About WARESA CIRET
The WARESA Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Training (CIRET) is committed to advancing research excellence through interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and capacity building. Our publication mentorship programme seeks to empower scholars from Africa and the African diaspora by providing the guidance, support, and academic networks needed to publish impactful research and contribute to global knowledge
Call for Volunteer Mentors
Empowering the Next Generation of African Scholars Through Research and Publication
The WARESA Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Training (CIRET) is pleased to invite experienced academics, researchers, and professionals to join our Volunteer Mentor Network.
Through this initiative, CIRET seeks to strengthen research capacity and increase the publication success of students and early-career researchers from Africa and of African descent by providing mentorship throughout the academic publishing process.
Many talented researchers face barriers to publishing in reputable international journals due to limited access to mentorship, publication guidance, and global academic networks. By sharing your expertise, you can help bridge this gap and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable global research community.
Who Can Apply?
We welcome applications from individuals who:
- Hold a PhD or equivalent research qualification.
- Have a strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals (Scopus, Web of Science, SSCI, SCI, or equivalent).
- Have experience supervising graduate students or mentoring researchers.
- Are committed to supporting emerging scholars through constructive guidance and professional mentorship.
- Have expertise in any academic discipline, including but not limited to:
- Business and Management
- Education
- Law
- Public Health
- Medicine
- Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Agriculture
- Environmental Sciences
- Economics
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Interdisciplinary Research
Mentor Responsibilities
Volunteer mentors will:
- Mentor one or more students or early-career researchers.
- Provide constructive feedback on research manuscripts.
- Guide mentees in improving academic writing and research quality.
- Advise on selecting appropriate journals for publication.
- Support mentees in responding to reviewers’ comments and navigating the publication process.
- Meet with mentees virtually, as mutually agreed, throughout the mentoring period.
The expected time commitment is approximately 2–4 hours per month over a period of three to six months.
Why Become a Mentor?
As a mentor, you will:
- Help increase the visibility of research produced by scholars from Africa and the African diaspora.
- Contribute to strengthening research capacity and academic excellence.
- Support equitable access to international scholarly publishing.
- Join an international network of researchers committed to interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Receive a Certificate of Appreciation from WARESA CIRET in recognition of your service.
- Be acknowledged as a valued member of the WARESA CIRET Mentor Network.
Volunteer Basis
This is a volunteer mentoring opportunity. Mentors generously contribute their time, knowledge, and experience to support the professional development of emerging researchers. No financial remuneration or honorarium will be provided.
How to Apply
Interested individuals are invited to submit:
- A current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A brief statement of interest outlining their motivation for serving as a mentor
Applications should be sent to:
Application deadline: 25 August 2026
Join Us
By becoming a WARESA CIRET mentor, you will help shape the future of research by empowering talented scholars to publish, collaborate internationally, and contribute meaningful knowledge to society.
Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and globally connected research community.
WARESA Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Training (CIRET)
Call for Mentees
Empowering the Next Generation of African Scholars Through Research and Publication
The WARESA Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Training (CIRET) is pleased to invite Bachelor’s students, Master’s students, PhD candidates, early-career researchers, and junior faculty members from Africa and of African descent to apply for its Research Publication Mentorship Programme.
This initiative is designed to strengthen research capacity by providing personalized mentorship to help participants transform their research into high-quality manuscripts suitable for publication in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
Through this programme, selected mentees will receive guidance from experienced researchers and academics who will support them throughout the publication process—from manuscript preparation to journal selection and responding to reviewers’ comments.
Our vision is to increase the visibility, quality, and global impact of research produced by African scholars while fostering a collaborative international research community.
Current Mentorship Areas
WARESA CIRET currently has five (5) volunteer mentors with expertise in the following research fields:
🌱 Climate-Smart Agriculture
- Soil Fertility
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
⛏️ Mining Engineering
- Sustainability
- Rock Blasting
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Machine Learning (ML)
📦 Business and Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Logistics
- Marketing
💻 Computer Science
- Cryptography
- Blockchain
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cybersecurity
🏥 Public Health
- Employee Well-being
- Health Workforce
- Occupational Health
Applicants from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.
While the above represent our current mentorship areas, WARESA CIRET’s leadership is actively recruiting additional mentors across a wide range of disciplines. Applicants whose research falls outside these fields are encouraged to apply and will be considered for mentorship as our network continues to expand.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are welcome from:
- Bachelor’s students (preferably final-year students with a research project or thesis)
- Master’s students
- PhD candidates
- Early-career researchers
- Junior faculty members
Applicants should:
- Have completed or nearly completed a research project, thesis, dissertation, capstone project, or study that can be developed into a journal manuscript.
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to academic publishing and research excellence.
- Be willing to actively engage with mentors and implement constructive feedback throughout the programme.
- Commit sufficient time to complete assigned tasks and meet agreed timelines.
Selection Process and Probationary Period
Admission to the programme is competitive, and placement is based on the availability of mentors and the quality and readiness of the applicant’s research.
Successful applicants will initially undergo a probationary period during which they will be expected to demonstrate:
- Commitment to the mentoring programme.
- Active participation in mentoring meetings.
- Timely completion of assigned tasks.
- Responsiveness to mentor feedback.
- Continuous progress in developing their manuscript.
Only participants who successfully complete the probationary period and meet the programme’s expectations will continue to receive mentorship.
Applicants who do not demonstrate adequate commitment, professionalism, or progress may be withdrawn from the programme to allow opportunities for other deserving researchers.
Benefits of the Programme
Selected mentees will receive:
- Individual mentorship from experienced researchers.
- Guidance on academic writing and manuscript preparation.
- Advice on selecting appropriate peer-reviewed journals.
- Support in responding to reviewers’ comments.
- Improved research and scientific writing skills.
- Increased opportunities to publish in reputable international journals.
- Access to WARESA CIRET’s growing international research network.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit the following:
- A current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A brief Statement of Interest (maximum 300 words) describing:
- Their research topic.
- The current stage of their research or manuscript.
- Their publication goals.
- Why they wish to join the mentorship programme.
Applications should be sent to:
Application Deadline: 25 August 2026