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Top Minds

A training and mentoring program for students and doctoral candidates offering individual mentoring, workshops and expert panels to support academic career development.

Who is it for?

Students and doctoral candidates at the start of their academic careers

About the program

TopMinds is a mentoring program aimed at students and doctoral candidates who stand out academically and seek support in planning their career path both nationally and internationally. The program combines individual mentoring with a series of workshops, trainings and expert panels, focusing on both substantive knowledge and soft skills.

What the program offers

Individual mentoring: regular meetings with experienced researchers and experts to discuss current challenges and plan professional development;
Trainings and workshops: sessions developing competencies essential for an academic career, such as building a personal brand, science communication, coping with setbacks and stress management;
Panels and good practices: exchange of experiences with experts from various scientific and cultural fields;
Network building: opportunities to establish relationships with peers and representatives of academic communities and research institutions.

Who it's for

The program is aimed at early-career researchers who want to deliberately plan their scientific development, gain practical skills and expand their professional network.

Benefits and outcomes

Participation in TopMinds provides not only access to knowledge but also support in building confidence and key competencies needed to operate within academia and beyond. Participants report tangible support in overcoming barriers (e.g., fear of public speaking), planning an international career, and developing new research initiatives and collaborations.

Organizers and cooperation

The program was initiated by the Top500 Innovators Association and the Polish‑American Fulbright Commission. TopMinds also cooperates with universities and research institutes, which strengthens its training and networking offer.

To date several editions have taken place, benefiting nearly 250 young participants and their mentors, which demonstrates its established position among young researchers.