Category: ECR Community Fund

From Labs to Lunch: How the I&I PhD Networking Event Brings Us Together

By Sophie Ball and Katrina Fordwor, Department of Immunology and Inflammation

PhD students can easily get caught up in their projects, labs and work and not have the opportunity to network with other students, whether these students are from the same floor or other labs. The department for Inflammatory and Infection is spread over multiple floors, so it is easy for students to become siloed and not to interact with one another across the whole of their PhD. This is why we set up a monthly initiative to bring PhD students together in a relaxed setting. The Graduate School has granted us the opportunity to fund a monthly lunch. These events to allow PhD students to network in a casual setting, while being fuelled with some well-deserved food.

Collaborations between labs is a massive part of research, building a career and the general life of a scientist. This event was created exactly for that purpose, to allow students to gather in a communal space and interact with different labs. Having this event with lunch provided a relaxed atmosphere that allowed conversations to flow to discuss their current projects, career aspirations and identify future collaborators. I personally felt this event was a great way to speak to other students in the department and learn about the research going on, on floors just above me.

The I&I PhD Student Networking event is scheduled at lunchtime once a month, normally on the first Friday, and lasts for about an hour. This event is scheduled to continue for the remaining of the academic year, allowing these new connections to strengthen and possibly allow new research collaborations to develop. Moving forward, I hope this initiative continues to grow with this event’s participants reaching out to other students who missed out. It has the space to expand to a larger event with guest speakers and themed discussions but for now, it provides a simple yet effective way for PhD students to mingle and strengthen the academic community we are trying to achieve here at Imperial.

 

 

LMS PhD Social Evening – Sixes Social Cricket

On 14 November, the LMS PhD student committee organised a cricket night at Sixes in White City for the Institute’s PhD students. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to step away from their academic routines and connect in a fun, relaxed environment. The event was all about fostering connections between students from different groups and creating a sense of community beyond our workspaces.

The evening brought together 17 enthusiastic participants who were divided into two teams for a lively cricket match. The friendly competition was full of energy, with some surprising displays of skill and plenty of moments to laugh about. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to let loose and try something new, whether they were seasoned players or complete beginners.

Of course, no good event is complete without food! Between innings, we gathered for pizza, which provided the perfect opportunity to chat and get to know each other better. The casual atmosphere made it easy for students to bond and make new connections, all while enjoying a well-earned break from the busy term.

This cricket social turned out to be a fantastic way to bring people together in a setting that felt both fun and inclusive. It was particularly rewarding to see newer students finding their place in our community and leaving with smiles on their faces.

We would like to thank the Graduate School’s Postgraduate Community Fund for generously supporting this event. It’s initiatives like this that help us build stronger connections and create lasting memories. We’re looking forward to more opportunities to bring our community together in the future!

Life Sciences – Living Planet Data Challenge

By Agnes Szwarczynska, PhD Researcher at Schroeder Lab at Silwood Park

Recently, I came across a Nature article titled “Reproducibility trial: 246 biologists get different results from the same data sets.” It got me thinking — what if Imperial students, with expertise spanning from animal communication to microbial science, took on the same challenge? That’s how The Living Planet Data Challenge was born — an exciting three-day event that, for the first time, brought together master’s and PhD students at Silwood Park to tackle a real-world data problem.

In the first week of February, participants applied their skills in data analysis, coding, and research to address a question at the intersection of ecology, evolution and environmental conservation. The primary aim of the challenge was to foster problem-solving skills in a fun and inclusive environment — free from the pressure of grades. But despite its playful nature, it turned into something students could proudly add to their CVs. It also provided a chance to practice presenting methodologies and refine communication skills ahead of thesis vivas. For me, it was a big lesson in leading an event and everything that comes with it — securing funding, managing logistics and fostering engagement.

The event kicked off on Tuesday, February 4th, with participants tackling a problem using a publicly available dataset from eBird, a citizen science database with avian occurrence data. The challenge was set within a hypothetical scenario: as Tunisia’s newly appointed Environmental Officers, students had to assess whether the avian conservation program launched in 2017 had achieved its goals. AI tools were permitted, but participants had to justify their usage, adding an extra layer of challenge that required teams to critically evaluate their methodological choices.

[slides from the presentations of a) Jinxuan Cui, Xinting Cheng, Vicky Lin b) Yolanda Qian, Kotaro Kuroda, Rahim Dina c) Nathan Clark, Scott Tytheridge d) Saskia Pearce, Nia Potapova, Georgina Chow]

Using the eBird dataset, teams defined “success” in different ways — some focused on species diversity trends, while others analysed geographic distribution and changes in range sizes or simulated population numbers under various scenarios. From the organiser’s perspective, it was fascinating to see how different teams set out to solve the same problem by adopting very different strategies.

Over the next three days, five teams brainstormed ideas, analysed data and prepared their final presentations. Each day, they were provided with vegan and vegetarian snacks to fuel their creativity. More than just an academic exercise, the challenge served as a platform to refine scientific communication, encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange. With the two £150 prizes in vouchers for sustainable shops, teams were motivated to demonstrate that their approach was the most scientifically robust.

On the final day, teams presented their findings in 10-minute presentations, followed by a Q&A session with a panel of postdoctoral researchers. The prize in the master’s students category was awarded to Saskia Pearce, Nia Potapova and Georgina Chow for their ability to create a well-structured, compelling story and its critical interpretation. In the PhD category, the prize went to Nathan Clark and Scott Tytheridge for accounting for data collection biases and conducting a robust analysis that considered both the short- and long-term effects of the intervention.

Here, I want to thank all the teams for their hard work and determination! Special thanks to Dr. Ambre Salis, Dr. Vivienne Comyn-Platt and Dr. Balig Panossian for assessing the presentations and providing detailed feedback and to Stanislav Modrak for help with the event organisation. Lastly, this event would not have been possible without the funding provided by Imperial’s Early Career Researcher Institute, whose support brought the Living Planet Data Challenge to life.

Strengthening Our Research Community: Insights from the Nutrition Section Networking & Development Day

Blog by Kaoutar Abaakil, Research Postgraduate, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction

The Nutrition Section Away day took place on December 2nd, 2024, bringing together members from various research groups across the Nutrition section with the generous sponsorship of the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI). The event aimed to foster networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration. It was a fantastic event, with a strong turnout of students and researchers eager to connect and share ideas.

The day began with an informal networking lunch, providing a relaxed environment for students, post-doc researchers and principal investigators to engage with one another. This casual setting set the tone for the day, allowing participants to build connections before the formal program began.

The event officially opened with insightful talks from ECRI speakers Dr. Caroline Hargreaves and Dr. Anna Seabourne, offering valuable perspectives on learning about different stages in one’s research journey and strategies for professional development. The speakers also emphasised the importance of networking events like the one we were holding and provided guidance to identify the right contacts for addressing issues we might come across during our time at Imperial. A key focus of the discussions was the role of collaboration, networking, and the support available through ECRI for Master’s, PhD, and Early Career Researchers (ECRs). Through interactive activities, we also had a chance to discuss common challenges and concerns shared between us, reinforcing the sense of community and mutual support within the section. These activities also encouraged open dialogue and highlighted the collaborative spirit among the section.

Next, the event was followed by contributions from Dr. Racheal Barry and Dr. Aygul Dagbasi. Dr. Barry shared insights on her recent successful fellowship application and strategies for career development, while Dr. Dagbasi discussed lessons learned from her work leading the Ageing and Nutrient Sensing (AGENTs) initiative and how it benefited her career.

The day concluded with a talk by Professor Gary Frost, Head of theSection, who highlighted the importance of data integrity. His discussion emphasised the importance of setting best practices in data sharing and management, particularly in fostering transparency and collaboration across research groups. The discussion was also opened to all attendees to brainstorm ideas and share their insights in a cooperative manner.

The Nutrition Section Away Day was not only an opportunity to gain useful tools and knowledge for academic progression but also served as day for us to connect with peers, share ideas and address common challenges. Overall, it was a valuable experience that left participants feeling connected, informed and motivated.

We acknowledge the generous support of the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI) through the Postgraduate Community Fund, which made this event possible.

PhD Student Welfare Evening – Bowling at All Star Lanes

by Lucy Edwardes, Scarlett Brown and Helen Figueira, PhD students from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences at the Institute of Clinical Sciences

On the 23rd November the LMS PhD student committee organised a bowling social at All Star Lanes in White City. The aim of the event was to provide an opportunity for students to meet fellow students across different groups within the LMS away from the lab and in a relaxed and fun environment. With the hope to encourage better scientific collaboration between research groups and build support networks for students outside of their lab groups.

25 students came along and were mixed into 4 teams and played 2 games. There was a real range of bowling skills with some unexpected strikes! We had great food and drinks brought to our lanes while we were bowling. Most students stayed on after the bowling had finished to play some of the arcade games at All Star Lanes and enjoy the cocktails on happy hour!

This event was a great opportunity for the students to get together away from the lab and supervisors and have some fun after a long term. It also allowed people to meet some of the new PhD students, who joined in October.

We would like to thank the Graduate School’s Postgraduate Community Fund for sponsoring this event and giving the PhD students the opportunity to meet new people across different groups and have some fun! Hopefully this will become an annual social at the LMS.

Bringing Together Imperial’s Social Scientists: A Flagship PhD and ECR Event

By Lauren Shields, PhD Student in the Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship.

On Monday 10th June 2024, over 20 PhD and Early Career Researchers from across all four Imperial faculties met in a first-of-its-kind networking event. As a PhD social scientist in a STEMMB institution, it can be hard to find other researchers conducting similar research to you. We are often either isolated in departments or are lacking targeted training or collaboration sessions with others in the same institution. I wanted to host an event that would bring these researchers together, to form connections and learn from each other, as well as celebrate the hugely important offerings that social science can bring to physical science.

The 3 hour session began with a fascinating keynote speech by Dr. Stephen Webster, who is currently leading the Good Science Project and who was formerly the Director of the Science Communication Unit for 15 years. He discussed the benefits and challenges of researching at the interface of the physical and social sciences, particularly in an institution such as Imperial that is dominated by physical and applied sciences. Taking a philosophical approach to his talk, Dr. Webster walked us through the evolving debates surrounding the nature of the social sciences and showed how the natural sciences can benefit from social science approaches to research.

We then heard from Prof. Arnab Majumdar, Head of External Partnerships at the London Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnerships, who reminded us about the training opportunities available through the LISS-DTP on the social sciences.

The final part of the session was a chance for us all to discuss different social science methodological approaches to our research. We each chose a particular research method, ranging from ethnography to arts-based methods, and shared our experiences of using such methods and their associated challenges. We learned best practice from each other and made connections with those conducting similar research.
The event ended with a new social media group set up for the attendees, and a will for further opportunities to bring this unique but highly important group of researchers together in our STEMMB focussed institution. Ideas raised included a social science careers fair, research symposiums for PhD students at Imperial, workshops in conjunction with social sciences staff.

  • Some comments received after the session include:
    ‘Thank you so much for your effort. One of the best, if not the best, events I have attended at Imperial.’
  • ‘[I enjoyed] the talks by both speakers as well as knowing that there are many researchers who […] use social science theories or methodology. Knowing that this is a shared experience and [to] discuss it with other researchers is helpful.’

School of Public Health Harmony Night: A Melodic Celebration of Culture and Community

By Sunyuntao Xu, MSc Epidemiology, Academic Representative, School of Public Health

On June 4th, 2024, we hosted the inaugural School of Public Health Harmony Night Karaoke party at Kungfu Restaurant. This vibrant social event, organized by the School of Public Health, brought together postgraduate students for an evening of singing, dining, and networking. This student-led initiative aimed to strengthen community bonds and promote well-being, encouraging cultural exchanges and interpersonal connections beyond the academic setting.

Karaoke is an entertainment culture that originated in East Asia, gaining immense popularity in China, Japan, and Korea. Over time, this engaging pastime has spread to Europe and America, thanks to cultural mixing and globalization. The School of Public Health is a wonderfully diverse department, with students from all around the world. As student representatives, our goal was to
find the best social activity to enhance this multicultural atmosphere within our department.

The SPH Harmony Night was more than just an evening out; it was a carefully curated experience designed to enhance community well-being. By stepping away from the rigours of academic pursuits, this event offered a refreshing break that fostered mental and emotional well-being.  Participants had the opportunity to engage in cultural sharing through music and cuisine, enriching their understanding and appreciation of diverse backgrounds. The informal setting encouraged
students and staff to build lasting professional connections, enhancing their future careers and research collaborations.

We strategically scheduled the event after our research project background presentations, aiming for everyone to relax and celebrate the accomplishment of this milestone in our master’s program. Participants contributed songs in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Mongolian, and Yi, significantly enhancing cultural communication among students. Everyone immersed themselves in enjoying the collision of different traditions and forms of vocal arts, and surprisingly we got a chance to see many excellent singers in our community. This event highlighted the power of music  and social interaction in bridging cultural divides and fostering a sense of community. As the organiser of this event, it was heartening to see everyone enjoying delicious food and drinks while singing their hearts out. The SPH Harmony Night not only strengthened our community bonds but also promoted well-being and cultural exchange, making it a memorable evening for all.

Comments From Participants:

  • “Togetherness in class, academically, is good, yet togetherness outside class is also important! A sharp heart is a sharp mind. Thank you, team.” – Naesilla (MSc Epidemiology)
  • “I enjoyed the event last night, had lots of fun with my course mates and enjoyed spending time with them outside of the academic environment.” – Bridget Pickard (MSc Epidemiology)
  • “It was fantastic. I had such a great time with my colleagues, and it was great to see everyone outside academic settings. These moments brought us closer and made our time at Imperial much more enjoyable. Thanks to everyone who participated!” – Xiaoming Xu (MSc Health Data Analysis and Machine Learning)
  • “It seems everyone enjoyed themselves. And the interactions between students of different majors just created interesting connections. It was a successful event and thanks to the organisers.” – Yiying Meng (Master of Public Health)

This event played a multifaceted role in enhancing both soft skills and community spirit within the School of Public Health. By breaking down barriers, fostering interpersonal connections, and encouraging creative expression, karaoke significantly contributes to a positive and productive research culture. It also provides valuable networking opportunities. We hope to make this event an annual tradition, offering more enjoyable cultural experiences for students in the future.

Acknowledgement: Thanks for the help from the Graduate School for providing financial support this this activity, and thanks to the School of Public Health Epidemiology course team for providing information circulation support. 

An Afternoon at the Transport Museum: Connecting Minds in Transport Research

by Leah Camarcat and Surabhi Ojha, Research Postgraduates in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

To foster collaboration and networking within the PhD cohort in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College, we recently organized an event at the Transport Museum for PhD students. This gathering, held on May 25, 2024, brought together bright minds from the transport research group and various other research groups in the department, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and networking.

The Transport Museum’s exhibits provided an excellent icebreaker, sparking conversations about the history and future of transport. The feedback from attendees was positive, with many expressing a desire for similar events in the future.

My experience as a 3rd year PhD student at Imperial’s Rising Scientist Day 2024

Blog by Angelos Manolias, Research Postgraduate in the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction

In May 2024, I attended the Rising Scientist Day. The day included 2 sessions of poster presentations from 2nd and 3rd year PhDs, a 3-minute thesis presentation competition, talks from Imperial PhD alumni and networking events. In this blogpost I give my opinions on the events of day, highlight the benefits of attending such an event as a PhD student and give a few ideas for improvement in the next years.

Rising scientist day has many benefits for PhD students that attend it. Starting from the poster presentations, this is a great opportunity to gain experience with presenting your research in poster format but also learning what research is going on around the college by postgraduate students. Personally, by presenting my poster I gained experience in designing it in relevant software (a skill that I will need for future conferences), getting feedback on it by my colleagues and supervisors and ultimately presenting it in a wider audience whilst answering their questions. This is particularly useful for people like me who just entered their last year of PhDs and will start presenting in conferences. The 3-minute thesis presentations were very interesting as well, as I had the opportunity to learn about the research of my colleagues across departments in brief talks presented in lay terms. Since I was nominated by my department, I was also able to take part in the competition, which benefitted me by engaging in exciting discussions regarding my project that may help me for the rest of my studies. For the same reasons I enjoyed the networking events during lunch and afternoon coffee. Lastly, the career talks were very interesting to me personally as they came from two Imperial PhD alumni who stayed in academia, which matches my personal career goals. The talks motivated me and gave me some insight into a young researcher’s early career steps, which I found very engaging.

Overall, Rising Scientist Day is a very enjoyable and productive event for postgraduate students that acts as an internal “friendly” conference helping all students to gain experience in presenting their work. Coupled with talks and, potentially in the future, workshops and seminars, this event has the potential to be particularly educational and productive. I would urge all postgraduate students to attend the event at least once during their PhDs!

Our experience organising the first inter-collegiate colloquium on psychedelics in addiction research

Blog by Rayyan Zafar, Mark Sweeney, Orla Mallon, Research Postgraduates in the Department of Brain Sciences and Institute of Clinical Sciences

Psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, ketamine, DMT and LSD are the subject of increasing research as potential novel treatments for addiction. Some of the most innovative work is being conducted by researchers in the UK.

My colleagues and I organised the first colloquium on psychedelics in addiction research, which took place in May 2024 at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London. The event provided a space for leading researchers in the field to meet, present their work and identify opportunities for future collaboration between institutions. Attendees were present from Imperial College London, University of Exeter and UCL, with senior academics from each group presenting their work.

The conference started with a talk from Dr David Erritzoe and Prof David Nutt, two of the founders of the Centre for Psychedelic Research. They discussed their experiences of conducting research in addiction over their varied careers, the current treatments available and the potential which psychedelics, such as psilocybin, demonstrate as potential novel treatments followed by a talk by Dr Rayyan Zafar on the use of neuropsychopharmacology techniques in addiction research. Their talks sparked a discussion on the scale of unmet clinical need and knowledge gaps related to mechanism of action which provided an inspiring start to the day!

Next, Prof Ravi Das presented on his groups work at UCL. They discussed their work investigating dimethyltryptamine (DMT) on mood, language processing and memory functioning and an upcoming trial for alcohol use disorder. They also discussed the use of behavioural techniques such as reward memory reconsolidation that have previously been found to reduce drinking urges and drinking days following ketamine infusion in heavy drinkers and their plans to use similar paradigms with DMT in patients with AUD.

After lunch, Prof Celia Morgan and her team from the University of Exeter presented their work on the use of ketamine to reduce relapse in alcohol use disorder. They started with results from their completed KARE trial which provided an insightful discussion on the trial design and how this provided the basis for future work. They went on discuss the upcoming MORE-KARE trial – an investigation of ketamine-assisted psychological therapy in increasing abstinence in people with severe alcohol use disorder. It was incredibly valuable to hear experience from the team in setting up a large, multicentre study. On a personal note, it was inspiring to see how a concept had come from pre-clinical research to a large phase 3 study with nationwide recruitment, which could provide a much-needed treatment option for people with alcohol use disorder.

The final session explored options for collaboration in future research and provided a forum to transfer knowledge between our groups. Several areas for collaboration were identified, including developing and validating neuroimaging measures and exploring the views of participants, clinicians, and commissioners on bringing these treatments to the NHS. These discussions and collaborations are valuable to ensure that the specialist knowledge and expertise in each group is harnessed and built on.

The event concluded with a networking event and dinner which was a great way to round up the day and network in a more informal setting.

The event was a fantastic way to meet others working on similar research with the shared goal developing new treatments and therapies for addiction. Organising the event took a different set of skills to our usual research, but it was rewarding to present our work and identify potential areas which can be made more valuable through collaboration. All parties left feeling inspired, excited for several new meaningful opportunities for collaboration and looking forward to the next meeting!

The organisers would like to thank the Graduate School for providing sponsorship for this event.

Prof David Nutt, Imperial College London
Professor Ravi Das, UCL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof Celia Morgan

Attendees