What is PhD Mentoring?
The PhD Mentoring Program is a voluntary program open to all PhD and doctoral students (UN094, UN790) at the Medical University of Vienna (see www.meduniwien.ac.at/phd-mentoring).
The program offers support beyond formal supervision and aims to foster both academic orientation and personal development. Through mentoring, students gain the opportunity to reflect on their goals, broaden their perspectives, and exchange experiences with peers and senior academics.
Key benefits of the PhD Mentoring Program include:
- Insights into academic career paths and research culture,
- support in career planning within and beyond academia,
- personal and professional development,
- peer exchange and networking across disciplines.
Students independently select their mentors based on the published mentor profiles. Registration follows a first-come, first-served principle.
How to become a PhD Mentor?
The training program for PhD Mentors at the Medical University of Vienna consists of two consecutive seminars:
A Basic Seminar (held annually in June) and an Advanced Seminar (held annually in September). Attendance at both seminars is mandatory and must be completed within one year.
Following the Basic Seminar, prospective mentors create an individual mentor profile, which is published on the university’s mentoring website during the summer. After successful completion of all three components—Basic Seminar, mentor profile, and Advanced Seminar—students may register for a mentoring group in October on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once a mentoring group has been formed (minimum of 2, maximum of 5 students), an official appointment letter is issued and mentoring activities may begin. The mentoring program runs for at least one academic year, from October to June, and typically includes one group meeting per month.
Timeline at a Glance
- Basic Seminar (June)
- Creation of the individual mentor profile
- Advanced Seminar (September)
- Student registration (mid-October)
- Start of mentoring groups (late October)
- Group meetings approximately once per month
- Completion of the mentoring year (end of June)
Content of the Basic Seminar
In addition to organizational aspects, the Basic Seminar focuses on preparing participants for their role as PhD Mentors. Prospective mentors engage with questions such as:
- What characterizes an effective mentor?
- How can PhD/doctoral students be meaningfully supported and guided?
- How do I conceptualize my individual mentoring activities?
- What would I like to offer and pass on to students?
- What expectations do I have of my mentees?
The Basic Seminar concludes with the development of a personal mentor profile, which serves as the basis for student registration and is published on the mentoring website.
Teaching Methods
- Mini-Lectures
- Reflective Exercises
- Group discussions
- Q&A
Target Group
This seminar is open to faculty members interested in becoming PhD mentors. PhD mentors are experienced scientists from the Medical University of Vienna or affiliated research institutions who provide individual, long-term support to PhD and doctoral students.
Prospective mentors are expected to demonstrate an appropriate mentoring mindset, including enthusiasm for working with young people, sufficient time availability, and strong communication skills.
In addition, PhD Mentors must meet the following requirements:
- a completed PhD or equivalent doctoral degree,
- proficiency in English,
- familiarity with the local research environment at the Medical University of Vienna,
- completion of the mandatory seminars “Supervision of PhD students: Legal and Organizational Aspects” and “Motivation and Guidance of PhD Students”.
Group Size
Maximum of 20 participants
Duration
- 3 hours / 0,1 ECTS
Literature
Ramani, S., Kusurkar, R. A., Lyon-Maris, J., Pyörälä, E., Rogers, G. D., Samarasekera, D. D., & ten Cate, O. (2024).
Mentorship in health professions education – an AMEE guide for mentors and mentees (AMEE Guide No. 167). Medical Teacher, 46(7), 999–1011. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2023.2273217
Sambunjak, D., Straus, S. E., & Marušić, A. (2006). Mentoring in academic medicine: A systematic review. JAMA, 296(9), 1103–1115. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.296.9.1103
Straus, S. E., Johnson, M. O., Marquez, C., & Feldman, M. D. (2013). Characteristics of successful and failed mentoring relationships: A qualitative study across two academic health centers. Academic Medicine, 88(1), 82–89. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0b013e31827647a0
Seminar Leader
Dr.in Angelika Hofhansl, MME
Leiterin Medizindidaktik, Teaching Center, MedUni WienTeilnahmegebühr
Für folgende Personengruppen ist die Teilnahme kostenlos:
- Für MitarbeiterInnen der MedUni Wien
- Für externe Lehrende mit Lehrauftrag an der MedUni Wien
- Für Lehrende aus den Lehrkrankenhäusern der MedUni Wien
- Für akkreditierte Ausbildungspraxen Allgemeinmedizin der MedUni Wien
