Early Career Researcher Mentoring Program
SBM is pleased to accept applications for the 2025 Early Career Researcher (ECR) Mentoring Program!
The ECR Mentoring Program is an exciting opportunity for SBM´s early career researchers to receive mentoring from a SBM expert and to connect with other early career researchers in behavioral medicine. Program participants will meet regularly with their SBM mentor and a small group of peer researchers throughout 2025 and 2026, beginning shortly after the 2025 Annual Meeting.
Program Description
The aim of the program is for early career researchers to receive mentoring on a self-selected topic in one of the topic areas that our mentors offer (please see below for more information). Mentoring will be provided by a SBM expert and include a peer-mentoring component. The mentoring program will last for one year and starts around the time of the Annual Meeting. It is not required to attend the meeting to apply for the program, and there is no cost to participate for SBM members.
This program is not a replacement of the mentoring at the mentee's own institution, but aims to complement and expand the mentoring experiences of early career researchers.
Check out this presentation for more details about the ECR Mentoring Program format and goals.
Who Can Participate as a Mentee?
- Graduate students with all levels of experience that are SBM members in 2025.
To maximize the value of this mentoring opportunity, we strongly recommend that applicants have completed at least 2 years of their graduate or PhD studies. - Post-docs with all levels of experience that are SBM members in 2025.
- Early career professionals in behavioral medicine industry.
In collaboration with the Health Equity SIG, we especially encourage early career researchers from historically underrepresented and marginalized groups to apply!
How Can I Sign Up as a Mentee?
To help us in matching an SBM expert and peers, the mentees are asked to complete the form at this link and to attach the following materials:
- Academic CV (one page)
- Statement of interest: A brief description (max. 400 words) why you would like to participate in the mentoring program. To assist us with the matching process, please explain how you expect to benefit from the program and what should happen within the mentoring year so that you consider the program for yourself as a success.
Due to a limited number of mentors, we cannot guarantee a spot for all applicants in the program. Applications for the 2025 program will close on December 12th..
What Topics are Offered for Mentoring?
- Grant writing and funding opportunities (e.g., K- and R-awards)
- Teaching (e.g., balancing teaching load, new ways of teaching students)
- Digital health & technology (e.g., ecological momentary assessment)
- Dissemination and implementation science (e.g., choosing an implementation framework)
- General career consultation (e.g., transition to post-doc, alternative career paths outside academia)
- Clinical care (e.g., interaction with patients or medical staff, patient burden)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (e.g., recruiting diverse populations, building a research program considerate of DEI)
- Community/participatory research (e.g., how to engage participants in one’s research, how to communicate with the community)
Due to the variety of disciplines in SBM, we consciously offer topics that are relevant across disciplines and SIGs. If possible, we match the mentee with a mentor that is in the same or a similar discipline.
Who are the Mentors, and How Can I Become a Mentor?
Recognized SBM members are asked if they would share their expertise with early career researchers and early career professionals in behavioral medicine. All mentors are very experienced in both mentoring as well as in the field of behavioral medicine. SBM members interested in being a mentor for the 2025/2026 cohort can indicate this through SBM’s new volunteer portal.
Please direct any questions regarding the Early Career Research Mentoring Program to Committee Chair Carina Nigg (carina.nigg2@unibe.ch).