Last week, the first meeting of ME Research UK’s ‘Researcher Circle’ took place virtually. The Circle is aimed (initially) at PhD-level students working on projects funded by ME Research UK charity, and will:
- Create an online space for students to network and learn about each other’s work.
- Provide an opportunity for skill development through talks given by members of ME Research UK staff, from established researchers in the field, and from other relevant experts.
- Provide a friendly forum to discuss challenges faced, to practice presentations, and to lay the foundations for future careers.
- Fulfil ME Research UK’s aim to create an environment to encourage, support, and to facilitate the entrance and retention of early-career researchers in the field of ME/CFS research.
In the first session, Professor Faisel Khan – one of ME Research UK’s Trustees, and Professor of Cardiovascular Sciences and Associate Dean (International) at the University of Dundee – and Dr Emma Slack – Science Writer and Research Engagement Officer at ME Research UK – discussed career planning and skill development with the students.
Professor Khan provided insight into several topics including:
- the importance of building a professional support network, including researchers who share students’ knowledge and passion to create a sense of community, and create a network which may be useful during a future career.
- making the most of training programmes offered by a student’s host institution to develop essential skills.
- career planning – what matters to individual students in a career?
- career options following a PhD.
Dr Slack then spoke about her career in both research and within ME Research UK, and emphasised how the topics highlighted by Prof Khan had played a key role in her career progression.
After a productive group discussion, attendees thanked ME Research UK for creating the Researcher Circle and endorsed wholeheartedly its aims and ambition which has provided them with the opportunity to meet with other PhD level students working on ME/CFS projects.
Tina Katsaros, a PhD level researcher who is working on an ME Research UK-funded project investigating cause-effect relationships in the mitochondrial energy inefficiency in ME/CFS said:
“As a PhD student in Australia, it’s a little bit more isolating maybe, because there’s not as many ME/CFS opportunities, I guess, to collaborate and meet people internationally. So, I think things like this are really, really great, especially from my perspective. Being able to meet researchers that are in the same field, and being able to set up links for potential collaborations and stuff. I guess I just wanted to say thanks to ME Research UK!”
The Researcher Circle will meet every other month, and will alternate between more structured sessions with a speaker followed by time for questions and discussion, and informal ‘catch-ups’ which aim to provide a friendly forum to discuss progress and challenges faced, and to practice presentations.
As such, ME Research UK looks forward to welcoming the students for an online ‘catch-up’ in September!
