The IEEP is excited to announce a new Policy Mentoring Scheme in collaboration with the European Geosciences Union to provide early and mid-career scientists with the opportunity to work alongside members of the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) in Brussels. 

In collaboration with the European Geosciences Union, a non-profit international union of scientists with about 19,500 members from all over the world and a leading organisation for Earth, planetary and space science research in Europe, IEEP is offering a 12-month hybrid mentoring scheme to early and mid-career professionals with the unique opportunity to work alongside IEEP members, gaining valuable hands-on experience and insights into how they interact and share information with Europe’s policy community. This scheme will include up to two days per month of virtual teamwork, offering flexibility and consistent guidance. In addition to this, the selected candidate will spend three weeks in 2025 in Brussels with all travel expenses covered, allowing them to effectively engage in the IEEP’s policy projects, network with experts, and play a key role in shaping meaningful initiatives.  

As an independent, unbiased, impartial, and evidence-based institute based in Brussels, the IEEP is well positioned to support a researcher in developing their knowledge of the science-policy interface and European political landscape. IEEP’s current work focuses on five wide thematic areas: Climate and circular economy, Global challenges and SDGs, Land use and climate, Common Agricultural Policy and food, and Biodiversity and ecosystems.  

What the mentoring scheme will include 

This mentoring scheme is ideal for a researcher who is looking to gain experience in a non-academic sector, broaden their professional network, develop an understanding of the European policy landscape, enhance their science for policy skills, and learn about how they and their institutions can increase the policy impact of their research.  

The mentoring scheme offers some flexibility to facilitate the interests of the selected candidate, however there are several specific benefits and activities that the scheme will include: 

• 12 months experience of working with a Brussels-based think tank, from 1 April 2025 through to 1 April 2026. The mentee is expected to contribute to existing activities at IEEP and to initiate individual research and activities for up to 2 days per month online in addition to 3 weeks in-person at the IEEP Brussels office. The in-person visit may take place consecutively or be divided into multiple visits throughout the 12-month mentorship. 

• Initial introductory call with the selected mentee and their appointed mentor to discuss their career paths, interests, and relevant IEEP projects that they could contribute towards. 

• Attend and contribute towards one or more of the invitation-only Working Groups of IEEP’s network of think tanks. 

• Contribute to one or more of the IEEP’s publications that are shared with policymakers with the aim to provide relevant and accurate evidence to support their decision-making. 

• Attend IEEP events in-person and online.  

• Spend three weeks in Brussels working alongside the IEEP team in charge of political outreach and strategic partnerships with external stakeholders, and network with those working on the science-policy interface with all travel and accommodation expenses covered. 

• Following a mid-term review scheduled during the mentoring period, participate in a concluding debriefing and feedback process at the end of it. 

• Share your experience with the mentoring scheme at EGU26 (EGU26 wavier provided) and via the EGU’s GeoPolicy Blog. 

About the European Geosciences Union 

As a scientific union that supports evidence-informed policymaking, EGU supports greater interaction between the research community and policy sectors. Working with IEEP already in the framework of the IEEP-led Think2030 platform of stakeholders, EGU believes that this mentoring scheme will facilitate these interactions while also providing the selected candidate with the opportunity to gain a solid understanding of the European policy landscape and develop their science for policy skills.  

With this collaboration, IEEP and EGU hope that this will not only empower the selected candidate, but also their institutions and wider scientific community in future policy engagement activities. In so doing, this mentoring scheme will ultimately also contribute to the overall visibility and influence of the scientific community within non-academic, policy focused sectors.  

How to apply 

To apply, please submit your CV and 1-page motivation letter by midnight 17 January 2025. Your submission must include a description of your research area(s), your motivation to participate in this mentoring scheme, and why you think evidence-informed policymaking is important. All candidates should have completed a PhD and must submit all their documents in English. 

If you have any questions, please email EGU Policy Manager Chloe Hill at policy@egu.eu or IEEP’s Head of Networks and Governance Mattia Bonfanti at mbonfanti@ieep.eu.