The FYORD Buddy Program is a mentoring format for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in the marine sciences in Kiel. The aim of the program is to provide targeted support doctoral researchers during their doctoral phase while also fostering postdocs’ mentoring and supervisory skills. Both groups additionally benefit from expanding their interdisciplinary network within the Kiel marine science community.

What happened to the GEOMAR Buddy Program?

After four successful rounds, the GEOMAR Buddy Program has been opened to the wider FYORD community and is now operating as the FYORD Buddy Program. While nothing has to change for GEOMAR participants, the program now offers the additional opportunity to connect with doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from across FYORD.

Program Objectives

• Support doctoral researchers during their doctoral phase
• Foster postdoc’s mentoring and leadership skills in postdocs
• Build an interdisciplinary network in Kiel
• Promote exchange, reflection, and personal development
• Strengthen an open and supportive scientific culture

Doctoral researchers (mentees) receive

• a confidential space to discuss professional and personal topics
• insights into academic career paths (within and beyond academia)
• support in defining goals and career planning
• honest feedback and new perspectives
• opportunities to expand their scientific network

Postdocs (mentors) receive

• hands-on experience in mentoring and supervision
• training in feedback and communication skills
• insights into diverse career paths and perspectives
• networking opportunities within the Kiel scientific community
• reflection on their own leadership role
• a certificate confirming their mentoring activity

Structure & Schedule

Program duration: October 2026 – March 2027
(extension possible upon mutual agreement)

Mentoring format:
approx. 4 one-hour sessions per mentoring pair during the program
(equivalent to approx. 4 hours per half-year)

Flexible and low-threshold format without formal supervision obligations

Events & Dates

Kick-off FYORD Buddy Program (28 September 2026)

09:30 – 11:00: Introductory workshop for mentors with Dr. Steve Hutchinson

11:15 – 12:15: Introductory workshop for mentees with Dr. Steve Hutchinson

12:30 – 13:30: Speed dating to form mentor–mentee pairs

Additional Program Elements

19 January 2027, 11:00 – 12:00: Exchange session for mentees (exchange & reflection)

tba: Supervision session for mentors with Dr. Steve Hutchinson

31 March 2027, 12:00 – 13:00: Buddy Program closing lunch (final event)

Participation in both introductory workshops as well as the speed-dating session is strongly recommended, as these formats help create well-matched and effective mentoring pairs.

If you are unable to attend these events but would still like to participate in the program, it is possible to join through a blind-matching process. In this case, please contact mwanke(at)geomar.de.

Tandem pairings will be announced by 2 October 2026. Preferences will be taken into account as far as possible. Participation in the speed dating session is strongly recommended, as it helps form well-matched and effective mentoring pairs. Alternatively, blind matching is possible if sufficient numbers of mentees/mentors are available. In this case, please contact mwanke@geomar.de prior to the kick-off.

Please register via the FYORD portal by September 18, 2026.

https://portal.fyord-kiel.org/

For questions about the FYORD Buddy Program, please contact Maren Wanke (GEOMAR Postdoc Support) at mwanke@geomar.de.

The Buddy Advanced Mentoring Program is designed for postdocs in the early to mid-career stage who are seeking tailored support for their personal and professional development and wish to benefit from the experiences of more experienced colleagues.

Mentors: Experienced scientists (6+ years post-PhD), data scientists, science and project managers

Mentees: Postdocs seeking support and development

Duration: October 2025 to March 2026 (extension possible by mutual agreement; in case of longer absences, a later start date can be arranged on an individual basis)

Commitment: four one-hour mentoring sessions between mentors and mentees during the course of the program

Dates:

26 September 2025, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., room 8A-208:

Introductory workshop for mentees

26 September 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., online:

Introductory workshop for mentors

Interested mentors will first be gathered in a Pool of Mentors. Mentees (postdocs) will then be matched with a mentor from this pool based on their individually selected topics and interests. There should be no personal or professional connections between the mentor and mentee. A brief introductory meeting will take place at the beginning to ensure the fit is right – if not, we will find a new match together. If a sufficient number of mentees register for the pilot phase, we will organize a speed-dating event to facilitate and accelerate the matching process.

Further information and registration for the programme or workshop:

https://events.geomar.de/event/591/

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact mwanke@geomar.de.

The COMPASS Mentoring program provides support in active and goal-oriented career development for postdoctoral researchers and science managers. Participants are guided in creating their individual career strategy and in finding their own mentor. Mentors come from multiple professional fields, from academia as well as the industry, from public authorities or the non-profit sector.

The COMPASS Mentoring program is a joint initiative of the seven Helmholtz Centers in the research field Earth & Environment and collaborating Helmholtz centers.

• Deadline for application: October 11, 2024
• Start: February 2025
• Duration: 18 months
• 3 - 6 meetings between mentor and mentee

Workshops

• Workshop I 13 & 14 February 2025 (Potsdam)
• Workshop II 26 & 27 June 2025 (Potsdam)
• Workshop III  20 & 21 November 2025 (Buchenau)
• Workshop IV 28 & 29 May 2026 (Potsdam)

Timeline

An overview sheet with further information is available for download here. 

• Application: 8 September - 12 October 2026
• Start: February 2026
• Duration: 18 months
• 3 - 6 meetings between mentor and mentee

Workshops

• Workshop I 12 & 13 February 2026 (Potsdam)
• Workshop II 07 & 08 May 2026 (Buchenau)
• Workshop III  05 & 06 November 2026 (Potsdam)
• Workshop IV 12 & 13 May 2027 (Potsdam)

As a mentee in the COMPASS Mentoring Program, you will receive active and targeted support for your career development. The program offers a structured framework specifically tailored to the career paths of researchers and science managers. Program experts will guide you in finding a suitable mentor for your individual needs. Mentors come from a wide range of sectors – including academia, the private sector, public institutions, and the non-profit sector. Additionally, you will have opportunities to network and exchange experiences with other mentees and mentors at various program events.

Terms of Participation:

• You are ready to invest time and energy into your mentee-mentor relationship and the program.

• You are open to reflect on aspects of gender equality and diversity.

• You are able to participate in all program workshops.

• Your contract runs at least for the first 12 months of the program.

• Your supervisor or Principal Investigator (PI) has been informed and has given their consent.

Download: COMPASS Mentee Information Sheet

As a mentor you support the mentees with your experience and knowledge to take their next career steps.

What is a mentor?

Someone who passes on their professional knowledge or experiential knowledge. COMPASS mentors can come from all professional fields, e.g. private sector, public authorities, the non-profit sector, freelancers and more.

A mentor…

• invests time and attention for their mentee.
• engages with the mentee's concerns and contribute to their self-exploration.
• provides feedback on plans and goals, addresses risks and encourages the mentee to share their own experiences.
• shares their experiential knowledge and makes implicit knowledge transparent

The program intents the participation of the mentors in one online workshop and 3 - 6 meetings with their mentees.

Download the information sheet for COMPASS mentors here.

The program is open to a maximum of 24 participants. Two places are available for GEOMAR. To apply for the programme you need to fill in an application form and answer some guiding questions. A document with the guiding questions can be downloaded here.

The costs for the program will be covered by GEOMAR's Early Career Support.