The NABS+ Mentorship Scheme
Our Network Plus for Analytical Behavioural Science for Security and Defence (NABS+) offers a dedicated Mentorship Scheme to support Early Career Researchers (ECRs) working in behavioural and social science research for security and defence.
This scheme helps ECRs build their skills, knowledge and confidence through one-to-one conversations with an experienced mentor. Whether you’re an ECR looking for guidance, or an experienced researcher keen to share your expertise, we encourage you to get involved.
Mentee applications for this round are now closed — but we are still welcoming new mentors on a rolling basis.
Purpose of mentorship
Mentorship offers a one-to-one support system for early career researchers by fostering their personal and professional growth, where a mentor empowers a mentee to enhance their skills, knowledge, and self-assurance. Unlike traditional training, mentorship focuses on guidance that enables mentees to navigate their paths and reach well-considered conclusions. The key responsibilities of the mentor and mentee are shown in the table below:
Key Mentor and Mentee Roles
| Mentor | Mentee |
Support mentee in setting and achieving objectives | Arrange meetings and set agendas |
Provide constructive feedback, clarify challenges | Establish objectives and review them with the mentor |
Facilitate mentee self-reflection | Act on agreed points |
Encourage problem-solving and solution-finding | Provide progress updates |
Suggest additional resources without solving the mentee’s challenges | Be open to feedback |
The mentee/mentor relationship is led by the mentee. The mentee arranges meetings with the mentor to discuss their mentoring needs. Conversations are confidential between the mentor and mentee (the only exception being if there is a safeguarding issue which the mentor then has a responsibility to report).
How it works
Mentor Matching
Mentors and mentees complete a profile form outlining areas of expertise and development needs.
The NABS+ team uses this information to create suitable matches.
Once matched, mentors will have access to the mentee’s form to better understand their development needs.
Initiation
The mentee contacts their mentor to discuss goals and agree expectations and objectives.
Confirmation
The mentee formally confirms the pairing and submits a signed mentorship agreement. This will be shared with the mentor and securely stored by the NABS+ team.
Progress Reporting
Both mentor and mentee submit a short progress summary halfway through the agreed period (e.g., at six months). The relationship can be terminated ahead of the agreed end-date, with a note to this effect and reason for the early termination sent to the NABS+ team.
Conclusion
At the end of the mentorship period, the mentee provides a final summary reflecting on their experience.
Frequency of meetings
The frequency and duration of meetings should be led by the mentee, but we expect no more than 6 meetings in a 12-month period. Meetings generally last around an hour, but the mentee and mentor should agree a duration that supports the mentee in achieving their goals.
The Mentorship Agreement
The agreement sets out:
Goals: The mentee’s career goals for the next year.
Long-Term Vision: The mentee’s wider career aspirations and milestones.
Objectives: Two priority areas to focus on during the mentoring sessions.
Commitment: The time and effort expected from both parties.
Logistics: Practical details such as meeting frequency and format.
This agreement serves as a reference point, revisited throughout the mentorship, allowing both parties to stay aligned and adjust as needed.
Become a Mentor
Do you have experience in behavioural and social science research for security and/or defence? We’d love you to consider mentoring an ECR. Your insight and support could make a real difference to someone’s career development.
If you’d like to express your interest in becoming a mentor, please fill in the Mentor application form and email the completed application to nabs@lancaster.ac.uk. Only completed applications will be considered.
Find a Mentor
Applications for the NABS+ Mentee scheme are now closed.
Thank you to everyone who applied to take part. We’ll be in touch with successful applicants soon. If you missed out this time, keep an eye on future opportunities to get involved.