three people sitting together at a round table, talking to each other

NIHR Newcastle BRC Mentoring Pilot Launched

We are delighted to launch a new NIHR Newcastle BRC Mentoring Pilot that aims to support researchers’ personal and professional growth, develop their careers and build connections, across the breadth and depth of disciplines within our BRC community.

Whether sharing your experience as a mentor or gaining insights and guidance as a mentee, our vision is that the Pilot should offer a valuable opportunity to develop, gain new perspectives and expand professional networks in this setting. Our intention is that it should be complementary to national initiatives.

 

Silvia Del Din“I am delighted that our NIHR Newcastle BRC Mentoring Pilot aims at creating a genuinely supportive space for researchers to grow, connect, and be inspired. This mentoring programme reflects our commitment to fostering an inclusive, interdisciplinary culture where colleagues at all stages can gain confidence, broaden their perspectives, and shape their future together with the future of our research community.” - Dr Silvia Del Din, Deputy Academic Career Development (ACD) Lead

 

The BRC Mentoring Pilot aims to:

  • Foster professional growth and collaboration
  • Build a supportive and inclusive network
  • Encourage mutual learning
  • Support interdisciplinary collaboration, as the mentor does not need to be from your discipline
  • Provide resources to support mentoring relationships to maximise success

 

Arthur Pratt“Navigating the post-doctoral period can be one of the greatest challenges of a career in translational science; this scheme was inspired by conversations with mid-career researchers who told us they would value local mentorship.” - Dr Arthur Pratt, Academic Career Development Lead

 

 

Eligibility

Mentees

  • The Pilot will offer mentorship to all post-doctoral researchers (post-thesis submission), spanning career stages and professional backgrounds, including Mid-Careers and/ or BRC Leadership Track colleagues
  • Must be supported as members of the BRC by their Theme Co-Lead(s)
  • Mentees should make every effort to attend an in-person BRC Mentoring Orientation Event on Wednesday 28 January 2026, 14:00 – 15:30

Mentors

  • Mentors are expected to include (but not be limited to) BRC Research Theme Co-Lead(s) and BRC Leadership Track and Cross-Cutting Area Leads
  • Mentors should make every effort to attend an in-person BRC Mentoring Orientation Event on Wednesday 28 January 2026, 14:00 – 15:30

 

How to get involved?

We now invite you to submit an expression of interest to become a mentor or a mentee. The downstream commitment may vary, but is expected to amount to 3 hours of mentor-mentee contact over the 6-month Pilot.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please complete this form.

If you are interested in becoming a mentee, please complete the form here.

If you would like to be a mentor and a mentee, please complete both forms.

The deadline is Monday 5 January 2026, 12:00 noon.

 

Questions?

Further information and FAQs can be found in pdfhere.

If you have any questions, please email BRC Training, Education and EDI Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are looking forward to building a vibrant mentoring network together.