As one means to achieve this, the Faculty has established a research mentoring scheme.
These guidelines provide a framework and practical tools for mentors and researchers who are being mentored. However, there should be considerable flexibility in how mentors and researchers being mentored go about structuring their interactions to suit their particular circumstances, preferences, learning styles and developmental needs.
The purpose of the Research Mentoring Scheme (RMS)
Mentoring has the potential to contribute positively to the professional development of researchers. The RMS aims to assist researchers in the Faculty of Science and Engineering to plan their research effectively, and to apply successfully for external research funds from both traditional (e.g. ARC, NHMRC) and non-traditional sources of funding.
The mentors
Mentors are experienced researchers in the Faculty who have a track record of success in establishing research careers, including winning external research funds from traditional and non-traditional sources.
- Professor Andy Ball
- Associate Professor Murk Bottema
- Professor Michael Brunger
- Professor Mike Bull
- Professor Sonia Kleindorfer
- Professor David Powers
- Professor Karen Reynolds
- Professor Mike Schwarz
- Professor Laurent Seuront
- Professor Joe Shapter
- Professor Craig Simmons
What do mentors do?
Mentors provide guidance and support to researchers to assist them to improve how they plan their research, and how they apply for external research funds. Advice can be provided to researchers at all levels, from those early in their careers to those who are themselves mentors.
Do I need to register to be mentored?
No. Mentoring relationships can be initiated by:
- mentors making contact with the researchers in their research areas, offering them guidance and support in formulating research plans and external grant applications. Researchers who believe they may benefit from such assistance respond to the mentor; or
- researchers who would like to receive mentoring making contact with a nominated mentor or mentors.
Each mentor and researcher being mentored then agree on how the mentoring will proceed.
A researcher who would like to receive mentoring has discretion in choosing who they are mentored by. They may choose to be mentored by more than one mentor to gain access to more than one stream of expertise (eg, ARC grant expertise, industry-linked expertise).
What does mentoring involve?
Mentoring will usually involve regular 1:1 contact between a mentor and each researcher she/he is mentoring. This may take the form of face to face meetings, email or phone discussions, or a mixture of these methods. The type and frequency of contact will be as agreed by the mentor and the researcher who is being mentored, and will take into account planned periods of absence from the University. With the agreement of all involved, meetings of a mentor and more than one researcher being mentored may also be held.
Additionally, all mentors are expected to meet together twice per year to share information/experiences. Ahead of each of these mentors' meetings, each mentor:
- prepares a report to be submitted to the mentors' meeting, identifying who they are mentoring and the stage of mentoring each has reached; confidential information will not be disclosed. The mentor sends a copy of this report to relevant Deans of School; and
- meets with all those he/she is mentoring to talk generally about applying for grants, available schemes etc.
What can I expect to gain from being mentored?
Mentors will provide guidance and support to assist each of the researchers they are mentoring to formulate a plan for their research and to improve what they are doing.
Mentoring will be conducted within the framework of an individual's research plan. Where such a plan does not already exist or is out of date, the initial focus of mentoring will be to formulate the research plan or to update it.
Once the plan is established, and with reference to it, ongoing mentoring may involve: providing feedback on a draft grant application, advising on research grant opportunities, suggesting collaborative arrangements that might advance research opportunities, reviewing and commenting on a draft paper for publication, assisting with the development of achievable targets and milestones in a research plan, helping to explain the rules of the research game.
Where a mentor considers an applicant is likely to be non-competitive for external funds, they will assist those they are mentoring; for example, to identify and apply for other sources of funding, either as an individual or in collaboration.
What is the timeframe for mentoring?
The mentor and the researcher being mentored agree on a timeframe, taking into account the particular focus of the mentoring.
Where the focus of the mentoring is developing a plan for the researcher's work, an ongoing period of mentoring may be appropriate, with milestones identified to guide the development, and test the effectiveness, of the plan (e.g. ensuring a comprehensive draft is available for the researcher's annual performance review with their supervisor).
Within the framework of the research plan, if the particular focus of the mentoring is to develop an external grant application, the application dates will, typically, determine the timeframe. Provision of advice on individual applications needs to start well in advance of application lodgement dates (eg, for ARC Discovery applications, development/critique of applications should commence around Sept/Oct of the preceding year).
How are mentors rewarded?
Service as a mentor will be acknowledged in the form of points under the Faculty's Workload Equalisation Scheme.
How does mentoring integrate into existing reporting lines within Schools?
Deans of School receive copies of mentor's reports so they can follow up, as appropriate, with the researchers in their Schools who are being mentored, and with the mentors. This will include reviewing an individual's research plan as part of their annual performance review.
