SIGNALS Summer Mentorship Program 2025

Empowering the next generation of interdisciplinary leaders in sustainable energy and environmental policy.

Please fill out the form to register for the program:

2025 SIGNALS Mentorship Summer Program Mentors Pamphlet

2025 SIGNALS Mentorship Summer Program Mentees Pamphlet

What is the Program?

The SIGNALS Summer Mentorship Program connects 杏吧原创 graduate students and recent alumni with professionals in sustainable energy and environmental sectors. Designed to be low-barrier and flexible, the program supports career exploration, skill development, and meaningful networking.

This program runs May鈥揝eptember 2025, offering 1-on-1 mentorship tailored to each participant’s goals and availability.

Who Can Participate?

Mentees:

杏吧原创 students or recent grads (within the last 2 years) in:

  • MASc/MEng in Sustainable Energy
  • MPP in Sustainable Energy & Environment
  • MPPA (with at least 1 energy or environment elective)

Mentors:

Professionals (at least 2-3 years of experience)听 in sustainability-related roles (public policy, engineering, academia, clean tech, etc.) who want to give back and support new professionals and students in the field.

What You Will Gain

For Mentees:

  • Real talk: career pathways, industry insights, resume help
  • Confidence to navigate post-grad life
  • Expanded networks and clearer direction

For Mentors:

  • Grow your own career by building leadership and coaching skills.
  • Support the next generation of leaders get through a rocky time.
  • Recruit potential employees with access to new talent.
  • Join a community of professionals in the field and broaden your network.

Time Commitment

Core Expectations:

  • 1 meeting/month (~45鈥60 min) from May to September
  • Minimum of 4鈥6 meetings total
  • Attend at least 1 program event (orientation, panel, or closing)

Optional Activities:

  • Skill-building workshops, panels, and BBQ events in September.
  • Monthly resources and check-ins from the SIGNALS team.

Meetings can be virtual or in-person鈥攊t’s up to you.

Dates

Milestone Date
Registration Opens April 14, 2025
Registration Closes April 29, 2025
Pairing Period April 29 鈥 May 4, 2025
Orientation & Kick-off Week of May 7, 2025
End of the mentorship program Week of Sept 9, 2025

Resources to consult听

Questions for mentees:

  • What do you want to get out of this relationship?
  • What are your expectations for this relationship?
  • How can your mentor help you reach your goals?
  • What can you contribute to the relationship?

Helpful links:听

  • Article on 鈥淗ow to be a great mentee鈥: .听
  • Article on 鈥淲hat mentors wish their mentees knew鈥:听
  • .听
  • Document on 鈥淒o鈥檚 and Don鈥檛s for Mentors and Mentees:鈥

How to be a good mentor:

  • Communication is key. Make sure that you are communicating with your mentee and that you are taking the time to get to know each other.听
  • Establish expectations. What are you able to offer your mentee and what do each of you want to get out of this relationship?
  • Work with the mentee to create a plan. Mentoring is about guiding and empowering, not directing.听

Helpful links:听

  • Article on 鈥淢entoring for the first time – 14 tips to start off on the right foot鈥: .听
  • Document on 鈥淒o鈥檚 and Don鈥檛s for Mentors and Mentees:鈥