The central aspect of the concept of mentoring is the realization that professional success is not only determined by a person's qualifications and commitment, but in particular by supportive relationships. The Early Career Mentoring Program at MHH focuses precisely on this: this program is about promoting and supporting relationships in the mentoring tandem as well as in peer mentoring in networking.

The program has been running since October 2022 and 36 qualified young female scientists have been supported so far.

Goals of the Early Career Mentoring Program:

• promote committed female early career researchers
• strengthen their skills and potential for their professional careers and
• support them in their careers with the experience of successful scientists
• Transfer of experience and knowledge in the mentoring relationship
• Building an interdisciplinary network

The ECM is explicitly aimed at women who want to actively engage with their professional careers. The target group is female scientists who wish to pursue an academic career and/or take on management responsibility in the areas of research, teaching, Clinical Department or scientific administration.

• Female physicians from the 2nd year of specialist medical training
• Female doctoral students of all sciences at the MHH
• Female postdocs at the start of their career

The program thrives on the diversity of the mentee group! For this reason, the Early Career Mentoring program brings together female scientists and physicians with different professional backgrounds and experiences in one group. International female researchers and female scientists with other diversity characteristics are explicitly invited to apply.

The mentoring program consists of three areas:

• Group mentoring - mentoring in the narrower sense
• various seminars and workshops for non-specialist qualification
• as well as the establishment of an interdisciplinary, supporting network that continues beyond the mentoring program
• A regulars' table takes place every 2 months

An opening and closing event form the framework for this program. After about half the time, we hold interim reviews to evaluate the program.

The ECM offers a comprehensive program - this also means a certain time commitment for you. When you start the ECM, you sign an agreement and thereby commit yourself to

• active and committed participation in the workshops and face-to-face events
• participation in a conference with a poster and/or presentation as well as a publication (co-authorship)
• Participation in the evaluation of the program through questionnaires and, if necessary, interviews
• Writing a profile or short report with a photo for the final brochure
• Payment of €125 as an expense allowance for catering at events

The next call period is expected to be at the end of September 2025, so please subscribe to the e-mail list (e-mail to eralycareer@mh-hannover.de ) to make sure you don't miss any information.

Application requirements:

• Female physicians from the second year of specialist medical training
• Female doctoral students of all sciences at the MHH
• Willingness to actively participate in group mentoring (2 mentees / 1 mentor)
• Willingness to exchange experiences with colleagues
• Commitment and responsibility: reliable participation in the joint framework and career program as well as in evaluation and quality assurance
• As a guideline for the time required, please take a look at the current event schedule(here) and only apply if you can attend the majority of the events

Step 1: Submit your written application during the application period with the following documents.

Application documents:

• Cover letter: Motivation & Expectations - Please describe what goals you have regarding your future career / career planning. How can mentoring support you in achieving your career goals? What would you personally like to achieve by participating in the mentoring program? Please briefly state what expectations you have of the cooperation with the mentor. If available, please provide information on your socio-political commitment and / or parenting or caregiving responsibilities.
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form on previous education and professional career (in descending order)
• Profile sheet here

Please submit all application documents in one PDF document:

• by e-mail to earlycareer@mh-hannover.de

Step 2: You will receive a confirmation of receipt after the end of the application period. After reviewing all applications, the candidates will be selected in cooperation with the Commission for Gender Equality (KfG). This usually takes four weeks. Please refrain from asking about the status of your application during this time, thank you.

Step 3: If you are accepted into the program , will be matched and we will inform you of your mentoring group. You will sign the mentoring agreement and the participation fee of 125 euros will be due.