Getting Started

Table of contents

  1. The Yale-Proxima Mentorship Program
  2. Timeline (illustrative and subject to change!)
  3. Workshops
  4. Mentorship
  5. Career Development
  6. Proxima Symposium
  7. Being a Scholar
    1. Expectations
    2. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. Get in touch

The Yale-Proxima Mentorship Program

is a virtual mentoring program for young Brazilians in the pursuit of knowledge and excellence in biological and biomedical sciences. Through interactive discussions, the program introduces students to critical thinking, practices, skills, and a network of researchers to contribute to their personal and professional development.

During a 10-month period (March-December), students participate in our program and are exposed to inspirational, informative, and empowering activities. The cohorts have around 30 Scholars, with access to workshops, career development meetings, and mentorship sessions.

The program is formed by 4 different components:

  1. Workshops
  2. Mentorship
  3. Career Development
  4. Proxima Symposium

Timeline (illustrative and subject to change!)

---
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---
gantt
    dateFormat MM-DD-YY
    axisFormat %B

    section Workshops
    W1     : wp1, 03-12-25, 10d
    W2     : wp2, 03-26-25, 10d
    W3     : wp3, 04-16-25, 10d
    W4     : wp4, 05-14-25, 10d
    W5     : wp5, 06-04-25, 10d
    W6     : wp6, 06-18-25, 10d
    W7     : wp7, 07-16-25, 10d
    W8     : wp8, 08-06-25, 10d
    W9     : wp9, 09-10-25, 10d
    W10    : wp10, 10-01-25, 10d
    W11    : wp11, 11-12-25, 10d
    W12    : wp12, 12-06-25, 10d
    W13    : wp13, 12-10-25, 10d

    section Mentorship
    M1     : mm1, 04-10-25, 14d
    M2     : mm2, 05-16-25, 14d
    M3     : mm3, 06-20-25, 14d
    M4     : mm4, 08-08-25, 14d
    M5     : mm5, 09-12-25, 14d
    M6     : mm6, 10-17-25, 14d
    M7     : mm7, 11-21-25, 14d

    section SoP Review
    Submission : sop1, 07-15-25, 08-15-25
    Feedback   : sop3, 09-01-25, 30d

Workshops

Wed, 6:00-7:30 pm EST, every ~4 weeks

The workshop series brings scientists and professors together to share experiences and discuss a diverse range of relevant topics. They take place on Wednesdays, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm (BRT), every two weeks.

The meetings occur in two different formats: round tables, during which students have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the invited speakers, and practical workshops, where concepts and skills are developed through activities proposed by the speakers.

During the workshops, Scholars and Associates are expected to participate actively. Additionally, each group of 3-4 Scholars will mediate one of the round-table workshops, guided by their mentors and the rest of the IP Team.

The meetings will be held on Zoom and will be recorded. Mentors will have access to all recordings.

The schedule with detailed information about each workshop will be shared in a separate document.

Read more

Mentorship

Flexible, every 4-6 weeks

Groups of 3-5 Scholars will be paired with a mentor according to their academic and professional interests. The mentors are Brazilian Ph.D. students and postdocs conducting research in international institutions, who will, in an informal setting, mediate discussions and exchange experiences with participants.

There will be a total of 7 group meetings with the mentors. We suggest they be scheduled on Saturdays, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM EST, every 4 to 6 weeks, via Zoom. The group meetings aim to provide a safe space to practice skills learned during workshops, work on topics relevant to each group of mentors and mentees, and bond with other Scholars.

In addition, at least two individual meetings with the mentor will occur throughout the year, during which Scholars can focus on any particular topic they find helpful for their personal or professional development.

Read more

Career Development

Personalized Schedule

In order to guide our students on how to better plan their careers, development sessions will be offered individually (according to the availability of the mentees) and in groups (schedule to be announced).

The sessions will be held by the instructor José Carlos Barreto Jr. Based on his experience, José develops projects for companies, groups, and individuals, focusing on strategies that lead to personal learning and change.

He has professional experience in projects involving team-building activities, personal development, coaching, classes, mediation, design thinking, and experiential lectures. He believes that interdisciplinary approaches are essential for developing successful projects.

Proxima Symposium

Every ~2 years

This international symposium will be held every two years in Brazil. It is the only in-person component of the program and aims to strengthen the community and promote interaction between students and established scientists from around the world.

Through this event, we hope to create a local culture of gathering Latin American students and motivated young investigators from renowned universities to discuss the current state-of-the-art work in the biomedical sciences. The interactive format of the seminars stimulates students who aim to pursue a career abroad to be in close contact with the speakers. We work particularly hard to match students and scientists to foster the education of young, talented Brazilian researchers abroad.

The first Proxima Symposium took place in 2023 for the classes of 2021 and 2022.

visit proximasymposium.com

Being a Scholar

Expectations

As a Scholar,

  • Attend at least 85% of all mandatory activities (workshops, career development, and mentorship sessions). This attendance is required to receive your certificate of completion. If you must miss a session, please notify us by email in advance.
  • Engage actively in all activities. This program is designed for you—make the most of it! :)
  • Keep your camera on. Seeing faces helps speakers get feedback and keeps sessions engaging. Please have your camera on whenever possible.
  • Check your Email/WhatsApp regularly. We’ll post important updates and opportunities there. Enable notifications on your phone or computer so you don’t miss anything.
  • Stay in touch. If you have any questions or concerns, let us know. We’re here to help!

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. I feel uncomfortable with my mentor or don’t think my mentor is a good fit. What can I do?

    Your comfort with your mentor is crucial for a successful mentorship. After groups are formed, you’ll have multiple opportunities—via feedback forms and check-in meetings with the IP Team—to raise any concerns. Depending on the situation, we can facilitate a conversation, adjust expectations, or reassign mentor-mentee pairings. The sooner you let us know, the faster we can help.

  2. Can I list my participation in this program on my CV/Lattes? Where does it belong?

    Absolutely! Please include it under the “Fellowships/Awards” section of your CV or Lattes profile.

  3. I had a personal issue and didn’t reach 85% attendance. Can I still get a certificate?

    Please inform the IP Team beforehand if you must miss any scheduled activity. We will work with you to find solutions and make up missed sessions. Late justifications, however, cannot be accepted. Certificates are only issued to scholars who meet the 85% attendance requirement.

  4. Will I receive a certificate from Yale University upon completion?

    No. Iniciativa Proxima is an independent organization supported by Yale University, but certificates are issued by Iniciativa Proxima, not Yale.

  5. I don’t want to mediate a workshop. Can I skip it?

    No. Workshop mediation is mandatory. You won’t have to do every task alone—your group can divide roles (researching speakers, drafting questions, organizing flow) so everyone contributes without shouldering the entire burden.

  6. I’m not planning to apply for a PhD. Must I still attend PhD-focused workshops?

    Yes. The core workshops teach transferable skills—essay writing, interviewing, presentation—that benefit any selective process. You can skip the optional personal-statement or reference-letter review sessions but not the core workshop content.

  7. Will this program help me get into Yale University?

    is independent of Yale’s admissions office and is not designed to boost acceptance rates. We do, however, help strengthen your application materials, and past participants have successfully gained admission to Yale and other top institutions.

  8. Can I request a reference letter from the program?

    Because the IP Team has limited direct contact with each student, we do not provide reference letters. Instead, we’re happy to help you and your advisors craft strong letters by sharing insights and feedback on your achievements.

  9. 9. Can I suggest additional topics for the curriculum?

    Absolutely! Your feedback is vital. If you feel a topic is missing, email us or reach out on Discord. We update the schedule regularly to include topics that benefit our students.

  10. Who can I contact for more questions?

Email us at contato@iniciativa-proxima.org or contact any IP Team member directly. See our team and their roles here: iniciativa-proxima.org/about.

Get in touch

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