about the nature of the jobs, the thematic fields and the resources needed to organize this further experience. Nathan's position as an ATER with his research unit has led him to give priority in the very short term to continuing his contract within the same framework, with a view to perfecting his teaching skills and pursuing the essential valorization of his thesis work. I dare to hope that our exchanges will have been profitable in imagining the next steps in his very promising professional career.

I'll say it again, no doubt due in large part to Nathan's particularly attentive, pleasant and respectful nature, but also with the desire to carry out a few transmission missions, I particularly appreciated this experience, which I would have liked to last even longer if time had allowed. Over and above the desire to share my own experience with others, I gained in return the satisfaction of receiving the questions, interrogations and sometimes the certainties of a young man full of drive and enthusiasm, to whom I wish all the best for the future.

Amandine R. (mentee): "It's exactly what the RFMF could have done for me to gain in self-confidence and help me to blossom more as a junior. In Nicolas, I found real support and a real relationship based on trust and kindness. Thank you!"

Nicolas S. (mentor): "Although I wasn't totally convinced of what I could usefully bring to Amandine at the start of this mentorship, a trusting and sincere relationship was forged, right from our first exchanges. Our discussions were a real source of satisfaction for me, and I had the pleasure of seeing Amandine take the measure of everything she already is professionally. And I'm looking forward to the conventions where we can get together as colleagues!"