Jena. In 2011, the Leibniz Association founded its “Leibniz Mentoring Programme”. This program started as a pilot in Berlin/Potsdam and has been open to all Leibniz Institutes since 2014. In addition to a mentoring tandem, a series of competence seminars as well as professional assistance during the process enable highly qualified female scholars to manage their careers in a targeted way, to expand their subject-specific networks and to take on managerial tasks with self-confidence.
Dr. Hellen Ahrens was the first candidate of the Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), who successfully applied for vintage 2016/2017, which was officially closed in a celebration ceremony at the end of October 2017 in Berlin. Dr. Ahrens is postdoc in FLI’s research groups of Dr. Christoph Kaether and Dr. Julia von Maltzahn. Her research is focused on the functionality of muscle stem cells during regeneration and aging.
The core component of Leibniz Mentoring is the cooperative relationship between mentor — leading in her or his field of expertise — and a mentee, an up-and-coming female scholar with a doctoral degree. This so-called tandem meets at regular intervals, the goal being to reflect on the mentee's professional progress. The acquisition of key qualifications for future leaders, in particular in academia, is promoted in an accompanying program, which comprises skills seminars for the mentees.
„I am really grateful that PD Dr. Gerhild van Echten-Deckert from Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) at the University Bonn is my mentor. She strongly supported me within the past months“, says Hellen Ahrens. „My personal highlight during the Leibniz Mentoring was her invitation to Bonn, where I held a presentation within the GBM (Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) lecture series “.
And also the mentor lauded the Leibniz Mentoring: „This initiative of the Leibniz Association is really exemplary; not only does the program support young female scientists in their career development, but also strengthens their self-confidence and networking capabilities”, Dr. van Echten-Deckert states.
“The Leibniz Mentoring has provided me with many innovative impulses, which will have a sustainable positive impact on my career and personal development. I can really recommend every young scientist to work with a mentor — since feedback from an external point of view is always a big enrichment. I am sure that I can take advantage of my tandem far beyond the program”, Hellen Ahrens concludes.
All mentees of the fifth vintage (2016/2017) were honored in a ceremonial farewell in October 2017 by Prof. Matthias Kleiner, President of Leibniz Association. Concurrently, the new mentees and mentors of vintage 2017/2018 were welcomed. More information on the Leibniz Mentoring: www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/careers/the-next-generation-of-researchers/leibniz-mentoring/
Contact
Dr. Evelyn Kästner
Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)
Beutenbergstr. 11, D-07745 Jena
Tel.: 03641-656378, Fax: 03641-656351
E-Mail: presse@~@leibniz-fli.de
