BAP Education: Mentoring Scheme

Mentoring scheme convener – Dr Paula Moran
Co-convener, additional administration and enquiries (BAP office) – Dr Katie Hewitt

The BAP are pleased to announce a pilot mentoring scheme. The scheme will be aimed at preclinical training members of the BAP in the first instance, and seeks to support early career Psychopharmacologists in the discipline. In it's first year this will be run as a pilot scheme with a limited number of 12 mentor-mentee pairs. We hope to extend the scheme in future to all training members.

In common with many scientific disciplines, we are losing a significant number of young scientists particularly at early career stage. Effective and directly relevant mentoring schemes are one way of trying to address this. Most institutions provide formal mentors but this is often not tailored particularly to Psychopharmacology and many post-docs feel that they do not benefit from schemes that are not tailored to their research interests. Most learned society schemes in existence are aimed specifically at female scientists, the BAP scheme will be open to all. The training membership of BAP have responded enthusiastically to the idea and we have co-opted members to help in its design. We hope that the support from BAP members, as mentors will provide crucial guidance and support to the young guardians of the future of Psychopharmacology.

How To Get Involved

BAP training members registering interest in participating in the mentoring scheme are invited to attend an introductory meeting detailed below. This session will introduce the scheme and inform mentees and mentors of the next step in the process.

Preregistered mentors and mentees only
Sunday July 26th 2009
5-6pm, Keble College, Oxford

What are the benefits of having a mentor?

Increased self-awareness and self-discipline
Insight into the pros & cons of various career options & paths
An expanded personal network
Support in the transition to a new role or location
A sounding board for testing ideas and plans
Positive and constructive feedback on professional and personal development areas
Accelerated training and development

How will the partnership be set up and what will it involve?

The mentoring scheme partnership will comprise of a pairing of training members with an experienced BAP mentor working specifically in their field of expertise. They will be able to meet at a dedicated session during the BAP summer meeting and at other times outside the BAP meeting by arrangement. The success of the scheme will rely upon the goodwill of experienced BAP scientists. Mentoring throughout the scheme will usually take place as either face to face meeting and/or email/telephone call exchange and can be formal or informal. We have collaborated with the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science Engineering and Technology (UKRC), as they have wide experience in setting up and running this type of mentoring scheme, their trained staff will be on hand to provide mentor and mentees with advice and support as the relationship develops.

How to apply and eligibility for the scheme

Applicants must be BAP Preclinical Training members.
Mentee places in the first year will be restricted to 12 on a first come first served basis.
Please complete the online application form and upload a current CV to assist with the pairing.
If your application is successful you will receive confirmation and a mentor will be allocated to you after careful matching has been carried out

The application deadline is 8th July 2009. Successful applicants for a mentee place will be informed once the application is received and further information will be sent out.

All enquiries regarding mentoring scheme should be directed to Katie@bap.org.uk.

(Dr Paula Moran, Prof Gavin Reynolds and Dr Katie Hewitt)

BAP Education: Mentoring Scheme

How To Get Involved

What are the benefits of having a mentor?

How will the partnership be set up and what will it involve?

How to apply and eligibility for the scheme

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