The EPS Buddy System is an initiative of the EPS PhD Council where we’ll pair up experienced PhD candidates (senior buddies) with freshly arrived PhD candidates (junior buddies), so that the junior buddy can find support on academic and non-academic questions. The main purpose of this system is to help junior buddies find their footing in their new environment: a new department, new institution and new city all at the same time can be quite challenging! As a senior buddy, you should be available to your junior buddy and answer their questions, for that reason, we will always try to find pairs within the same institution. We do not expect you to be able to solve every single question a junior buddy may have, but it will be your task to direct them to adequate resources to solve their issues.

We encourage you to meet physically, and if you go for coffee or drinks, EPS will fund up to 25€ each time you do (for a maximum of three times a year). In order to get your money back send us an email (eps.phd.council@gmail.com) with a picture of your receipt and a bank account number and we’ll send the reimbursement to you.

If you are interested in becoming a junior or senior buddy, you can do so through this form.

If you have any questions or problems with the Buddy System, feel free to send an email to eps.phd.council@gmail.com with the subject “Buddy System”.