Category: ECR Community Fund

Finding calm and connection through pottery painting: ECR Community Fund – DIDE PhD Student Social Pottery

by Kate Turpie, PhD Student, School of Public Health

On Tuesday 5 May 2026, students from the Department of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology (DIDE) gathered for a wellbeing-focused pottery painting social. The two-hour session invited PhD students to step away from their research and enjoy an evening of creativity, conversation, and relaxation together.

Hosted at a local pottery studio, the event gave students the opportunity to paint and personalise their own pottery pieces, which would later be glazed and fired in the kiln to take home. Alongside light snacks and lemonade, the session created a calm and welcoming atmosphere where students could connect outside of their usual academic environment.

The aim of the social was to encourage students across DIDE to network and bond over the shared experiences of the PhD journey. For many of us, it was also a valuable opportunity to pause, unwind, and spend time engaging in something entirely different from our everyday research work.

Although I had tried pottery before, I had never experienced it in a social setting. Walking into the studio, I was immediately drawn to the wide variety of pottery pieces lining the shelves. There were traditional plates and bowls, but also more unique and artistic pieces, including elegant vases shaped like human heads, panda-shaped ornaments, and owl mugs. The collection felt both creative and playful, and it took me quite a while to decide what to paint. In the end, I chose a simple plate, thinking it would be the most practical piece for me to use during lunch breaks at the department.

 

Once everyone settled around the table, the atmosphere quickly became calm and comforting. Conversations flowed naturally while everyone focused on painting their pottery. After spending most days immersed in mathematical models, research papers, and screens, it was refreshing to concentrate on something entirely creative. The quiet sounds of paint pots opening, brushes gliding across ceramic surfaces, and occasional laughter created a peaceful environment that felt very different from the intensity of everyday PhD life.

 

What I enjoyed most was how naturally the activity encouraged connection. Without the pressure of formal networking or academic discussion, students were able to relax and simply enjoy each other’s company. It reminded me how important it is to create spaces where postgraduate students can slow down and support their wellbeing alongside their research.

The pottery social was a simple but meaningful reminder of the importance of balance during postgraduate study. Research can often feel intense and isolating, particularly when much of the day is spent working independently in front of a laptop. Having the opportunity to step away from that environment, engage in a creative activity, and share lighthearted conversations with fellow PhD students felt incredibly refreshing.

I also appreciated leaving with something tangible that captured the experience. When I eventually use the plate during lunch at SPH, I know it will remind me of the creativity of the evening and the enjoyable time spent with fellow students.

We would like to thank Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI) for funding our DIDE social.

Wellbeing & Networking for AI4Health & Computing PhD researcher community

by Noura Ezaz-Nikpay and Britta Ross

The AI4Health & Computing PhD researcher community is diverse and full of brilliant researchers whose work is shaping the future of digital health and computing. We hosted a Wellbeing & Networking Session to help this vibrant group stay connected and supported. During the activity, we encouraged conversation about the shared joys and challenges of doing a PhD, and highlighted the importance of wellbeing in the PhD journey. For students new to the programme, midway through their research, or approaching the finish line, this was a space to slow down and reconnect.

A Focus on Wellbeing: At the heart of the session was the expert talk from our Wellbeing Advisor, Grazia Troiano, who shared insights and practical strategies for maintaining balance and mental wellbeing throughout doctoral research. It was a chance to reflect and pick up tools that can support one’s personal health and academic success.

Connecting the Community: With such a large and diverse cohort of AI and Computing PhD researchers, finding time and space to connect isn’t always easy. This session offered a relaxed environment to meet peers across the AI4Health & Computing PhD researcher community; build new networks and strengthen existing ones, share experiences, ideas, and questions (“ask us anything!”). The event allowed students a break to enjoy tea and coffee and food, chatting to their peers.

Figuring Out ‘What’s Next?’: Academic Women Association Intentional Careers Workshop Helps Researchers Plan Their Next Career Steps

by Alice Francis, Gemma Fisher and Lee Sykes

The Academic Women’s Association (AWA) joined forces with the Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) to host the first event of the year: an Intentional Careers workshop led by award-winning career coach, author and STEM scientist Dr Hannah Roberts on 2nd March 2026.

The motivation for the workshop came from findings in the 2025 LMS Athena survey, which highlighted that a higher proportion of women reported feeling uncertain about their next career steps compared with men. The event aimed to create space for reflection and provide practical strategies to help researchers approach career decisions with greater clarity and intention.

Interest in the session was high, with 103 attendees from eight departments joining from across the Faculty of Medicine. From the outset, the workshop sparked lively discussion, with participants actively reflecting on their own career journeys and sharing perspectives throughout the session.

During the workshop, Hannah introduced practical frameworks for approaching careers more intentionally. One key message was the importance of making time to think about career development – something that can easily be overlooked in busy work schedules. With annual review season underway at Imperial and LMS, the workshop served as a timely reminder to step back and reflect on longer-term goals.

Participants were encouraged to redefine what success looks like for them, starting with a clear understanding of their values and motivations. Hannah also emphasised the importance of adopting a self-leadership mindset – taking ownership of career direction, recognising personal strengths, and making decisions that align with purpose rather than fear.

The session also explored common challenges that can slow career progression, including fear-based decision making and the so-called “capability trap”, where individuals continue to focus on tasks they are already good at rather than pursuing opportunities that support their broader goals.

As with many AWA events, the conversation continued after the workshop during an enthusiastic coffee and networking session (with the added bonus of a doughnut platter). These informal discussions reinforced the value of creating spaces where researchers can reflect openly on their careers and learn from each other’s experiences. Each attendee received a copy of Hannah’s book, Intentional Careers for STEM Women,
providing further exercises and guidance to help translate the workshop’s ideas into practical career planning.

The event also helped grow the AWA community, bringing new members into the network and even expanding the leadership team (pictured with Dr Hannah Roberts). The association always welcomes new members who are interested in supporting women in academia.

Many thanks to Joshua Owolabi from the LMS for capturing the event, and to the LMS, National Heart and Lung Institute and the Early Career Researcher Institute for supporting the event.

Mindful Scientific Writing Workshop

by Vivienne Groner, Research Associate in Microclimate Modelling, Department of Life Sciences 

Writing sits at the heart of academic life. It is how we shape ideas, apply for funding,
progress in our careers, and share our work with the world. Yet for many of us, writing
feels heavy – something to squeeze in between experiments, meetings, and deadlines.
It is rarely taught as a skill to be practised mindfully or sustainably; more often, it is
something we dread, delay, or approach under pressure. In an increasingly competitive
academic environment, writing can all too easily become a source of stress, burnout,
and self-doubt.

This day-to-day struggle was the motivation behind organising the Mindful Scientific
Writing Workshop on 21 January 2026, generously supported by the Early Career
Research Institute (ECRI) Postgraduate Community Fund. I had previously attended
Ana Pineda’s writing workshops and found them genuinely transformative – not only for
my productivity, but for my relationship with writing itself. Wanting more people to
benefit from this approach, I aimed to create space for Early Career Researchers at
Imperial to step away from the pressure of “just producing words” and instead reflect
on how we write, why we struggle, and how more sustainable and fun habits might be
developed.

The workshop combined a one-hour live-streamed session led by Ana with a two-hour
facilitated group writing session. Ana brought warmth, honesty, and a refreshing
perspective on scientific writing, one rooted in focus, self-compassion, and clarity
rather than perfectionism. As a researcher turned yoga teacher and mindful scientific
writing coach, Ana hits the spot in understanding and supporting scientists in their
writing struggles. She shared practical strategies for managing time, energy, and
cognitive load while still making meaningful progress on writing projects that often feel
overwhelming.

Rainy weather didn’t deter a small, highly engaged group from attending in person at
Silwood Park, alongside an active online presence. The workshop was interactive, with
participants contributing questions and reflections in real time through phone chat and
Microsoft Teams. The resulting atmosphere supported meaningful discussion and more
individualised engagement.

Several participants stayed on after the workshop to continue conversations and write
together, keeping the creative momentum alive. The atmosphere remained relaxed and
supportive (fuelled by a good amount of biscuits) – a reminder that writing does not have
to be a solitary or stressful activity.

I left the workshop with several insights that have stayed with me. A few favourites
included: starting your manuscript with the last paragraph of the introduction; changing
the font colour to white for 15 minutes to prevent over-editing while drafting; and going
for a mindful walk when feeling stuck, using the return journey to think gently but
deliberately about what comes next. Perhaps most importantly, we discussed energy –
how finishing a piece of writing often leaves a sense of emptiness, and how this “void”
is not failure but a necessary pause before new ideas can emerge.

The biggest takeaway for me and for the other participants was a shift in perspective.
Writing is not something separate from our scientific identity; it is how our science
exists in the world. The sooner we allow ourselves to see writing as a practice rather
than a performance, the kinder and more sustainable it becomes. And on difficult days,
it helps to remember that sometimes all you need is a coffee shop, a comfortable chair,
and permission to pretend you’re Hemingway for an hour.

If you missed the workshop or want to learn more about being a mindful scientist,
check out Ana’s website (ifocusandwrite.com); she offers free resources and runs
regular free workshops and bootcamps on mindful writing, productivity and getting
funded. For more advanced and adventurous researchers, you might be interested in
the ‘Thriving scientist’ course.

IGHI PhD Christmas Social 2025

by Tricia Tay, Clinical Research Fellow, Department of Surgery & Cancer

We would like to thank Early Career Researcher Institute for funding our Christmas social. The original plan was to a research presentation where we provide updates of our PhDs in the morning to the group followed by lunch in a nearby café. We applied for funding for the lunch. However, our supervisor cancelled the research meeting after we had obtained funding.

Our team went ahead with the lunch and shared informally updates of our PhDs and lives in 2025. Our team of 18 PhD and Clinical Research Fellows work across various campuses including White City, St Mary’s and South Kensington. This is our first successful Christmas social lunch. We voted to eat at Bondi Green in Paddington. We shared life updates, highlights of our year, top tips for a successful PhD from final year students for first and second-year PhD candidates. Thank you ECRI team for this funding.

DoID Postdoc & Fellows Symposium 2025: science, fun and career development

by Maria Papangeli, Research Associate, Department of Infectious Disease

The first Postdoc and Fellows Symposium took place on Friday 14th of November 2025 at the White city campus. The initiative was organised by the postdoctoral representatives (David Carreno, Claire Dunican, Hannah Klim, Maria Papangeli, Katia Ribeiro de Jesus, Magdalena Szczesna) and champion (Alex McCarthy) of the Department of Infectious Disease (DoID), and it aimed to bring together postdocs and fellows from the 6 sections. It was a hugely successful event with great turnout that led to networking, showcasing of cutting-edge research, enjoying lunch with great views from the 12th floor of the Uren building and bringing out the competitive side of the participants with a team building quiz.

The event was kicked off by the Head of the department, Wendy Barclay that took us through her journey of becoming a successful scientist and the struggles she faced as a female early career researcher. An inspirational talk that highlighted how personal each academic journey is, as well as common challenges that come with a career in research.

The opening talk was followed by more career pathway talks from two young principal investigators, Rachel Lai and Daniel Goncalves Carneiro, each with clever titles about how pineapples don’t grow overnight and when science gives you lemons you make lemonade. Metaphors for the patience and recognition of opportunities that are essential for a successful career.

The evening continued with 14 brilliant talks from postdocs and fellows across the department. Each speaker presented their work with passion and clarity. This experience not only increased the visibility of the speakers but informed the rest of the participants about the ongoing research in the DoID. The talks covered a wide range of topics from the pistons in bacterial membranes to the gossip between bacteriophages.

 

The participants and the organising committee voted for the best talks which were rewarded with a certificate and a 50 £ Amazon voucher. Congratulations to Molly George and Anna Rydlova for delivering an exceptional talk!

The science was interrupted with a fun team building quiz. Each team fought hard for the 6 inflatable crowns. The quiz masters, Hannah and Claire, delivered a well-rounded quiz with scientific, department based and pop culture questions that kept tensions and emotions running high.

The evening was settled to a close after the careers roundtables. The participants had the opportunity to ask professionals questions about potential future roles in and out of academia. This opportunity led to networking as well as gaining valuable insights into a wide range of career paths.

 Conclusions/outcomes

Overall, the symposium surpassed the networking and career development expectations. The attendees feedback emphasised the need for similar events and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share their research while exploring career pathways both within and beyond academia. As part of the organising committee, we also learned how much can be achieved through teamwork and how much support is available from our department, the ECRI, and our champion, whose guidance and practical support made this event possible.

ECRI Acknowledgement

The organising committee is grateful for the ECRI funding we received, which was essential to delivering this event and achieving its positive outcomes.

 

Student seminar series at the Abdus Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics

By Jaeha Park & Elias Van den Driessche, Department of Physics

The student seminar series is designed to give PhD students at the Abdus Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics an opportunity to present their ongoing research. As opposed to other seminars organised in the group, student seminars are organised in an accessible and informal setting. This gives an opportunity for PhD students and early-career postdocs to gain valuable experience in scientific communication, but also for MSc students and early-year PhD students to be exposed to the range of topics explored within the group.

The goal of the student seminars is far beyond individual talks. It is an active social event, open for not only the members of the Theoretical Physics group, but also to the Astrophysics group, and more broadly any MSc/MSci students in the department that are interested. Student seminars happen every Thursday at 5pm during term time, often at Huxley 503, or other seminar rooms in Blackett Laboratory. The time and location make it ideal for MSc students to join after their lectures. Starting from 16th October, we had 5 talks this term, covering a range of topics, including black holes, vacuum decay, supersymmetry, and quantum field theory. We have planned more talks until the end of this term and is planning to continue this activity with more speakers covering a wider range of topics.

The talks are aimed at advanced MSc and early-year PhD level, encouraging speakers to step back from technical details and emphasise the main ideas and motivations behind their work. For the speakers this serves as a unique opportunity to practice their presentation skills, as preparation for more formal talks at conferences or departmental seminars aimed at faculty members. For those in the audience, it is an opportunity to engage with research outside their own niche without having to go through a new set of technical terms. Indeed, we heard much positive feedback from the students. Talks by PhD students and early-career postdocs naturally led participants to “know who to ask” when they have questions outside their specialties, highlighting posible points of connection, and further fostering new collaborations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures from a student seminar on the 13th November, with title “Fun with the superconformal index”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the Early Career Research Institute (ECRI) Postgraduate Community Fund, we are able to provide Pizzas and drinks to encourage participation.

The activity has been, and will be, conducted in a fully sustainable manner. The only minor environmental impact is expected to come from the food provided during the seminars. To minimize this, all packaging and containers are carefully collected and properly recycled, ensuring that the initiative remains as eco-friendly as possible.

The student seminar series is already becoming a core part of the research culture at the Abdus Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics. It lowers the barrier to engaging with new areas of research, helps student to develop the confidence and skills needed to present their work clearly, and strengthens a sense of community across di[erent career stages. The Community Fund from ECRI places a pivotal role; pizza provided for the event creates a welcoming atmosphere, and we have seen remarkable turn out in the past few talks, followed by active discussions. The student seminar series is helping the group to be more opened, interconnected, and supportive.

Looking ahead, we aim to keep expanding the range of topics and speakers. We are very excited to have 1st year PhD students to give their first talks next term. With continued support, we hope that the series will remain a fixture also for future cohorts, acting as a first step into research talks, a starting point for collaborations, and a fantastic opportunity to bridge di[erent members of the group and moreover members of the diverse community at Imperial.