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  • CAREER COLUMN

You’ve heard of mentorship in science, but what about sponsorship?

Senior academics need to understand how the two differ, and how sponsorship can promote diversity in research.
  1. Christine Parsons

    1. Christine Parsons is an associate professor and director of the Interacting Minds Centre, School of Culture and Society and department of clinical medicine at Aarhus University, Denmark.

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  2. Pat O’Connor

    1. Pat O’Connor is an emeritus professor of sociology and social policy at the University of Limerick, Ireland, and a visiting professor at the Geary Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland.

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We all recognize the benefits of mentorship, having someone to guide us through the complex world of academia and other sectors. Mentors provide advice and insights from their own careers and experiences. And outstanding mentorship is celebrated. Nature launched an award for this in 2005.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00123-z

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged.

References

  1. Ibarra, H., Carter, N. M. & Silva, C. Harv. Bus. Rev. 88, 80–85 (2010).

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  2. O’Connor, P. et al. High. Educ. Res. Dev. 39, 764–777 (2020).

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  3. Van Den Brink, M. & Benschop, Y. Organization 19, 507–524 (2012).

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