RobustTracks is GreenRobust’s dedicated career program for early-career researchers — doctoral researchers, postdocs, junior group leaders, and junior professors. It’s coordinated by a dedicated Career Officer and builds on top of the strong support structures already in place at the three partner universities.

At its core is a mentoring scheme that pairs every early-career researcher with a more senior cluster member from outside their own group, giving them an independent sounding board for career questions and life in academia. Mentors receive professional coaching to make sure these relationships are genuinely useful.

RobustTracks also runs the practical training program: Onboarding Days for new members, short courses on plant robustness, key methods, and ecology, and annual Ideas Workshops where researchers develop new collaborations and proposals. Doctoral researchers complete a structured curriculum worth 15 ECTS, combining GreenRobust-specific training with broader skills like scientific communication and research ethics. Postdocs get dedicated support for the step toward scientific independence, including strategy sessions for grant applications such as ERC Starting Grants.

The program also opens doors beyond the lab: workshops on knowledge transfer with university Transfer Offices, entrepreneurial skills training, and opportunities to mentor inPLANT Master’s students — helping researchers build the experience and network they need for their next career step, in or outside academia.