Programs

Mentorship for Advancing Research Leaders

The Academy provides one-on-one mentoring for outstanding mid-career researchers in the health and medical sciences. Mentees come from many different disciplines, from basic biomedical through to clinical research and related disciplines including the humanities and social sciences.

Our mentors are Fellows of the Academy – senior researchers and leaders in the sector. They are passionate about supporting the next generation of research leaders by providing expert, professional and independent advice.

Mentorship

About the program

Our three-year mentorship program pairs advancing health and medical research leaders with Fellows of the Academy. By supporting their career development and leadership capabilities, our mentors provide invaluable advice and assistance to their mentees.

Our program is designed to complement existing mentorship programs at research institutions and health services. It aims to assist associate professors or junior professors in navigating their career towards higher levels of leadership and influence.

Mentees become Associate Members of AAHMS during their mentorship. This means our mentees are engaged and participate in the activities of the Academy, such as influencing policy.

Mentees will, as Associate Members of the Academy, receive invitations to AAHMS state and national events and will have opportunities to contribute to position papers and reports.

Looking for a program earlier in your career? Our Inclusive Leadership Mentoring Program supports mid-career women (typically around 8-10 years post-PhD) through a six-month, institution-sponsored mentoring and leadership development experience. Visit the ILMP program page for more information.

Page Contents

About the program

How the mentorship program can help you?

Annual Mentorship Workshop

Understanding the selection criteria and process

How to Apply

Career advancement

Who is this program for?

This program is designed for established health and medical researchers at advanced Level D or early Level E (or equivalent) – people who have built independent research careers and are looking to step into more senior leadership roles. Full eligibility criteria are set out below.

As a mentee, you will be paired one-on-one with an Academy Fellow – one of Australia’s most senior health and medical research leaders – for a three-year mentoring relationship tailored to your individual career goals. Depending on your goals, the program can offer:

Strategic career guidance from a mentor who has navigated the path to senior leadership and can offer honest, independent advice on career decisions, opportunities and challenges.
A broader perspective on your career trajectory, with your mentor challenging your thinking and helping you see your research and leadership roles in the context of the national health and policy landscape.
Practical support with leadership transitions, whether that’s moving into departmental leadership, building a larger research program, or developing your profile as a national or international leader in your field.
Associate Membership of the Academy, giving you access to AAHMS events, networks and the opportunity to contribute to the Academy’s work, for instanced in policy and advocacy – connecting you to a community of peers and leaders across disciplines.

Career advancement

Annual Mentorship Workshop

The Annual Mentorship Workshop, hosted by the Academy in conjunction with our annual meeting, provides the opportunity for mentors and mentees to participate in group sessions. These sessions work to promote the mentee’s training and further develop the mentorship program as a holistic career offering.

The workshops cover topics including:

Growing as a research leader
Engaging with policy and policymakers
Telling the stories of science via the mainstream media, socials and video

Past speakers have included Chief Scientists, CEOs, Presidents, science and health journalists, and senior government advisors.

"It has truly been life-changing and if I think back to where I was three years ago and where I am today; it is a period of enormous personal and professional growth, which I attribute in large part to this program."

– Mentorship program alumnus

Understanding the selection criteria and process

Selection criteria

The selection process for the Academy’s mentorship program is competitive and reflects the high standard expected of these advancing leaders. Selection is based on a high measure of the following criteria:

Performance in their respective field
Achievement in research
Demonstrated commitment to research and leadership

Applicants for the program are expected to:

Be at advanced Level D or early Level E academic appointments (or equivalent)
Be well advanced in the development of their career and will clearly demonstrate their credentials as a leader who has established their research independence.
Have a clear trajectory as an international achiever in health and medical research.
Have gained national or international recognition and awards, secured competitive grants such as CIA, and have evidence of leadership (e.g. involvement in policy, practice or guidelines)
Have a strong track record including first author papers and will have supervised PhD students.

Applications are considered relative to opportunity and candidates are invited to identify career disruptions, which are taken into consideration by the selection committee.

Once successful in their selection, mentees are responsible for making arrangements with their mentors independently.

Diversity and inclusion

The Academy is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in health and medical sciences. In evaluating mentorship applications, we recognise the diversity of education and pathways to leadership. We also carefully consider career disruptions. We do this in line with our Diversity and inclusion policy.

Mentorship

How to Apply

Mentees

To initiate an application, please email [email protected] with your name, email address and institution. Once applications open, we will set you up on our portal so that you can submit your application.

Expressions of interest are accepted throughout the year.

Key dates

Submission deadline: 31 March annually

Applicants informed: August each year

EMAIL NOW

Mentors

Mentors are drawn from across the Fellowship of the Academy according to the expertise, interests, and needs of the individual mentees. With an agreement to meet with mentees up to four times per year, mentors give of their time and advice generously.

Mentors actively encourage their mentees to take a broader view of their respective career paths. This involves:

Viewing research and other roles in the context of the health status of the population and the healthy policy context
Identifying collaborative and multi-disciplinary opportunities
Challenging the mentees’ past and present thinking

Fellows who would like to know more about the program can email [email protected].

EMAIL NOW

MENTORSHIP

Key dates

Application Deadline

Application Outcome

Program Commencement

Award ceremony

August

September (Annual Meeting)