Thanks for visiting our blog post!
We are members of the NIHR ARC North Thames Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network Committee. Below you can read and watch short videos about how we created the Network, how we work, some of the events we’ve hosted, what members get out of being involved in the committee, and what we’re planning to do next as a group.
Our community supports the well-being, progression, and resilience of ECRs in health and social care research. To achieve this, we are committed to creating a network which is diverse, inclusive, accessible and is based on mutual respect. We want our members to feel supported to discuss new ideas, challenge, make mistakes, and learn from each other. We organise events to support career development and create an inclusive community of interdisciplinary researchers working in applied health research. We reflect on enabling a staff-student partnership to grow and adapt in changing circumstances, and supporting others to develop as leaders. We discuss the forming of the network committee, how we responded and adapted our activities during the coronavirus pandemic, and our current efforts to sustain our community.
Background
Funding from the NIHR North Thames Applied Research Collaboration enabled the creation of an ECR Network for the region.
The aim of the network was to support the well-being, progression, and resilience of ECRs in health and social care research.
What we did
The Network was led by staff, as well as students and alumni across a number of employed settings.
Initial recruitment to the ECR Committee was by open invitation to apply by email, with the aim of Committee members representing post-graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral researchers across a number of partner organisations.
How we work together
Sub-committees each had academic and staff representatives. Here, Lucie tells us how we work together as a staff-student partnership.
Monthly committee meetings and events moved from in-person to online during the pandemic, in order to maintain activity of the committee and ongoing support of the research community.
Events we have hosted
Highlights for the network included an annual showcase and a weekend retreat. Below, Harpreet and then Tiyi reflect on some of the events we’ve hosted.
Numbers attending these events became higher over time, reflecting deeper integration and establishment of the network within the local research community. Feedback on events was persistently positive.
The network held events held covered skills (such as an R workshop), well-being/social events (speed date breakfast) and career events. External speakers were invited to speak at a number of these events.
What members say about being involved in the network
In this video, three PhD student committee members, Lucie, Jenny and Tiyi, discuss what they have gotten out of being involved in the network.
What comes next for us
As the network became more established, there was expansion of committee members to new professional groups such as social work, with aim of reaching even wider group of academics, and joint events with other ECR networks (eg Kent, Surrey, Sussex).
Thanks very much for reading and watching along. If you would like to find out more or join our events, please visit: https://www.arc-nt.nihr.ac.uk/learn-with-us/early-careers-researchers-network/ or email us on arc.academy@ucl.ac.uk.