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European Academy of Sociology Mentorship Programme
As a fellowship of scholars with expertise in many different areas of sociology, the European Academy of Sociology is committed to the development and support of the next generation of scholars. To advance this, it offers a mentorship programme bringing together Fellows of the Academy with junior scholars to aid their development and career trajectory.
The mentorship programme is targeted at 2nd year and above PhD students and post-doctoral early career researchers as a complement to their existing supervisory arrangements. PhDs and Post-docs benefit from different levels of institutional support and different levels of access to senior scholars in the discipline. Mentorship is known to offer benefits for those at early career stages or who have fewer direct professional development opportunities.
Why have a mentor
A beneficiary of a similar mentorship programme has spoken of its benefits in the following terms:
"Mentoring offers a valuable supplement to the “traditional” PhD supervision by removing the hierarchical structure that often characterizes supervisor–doctoral candidate relationships. It provides a safer and more open environment to discuss topics that might not necessarily or comfortably arise in supervisory meetings—ranging from specific research challenges to broader issues such as navigating the academic landscape, career development, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.Because mentoring is more flexible and individually tailored, it serves as a supportive second layer—filling the gaps potentially left by conventional supervision. Personally, I - for instance - gained valuable insights into strategic publishing decisions, post-PhD career paths, accessing research mobility opportunities and building confidence within academic spaces. Overall, it left me feeling better equipped and more supported throughout my PhD journey. I would strongly recommend mentoring to all doctoral candidates, and particularly to everyone who may at times struggle with self-doubt or feels out of place in academic settings."
Eligibility
PhDs in their third year or above or early career researchers within 2 years of completion of their PhD based at a European university are eligible to apply to the programme.
Applications are particularly invited from those without access to strong institutional or national support for rigorous sociology.
Application process
The candidate should submit a C.V., one completed paper (or equivalent), and a short note (no more than half a page) of what they would hope to get out of the mentoring.
They should also submit the names of up to three EAS Fellows they would most like to be mentored by.
Applications should be submitted for consideration by the following deadlines: 1st September, 1st January, 1st April.
Applications should be sent, in the first instance, to the President of the Academy, Professor Lucinda Platt at L.Platt@lse.ac.uk
If a match can be with an appropriate mentor the candidate will advised within six weeks of the applicable deadline; and contact details of mentor and mentee shared. If no match can be made the candidate will be informed; and may re-apply after not less than a year from the date of the original application.
Nature and duration of mentorship
Mentor and mentee will arrange to meet (online) up to 3 times per year for 2 years to discuss matters such as target journals or conferences, academic standards and developments such as reproducibility, career development, or other matters touching academic careers that arise. All meetings should be initiated by the mentee.
The mentor is not intended to substitute for a supervisor and is not expected to read and comment on the mentee’s papers. The mentor offers informed insight for the mentee into the discipline and how to develop as an academic committed to rigorous standards.
After the two years, the mentor and mentee may agree stay in touch or not, but the formal role will be considered to be over.
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