IEEE Young Researchers Café January 2026 Edition

The IEEE Young Researchers Café returns in January with its first 2026 edition, inviting PhD students, early-career researchers, and young professionals from TalTech and beyond to an informal, drop-in discussion.
Following the autumn launch of the Café series, this session will focus on mentoring—exploring whether it is needed, what gaps it could fill beyond formal supervision, and what forms of mentoring would be most valuable for early-stage researchers.
The event will start with a short (~10-minute) introduction, followed by an open, free-form discussion in a relaxed setting with cake and coffee. A short survey at the end will help capture participants’ views on mentoring needs and expectations.
Agenda:
We’ll discuss:
Do early-career researchers want or need mentoring?
What gaps could mentoring address that are not currently covered?
What types of mentoring matter most (research, career development, industry/entrepreneurship, coaching)?
How does mentoring fit alongside formal supervision?
Room: U02-208, Tallinn, Estonia, Estonia