EDIT - European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy -

In order to support the scientists, and notably the female scientists, who are in the important phases of completing their thesis or of beginning their their post-doctoral research, the EDIT Gender Action Plan has developed a mentoring scheme to which all the EDIT partners can participate.

Such a programme comes as an answer to the following issues:

• Only 17% of women occupy the top managing positions among 13 of EDIT partners
• Studies suggest that women are disadvantaged by less dense networking, so the simple expedient of initiating a mentoring system to help women build better networks within the scientific community may have significant value*
• It has been shown that the lack of role models makes it more difficult for women to believe that they can achieve their ambitions*.

The objective of the programme is therefore to enable the early career scientists (more particularly female scientist in early career) to meet an experienced scientist (male or female) who can guide them in their career choices. The EDIT mentoring scheme represents the first international collaboration of this kind enabling the transmission of the expertise and excellence in taxonomy from established researchers to early career researchers, particularly women, through mentoring within EDIT. It aims to enrich the community of taxonomists in Europe and to create bridges between disciplines and institutions.

The call for applications is open and will close on September 15 2010. The GAP team will then make a selection and contact the candidates to propose them their mentee and mentor. Note that the early career scientists can suggest a mentor in their application.

Financial support is provided for travel by the early career scientists to meet their mentors. Maximum 2 travel expenses based on the price of a second class train or economy flight ticket will be reimbursed.

Criteria for those wishing to be Mentored

Up to ten candidates will be selected by the GAP selection committee according to the following criteria:

• The candidate is working at an EDIT partner institution either at an advanced stage of the doctoral work or is undertaking post-doctoral research
• The candidate is working at an EDIT partner institution as a researcher and wishes to pursue a scientific career
• The candidate from an EDIT partner institution wishes to reflect further on her (his) position in the academic field through regular exchanges with a mentor.

Note that men complying with the 3 above criteria and looking for career guidance can also apply but that priority will be given to women in accordance with the scope of reducing the gender gap at top positions.

Criteria for the Mentors

Scientists (man or woman) from an EDIT partner institution with a minimum of 5 years of experience.

Feel free to contact us for more information at editgenderactionplan@mnhn.fr

How to apply to the Mentoring scheme

The applications from those wishing to be mentored need to have the following

documents:

• 1 Completed Application form (*)
• 1 Letter explaining briefly your motivation and expectations of the mentoringprogramme (1 page )
• 1 CV
• 1 Abstract of the subject of the thesis and its current degree of completion (1 page)

The applications from the mentors need to have the following document:

• 1 Completed Application form (*)

The applications to act as mentor or to be mentored have to be sent back to editgenderactionplan@mnhn.fr

by September 15. 2010.

Participation rules

The mentors and those being mentored agree to meet each other at least once in accordance with the guidelines of the mentoring scheme and to inform the EDIT GAP Chair of any meeting within the scheme.

It is recommended that

• mentoring pairs or groups be trans-disciplinary
• The frequency of the meetings will be at the mentoring pair or group’s convenience.
• The places of the meetings will be chosen by mutual agreement, but it is recommended that the meetings take place in a neutral environment
• Participation in the programme will imply the necessity for the mentored scientist to travel to another EDIT partner institution or to an EDIT meeting.

The GAP selection committee will, after approval of the price (2nd class ticket), reimburse the early career scientist’s travel expenses.

Selection and notification

Applications will be reviewed by the Mentoring selection committee.

1. Applicants will be notified upon reception of their application by e-mail.
2. Successful applicants will be notified after the evaluation of their proposal (maximum one month after the deadline for applications).
3. Successful applicants must notify the committee of their acceptance or refusal within 15 days of their notification.

For more detailed back ground information on the scheme, click here

Thank you!

GAP team

* Gender Action Plans. A compendium of good practices – EC-Research DG. Dec. 2005