Female Mentoring

FMentiChem - Female Mentoring in Chemistry

FMentiChem is a mentoring program for doctoral and postdoctoral women in the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen. The program offers one-to-one mentoring, networking activities, and individual support for career planning and development. The program is further enriched by workshops and training sessions.

Strong start for FMentiChem: Empowering Female Scientists

On July 17, 2025, we officially kicked off the FMentiChem Mentoring Program at the Faculty of Chemistry, with a motivated group of twelve early-career researchers (nine PhD candidates and three postdocs). The kickoff event marked the first in-person meeting of the mentees, where they were further introduced to the structure of the program and had the opportunity to network with one another. 

Thank you to Dr. Vanessa Kramer, Deputy Equal Opportunities Officer at UDE, for her insightful contribution during the event and the continued support of the program.

FMentiChem aims to empower talented women in chemistry by supporting their career development through individual mentoring, targeted workshops, and peer exchange.

Target Group

The program is aimed at female chemists at the doctoral or postdoctoral level who are pursuing careers in academia or industry.

Program structure

FMentiChem is a one-year mentoring program launched in summer 2025. Core components of the mentoring program include one-to-one mentoring, themed events, peer mentoring, and workshops. Each year, five peer mentoring events are conducted, including the kick-off event, an intermediate meeting, and the closing event. The program coordinator offers guidance and support, organizes group workshops and provides individual referrals to training opportunities throughout the program period. Upon successful completion of the program, each mentee receives a certificate of participation.

One-to-one mentoring

The term “one-to-one mentoring” refers to the regular personal exchange between the mentor and the early-career female researcher (mentee). The goal of this exchange is to support the mentee in her professional development and career planning, and provide informal knowledge about the academic or industrial system. Issues such as balancing career and family can also be discussed.

A successful mentoring relationship is built on mutual trust, openness, and respect. Each mentoring tandem decides together how they want to shape their exchange - whether through regular in-person meetings, virtual conversations, or a mix of both. The structure and rhythm of the mentoring process are flexible and individually tailored. The program coordinator offers support and input throughout the process, but the details of the collaboration are defined by the mentoring tandem themselves.

The program coordinator supports mentees in identifying suitable mentors and initiates the first contact on their behalf. Mentors are welcome to reach out at any time with questions or concerns. Potential mentors include researchers from both academia and industry.

Networking, themed events, peer mentoring

All participants take part in the core events of the program - the kick-off, mid-term review, and final review. These are complemented by at least two additional peer networking meetings, offering opportunities for mentees to connect with each other and the coordinator, share experiences, and strengthen their network. In topic-specific events, invited experts provide valuable insights into career-related subjects. 

All meetings are held in person at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen Campus. To support participants with caregiving responsibilities, peer networking meetings are preferably scheduled in the early afternoon. All events are organized by the program coordinator.

Support by the coordinator

  1. Application process. Applicants and the program coordinator meet for an interview to introduce themselves and discuss their motivations, goals, and expectations for the mentoring program.
  2. Mentor search and support. The program administration assists mentees with identifying suitable mentors and facilitates the initial contact. Support is provided throughout the one-on-one mentoring process.
  3. Participation in workshops and trainings. The program administration organizes peer group workshops on topics such as "Supervision & Leadership" and "Career planning". In addition, participants receive personalized guidance in selecting workshops and seminars from the catalogue offered by Graduate Center Plus and University Alliance Ruhr, tailored to their career stage, interests, and individual development goals. If needed or desired, participants can be referred to other UDE resources, such as those of the UDE Gender Equality Office; coaching or counseling for (aspiring) female scientists from GC Plus, or research funding information from the Science Support Center.

Throughout the program, the coordinator is happy to offer additional meetings upon request and is always available to provide support.

What are the benefits of mentoring?

Benefits for mentees

  • a lasting connection with an established scientist in academia or industry
  • insights into formal and informal structures, processes, cultures, and rules within the profession
  • career planning and orientation
  • improvement of career-related qualifications such as social competencies, strategic skills, self-presentation, and self-organization
  • gaining knowledge and strategies for accessing networks and improving one's own network
  • discussing and reflecting on current challenges in a non-hierarchical exchange with your mentor and peer mentees

Benefits for mentors

  • establish a connection with the University of Duisburg-Essen as a mentor and supporter
  • improve leadership and mentoring skills by guiding a mentee
  • reflect on your own career path
  • gain insights into the specific challenges of a PhD student's or postdoc's (scientific) work
  • experience fulfilment by supporting a young talent
  • challenge your own attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors in a non-hierarchical exchange with your mentee

As a mentor, you will receive a guide with helpful information and ideas for the mentoring process. The coordinator is available to answer any questions or provide suggestions.

Application as a mentee

To be eligible to apply, female applicants must be pursuing their PhD or postdoc studies in relation to the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Please contact the program coordinator if you have any doubts or questions regarding your eligibility to participate!

Selection is based on the completed application form and an introductory interview with the program coordinator in which motivation, goals, and expectations are discussed. Applicants with a migration background, with children or caregiving responsibilities, or with disabilities or chronic illnesses will be given special consideration in the selection process. All FMentiChem events are conducted in English. Active participation from all participants is expected.

Please submit your completed application form to the program coordinator via email by May 18, 2025, to participate in the one-year program for 2025/2026!

Program coordinator

Dr. Laura Kuschmierz (she/her)

Room: S05 V03 F33
Phone: +49 (0)201 183 7083
laura.kuschmierz[at]uni-due.de

 

Photo: FMentiChem program coordinator Dr. Laura Kuschmierz (left) with Dr. Vanessa Kramer, Deputy Equal Opportunities Officer (right), at the kickoff event on July 17, 2025