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MENTEE REGISTRATION FOR THE 2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR IS CLOSED.
APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED ON A ROLLING BASIS.
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Mentee Eligibility Criteria
You are eligible to apply as a Research Mentee if:
How to Apply
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Next Steps
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We have designed this welcome pack to get you up to speed. We look forward to working with you!
What are the benefits of being a Research Mentee? As a mentee, you will get hands-on research experience, learn new skills, and work closely with your research mentor on their project. More details about the projects and the benefits of joining can be found on the project portfolio and social media. You will also have a guaranteed place in the Connect.ed Annual Academic Symposium in the spring. You and your mentor will have the opportunity to showcase your research project at the end of the academic year. As a part of our society, you will have several opportunities to enhance the student research community at UCL. What is expected of me as a Mentee? Because every research project is not the same, every mentorship will not be the same either. You can check the time commitment and main responsibilities on the project portfolio. Should you get invited to an interview, you may further clarify your role as a mentee with your potential mentor. Here are a few general guidelines to ensure smooth running of the mentorship:
Please be reminded that if a Mentor submits evidence to UCL Connect.ed Society showing that his/ her mentees have NOT fulfilled their responsibilities (e.g lack of mutual communications such as not responding to emails, not submitting their assignments in time more than once, with no reasonable explanation and/ or justification, or any other behaviors that are deemed "ghosting"), the mentor will reserve the rights to unilaterally terminate the mentorship and remove the mentees from his/her project. How much time do I need to commit to the programme? We generally recommend a minimum contact time of 2 hours/week to get the most out of this collaboration. Ultimately, time commitments vary from project to project. We are happy for the mentor and mentee to discuss this during the interview. How do the Mentor/ Mentee pairs work? Mentee selection is entirely dependent on the Mentors. Mentors will notify us of their selections, and we will let inform you of the outcome of your application by email. Mentees can apply for a maximum of two projects. If accepted to both, they may work on both accepted projects, or only choose to focus on one. Can I participate to a mentorship remotely? Please refer to the Project Portfolio or contact Mentors for information about mentorships' mode of delivery. What can I expect from an interview? A one-on-one interview with your potential Mentor is a good opportunity for you to meet each other, and see if you would be a good fit working together on a mentorship project. The interview will likely be a semi-informal chat with your mentor about your suitability for the role (although this is up to each Mentor). Mentors may ask you for further information including but not limited to a DBS check, academic transcripts, and work experience confirmation. Please be as honest as you can. We understand that you are putting your best foot forward but please do not deceive your potential Mentor about your proficiency in the necessary skills. Do you have any interview advice? Here's some tips you might find useful when preparing and during your interview 1. Do your homework! Read through the project description and understand how you can demonstrate your interests and skill sets 2. Prepare clarifying questions to ask your mentor. This is a great opportunity to better understand the project, your role and your responsibilities. 3. Talk about previous relevant experiences and interests. Know how your skill sets can contribute to the project. 4. STAR Technique. When answering questions, use the Situation-Task-Action-Result technique! 5. Provide mentors with requested document. Prepare transcripts, CVs or resumes upon request. 6. Thank the interviewer and keep in touch. Regardless of the outcome, the interview is a great way to get to know young researchers in the fields of your interest. 7. Most, importantly, keep calm! All mentors are really friendly and lovely people – they don’t bite! When will my mentorship start? Your mentorship will start once your Mentor has selected all of their mentees. We aim to start the mentorships within a month of the project release. However, please bear in mind that this may change depending on the number of mentee applications we receive. After you have been informed of a successful application, keep an eye out for emails from your Mentor informing you of the next steps. What happens after the mentorship ends? You are now part of our network! In March 2024, we will host our Annual Academic Symposium, where you will have a chance to present your work alongside your Mentor with other Mentors and Mentees. And do not forget to update your LinkedIn and add list yourself as a Connect.ed Mentee! What if my application is unsuccessful? We know that it can be very disappointing to be unsuccessful at an opportunity to work on the project that you had your heart set on. If you have been rejected, you can apply again as a Mentee for projects released in the next academic year. And Lastly... We are here to help you every step of the way! Our role is to facilitate interaction between you and your Mentor. Do not hesitate to reach out via email or social media if you would like to discuss something about the mentorship |
FAQs |
Does a mentee need to be from the same course/department as the potential mentor?
No - we encourage interdisciplinary collaboration as long as all parties are happy with it.
I don’t have any research experience - how should I stand out as an applicant?
Don’t fret - this programme is for you to gain experience. Demonstrate your motivation and interest in the project through your application. Be sincere and show genuine enthusiasm for your potential mentor’s research.
What is the Annual Academic Symposium?
Marking the celebration of our Connect.ed year, the Annual Academic Symposium will invite Mentors, Mentees and Connect.ed members to present their research on a public platform. It will be held towards the end of the Spring Term at UCL. Further details about the Symposium will be released in Term 2.
How competitive is this programme?
This ultimately depends on each particular project, depending on how many applications it receives and how many Mentees the Mentor is taking on. On average, we had a 75% acceptance rate in the 2020/21 academic year. If you strongly wish to get an offer, please consider applying to two projects.
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