Mentorship
I’ve been fortunate enough to have some great informal mentors over the course of my career. These people have lifted me up, set me on the right path and given me a kick up the ass when needed.
I’m now at a point in my career where my focus has firmly shifted towards helping others develop. This is both as a means of giving back some of the time and energy that others have given me, and because I find this to be the most rewarding part of my job.
By listening to feedback from students, colleagues and friends, I know that I can play a positive role in people’s development both academically and personally. I think a lot about what it means to be a mentor and how that meaning shifts and changes depending on the people involved in the process. I’m keenly aware of the need to find a significant resonance between the mentee and mentor, along with the level of effort required to develop that alignment into an effective relationship. This means that I’m very cautious about the formal mentoring I agree to engage in.
With that in mind, I currently offer mentoring (free of charge) in two ways…
Informal Discussions
If you’re familiar with my work and content, and you think I can help in some way that doesn’t require a more formal relationship, I’ll be happy to have a chat with you.
This might suit someone with questions about the various topics I have expertise within, or someone who is thinking about higher education or postgraduate study. I don’t think of this as ‘real’ mentoring. Often, all someone needs is a few pointers to guide them in the right ways.
If this sounds like something you’d benefit from, use the form below to get in touch.
Formal Six-month Mentorship
My aim is to help people develop academically as well as find structure, balance and direction.
I only offer mentorship to those who I think I can help in substantive ways to make sure the relationship is effective, so my service is particularly suited to those who have backgrounds similar to myself.
Are you a first generation undergraduate (your parents didn’t go to university) who wants to get the most out of their degree, but lacks understanding of what is expected and how to excel?
Do you come from a working-class or otherwise economically disadvantaged background?
Are you an early career researcher or academic who has struggled to find positive mentorship in the past?
Are you an early career researcher or academic who would like to develop strategic direction?
Are you an academic at any level who has struggled to find work—life balance?
Do you want to be a better teacher, communicator or public speaker?
While I’m happy to discuss potential mentorship with anyone, these questions reflect the people who I think my skills, personality and experiences will resonate with most.
To get a feel for the way I think about the world and provide advice, please take a look at some of my videos, as well as learn more about me, before getting in touch.
This service is free and open to three people at any one time.
Requesting formal mentorship involves an application and interview process so that I can provide the right level of personalised support.
Let’s talk about how mentorship could help you.
Study a PhD with Dr. Christopher R. Matthews
I specialise in conducting and supervising immersive research, but I’m keen to discuss various projects and research methods with prospective students as well.