The program was initiated in July 2022 by Women In International Security Poland, with the generous support of Northrop Grumman Corporation.

The WIIS POLAND – NGC Women Mentoring Program 2022-2023 is addressed to female students and young graduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) of Polish universities who are interested in pursuing their future careers in the area of international security, defense and peace studies. The program will gather 10 talented female participants and 10 experienced mentors for a 12 months life-changing experience based on individual mentoring, skills-training sessions, study-visits and participation in the 2023 Warsaw Security Forum.

The program goal is to provide female participants with the tools and network required to successfully navigate the world of international security and defense, as well as overcome challenges faced by women in industry. The goal will be accomplished by connecting STEM female students and graduates with experienced mentors and role models through a total of 10 hours of individual mentoring sessions, as well as, helping the participants to overcome obstacles and gain the confidence to succeed, through a series of 3 in-person and online skills training sessions (including public speaking, women leadership, design thinking, etc.). The program will conclude with mentees and mentors participating in the 2023 Warsaw Security Forum.

Women Mentoring Program 2022-2023 is a full scholarship program, which covers programming and full board for all participants.

*The program does not cover travel costs of participants to live sessions and accommodation in Warsaw.

”Our mission is profoundly important: Advancing the role of women in the field of international peace and security will be one of the keys to advancing peace and security in our world in the 21st century.

Dr. Chantal de Jonge Oudraat • President, WIIS

Submit your application

Present your carrer goals

Choose your mentor

Attend trenning sessions

Become a female leader in STEM

The application process is highly competitive and is addressed to applicants meeting the following requirements:

  • Profile:

    • female students (undergraduate and graduate students and Ph.D. candidates) and young graduates of different fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM);

    • young female STEM professionals (0-3 years of experience).

  • Age: between 20-30 years old;

  • Language: English proficiency, at least B2 level (certificate not required); Polish

  • Application Process: Fill in the application form with personal questions and an opinion-based question & attaching the applicant’s CV;

  • Be fully committed to participate in all stages of the program;

  • Candidates will be selected based on the information provided in their online application form and a short online interview.

Documents need in application:

  • Resume (in English)

  • Letter of motivation (in English) (Please explain what is your motivation to participate in a mentoring program and what would be your expectations from engaging with a mentor. What goals would you like to set for yourself in the next 5 years.

  • Optional: Letter of Recommendation for Program (in English or Polish)

Participants:

Zuzanna holds a degree in law from the University of Warsaw and an LL.M. degree in international and environmental law from Berkeley Law, University of California. She was also a visiting student of comparative foreign policies and human rights at Columbia University in New York and European law at KU Leuven. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in climate change law at the University of Warsaw and a postgraduate student in climate science, energy, and sustainable development at the Warsaw School of Economics. Professionally, she works as an Environmental Specialist in topics of transboundary crime at Frontex, the executive agency of the European Commission. Furthermore, as part of her pro bono work, she is an educational mentor for Polish youth, supporting their applications to the world’s best universities at Our Future Foundation. Lastly, Zuzanna is a co-initiator and academic advisor to the Coopernicus.pl platform, affiliating Polish scientists and entrepreneurs to promote their research globally.

Julia Gertner graduated from University of Lodz with a Bachelor’s degree in history in the Faculty of Philosophy and History. Currently, she is a part of Master’s degree program at University of Lodz in history that is focused on specialized courses in history and skills a young researcher requires to continue their academic career.

During her education life, she worked as the President of the Students of History Associations, Students Research Grant Researcher and Ambassador at the Lodz University Promotion Center.

In addition to his Master’s education, she is currently a member of the International Students of History Association (ISHA).

Her research interest focus peacekeeping missions from the perspective of microhistory. She is passionate about oral history and women’s history.

Katarine Harutyunayn is a 23 years old young professional from Armenia. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Poland) in International Business Management with the specialization of International Business Relations. During her Bachelor studies she did a 1 year of Erasmus+ Exchange program at Tilburg University, Netherlands. After Bachelor studies, Katarine continued her education at European Academy of Diplomacy, Poland in the sphere of International Relations and International Security. Currently Katarine works in the sphere of business change management, and out of job continues to participate and volunteer to various political, diplomatic and security forums. Coming from a country that experienced and continues to experience war, Katarine is passionate about security and defence, as she advocates the opinion that well read women should be proactive in international security and bring peace to many regions on the globe.

Katarzyna Kurkiewicz is 20 years old. She is a student of the Military University of Technology in the field of state defense. She is also studying internal security at the WSB University. Her interests are in the area of international security and she wants to develop in this field. Also, she is a reserve soldier. Currently, she is the deputy chairman of the scientific circle “Strategy” and is in the Senate of the Military University of Technology. She was a scholarship holder of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship and now she has received a scholarship from the rector of the Military University of Technology for her academic achievements.

She is a graduate of the Military University of Technology in Warsaw. She completed my BEng and MSc degrees in aerospace engineering with honors and awards from the Rector of university for my both theses. She is currently developing my skills in systems engineering at the position of a designer at the PIT-RADWAR S.A. belonging to the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A.. Although my present work field concerns radio-electronic systems, her passion for unmanned aerial systems remained steady after studies. In her free time, she enjoy hiking, climbing, and traveling. She lead an active lifestyle and am also interested in dietetics, medicine, and healthy living.”.

Aleksandra Szczegielniak-Rekiel is a Ph. D. student at the Warsaw Military University of Technology.She has completed a bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Cybernetics department at the Warsaw Military University of Technology. She had an opportunity to study abroad at the University of Defence in Brno by participating in the Erasmus+ programme. Her scientific interests include practical application of cryptology.

Julia is a second year master’s student in the field of National Security at the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin. In 2021, she graduated from first-cycle studies with honors in the field of National Security. Her further scientific career is focused on undertaking education at the doctoral school. Julia’s main and biggest goal is to work as a pilot of an airliner. To this end, she has taken another educational path in the form of aviation training to achieve the goal. Julia is the author of many scientific articles published in monographs and scientific journals, the subject of which is related to security and aviation. She is currently working on a book describing selected areas of the functioning of the aviation sector in Poland. In 2019, she completed a theoretical and practical preparation course in the field of shooting training, related to the protection of people and property, for persons applying for entry on the list of qualified security personnel. Since 2021, Julia has also been the president of the Scientific Circle of National Security Students.

Aleksandra Szymczak is a computer science student, who wants to gain more practical knowledge about her major. Her main interests are programing and databases. She wishes to develop in these fields and she is ready to take action. She did courses on programing (especially C and C++) and databases (Oracle). Currently she is finishing course on MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Word), in the meantime, she participates in Google Cloud course provided by Google.

She had worked in P&G in Artificial Intelligence Team in DATA & ANALYTICS department. She was engaged in project which included single-criteria optimization and machine learning. Her main task was to write SQLs and understand ETL part of project. She was engaged in Google conferences about issues that P&G were facing with Kubernetes. Last summer she had a pleasure to work in P&G as an intern in Data and Analytics department.

She is 20 years old. She has corporal rank. She is from a small village next to Poznań in Wielkopolska. She is an officer-cadet at the Military University of Technology. She is in her second year at the faculty of Mechatronics and Aerospace. Her field of studies is avionics.

Program timetable:

Call for Applications

List of Mentees and Mentors Announced

First In-Person Session

Study visit to Northrop Grumman Warsaw

Individual Mentoring Kick-Off

  • Goals settings

  • Calendar of in-pair meetings

Online/offline 2-hour sessions with a dedicated mentor.

Skills and Competencies Training session (online)

Skills and Competencies Training session in Warsaw (in person)

Summary sessions and evaluation (online)

Participation in the 2023 Warsaw Security Forum

Graduation Ceremony of the Women Mentoring Program 2022-2023

The project is organized thanks to the support of
Northrop Grumman

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