Applications Now Open: Peer mentoring to bridge the gap between ‘Bytes and Bench’
Calling all UK based post-docs interested in data science in biomedical research! Do you want to expand your network across disciplines and connect with your peers across the UK? If so, applications are now open to join the INTEGRATE ‘Bytes & Bench’ Mentoring Scheme Pilot.
Whether you’re a data scientist curious about how datasets are generated in the lab, or a biomedical researcher wanting to ask about the basics of how AI models work, peer mentoring can be a fantastic opportunity to understand and explore different approaches in an open and supportive environment. The 'Bytes & Bench' peer-mentoring scheme is part of the INTEGRATE project which aims to pilot and evaluate initiatives designed to encourage, support and reward data scientists, to drive better collaboration across UK biomedical science and embed a supportive and sustainable culture that fully includes all data scientists.
Dr Charlotte George, University of Oxford and long-time BSN member, is part of the initiative and said:
As an endocrinolgy researcher myself know how helpful a peer-mentoring programme connecting me with a computational researcher would have been in my early career.
What’s in it for you?
- Gain cross-disciplinary fluency – learn to speak both ‘lab’ and ‘data science’.
- Safe space for genuine curiosity - Ask the essential questions you've always wondered about with supportive expert peers who welcome your curiosity about the basics they take for granted.
- Build connections with those who could become your future collaborators.
- Take the time to reflect on where you want to take your career alongside peers who understand your pressures.
- Swap your survival tips for dealing with the ups and downs of researcher life.
- Gain experience from those in different institutes from across the UK.
Whether you are a freshly minted post-doc or already have a wealth of experience, this scheme is for anyone curious to learn from peers at similar stages with different expertise. INTEGRATE particularly welcome those from non-traditional career paths and backgrounds and those from underrepresented groups in academia.
About the Scheme
This scheme and workshops are being held as part of a research study to help the INTEGRATE team gather evidence of what helps to support post-doctoral careers to inform funding and institutional policies. The pilot scheme will run fully online for a 6-month period and participants will be matched in groups of 3 by facilitators based on preferences, career stages and biographies described in the application form. Participants will be able to see biographies and submit their preferences prior to matching, and mentoring coordinators will endeavor to accommodate preferences wherever possible. The scheme will be complimented by three workshops bringing together all participants at the beginning, middle and end to help support you with the process, and to provide the opportunity to connect and build a cohort with other scheme participants.
Key Dates
- Applications Open 8th Jan 2026 – 2nd March 2026
- Welcome meeting 18th March 2026
- Mid-point workshop 24th June 2026
- Final workshop 7th October 2026
Interested?
Fill in the application form or contact integrate@imm.ox.ac.uk for more information.
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Ethical approval for this study was granted by the University of Oxford Medical Sciences Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee (MS IDREC) - Reference 1679349
