Beatrice Bano, Academic Mentoring Testimony

The Equal Opportunities Service proposes the Academic Mentoring Programme for PhD and Postdoc women at USI. The programme is an accompaniment tool for the university career, complementary to the framework offered by the individual Faculties of reference, offering guidance in planning one's academic career, perfecting one's knowledge or widening one's network of contacts in one's field of research.

Through the accompaniment of a mentor, i.e. a person-resource (professor/ess, lecturer, researcher) expert in the chosen field of activity, the mentee has the opportunity to benefit from a personalised orientation, which contributes to the definition of a precise career path and to the achievement of one's goals.

Beatrice Bano, Phd student at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the Institute of Public Health, participates as a mentee in the programme.

Here is her testimonial:

What motivated you to participate in USI's academic mentoring programme?

The decision to participate in the mentoring programme stemmed from my conviction that it was crucial to engage with other professional women, particularly those who have experience in my academic field. I was looking for someone who could guide me and offer me insights into future opportunities I could pursue. Being in the first year of my PhD, I was feeling a bit lost and looking for someone who could offer me direction and share their experiences. Furthermore, I had heard about the shadowing programme, which sounded like an interesting opportunity, and I found that participation in mentoring was an essential step to access this experience. I therefore decided to seize this opportunity as a way to enrich my academic career.

How has mentoring influenced your PhD path and your professional growth?

Mentoring has had a significant impact on my PhD career, mainly thanks to my mentor, who works in the same field of research as me. Thanks to her, I had access to very useful resources for my work, such as articles, research tools and practical guidance that allowed me to strengthen my methodology. In addition, the practical advice I received helped me to better manage some daily difficulties.

Do you think the mentoring programme can contribute to making the university environment more supportive of women's academic careers?

The mentoring programme certainly offers very useful support to young female professionals, allowing them to learn from first-hand experiences. However, I believe that, although useful, an individual mentoring programme may not be sufficient to make the university environment inherently more supportive of women's careers. A broader and more lasting change would require a structural commitment, such as the creation of support networks and spaces where women can collectively engage with each other.

What would you advise a new PhD student considering joining the programme?

My advice would be to choose a mentor who represents a source of inspiration. The new PhD student should look for someone whose path is similar to the one she imagines for herself, so that she can learn from both the successes and challenges that person has faced. A mentor who works in a field of interest to the doctoral student or who has experience particularly relevant to her academic path could be of great help in providing practical guidance and advice that makes a difference.

Has this path influenced your future choices? Do you feel better prepared for academia (or for other careers)?

Personally, I still don't feel fully prepared for academia, but the mentoring programme has definitely provided me with useful tools and resources. Conversations with my mentor focused mainly on more technical and practical topics, such as managing teamwork and identifying the most useful resources in our field of research. These aspects are fundamental for professional growth, but I believe that a more complete preparation would require more targeted support on issues related to academic career management in a broader sense.

Is there anything you learnt through mentoring that you will take with you after your PhD?

One of the most important lessons I learnt is the importance of having the courage to ask for help and to approach people. Very often, people are willing to share their knowledge and offer you support, but you have to be proactive in starting that conversation.

If I were to recommend the programme to a new PhD student, what personal benefit would I underline?

The opportunity to talk freely to someone who is not working directly with you about any topic, not strictly professional. For example, advice on managing relationships with colleagues, taking care of one's mental health and maintaining a work-life balance.