Mission statement
The ARC Early Career Researchers (ECR) Network is a pan-London network of early career applied health researchers and health and care professionals across the ARC and partner Trusts/organisations. The network was established to provide a supportive and inclusive space for peer support for researchers, students, health and care professionals and those working in applied health research, and provide an opportunity for members to develop wider academic skills and networks.
The network is co-ordinated by a committee that organises 5-6 events/year covering a range of topics, including but not limited to, research skills development, research promotion, career planning, networking and collaborative working. Members of the committee are principally ARC employees, research students, affiliates, alumni or employees of partner organisations. The network draws together individuals and groups from across its partners to provide diversity in scientific domains and clinical specialities often not found in other networks.
Please email arc.academy@ucl.ac.uk if you would like to join the network or would like to join our mailing list for notifications of upcoming ECR Network and Academy events.
Ethos statement
Our community supports the well-being, progression, and resilience of early career researchers in health and social care. 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.
The Committee
Lucie Hogger
Queen Mary University of London & Whittington Health NHS Trust
NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow & Honorary Speech and Language Therapist
Committee role: Chair
Harpreet Sihre
University College London (DAHR, NIHR ARC North Thames Academy)
Associate Lecturer (Teaching)
Committee role: Chair
Jenny Blythe
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Doctoral Fellow and GP
Committee role: Secretary and Treasurer
Silvie Cooper
University College London (DAHR, NIHR ARC North Thames Academy)
Academy Lecturer
Committee role: Treasurer, Event co-ordinator
Gregory Booth
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Physiotherapist/ Senior Research Therapist
Committee role: Event Co-ordinator
Brittany Cucchiaro
University College London Hospital, University College London
Senior Specialist Dietitian, PhD Candidate
Committee role: Event Co-ordinator
Vian Rajabzadeh
Queen Mary’s University of London
PhD Candidate
Committee role: Career development
Phill Harniess
University College London
Senior Research Physiotherapist, NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow
Committee role: Career development and mentoring co-ordinator
Madeleine Devon
Provide CIC
Research and Audit Lead
Committee role: Career development and mentoring co-ordinator
Francesca Zanatta
University College London (DAHR, NIHR ARC North Thames Academy)
Associate Lecturer (Teaching)
Committee role: Career development and mentoring co-ordinator, Network building (outreach) co-ordinator
Esca Van Blarikom
Queen Mary University of London
PhD Candidate
Committee role: Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) co-ordinator
Mel Ramasawmy
University College London
Research Fellow in Mixed Methods
Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) co-ordinator
Iris van der Scheer
University College London
PhD candidate
Committee role: Network building (outreach) co-ordinator
Annual programme of events
The network hosts 5-6 scientific events each year, with two social gatherings linked to Christmas and Summer events. Common formats include invited speakers, panel discussions, lectures and workshops. Events are open to all ARC North Thames employees and members of partner organisations.
Upcoming events
ECR Showcase 2024: Navigating Mentorship (5 Sep 2024)
Past events
Predoctoral Speed Mentoring Breakfast (27 Jan 2023)
Research impact: planning and management (21 Jan 2022)
Should we abolish statistical significance? (10 Nov 2021)
Conducting focus groups using digital platforms (12 May 2021)
The open science journey: An introduction for early career researchers (10 Mar 2021)
Looking at the field through a 'Zoom' lens: doing interviews and ethnography online (5 Mar 2021)
14 Sep 2021
