The positive impact of mentoring

Dr Waad AlBawardi is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer investigating the role of nucleosome positioning in regulating chromatin structure and dynamics. She is mentoring a student at Holyrood RC High School in Edinburgh as part of a scheme run by the national social mobility charity Career Ready, which is supported by the University.
I believe mentoring can be an important way to address inequalities in access to opportunities. When I was choosing university options, I remember how daunting and overwhelming navigating that process was despite having support around me. For many young people, these choices come with even bigger challenges. Despite having equal talent and potential, not everyone has equal access to the advice, insights and networks that can help them build their confidence and see what’s possible for their future.
I think mentoring can also be valuable to the mentor as it encourages them to take a broader view and reflect on their own career path and professional development.
The Career Ready scheme aims to support students facing socioeconomic challenges in developing their skills and attributes for career success. It matches a secondary school student with a mentor based on their career interests and/or specific skills that they would like to develop. Over a period of 18 months, students have monthly meetings with their mentors at their workplace. Students also undertake a one-month paid summer internship at the mentor’s workplace. Throughout the programme, there are structured activities and milestones to ensure students get the most out of their participation.
My hope is to be able to support and encourage the student to reach their full potential. This includes sharing personal experiences, exploring career options, providing guidance with university applications, helping them identify their strengths and interests, and developing practical skills for their future careers.
I hope that the internship will give the student an insight into the life of a research scientist but also allow them to develop important transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The internship will also be an opportunity to network with other members in the Institute and learn about the range of research taking place and understand the day-to-day realities of different roles.
Although the programme has only recently begun, I have already started building a positive relationship with my mentee. The feedback from previous participants (both mentors and mentees) has been very positive so I would encourage others to participate in the coming years.
For more information about Career Ready, visit: Career Ready – National Social Mobility Charity