The Equality Committees of the research institutes of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the Valencian Community have launched the WoMent initiative, the first mentoring program exclusively aimed at predoctoral female researchers at CSIC centers. This initiative seeks to foster scientific vocations, strengthen the academic and professional skills of future PhDs, and help reduce the existing gender gap in various scientific disciplines.

The program is based on an individual mentoring model designed to inspire young female scientists through the experience of established researchers. Participating doctoral candidates will receive personalized guidance, offering support, orientation, and role models to help them navigate the challenges of a research career. Each mentoring relationship will consist of four one-hour sessions, which can be held either in person or online, depending on the availability of the participants.

In this first edition, the program is open to both mentors and predoctoral researchers (mentees) affiliated with CSIC centers or mixed institutions (CSIC–University/Generalitat Valenciana) in the Valencian Community. Among the mentors, established researchers, Ramón y Cajal fellows, postdoctoral researchers, and innovation agents willing to voluntarily contribute to the career development of young doctoral candidates may participate. To support their work, mentors will be provided with guidelines and materials to guide the mentoring process.

Mentees will be doctoral candidates in the final or penultimate year of their thesis. Their participation will allow them to receive close and specialized advice aimed at strengthening their skills and exploring new opportunities in the academic, scientific, and technological fields.

Registration will open on Wednesday, October 1, via this link, and interested individuals can complete the form until October 31, 2025. The organizers will then pair mentors and mentees, and once the final list of participants is published, the mentoring sessions will take place from January 2026 to June 2026.

With WoMent, CSIC in the Valencian Community reinforces its commitment to equality and the promotion of female talent, providing an intergenerational space to share experiences, create role models, and foster innovative solutions that contribute to a more diverse and equitable scientific system.

For questions or inquiries, the coordinating equality committees of this program have made the following email address available: womentcsic@gmail.com

Equality Committees of CSIC Centers in the Valencian Community