Early Career Researchers' Winter Symposium 2024 

Our 2024 symposium is a free, in-person, one-day event based at Durham University. It will bring together early career stage researchers (ECR), established academics and industrialists to explore the power of interdisciplinary life sciences research and foster new collaborations.

2024 Early Career Researchers' Winter Symposium

12 December 2024, Durham University  

Free to attend 

Our Winter symposium is organised by Early Career Researchers (ECRs), for ECRs.  Attendees are welcome to attend across all levels, from undergraduates to senior academics. The event will provide an opportunity to share and learn about fascinating discoveries within biomathematics, biophysics, biological chemistry, chemical biology and bioengineering.  

Presentations at the symposium will include keynote lectures as well as ECR short talks, flash presentations and posters selected from abstracts. To submit an abstract or to register as an attendee, please complete the online registration form: https://forms.office.com/e/Eh8cRASS9b 

 

Keynote Speakers and Panellists  

Keynote Speakers 

• Dr Danny Cole (Newcastle University)
• Dr. Chris Coxon (University of Edinburgh)
• Dr Christine Dufès (University of Strathclyde) 

Industrial Panellists  

A panel of experts from across industry sectors will discuss research in an industrial context and answer questions about pursuing a career in industry.   

• Elizabeth Crone, Owlstone  

• Neil Lant, Senior Director Research Fellow – Procter & Gamble 

• Deepan Shah, Head of Technology for Biotechnology Business – CPI 

 

Abstract Guidance 

We want to hear about your research 

If you are an ECR we want to invite you to submit an abstract for a short talk or a poster presentation. ECRs are classed as any career stage from undergraduate up to recently appointed academics (i.e. within 5 years of first academic position).  

We have a small number of travel bursaries (£250) available for attendees who have been selected for talks/poster presentations. 

Prizes: PhD Speaker Prize, PDRA-Academic Speaker Prize, PhD Poster Prize and a People’s Choice Poster Prize.

Abstract guidelines  

•  Please submit word documents only 

•  The word count should be less than 300 words (however there is flexibility on this) 

• Images can be included 

• As default we will not include email addresses, if you would like to include a website link which includes your email address we can include this in the abstract 

• Abstracts can be submitted via the registration form or by email to bsi.manager@durham.ac.uk  

Submit your abstracts here: https://forms.office.com/e/Eh8cRASS9b 

Abstract Deadline: 7th November 2024 

 

Further Symposium Details  

Location: Collingwood College, Durham University 

Start Time: 10 am (12 December 2024) 

End Time: 5 pm (12 December 2024) 

What is included: All refreshments and food during the symposium times. 

What is not included: Accommodation or travel (for attendees). 

Symposium Dinner: 7-9 pm, 12 December 2024  

 

Thursday 12^th December 2024.

Registration link: https://forms.office.com/e/Eh8cRASS9b 

Past Symposia 

2023 ECR Symposium 

 

Our January 2023 symposium was the BSI’s first in-person ECR symposium. It attracted around 40 participants from across the UK and Europe, including the Universities of Padua, Amsterdam, Strathclyde, York and Sheffield.  The attendees were a mixture of PhD students (32), postdoctoral researchers (19) and others including undergraduates and PIs. 

The one-day event, held in St Mary's College, provided participants with an opportunity to get together and to share their physical biology research. It featured short talks, key-note talks and posters selected from abstracts by the ECR panel. 

Organising Committee

• Nathan Gavin
• Ruth McTiernan
• Will Trewby

 

The 2020 Symposium

Our very first research symposium was held at the end of July 2020. The symposium was held virtually and attracted more than 50 participants from 45 different institutions, 13 different countries and 3 continents. To mark the occasion the 2020 ECR Symposium’s keynote talk was the Howard Prize Lecture. This was given by Professor Silvia Marchesan (University of Trieste) “Heterochiral Peptide Assembly: Entry in Wonderland through the Looking-Glass” an Alice in Wonderland themed journey through peptide chemistry. Below is a screenshot of some of the symposium's attendees.