FERN2026 MENTORING STRATEGY

This Concept draws heavily from previous AMPs  developed by Amos Laar for the African Nutrition Society.

PURPOSE
To create an inclusive mentoring pathway that improves the quality of conference participation, expands professional networks, and strengthens the next generation of African nutrition researchers
STRATEGIC APPROACH

The Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN) will deliver two related mentoring components at FERN2026:

  1. An Abstract Mentoring Programme - before the conference;
  2. A "Meet The Mentors" session - during the conference;

Together, they support participants from abstract development through conference engagement and longer-term professional growth.

OBJECTIVES
  • Improve the scientific clarity, methodology and readiness of abstracts submitted by students and early-career researchers.
  • Create equitable access to seasoned African and international experts.
  • Build a FERN mentoring community that can continue beyond the conference.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Principle Application
Developmental Mentoring improves the work and the researcher; it does not predict or influence acceptance.
Equity and inclusion Proactive access for ECRs.
Clarity and accountability Defined roles, timely feedback on abstract for a two-staged abstract submission process
Confidentiality and integrity Unpublished work is protected; conflicts of interest are declared and managed.
Reciprocity Mentors guide and listen; mentees prepare, respond and contribute to the community.
COMPONENT ONE: ABSTRACT MENTORING PROGRAMME

A structured, pre-submission service through which students, early-career researchers and other researchers who need to use the service, receive developmental feedback from an experienced mentor.

This initiative draws from a model previously developed by Amos Laar, and used by the African Nutrition Society.

Eligibility and scope

  • Priority: students, early-career researchers (normally within 10 years of their highest degree) and researchers with limited access to scientific writing mentorship.
  • Drafts must follow the current FERN2026 abstract guidelines and be sufficiently complete for substantive review.
  • Each participant may submit one abstract twice (initial review plus revised review), or two different abstracts once each, subject to mentor capacity.

How it works

  1. FERN recruits mentors for each conference track and provides a short orientation to the mentors on the review process, the review/feedback rubric, confidentiality statement, anonymity, and conflict-of-interest declaration.
  2. Applicants submit a first compliant abstract draft, which may include questions about tracks, career stage disclosure, and mentoring needs.
  3. Submission of the first draft is done through the designated FERN abstract submission portal OR via email fern@ug.edu.gh (preferred).
  4. The FERN Secretariat will then screen submissions and match your first abstract to a mentor by subject expertise and absence of conflicts of interest.
  5. Mentors return feedback within 7 days using the standard rubric.
  6. Mentees revise and independently submit a second cleaned abstract through the designated submission portal ONLY this time.
  7. This process does not guarantee acceptance, and reviewers remain anonymous.
MENTOR FEEDBACK RUBRIC
Review area Key questions
Fit and title Is the track appropriate? Does the title accurately and succinctly reflect the work?
Structure and coherence Does the abstract follow the required format? Do the sections form a clear, logical account?
Rationale and objective Is the problem important and is the objective specific and aligned with the study?
Methods Are design, setting, sample, measures and analysis appropriate and adequately described?
Results Are the principal findings specific, accurate and aligned with the methods and objective?
Conclusion and contribution Are conclusions supported by results? Is the relevance or value to nutrition science, policy or practice clear?
Language and presentation Is the writing concise, accessible, technically correct and within the word limit?
Note- Mentors may suggest and illustrate improvements but will not rewrite the abstract, promise acceptance, or act as reviewers for abstracts they have mentored. MENTORS must not indicate whether they think an abstract is likely to be selected for the conference.

Mentors, download your editable copy here.

COMPONENT TWO: MEET THE MENTORS SESSION - DURING THE CONFERENCE

Students and early-career researchers meet seasoned experts at FERN2026. An informal, facilitated, small-group networking session that makes senior expertise approachable and gives emerging researchers practical guidance on careers, collaboration and navigating scientific conferences.

Proposed format

Element Design
Timing 75 minutes on the first or second conference morning;
Participants Approximately 10 to 20 mentees and about 10 mentors
Selection Open to whoever  is available and comes. No prior expression of interest or registration required.
Mentor mix Senior researchers, policymakers, practitioners, journal editors and research funders, with gender, disciplinary, linguistic and regional diversity.
Themes that may be discussed Research careers; publishing and peer review; policy impact; grants and collaboration; leadership and work-life integration.
Method Conversational and may be structured or unstructured.

Run of session

  • Welcome, purpose, psychological safety and ground rules - 5 minutes.
  • Round 1: introductions and themed discussion - 60 minutes.
  • Optional personal action commitments - 10 minutes.