Early Career Microbiologists' Forum: Your Executive Committee

The Early Career Microbiologists’ (ECM) Forum was established at the beginning of 2016, to enable early career members to have their say within the Society. With professional development opportunities tailored directly for them, and opportunities to bring the early-career viewpoint to all Society strategic priorities, the Forum have elected an Executive Committee to direct their work. The members of the Executive Committee were elected this summer, so we asked them to tell us more about who they are and what they want to achieve during their tenure.

CHAIR

Dr Helen Brown is a postdoctoral researcher at Cardiff University, investigating bacterial attachment to metal implants and abiotic surfaces. She brings experience of working with several successful committees, and in particular understands how important the first few years of a researcher’s career can be. Helen wants to provide more focused material for early career researchers at the Annual Conference, and develop a mentoring programme that is open to all Society members.

COMMUNICATIONS REPRESENTATIVE

Rebecca Hall is a PhD student in Mechanistic Biology at the University of York, investigating the microbiome of the tsetse fly. She brings a lot of enthusiasm for science communication and anything a bit geeky, and has experience writing for blogs and the student newspaper. Rebecca would like to engage ECMs more in terms of science communication, and explore ways in which budding writers could use the Society to get their work out to other microbiologists and the general public.

CONFERENCES REPRESENTATIVE

Dr Amy Richards is a Research Fellow and Lab Manager at The Roslin Institute, investigating the host–pathogen interactions of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus aureus. She brings motivation, focus and objectivity to the Forum as well as event management experience. She wants to develop greater opportunities for ECMs to meaningfully present their research findings at conferences and organise specialist sessions that will equip ECMs for a career in academia.

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

Dr Linda Oyama is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Aberystwyth University, investigating rumen-derived anti-infectives as alternatives to antibiotic therapy. She brings an infectious personality to communicating science and is constantly involved in widening participation and in organising science events. Linda hopes to get more international ECMs involved in Society events and activities, and reach out to more ECMs outside the UK and Europe.

PROGRAMMES REPRESENTATIVE

Andrew Day is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, studying phage–host interactions. He brings a passion for communicating science and promoting the representation of early career microbiologists. Andrew would like to grow the Forum in size, identify key areas that will be the future focus in the field of microbiology and enact changes to increase the engagement of early career microbiologists.

MARIA FERNANDES

Professional Development Manager
[email protected]