We’re celebrating nearly five years of the EMBL Alumni Mentoring Programme — supporting and connecting staff in scientific and non-scientific roles across EMBL.

Launched in early 2021, when much of the world was still facing lockdowns and isolation, the initiative was driven by the EMBL Alumni Association (EAA) Board to foster collaboration and curiosity across sites, disciplines, and career stages. At the time, Fatima Gebauer (Group Leader, CRG Barcelona), then Chair of the EAA Board, saw mentoring as a powerful way to strengthen community ties:

“To me, it was clear that having a mentoring programme within a community of alumni dedicated to so many different types of jobs would be a wonderful resource. I’m very proud to see that the mentoring programme, which began as a pilot exercise while I was Chair, has continued to grow and benefit and increasing number of members of our community.”

The pilot scheme paired alumni mentors and mentees from across the globe. Peter Papagiannis, then Alumni Relations Officer, played a pivotal role in launching the programme:

“We created a space for shared experiences, mutual learning, and support—allowing alumni to grow together, both personally and professionally.”

After leaving EMBL in 2022 to take up a role at the University of Auckland, Peter—now an EMBL alumnus himself—joined the programme as a mentee. He was matched with Erin Tranfield (Head of the VIB Bioimaging Core, Ghent, Belgium), with whom he still meets regularly:

“Having Erin as a mentor has enabled my growth as a team leader tremendously. Regardless of sector, we all need support to become better leaders. It was a real gift to have one-to-one time with her and benefit from her expertise.”

Erin, in turn, highlights how reciprocal the experience has been:

“What surprises me most is how much I learn through these conversations. Mentorship isn’t just about guiding—it’s about growing. Peter’s drive to learn and lead inspires me to reflect more deeply, think more clearly, and evolve as a leader myself. I always look forward to our discussions.”

Over the years, the programme has expanded to include current EMBL staff and fellows, enriching connections even further. For example, Aditya Sankar (Scientific Visitor Programme and Training Lead at EMBL) engaged with an alumnus mentor in his field of interest:

“It was incredibly valuable to frame my career hopes and goals within my personal values and life context. My mentor gave me practical guidance, different perspectives, and thoughtful advice. I am deeply grateful for the experience.”

Similarly, Moritz Winker (ARISE Fellow 2023-2025) connected with two alumni to explore different career paths:

“My first mentor, working in academic administration, offered valuable insights—even though it wasn’t the best long-term fit. Later, I connected with another alumnus in the pharmaceutical industry, who helped me understand both the challenges and benefits of applying scientific expertise in a corporate setting. These conversations were instrumental in evaluating my options.”

Since its launch, the programme has matched over 100 mentees with alumni mentors, and today nearly 600 alumni are available to share their expertise.

We invite you to start your own mentoring journey—and continue building the culture of connection and support that makes EMBL so unique.