AIM PhD: Become a mentor

AIM PhD is looking for current PhD students to become mentors on this exciting new widening participation programme. 

This role is a key component of the programme to support applicants, but it can also be just as rewarding for the mentors themselves. It’s an opportunity to help and guide others through an unfamiliar process, build your own communication and leadership skills, and expand your network and community within Cambridge. 

This programme is specifically designed to support applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in their pursuit of postgraduate research at Cambridge. Whilst understanding their specific challenges and how to support these applicants will be covered during mentor training, we expect mentors to already have some knowledge of the barriers that these applicants may experience, and to have a strong interest in work that aims to make Cambridge more equitable and inclusive. 

Role and responsibilities

Mentors will have the option to support between one and three mentees and will be expected to support them for the entirety of the six months. All mentors will be provided with full training and will be supported by Postgraduate Admissions Office staff for the length of the programme.
Key responsibilities:

• Spend one or two hours either meeting with mentees, communicating with them over message, or reviewing documents
• Meet with mentees in person during their Cambridge visit, organise day activities (department visit etc.) (if you cannot do this, please let us know)
• Attend at least three check-in meetings with staff over the six months
• Facilitate group chats on the programme community platform online
• Attend all required training (training will take place during 7 to 17 May 2024)
• Report any safeguarding concerns

Pay and benefits

Mentors will be paid for their time at £15.17 an hour (including holiday pay).

It is expected that they will work up to 5 hours per month, including mentoring meetings and preparation time. They will also be paid for one-time events such as training sessions and the Cambridge visit. 

It will be up to mentors to organise meetings with their mentees, but this means that they choose when during the week to complete their hours. This makes work very flexible and easy to fit around your studies – however it is still a commitment, so please seriously consider your capacity to work before applying. 

Eligibility for mentors

To be eligible to be an AIM PhD mentor you will need to meet the following criteria.

Essential criteria (all required)

• Be registered as a current doctoral candidate from at least Michaelmas 2023, who does not plan to submit before Spring 2025 (if you plan to submit at this time, you must be able to continue mentorship work until at least April 2025)
• Have the Right to Work in the UK
• AIM PhD applicants will be applying to one of these faculties/departments/DTPs. To be a mentor, we ask that you’re either studying in one of these or are from a department directly related to these subjects (please contact us if you’re unsure):
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
  • Department of Genetics
  • Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics
  • BBSRC DTP
  • DTP-MR and MRC-DTP (participating departments)

We will also expect mentor applicants to demonstrate the following:

• Have an interest in supporting people from underrepresented backgrounds in accessing the University of Cambridge, and understanding the barriers that they may face
• Have enthusiasm for this role and for the AIM PhD Programme
• Have excellent communication skills, especially the ability to give constructive feedback and to answer difficult questions
• Have great time management and organisation, and the ability to be proactive in planning meetings and activities

Contact us

If you have any questions or need any assistance with your application, please get in touch with us at aim@postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk.