ARIADNEtechnat
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A first hand insight on ARIADNE mentoring and its benefits
ARIADNEphil Alumna Melissa shares her experience with the 2023/2024 program.
You can watch the video here.
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Picture: thisisengineering (Unsplash.com) “Having a kind and supportive mentor was such a valuable experience, and every workshop I attended was both inspiring and super helpful.“
– A mentee from the doc/postdoc+ group 2023/2024
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Picture: TF FAU | FATHER&SUN My ambition is to succeed in academic research – but I want children, too. How can I align both?
ARIADNE mentoring helps with advice and best practices.
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Picture: TF FAU | FATHER&SUN I am passionate about science and research. Being a woman how can I win recognition in academia?
ARIADNE mentoring accompanies you with strategies and practical hints.
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Picture: TF FAU | FATHER&SUN Am I up to the requirements of a scientific career? Do I bring along personal qualities I will need throughout the process?
ARIADNE mentoring supports you with your career decisions.
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Picture: J. Baumeister When it comes to applications, I fear I lack contacts, support and confidence. What to do?
ARIADNE mentoring guides you on how to build networks, to mobilize support and to strengthen confidence.
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Picture: TF FAU | FATHER&SUN In my research teams I always end up with the highest work load – but scarcely any visibility. Is this just my personal problem? And what can I do about it while still being a good team player?
ARIADNE mentoring offers a safe space to reflect and get help regarding your positioning as a female researcher.
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Picture: TF FAU | FATHER&SUN I am quite successful in my Master studies and a career in science tempts me. But am I up to the challenge? What will life as a PhD student look like? And how do I apply for a PhD position?
ARIADNE mentoring helps you to make sound career decisions and to hit the ground running for your PhD.
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Picture: TF FAU | FATHER&SUN I think there should be more women in science! What can I do to help?
As an ARIADNE mentor you will offer female early career scientists individual advice and guidance to help them steer their career.
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Bild: „The Sky is the Limit” – Giulia Iannicelli/FAU. “Do I have to sacrifice my personal life to a scientific career? Or is it possible to succeed in science and have a rich personal life?”
ARIADNE Mentoring helps you to discover how you can reconcile both.
FAUmentoring ARIADNEtechnat
Background, content, and mentoring setting
In the natural sciences and engineering, an above-average number of women leave academia during and after their doctoral studies – a phenomenon known as the “leaky pipeline.” Among other things, this is caused by structural hurdles, cultural barriers within the field, and a lack of integration into networks, which systematically make it more difficult for women to access top positions.
FAUmentoring ARIADNE aims to strengthen women’s self-image as scientists and motivate and encourage them to pursue their scientific careers consistently
The mentoring program for female students and young researchers at the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering is part of the target agreements to increase the proportion of women in science 2023-2027, agreed upon between the University board and the two faculties.
In addition to one-to-one mentoring, ARIADNE offers tailor-made workshops and a platform for peer networking.
FAUmentoring ARIADNE provides interdisciplinary mentoring advice for academic career planning by a person with career experience (mentor). Mentoring is designed to complement academic supervision. It is not a subject-specific mentoring program. Subject of the mentorship are strategic issues related to career planning in academia and the practical implementation of career steps. The interdisciplinary mentoring setting ensures a trusting exchange with a neutral, independent person, in which very individual topics can also be addressed, such as the compatibility of different areas of life with an academic career and specific challenges as female scientists in the context of role attributions and role understanding, self-confidence, and self-assurance.
More information on the possible range of topics can be found at the below link: Mentoring Guide.
ARIADNE works according to the quality standards of Forum Mentoring e.V..
For more information please check the mentoring guideline.
Target groups and programs
ARIADNEtechnat Master’s Program:
Mentoring for female Master or Staatsexamen students who are interested in pursuing a doctorate.
Program start: November 2026
Current event program: ARIADNEtechnat master 2025/26
Application period: expected to start in May 2026
ARIADNEtechnat Doc/Postdoc+ Program :
Mentoring for PhD candidates, postdocs and W1 professors who are pursuing an academic career.
Program start: November 2026
Current event program: ARIADNEtechnat doc/postdoc 2025/26
Application period: expected to start in May 2026
All information regarding the application process (doc/postdoc)
Become a mentee: ARIADNEtechnat master
Next program start:
November 2026
Duration: 9 months
Application period: expected to start in May 2026
Current event program: ARIADNEtechnat master 2025/26
You are looking for support for your scientific journey? Then ARIADNE is the right choice for you! Your personal contribution will be of utmost importance for the success of the program. Your involvement and stamina will be needed throughout the process. It will empower you to develop individual strategies together with your mentor. A tailored workshop program and peer networking will accompany this process.
Requirements to apply for ARIADNEtechnat master
- enrollment with the Faculty of Sciences or the Faculty of Engineering at FAU
- a strong motivation to do a PhD and to pursue a scientific career
- involvement and initiative with the mentoring program, the workshops and peer networking
- willingness to accept suggestions and constructive feedback
Application and selection
You will find the link for online registration here during the application period.
In addition we need the following documents as pdfs to be sent by email to ariadne-technat@fau.de:
- CV
- certficates of university degrees
- current certificate of enrollment
- Transcript of Records of the latest university degree (Bachelor or equivalent)
- current Transcript of Records (download at meincampus)
- if applicable: references from employers, internship certificates etc.
In addition to the written application, the selection process includes an approximately 20-minute online interview.
We look forward to your application!
Become a mentee: ARIADNEtechnat doc/postdoc+
Next program start:
November 2026
Duration: 18 months
Application period: expected to start in May 2026
Current event program: ARIADNEtechnat doc/postdoc 2025/26
You are looking for support for your scientific journey? Then ARIADNE is the right choice for you! Your personal contribution will be of utmost importance for the success of the program. Your involvement and stamina will be needed throughout the process. FAUmentoring ARIADNEtechnat will empower you to develop individual strategies together with your mentor. A tailored workshop program and peer networking will accompany this process.
Requirements to apply for ARIADNEtechnat doc/postdoc+:
- an official affiliation with FAU
- for PhD candidates: confirmation of supervisor
- a strong motivation to pursue a scientific career
- involvement and initiative with the mentoring program, the workshops and peer networking
- willingness to accept suggestions and constructive feedback
Application and selection process:
You will find the link for online registration here during the application period.
In addition we need the following documents as pdfs to be sent by email to ariadne-technat@fau.de:
- CV
- certficates of university degrees
- if applicable: references from employers, internship certificates
In addition to the written application, the selection process includes an approximately 20-minute online interview.
We look forward to your application!
Become a mentor
We are looking for mentors!
Are you keen to share your personal experience as a scientist and to support female early career researchers? Please join ARIADNE as a mentor!
You may find detailed information on the mentoring, your role as a mentor and the matching process online in our mentoring guidelines (full version in pdf).
Who can be a mentor?
Scientists at the Faculty of Sciences or the Faculty of Engineering at FAU or at an affiliated research institution with a focus on science or engineering:
- Professors
- Postdocs
- PhD candidates pursuing a scientific career
As a mentor you will
- accompany a high potential female early career researcher on transversal topics, not related to their research
- motivate them to further qualify as a scientist
- familiarize mentees with informal structure and rules of the game in academia
- share your experience
- support mentees with their challenges
- broaden your network and help your mentee to develop theirs
- gain a new perspective on academic life
Application as a mentor
If you want to support ARIADNEtechnat as a mentor, please contact the coordinator at ariadne-technat@fau.de and fill in the questionnaire.
Your information helps us to work on a proper matching with a potential mentee. Filling in the questionnaire does not imply any obligation to assume a mentoring.
Information material
Presentation ‘Informative Meeting ARIADNEtechnat’
ARIADNEtechnat Mentoring guideline
Dr. Marion Kämmlein
News
Recap: ARIADNE Networking Event & Kickoff ARIADNEtechnat master (10 Nov 25)
Next program starts:
>> ARIADNEtechnat Master’s Program Program start: November 2026
Application period: expected to start in May 2026
All information regarding the application process (master)
>> ARIADNEtechnat Doc/Postdoc+ Program Program start: November 2026
Application period: expected to start in May 2026
All information regarding the application process (doc/postdoc)