TIM 2025 opens for applications on 24th November 2024

What is the Trust and Identity Mentorship Programme (TIM)?

The Trust and Identity Incubator Mentorship Programme (TIM) is an exciting initiative that brings together ambitious young minds with industry experts to develop innovative solutions in trust and identity (T&I). The programme aims to develop the next generation of T&I researchers and explore innovative new T&I concepts, products and services.

The TIM Programme is a seven-month paid mentorship funded by the GÉANT GN5-2 project (which is supported by the European Commission and GÉANT's member NRENs). It is developed for young professionals with a passion for T&I who are studying, (or are recent graduates of), computer science, engineering or a related field.

To fine out more and discover how the TIM programme can benefit your organisation please visit https://community.geant.org/trust-and-identity-mentorship/

or get in touch via the contact form.

TIM 2025 opens for applications on 24th November 2024

Benefits for students and young professionals

The Trust and Identity Incubator Mentorship Programme offers a fantastic opportunity to develop an innovative project on a European scale, guided by industry experts.

TIM presents a unique chance for learning and professional growth, including:

  •  A paid professional mentorship (which can be combined with thesis writing).

  •  Collaboration with an international team of trust and identity experts.

  •  Support from a local mentor.

  •  Training and skills development, including public speaking.

  •  Professional networking opportunities.

ts nd mentors both receive compensation for their time working in the incubator, and the process of reimbursements is defined under the financial rules of the GÉANT GN5.2 proje

Benefits for NRENs (National Research & Education Networks)

TIM enables NRENs to build local trust and identity expertise, learn from experienced SMEs, develop new products and services, and potentially expand their service portfolios. It also strengthens relationships with member institutions and connects with the next generation of talent.

To be eligible to participate, NRENs must:

  •  Be a member of the GÉANT GN5.2 project.

  •  Provide a mentor to support the participant. The mentor should commit half to one day per week over the seven month period. (Time will be reimbursed).

  •  Facilitate and administer a paid mentorship. (Per local HR and legal requirements).

TIM 2023 Team

TIM application process

 NRENs promote the programme to their member universities and research institutions and identify candidates.

Alternatively, students and young professionals can message here to be connected to their local NREN.

The student's local NREN will review their proposal and identify a local mentor.

 Applications are submitted via the online form.


Applications should include:

  •  Student’s CV.

  •  Student’s motivation letter.

  •  Sponsoring NREN’s motivation letter.

TIM 25 Application deadline
24th January 2025

 Send your application directly before the deadline to glad@geant.org

Technical Areas

Identity and Access Management

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is about creating and managing digital identity for users, which can be used to represent a person in the digital world. Using state-of-the-art authentication and authorization methods ensures that only the owner can access his identity and only the entitled can access a resource.

In this area, it is all about Identity Providers, Identity Federation, Service Providers and Discovery Services. Your project may improve existing software solutions or create new applications for a global community.

Standards and Protocols

Building on top of existing infrastructure and applications, Standards and Protocols is about creating new ways to for applications and users to communicate.
This area is all about protocols and standards used or being developed in the global Trust and Identity community, such as Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) and Open ID Connect (OIDC).  These will be used to integrate new capabilities in an already existing large infrastructure.

Security and Privacy

Security is an integral part of most applications and infrastructures. Ensuring data protection, privacy and safety by using measures like encryption and cryptography is essential.

In this area, you may investigate, test and integrate new security features in existing Trust & Identity applications or to create new services that help secure our community, i.e working on multi factor authentication or HSM technologies.

 


Schedule  

TIM Programme  

27 March 2024

Application deadline 

April 2024

TIM selection committee reviews the application topic and candidate and notifies NRENs of the outcome of their application.

Once accepted, the NREN sets up an internship agreement with the TIM participant and ensures they are onboarded and ready to participate in the TIM programme. During this time the NREN will arrange a meeting for GLAD to introduce the student to the range of available learning opportunities.

7 - 8 May 2024

Kick-off meeting for the next incubator cycle. TIM participants meet the Incubator team face to face and plan their work for the coming months.

13 May 2024

Start of the Incubator cycle

20 December 2024

End of the incubator cycle and TIM programme.



T&I Infoshare

Find out more about the T&I Incubator, topics etc.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjTBafPtgMc

Promotion materials  


TIM 2024 Flyer


To help NRENs promote the programme and recruit participants we have available the following materials :

  • TIM logo files
  • Email Banner
  • Boilerplate text targeted to students (from NRENs to students)
  • Presentation slides targeted to NRENs/mentors

Download materials

News Articles

Also, feel free to use words and copy from news items we create in different places to promote the programme:


Trust & Identity Incubator Mentorship programme returns for 2024

February 2024 - Connect online

Trust & Identity Incubator Mentorship Programme is back for 2023!

June, 2023- Connect online

Trust & Identity Incubator Mentorship programme – Deadline for applications extended to 23rd May..
May, 2022- Connect online 

Call for submissions for the Trust and Identity Incubator closes shortly
April, 2022- Connect online

Trust and Identity Mentorship Programme – Call for Applicants closes 5th September
Aug, 2021- Connect online

Students appointed to 3rd TIM Programme
March, 2021- GLAD online

Experiences from the first T&I Incubator Mentorship (TIM) programme  
Nov, 2020- Connect online

GÉANT internships through TIM (Trust and Identity Mentorship) Programme 

April 10, 2020, GLAD website

Let’s talk about the Trust & Identity Mentorship Programme

30th Aug 2019, CONNECT online

Brighten the future of Trust & Identity

21st June 2019, CONNECT online

Frequently Asked Questions

TIM programme is a mentorship programme. It aims to advance participants' careers and professional skills through collaborative, creative work on real-life projects. TIM participants (mentees) join the T&I Incubator team (mentors) and work hand-in-hand with them on the current, live T&I projects. This creative and dynamic context allows participants to develop their expertise in the T&I field and advance their interpersonal skills, such as communication and influencing.

To reinforce and support the participants’ learning, GLAD team will offer Agile/SCRUM and Communication skills training. There will also be a local mentor to assist participants on their learning journey. ‘Learning by doing’ represents the underlying ethos of the programme, therefore a proactive attitude and growth mindset are an absolute must. 

Any early career candidate nominated by a GÉANT Project NREN partner registered at a university or college in a GÉANT partner country or working in the NREN community.

Participation is through a paid internship at the hosting NREN.  The host NREN will claim manpower from the GEANT project and pay the trainee.

Depending on the number of  candidates in the programme, maximum of 1 candidate per NREN.

Ideal candidates are l BA, Master and PhD level students in their final year of study in Computer Science, Engineering or other Technology fields within computer networks.  They will be willing to commit time and energy to learn and develop themselves beyond their University study programme.


The Trust & Identity Incubator addresses different topics in different work areas that are announced before each new cycle. NRENs can get involved in the topics that interest them. See also TIM Technical Areas.

A seven months professional internship requires time and dedication and interest from all parties involved. Motivation is essential both for the student and the NREN.  After a positive review, the T&I selection Committee will invite the hosting NREN together with their candidate for an interview to complete the recruitment.   

A complete application includes a motivation letter of the hosting NREN and the candidate's motivation letter and CV. Send this to glad@geant.org.  

Your role as a mentor is to engage with your protege and provide encouragement and advice during the programme and related events.  You can find more info on the mentor role in the NREN mentorship presentation slides available in TIM Resources Package ( for NRENs)

Have a different question? 
Email: glad@geant.org or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.