EASD Early Career Academy Mentorship Programme

New Call! Deadline Date: 5 May 2025

The EASD Early Career Academy is happy to announce the next round of its Mentorship Programme, connecting junior researchers/ clinicians with established mentors to accelerate the development and career of the mentee, and to develop their network in the diabetes field.

The programme will facilitate the contact between early-career researchers or clinicians and an established mentor with the aim to discuss mentoring-, coaching- and/or project-related topics in an informal atmosphere at approximately five meetings a year, which can be held virtually or in person. For travel expenses, 1,000 Euros/ year will be provided per recipient.

Background and justification

There is a global challenge to recruit and train the next generation of clinical and translational researchers, not least in endocrinology and diabetes. Meeting this challenge will require supporting highly promising young clinicians and researchers with a commitment to pursuing a career in diabetes research.

The EASD Early Career Academy Mentorship Programme, supported by European Diabetology, seeks to fill this gap, offering to connect junior researchers and clinicians with established mentors to accelerate the development and career of the mentee.

Outline and major objectives

The major goal of the EASD ECA Mentorship Programme is to support the advancement of the next generation of researchers and clinical diabetologists in Europe.

The aim of this 1-year Mentorship Programme is to bring together early-career researchers or clinicians (up to assistant professorship level or equivalent) with established mentors.

The purpose of the mentorship is to discuss mentoring-, coaching- and project- related topics in an informal atmosphere at approximately five meetings a year, which can be held virtually or in person.

Support

Mentees will be connected with established diabetologists from the EASD network and beyond to promote knowledge exchange between diabetes researchers within Europe.

For travel expenses (economy tickets, hotel accommodation), up to 1,000 Euro per year and mentee will be reimbursed.

Awards will be paid to the mentee's bank account after completion of the 1-year EASD ECA Academy Mentorship Programme and submission of the 1 page summary which needs to be confirmed and signed by the mentor.

Application

Applications may be submitted by early-career researchers or clinicians (up to assistant professorship level or equivalent) based in Europe who are members of the EASD and are working in the field of diabetes research.

Interested candidates should complete the application form available below including the following information:

• Describe your current position and responsibilities (e.g. research programme and/or clinical responsibilities)
• Describe the motivation for applying at the mentorship programme
• Describe the challenges you are facing in your career
• Describe your ideal mentor/ what you expect from a mentor
• Describe how the mentorship programme can support your career
• Suggestions for first choice and second choice mentors

All applications must be prepared on the official forms and completed in strict accordance with the instructions to be found on these forms. Applications which do not comply with the instructions given in the application form will not be considered for review. The application should not exced 2 pages.

Application Form

Note: For this particular award it is permissible to hold a second active award from EFSD.

Review considerations

After a check of eligibility and motivation, suitable candidates will be informed on the outcome. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available grants (15 in this round), candidates will be selected by a lottery. All applications must be prepared on the official forms and completed in strict accordance with the detailed instructions to be found in these forms. Applications which do no comply with the insructions given in the applcation form will not be considered for review.

Please send your application as one completed PDF email attachment to EASD-Academy@easd.org by 12:00 (CET) on the deadline date: 5 May 2025

The EASD Early Career Academy will pair mentors with mentees based on preference or expertise.

Note: For this particular award it is permission to hold a second active award from EFSD.

Assessment

After completion of the 1-year EASD ECA Mentorship Programme, mentees are requested to provide a 1-page summary including information on:

• Visits spent at mentor’s institution
• Publications
• Abstracts, posters and/or presentations at conferences
• Grant applications, including EFSD
• Further exchanges and/or collaborations

(in relation to the EASD Early Career Academy Mentorship Programme)

Administration and funding

The programme will be administered by the EASD Early Career Academy, including the application, review and evaluation processes.

Awards will be paid to the mentee's bank account after completion of the 1-year EASD ECA Mentorship Programme and submission of the 1 page summary, confirmed and signed by the mentor.

Recipients should document all expenditures and save receipts for expenses under the programme (economy class travel and accommodation expenses) as EASD may check on individual expenditures to make sure that funding was only used for the purpose of the Mentorship Programme.

Schedule

Announcement: 7 April 2025

Application Deadline: 5 May 2025

Anticipated Award: May 2025

Contact

Enquiries should be directed to: EASD-Academy@easd.org.