Mentoring Programme

The MeDiTwin Mentorship Programme is part of the project’s capacity-building activities, designed to strengthen the scientific and technical expertise of researchers at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) through knowledge exchange and collaboration with leading European research institutions.

The programme brings together researchers and experts from MeDiTwin’s partner institutions — the University of Valencia (UVEG), the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPG), and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) — alongside NTUA researchers, providing opportunities for personalised guidance, scientific discussions, and collaborative learning.

Through individual mentoring sessions, research visits, specialised training, and scientific challenges, the programme supports the development of research skills, the exchange of methodological expertise, and the establishment of long-term scientific collaborations.

Programme Objectives

The mentorship programme aims to:

• The MeDiTwin Mentorship Programme aims to:
• Strengthen scientific and technical capacities in Earth observation, artificial intelligence, and Earth system sciences.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer between NTUA and its advanced partner institutions.
• Provide personalised scientific guidance and support for early-career researchers.
• Encourage collaborative research activities, joint publications, and new research opportunities.
• Foster sustainable scientific relationships across the MeDiTwin research network.

Mentoring Activities

1. Individual Research Mentoring

Five NTUA researchers have participated in individual one-to-one mentoring activities with researchers from the University of Valencia (UVEG).

The mentoring is organised through regular online meetings, providing opportunities to discuss specific research topics, address scientific and methodological challenges, exchange expertise, and explore opportunities for joint research and publications.

The sessions are tailored to the research interests and development needs of each participant, supporting personalised knowledge transfer and research capacity development.

2. Scientific Training and Mentoring

As part of the first cycle of MeDiTwin’s capacity-building activities, NTUA PhD students participated in an onsite training session on Intelligent Earth and Earth system science, delivered by Prof. Gustau Camps-Valls from the University of Valencia.

The session provided opportunities for scientific exchange and methodological guidance, supporting the development of expertise in artificial intelligence and its applications to Earth system research.

Screenshot from video of the intelligent Earth Training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yveYpkA8jIw&t=4s

3. Mentoring During Research Visits

Research visits to MeDiTwin partner institutions provide additional opportunities for in-person mentoring, knowledge exchange, and scientific collaboration.

During these visits, NTUA researchers work closely with experts from the host institutions, receiving topic-specific guidance, addressing research challenges, and exploring methodological approaches relevant to their work.

As part of these activities, Nikolaos Papadopoulos (NTUA) visited the University of Valencia (UVEG) to work closely with Marta Sapena (UVEG), facilitating direct scientific exchange and collaboration on their research activities.

4. Scientific Challenge Mentoring

MeDiTwin also promotes collaborative learning through scientific challenges, where researchers and experts provide guidance and technical support to participants working on research problems. Challenge mentors support participants through scientific discussions, methodological advice, and feedback, helping them explore innovative approaches and develop practical research skills.

Scientific Challenge Mentors during ELLIS Winter School 2026 in Athens

National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

• Nikolaos Papadopoulos
• Angelos Zavras
• Nikolaos-Ioannis Bountos

University of Valencia (UVEG)

• Marta Sapena
• Homer Durand
• Emiliano Díaz Salas-Porras
• Nathan Mankovich

Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPG)

• Vitus Benson
• Alexander Winkler
• Xu Shan
• Reda El Ghawi
• Sujan Koirala

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)

• Mohanad Albughdadi