We are excited to announce our new Policy Mentoring scheme, which provides early- and mid-career scientists with the opportunity to work alongside members of the Institute for European Environmental Policy in Brussels.

In collaboration with the European Geosciences Union,  IEEP is offering a 12-month hybrid mentoring scheme to early and mid-career professionals with the unique opportunity to work alongside the IEEP team, gaining hands-on experience and insights into how they work with and within Europe’s policy community. This scheme will include up to two days per month of virtual teamwork, offering flexibility and consistent guidance. In addition, the selected candidate will spend three weeks in Brussels in 2026 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 three broad thematic areas: Climate, Nature and Sustainable Food Systems, and Pollution.

What the mentoring scheme will include

This mentoring scheme is ideal for a researcher 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 how they and their institutions can increase the policy impact of their research.

While the mentoring scheme will be flexible and aim to facilitate the interests of the selected candidate, there are several specific benefits and activities that the scheme will include:

1. Two months of experience working with the leading environmental think tank in Brussels, from 24 August 2026 through to 27 August 2027. The mentee is expected to contribute to existing IEEP activities and initiate individual research and activities online for up to 2 days per month, in addition to 3 weeks in person at the IEEP office. The in-person visit may take place consecutively or be divided into multiple visits throughout the 12-month mentorship.
2. 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.
3. Attend and contribute towards one or more of the invitation-only Working Groups of IEEP’s network of think tanks.
4. Contribute to one or more of the IEEP’s publications, providing policy-makers with relevant and accurate evidence to support their decision-making.
5. Attend IEEP events in-person and online.
6. 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.
7. Following a mid-term review scheduled during the mentoring period, participate in a concluding debriefing and feedback process at the end of it.
8. Share your experience with the mentoring scheme at EGU27 (EGU27 wavier and abstract fee 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 not only to empower the selected candidate, but also their institutions and broader 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 a copy of your CV and a short motivation letter (2000 characters including spaces) before midnight, 13 February 2026. Your submission should describe why you are applying, include a description of your research area(s), your motivation to engage in policymaking, and what you hope to get out of this mentoring scheme. All candidates should have completed a PhD, and must submit all their documents in English.

If you have any questions, please email EGU Policy Officer Zsanett Gréta Papp (zsanett.papp@egu.eu) or the IEEP Head of Strategic Partnerships Mattia Bonfanti (mbonfanti@ieep.eu).