Format: 45min online panel discussion followed by 15min of networking

Date: 19 May, 1-2pm (CET)

Join link: https://ecconf.webex.com/ecconf/j.phpMTID=m52bba9a1102cf378aca31d9a6381e6cd

Mentoring connections can be beneficial for both mentees and mentors.

Mentees receive guidance and advice, which can help them progress in their careers. This can include for instance advice on training, work experience, and mock job interviews.

For mentors, other than a rewarding experience, mentoring can also be an opportunity to get experience in management, and it offers perspective into their own careers.

In this event, we will have a conversation with two JRC alumni who hold leadership roles and will share their experiences as mentors, available programmes, and will give advice to both potential mentors and mentees.

Panel:

Maria Pilar Aguar

Pilar is Director of Health and Food Audits and Analysis at the European Commission’s DG SANTE. With more than 20 years of experience working for the EC, she has held leadership roles with the DG for Health & Consumers, DG Research & Innovation and the Joint Research Centre. Before joining the EC, she worked for the Spanish Ministry of Health.

Pilar has mentored two early career researchers through the Euraxess REBECA Scheme, helping them to reflect about their options beyond academia. She is also a mentee in an EC mentoring programme for newly-appointed directors.

Chantra Eskes

Chantra is Senior Scientific Officer at the European Food Safety Agency. For more than 10 years she was the founder and CEO of a consultancy company which provided support to e.g. the OECD, the EC, and different national regulatory agencies. During that time she was President of the European Society of In Vitro Toxicology, Executive Secretary of the Animal Cell Technology Platform, Swiss nominated expert in a number of OECD Expert Groups, and Chair of the EURL-ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee. She has worked at the JRC for eight years.

Chantra has mentored two master students from the Swiss Italian University, providing them with orientation on possible career paths.

Cristina Anton

Cristina is a training manager working at the European Commission, working on the Mentoring Programme for new staff. She is also a mentee in the programme.

Chairs:

Inês Crespo, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh

Stefan Pacurar, Joint Research Centre

Organising committee:

Rita Galhano, JRC Alumni Committee

Christina Karavoulia, JRC Alumni Committee

Inês Crespo, JRC Alumni Committee

Angela Cardinali, Events Manager, JRC

Stefan Pacurar, Digital Humanities Trainee, JRC