Mentoring and Coaching

• Mentoring is based on a longer-term relationship in which an experienced person shares knowledge and experience, usually with a focus on personal and professional development.
• Coaching focuses on individually supporting professional development and solving specific problem situations, often with clear goals and a shorter duration.
• Training conveys concrete skills and content in a structured and standardized way, usually in groups and with a defined curriculum.

Guiding principles

• Voluntariness and mutual trust
• Meeting at eye level: respect and appreciation
• Confidentiality
• Goal orientation
• Resource-oriented approach
• Reciprocity: both sides benefit from the interaction
• Fostering personal responsibility
• Continuity and reliability
• Openness to feedback and reflection

Topics

The topics to be discussed in the mentoring or coaching process are defined by the mentee. They typically come from the following areas:

• Studies and additional qualifications
• Advantages and challenges of interdisciplinarity
• Academic work on politically relevant topics
• Career goals and possible pathways to achieve them
• Building contacts in the desired professional environment
• Gaining practical professional experience
• Job search and application processes
• Problem analysis and search for possible solutions
• Personal development
• Policy advice and public outreach

Methods

• Clarifying roles and managing expectations
• Setting goals and tracking progress
• Time planning: a defined period (e.g., one year) is recommended
• Regular meetings and establishing structure
• Exchange of knowledge and experience
• Active listening
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Asking reflective questions
• Using a variety of methods as needed (e.g., storytelling, case analysis, role play)
• Strength-based approach and activation of resources
• Developing concrete action steps

Our senior coach, Martin B. Kalinowski has more than 20 years experience and participates in ongoing mentoring programs as listed below.

VDBIO: Early and Mid-career Mentoring Programme	Mentor from 2021 to 2024
CTBTO: Early-career women in STEM	Mentor in 2022 and 2023
German Physical Society (DPG) Working Group on Physics and Disarmament: Mentoring	Under preparation to be launched in March 2026
ISYP Africa Project: African Atomic Policy Lab (AAPL)	Mentor in 2026
Individual mentoring and coaching	Upon request.